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The Kingsleys
A Stolen Kiss
A mistaken kiss. A forced engagement. Can it become something more?
Lily Kingsley accepts that she is destined to be a spinster—but not until she gets her first kiss. And she knows the perfect gentleman to enlist. Unfortunately, she kisses the wrong one and ends up in the arms of an overbearing and exceptionally frustrating merchant.
When busybodies catch them in their illicit embrace, an engagement is the only solution, but Lily doesn’t want a fiancé who’s only doing his duty. And she certainly doesn’t want a gentleman far too used to getting his own way. She simply must make him see how ill-suited they are.
But why is the fellow so determined to see their engagement through?
Jack Hatcher hates surprises, but when a beguiling lady mistakes him for someone else and launches herself into his arms, he discovers not all surprises are bad. Marriage was not in Jack’s plans, but Lily stirs something inside him he never expected to feel.
But with his fiancé desperate to break with him and a new enemy working to woo Lily away, Jack discovers force of will won’t keep her by his side. Can he find a way to win her heart before it’s lost forever?
Lily Kingsley accepts that she is destined to be a spinster—but not until she gets her first kiss. And she knows the perfect gentleman to enlist. Unfortunately, she kisses the wrong one and ends up in the arms of an overbearing and exceptionally frustrating merchant.
When busybodies catch them in their illicit embrace, an engagement is the only solution, but Lily doesn’t want a fiancé who’s only doing his duty. And she certainly doesn’t want a gentleman far too used to getting his own way. She simply must make him see how ill-suited they are.
But why is the fellow so determined to see their engagement through?
Jack Hatcher hates surprises, but when a beguiling lady mistakes him for someone else and launches herself into his arms, he discovers not all surprises are bad. Marriage was not in Jack’s plans, but Lily stirs something inside him he never expected to feel.
But with his fiancé desperate to break with him and a new enemy working to woo Lily away, Jack discovers force of will won’t keep her by his side. Can he find a way to win her heart before it’s lost forever?
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2020
1330 people are currently reading
646 people want to read
About the author
M.A. Nichols
37 books476 followersBorn and raised in Anchorage, M.A. Nichols is a lifelong Alaskan, though she briefly ventured south to get a fancy bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree from Utah State University—neither of which had anything to do with why she became an author, but they kept her alive while launching her publishing career.
As a child she despised reading, but thanks to her mother’s love and persistence, she saw the error of her ways and developed a deep and abiding obsession with books. Currently, she writes sweet historical romance and fantasy, but as a lover of many genres, she plans to explore more in the future.
As a child she despised reading, but thanks to her mother’s love and persistence, she saw the error of her ways and developed a deep and abiding obsession with books. Currently, she writes sweet historical romance and fantasy, but as a lover of many genres, she plans to explore more in the future.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
July 8, 2021
Just okay
I did like this story but it was so boring I just had to give myself to keep reading. The author writes particularly well but The story itself was just not there. Jack was a strange man who had trouble showing his emotions and gets were all over the place. They get engaged because they were caught in an embrace, she actually thought it was some one else, and she she fights against it. But he is slowly falling in love with her, and eventually she does too. There is a young man who tried to make Jack jealous but he was in love with another. All ends up well. There is only a couple of kisses in the book and it is safe. Free in KU
I did like this story but it was so boring I just had to give myself to keep reading. The author writes particularly well but The story itself was just not there. Jack was a strange man who had trouble showing his emotions and gets were all over the place. They get engaged because they were caught in an embrace, she actually thought it was some one else, and she she fights against it. But he is slowly falling in love with her, and eventually she does too. There is a young man who tried to make Jack jealous but he was in love with another. All ends up well. There is only a couple of kisses in the book and it is safe. Free in KU
June 5, 2020
This has been on my KU shelf for over a month now, and I've just worked up the courage to start it. I've enjoyed most of the other M.A. Nichols books that I've read and hope that trend continues. I'm trying not to be too excited. :)
2.5 stars. I'm sorry to say that I didn't enjoy this one as much as some of the other books I've read by this author. I guess I'm just not really into the whole "I'm a plump, not traditionally attractive, almost spinster who has a heart of gold but assumes everyone is making snide comments about me" trope. It's been a while since I read Mina's (the heroine's mother) book, but I'm pretty sure her story was along the same lines. At least there wasn't really any OP drama in this book. No past wast mentioned for the hero, so I'm just going to assume that he was a stand up guy. :/
Anyhoo, the idea that two people which such baggage could make a go of things should be encouraging to all the rest of us. However, the journey to the HEA was sort of frustrating, and not really in a deliciously angsty way. I mostly wanted to shake the two of them and make them sit down and have a vulnerable and honest conversation.
As it was, the storytelling was engaging enough (although a bit repetitive and the heroine cried way too much), but ultimately the story itself was too frustrating to be enjoyed. If you're looking for a clean romance that is quite sweet and don't mind spending a couple of hours feeling annoyed with the MCs, then give this one a try. :)
2.5 stars. I'm sorry to say that I didn't enjoy this one as much as some of the other books I've read by this author. I guess I'm just not really into the whole "I'm a plump, not traditionally attractive, almost spinster who has a heart of gold but assumes everyone is making snide comments about me" trope. It's been a while since I read Mina's (the heroine's mother) book, but I'm pretty sure her story was along the same lines. At least there wasn't really any OP drama in this book. No past wast mentioned for the hero, so I'm just going to assume that he was a stand up guy. :/
Anyhoo, the idea that two people which such baggage could make a go of things should be encouraging to all the rest of us. However, the journey to the HEA was sort of frustrating, and not really in a deliciously angsty way. I mostly wanted to shake the two of them and make them sit down and have a vulnerable and honest conversation.
As it was, the storytelling was engaging enough (although a bit repetitive and the heroine cried way too much), but ultimately the story itself was too frustrating to be enjoyed. If you're looking for a clean romance that is quite sweet and don't mind spending a couple of hours feeling annoyed with the MCs, then give this one a try. :)
April 30, 2020
'It was only a little kiss…
Lily Kingsley knows it’s time to abandon her romantic fancies and accept spinsterhood. No man has ever noticed her, and that is unlikely to change, but that does not mean she must abandon the last of her dreams: her first kiss. And she knows the perfect gentleman to enlist in that endeavor.
Just one kiss, and then she will happily accept her solitary lot.
Jack Hatcher hates surprises. In his experience, they are nothing but a deviation from his carefully constructed plans. Structure and order are paramount to success—whether professional or personal—and any unanticipated alteration is rarely an improvement. But when a beguiling lady mistakes him for someone else and launches herself into his arms, Jack discovers that not all surprises are bad.
Then busybodies catch them in their illicit embrace, and an engagement is the only solution. So, why is the lady in question refusing? But Lily wanted a kiss and not a fiancé bound to her by duty and obligation, so why is the overbearing gentleman forcing her hand?
Set in Victorian era England, A Stolen Kiss is a sweet romance about the importance of seizing love when we find it, even if it comes in unexpected ways.'
_____________________________
A Stolen Kiss is the first book in M.A. Nichols' Victorian Love series, which follows her previous series Regency Love and tells the story of the next generation of the family tree that we met then. You don't need to have read the Regency Love series to understand this series but if you have read it, then it is nice to see those characters again years after their HEA.
I ADORED this book so much. I really love characters that are somewhat awkward and don't really know how to express themselves well, something which both Lily and Jack struggled with. Jack was more awkward, which I found endearing, and Lily had a hard time feeling confindent in herself. I really related to them. A lot of main characters are so smooth and witty in their interactions and, although I find them amusing and relate to them in other ways, that's not how I normally feel in conversation with those I don't know well so I really loved seeing some less suave characters here.
This book is just so realistic, there's no over the top peril or plots. Just a believable story of two people that didn't have the most conventional start together. It was interesting how things turned out with this stories villain, but I'm so happy that it went the way it did. Had it gone the expected route, I think it would have made the story a little cheesy and less believable.
I really enjoyed this first book in M.A. Nichols new series and I'm looking forward to more books being added to it. I will be reading this book again at some point. I loved it, so I must recommend it to anyone who enjoys clean historical romance.
_____
I read this book with my Kindle Unlimited membership.
Lily Kingsley knows it’s time to abandon her romantic fancies and accept spinsterhood. No man has ever noticed her, and that is unlikely to change, but that does not mean she must abandon the last of her dreams: her first kiss. And she knows the perfect gentleman to enlist in that endeavor.
Just one kiss, and then she will happily accept her solitary lot.
Jack Hatcher hates surprises. In his experience, they are nothing but a deviation from his carefully constructed plans. Structure and order are paramount to success—whether professional or personal—and any unanticipated alteration is rarely an improvement. But when a beguiling lady mistakes him for someone else and launches herself into his arms, Jack discovers that not all surprises are bad.
Then busybodies catch them in their illicit embrace, and an engagement is the only solution. So, why is the lady in question refusing? But Lily wanted a kiss and not a fiancé bound to her by duty and obligation, so why is the overbearing gentleman forcing her hand?
Set in Victorian era England, A Stolen Kiss is a sweet romance about the importance of seizing love when we find it, even if it comes in unexpected ways.'
_____________________________
A Stolen Kiss is the first book in M.A. Nichols' Victorian Love series, which follows her previous series Regency Love and tells the story of the next generation of the family tree that we met then. You don't need to have read the Regency Love series to understand this series but if you have read it, then it is nice to see those characters again years after their HEA.
I ADORED this book so much. I really love characters that are somewhat awkward and don't really know how to express themselves well, something which both Lily and Jack struggled with. Jack was more awkward, which I found endearing, and Lily had a hard time feeling confindent in herself. I really related to them. A lot of main characters are so smooth and witty in their interactions and, although I find them amusing and relate to them in other ways, that's not how I normally feel in conversation with those I don't know well so I really loved seeing some less suave characters here.
This book is just so realistic, there's no over the top peril or plots. Just a believable story of two people that didn't have the most conventional start together. It was interesting how things turned out with this stories villain, but I'm so happy that it went the way it did. Had it gone the expected route, I think it would have made the story a little cheesy and less believable.
I really enjoyed this first book in M.A. Nichols new series and I'm looking forward to more books being added to it. I will be reading this book again at some point. I loved it, so I must recommend it to anyone who enjoys clean historical romance.
_____
I read this book with my Kindle Unlimited membership.
October 30, 2022
I liked this a lot.
Everything I loved:
-the pacing,
-the character development,
-the slowly building attraction,
-the fact that there were misunderstandings but both MC's tried to overcome them,
-the fact that the "villain" was human, too, and saw his errors and tried to do better,
-the strong yet insecure heroine,
-the hero who seemed to be so self assured and capable but wasn't able to communicate when it came to feelings.
4,5 stars.
Everything I loved:
-the pacing,
-the character development,
-the slowly building attraction,
-the fact that there were misunderstandings but both MC's tried to overcome them,
-the fact that the "villain" was human, too, and saw his errors and tried to do better,
-the strong yet insecure heroine,
-the hero who seemed to be so self assured and capable but wasn't able to communicate when it came to feelings.
4,5 stars.
June 19, 2021
This was such a fun book to write!
February 13, 2024
Victorian Love #4 & Victorian Love #5
I read these books in the series before I read this one.
London 1848. Kisses only.
Lily stayed w/ her aunt & uncle in London while her
parents toured the continent. Lily was 29 & men did
not 'take to her.' Most perceived her as plump, sweet
& naive but she had a core strength. She decided to
kiss her friend Farson, soon to leave for Canada. She
was not smitten, she just wanted to experience a kiss.
In a home library at a ball, she thought she kissed
Farson, but instead kissed Hatcher. (Hatcher had
a secondary role in book #4).
Jonathan "Jack" Hatcher had an import business w/
partner Silas. They expanded to include railroads
& so on, also charity projects. Jack came across as
aloof, hard & austere. Jack received pressure to marry
Lily after he compromised her, but declined, insisting
he wasn't a gent.
The MCs ran into each other a couple times after that.
He proposed, she accepted, she planned to later jilt
this domineering man. Meanwhile a fellow ex-Navy
man decided to play up to Lily, for revenge on Jack.
Lily now had 2 men paying her attention. Lily thought
Jack a good man under all his brooding and bravado.
He fell hard for her. Jack had a wonderful surprise for
music-lover Lily about 2/3 into the story. A love story,
not a side story.
************
This month I read 4 of this author's books. Because
KU offered them free, but more importantly, for the
kisses only aspect. I needed a break from kissy, grabby
heroes found in most romance stories. Alpha males
are fun, but I needed a few beta males for now. Jack
above showed his alpha-ness, with a side of beta.
That being said, the heroines in these 4 books had
similar qualities IE spinsters w/o hope for a love-
match & they doubted the sincerity of the hero's
affection/ regard & they cried too often. Crying is
a catharsis, but can a heroine think before she cries?
I don't consider crying women weak, but can a heroine
who overhears someone insult her abilities or looks,
just consider the unhappy source? Just ignore or
smile at the snarky person or make a clever comment?
Can a spiritual romance author (such as this one) have
the heroine count her blessings? Or have the heroine
make steps toward a brighter future? Or learn a new
skill? Women had less choices then, but did they look
at better options?
The thing I liked about Lily? She explored both sides
of a controversy & tried not to validate rumors. She
had a backbone. Lily & Jack felt like the real-deal to me.
I read these books in the series before I read this one.
London 1848. Kisses only.
Lily stayed w/ her aunt & uncle in London while her
parents toured the continent. Lily was 29 & men did
not 'take to her.' Most perceived her as plump, sweet
& naive but she had a core strength. She decided to
kiss her friend Farson, soon to leave for Canada. She
was not smitten, she just wanted to experience a kiss.
In a home library at a ball, she thought she kissed
Farson, but instead kissed Hatcher. (Hatcher had
a secondary role in book #4).
Jonathan "Jack" Hatcher had an import business w/
partner Silas. They expanded to include railroads
& so on, also charity projects. Jack came across as
aloof, hard & austere. Jack received pressure to marry
Lily after he compromised her, but declined, insisting
he wasn't a gent.
The MCs ran into each other a couple times after that.
He proposed, she accepted, she planned to later jilt
this domineering man. Meanwhile a fellow ex-Navy
man decided to play up to Lily, for revenge on Jack.
Lily now had 2 men paying her attention. Lily thought
Jack a good man under all his brooding and bravado.
He fell hard for her. Jack had a wonderful surprise for
music-lover Lily about 2/3 into the story. A love story,
not a side story.
************
This month I read 4 of this author's books. Because
KU offered them free, but more importantly, for the
kisses only aspect. I needed a break from kissy, grabby
heroes found in most romance stories. Alpha males
are fun, but I needed a few beta males for now. Jack
above showed his alpha-ness, with a side of beta.
That being said, the heroines in these 4 books had
similar qualities IE spinsters w/o hope for a love-
match & they doubted the sincerity of the hero's
affection/ regard & they cried too often. Crying is
a catharsis, but can a heroine think before she cries?
I don't consider crying women weak, but can a heroine
who overhears someone insult her abilities or looks,
just consider the unhappy source? Just ignore or
smile at the snarky person or make a clever comment?
Can a spiritual romance author (such as this one) have
the heroine count her blessings? Or have the heroine
make steps toward a brighter future? Or learn a new
skill? Women had less choices then, but did they look
at better options?
The thing I liked about Lily? She explored both sides
of a controversy & tried not to validate rumors. She
had a backbone. Lily & Jack felt like the real-deal to me.
March 9, 2021
This book is ridiculous and poorly written, yet something compelled me to finish it. The premise of the story is that Miss Lily Kingsley has given up on marriage but feels as though a lonely life of spinsterhood would be bearable if only she experiences one kiss. *eyeroll*
Besides the unbelievable plot, A Stolen Kiss is full of annoying characters, short chapters, grammatical errors/words missing, and an abundance of the improper use of given names (as opposed to the formality of the time, which referred to people by their surname). Also, Louisa-Margaretta is a mouthful, especially with Aunt in front of it!
I would not recommend and will not be reading anything else by this author. Perhaps the style appeals to some, but paired with the author's lack of a proofreader, it's not my cup of tea.
Besides the unbelievable plot, A Stolen Kiss is full of annoying characters, short chapters, grammatical errors/words missing, and an abundance of the improper use of given names (as opposed to the formality of the time, which referred to people by their surname). Also, Louisa-Margaretta is a mouthful, especially with Aunt in front of it!
I would not recommend and will not be reading anything else by this author. Perhaps the style appeals to some, but paired with the author's lack of a proofreader, it's not my cup of tea.
November 22, 2020
Ms. Nichols has created compelling, believable and empathetic characters you can't help but cheer on from page 1. You feel the story along with the characters, and care deeply that they receive their happy ending.
My only hope is that she'll tell more of Lilly's story in the future. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the characters 🙂.
My only hope is that she'll tell more of Lilly's story in the future. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the characters 🙂.
April 29, 2020
This is not your typical “Happily Ever After” romance. It is clean & well written but it is a complicated & messy & realistic relationship.
And I loved it. Ms Nichols is one of my favorite authors. Hands down.
And I loved it. Ms Nichols is one of my favorite authors. Hands down.
November 12, 2025
4.5 stars!
Another great story from this author! I loved how their relationship started with a mistaken kiss. 😊
Another great story from this author! I loved how their relationship started with a mistaken kiss. 😊
August 12, 2020
“Though well into her sixtieth decade, Aunt Louisa-Margaretta showed little sign of it apart from slight wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and mouth.” 😳
This probably deserves a higher rating, but I suffered something of a reader’s block for a bit, and it took me a minute to pick it back up. I loved both the protagonists, and apparently these days I’m willing to overlook a lack of steam if there’s enough angst. (3.5 stars)
This probably deserves a higher rating, but I suffered something of a reader’s block for a bit, and it took me a minute to pick it back up. I loved both the protagonists, and apparently these days I’m willing to overlook a lack of steam if there’s enough angst. (3.5 stars)
March 13, 2021
I always enjoy a convinience marriage trope, but in this case there were too many missunderstantings. I understand the hero had problems comunicating himself, but paired with a heroine that jumps to conclusions easily, it was hard to read at times. I did root for them, and maybe as a short story with less time for missunderstandings and other annoying characters, it would've worked better.
July 17, 2020
I loved this story. I just couldn’t put the book down. Wonderfully written—I loved the author’s turns of phrase. Lovely.
(That was written last night and this morning I have decided this is “six stars” which is my highest rating meaning I would read it again.)
(That was written last night and this morning I have decided this is “six stars” which is my highest rating meaning I would read it again.)
May 14, 2020
Merry1
I liked the emotion and real descriptions of peoples thoughts and feelings. But wanted to see more development and growth between them.
I liked the emotion and real descriptions of peoples thoughts and feelings. But wanted to see more development and growth between them.
June 16, 2020
Excellent Characters
I loved this unconventional historical heroine. Not only is she older than the typical debutante that you see in Regency and Victorian romance (she’s 29), she's also a tall and plus-size woman. She has been mostly ignored by men, though she is well loved by her family. She is a fun and relatable combination of trembling nerves and nerves of steel. When she wants something, she is charmingly timidly determined. For instance, she decides she wants to experience her first kiss, so she writes a letter to a good friend who will soon emigrate, asking him to perform the deed. In a very well-done scene, in a darkened library at a private ball, she launches herself at a man who turns out not to be the one she wrote the letter to. While she initiates the first kiss, the hero is the one who does the second—after she figures out he is the wrong man. Even in that first encounter, both feel something neither expected to. Of course, they are discovered, and her reputation hangs in the balance.
The hero is a complex character as well. Unlike many heroes in historical romance set in this time, he is not a fancy Lord. He is—heavens, no!—in trade. He is a wealthy man, so even though he bears that social stigma, he has still been pursued by the matchmaking mamas and their debutante daughters. He at first believes that the heroine has contrived this compromise to trap him, but he soon figures out her true nature (and absolute mortification) at what has transpired. It's interesting to watch his mind go back and forth as he tries to figure both himself and herself out. That made him relatable and believable as well, and I found it charming the way he came to feel more for her as he watched her interact with sellers and their goods at a street market. If you enjoy well-written Victorian romance, you may very well enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
I loved this unconventional historical heroine. Not only is she older than the typical debutante that you see in Regency and Victorian romance (she’s 29), she's also a tall and plus-size woman. She has been mostly ignored by men, though she is well loved by her family. She is a fun and relatable combination of trembling nerves and nerves of steel. When she wants something, she is charmingly timidly determined. For instance, she decides she wants to experience her first kiss, so she writes a letter to a good friend who will soon emigrate, asking him to perform the deed. In a very well-done scene, in a darkened library at a private ball, she launches herself at a man who turns out not to be the one she wrote the letter to. While she initiates the first kiss, the hero is the one who does the second—after she figures out he is the wrong man. Even in that first encounter, both feel something neither expected to. Of course, they are discovered, and her reputation hangs in the balance.
The hero is a complex character as well. Unlike many heroes in historical romance set in this time, he is not a fancy Lord. He is—heavens, no!—in trade. He is a wealthy man, so even though he bears that social stigma, he has still been pursued by the matchmaking mamas and their debutante daughters. He at first believes that the heroine has contrived this compromise to trap him, but he soon figures out her true nature (and absolute mortification) at what has transpired. It's interesting to watch his mind go back and forth as he tries to figure both himself and herself out. That made him relatable and believable as well, and I found it charming the way he came to feel more for her as he watched her interact with sellers and their goods at a street market. If you enjoy well-written Victorian romance, you may very well enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
July 23, 2020
This is my first time reading something by this author and I really enjoyed it. The book is set in the Victorian era and is a sweet story of taking advantage of love when it comes, even when you least expect it. Lily is an awkward but lovable girl and she has come to terms with her future and has accepted that she will be a spinster. She will not accept, however, not having the experience of a first kiss. She asks a friend to help her achieve this and when the time comes it is not her friend, but Jack who she ends up kissing. Not only did she kiss the wrong man, but they were also discovered and now her reputation is at stake. It was fun to see how things played out after that, and the emotions and thoughts that went back and forth between the two. This was a truly delightful story with wonderful, endearing characters that you can't help but fall in love with. I enjoyed this first book very much - it's a great start to a new series and I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 14, 2020
Sweet Romance
Lily is almost 30, a little on the chubby side and has no marriage prospects in sight. All she wants is one kiss and she’ll be fine as a spinster. So, she has a plan but, unfortunately, it doesn’t work out quite right. She now has a fiancé, Jack, who insists they marry. You would think that this is every Victorian era woman’s dream. But, not so much. That’s what makes the romance so good-not your typical VR.
I really liked the characters in this book. Strong-willed female and seemingly reluctant male, but no one is as they seem. I loved the interaction between the characters and how their personalities moved and drove the story. This is one of those stories where, at the end, I wished for more. The epilogue was not enough.
Lily is almost 30, a little on the chubby side and has no marriage prospects in sight. All she wants is one kiss and she’ll be fine as a spinster. So, she has a plan but, unfortunately, it doesn’t work out quite right. She now has a fiancé, Jack, who insists they marry. You would think that this is every Victorian era woman’s dream. But, not so much. That’s what makes the romance so good-not your typical VR.
I really liked the characters in this book. Strong-willed female and seemingly reluctant male, but no one is as they seem. I loved the interaction between the characters and how their personalities moved and drove the story. This is one of those stories where, at the end, I wished for more. The epilogue was not enough.
Read
May 22, 2020This is a spin-off series from the Regency Love series and while the characters from the first series are secondary characters I was glad I read it before this because I was more connected to the characters. Lily is Mina’s daughter and is a lot like Mina 2.0. Like her mom, she is older, not super attractive, and plump. I liked the differences between Lily and Jack. She is gregarious while he is broody, she likes to express her feelings while he is very guarded. I enjoyed reading their story. Kisses only
May 28, 2020
A wonderfully realistic tale.
The lady in this tale is a bit older, not the standard beauty, and has a life of spinsterhood awaiting her. As it is so often plans do not work out the way you hope and that is what Lily experiences then again perhaps it is fate stepping in. Jack the gentleman of the tale is a wonderful character after all he is going to take on a strong-willed lady like Lily. It was written so well and I was entertained by the characters. Looking for steam this is not the one for you but it is a story that you should read I have enjoyed every minute spent this piece.
The lady in this tale is a bit older, not the standard beauty, and has a life of spinsterhood awaiting her. As it is so often plans do not work out the way you hope and that is what Lily experiences then again perhaps it is fate stepping in. Jack the gentleman of the tale is a wonderful character after all he is going to take on a strong-willed lady like Lily. It was written so well and I was entertained by the characters. Looking for steam this is not the one for you but it is a story that you should read I have enjoyed every minute spent this piece.
May 31, 2020
Book one in the Victorian Love series a well written story with a great storyline. This is a new Author to me, but I now want to read more by her. Lily Kingsley believes no one will ever want her so she writes a man saying she would like a kiss before he goes to Canada. But once in the library of her hosts home she kisses Jonathan/Jack Hatcher instead. These are two people who have a lot from their pasts to overcome in order to get their happy ending. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 24, 2020
Absolutely breathtaking! I've never been so touched as I did while reading this sweet romance. The characters were flawed according to the world's standards (Lily isn't skinny and talks to much and Jack is broody and lacks eloquence). They made for a perfect pair demonstrating that love isn't about appearances, but about the person making you better and seeing the real you. Such a refreshing book telling the truth that most of us can relate to.
August 22, 2023
“Marriage is not just about finances, social standing, or even love. It's two people banding together to become something greater than they can be alone."
Now THIS is more like it! Fewer characters gives this story the depth and complexity the previous book lacks. Jack Hatcher and Lily Kingsley are complete opposites in that he is taciturn and brooding, while she never had a thought she didn’t want to share…from several angles! But both are lonely and full of old wounds; quick to misunderstand and put the worst possible spin on others’ words or actions. A very unusual romance here, and a perfect treatise on marriage. Overall a delightful read that I couldn’t put down. (And nasty Phyllis gets her comeuppance!)
Now THIS is more like it! Fewer characters gives this story the depth and complexity the previous book lacks. Jack Hatcher and Lily Kingsley are complete opposites in that he is taciturn and brooding, while she never had a thought she didn’t want to share…from several angles! But both are lonely and full of old wounds; quick to misunderstand and put the worst possible spin on others’ words or actions. A very unusual romance here, and a perfect treatise on marriage. Overall a delightful read that I couldn’t put down. (And nasty Phyllis gets her comeuppance!)
May 28, 2020
Excited to have read a romance that didn’t included nobility or peerage.
This was a very sweet book that included some great characters like a very talkative heroine that had low self esteem and a very quiet hero who says he’s bad with words (but he’s actually a pretty smooth talker... just blunt). Very nicely done.
This was a very sweet book that included some great characters like a very talkative heroine that had low self esteem and a very quiet hero who says he’s bad with words (but he’s actually a pretty smooth talker... just blunt). Very nicely done.
February 4, 2024
3.75 stars
This is the third in the series and I’ve read the first which I gave a single star.
This is how you write a hero, this is how you write a sweet romance. He sews, can’t vocalize his feelings, she’s insecure and kind. They both struggle with self doubt and believing that loving is about how you act not what you say.
Enjoyable.
This is the third in the series and I’ve read the first which I gave a single star.
This is how you write a hero, this is how you write a sweet romance. He sews, can’t vocalize his feelings, she’s insecure and kind. They both struggle with self doubt and believing that loving is about how you act not what you say.
Enjoyable.
January 11, 2021
So Good!
Sometimes you have to write a review because you enjoy a book so much that you are tempted to start over at the beginning and read the book all over again. It’s THAT good of a story!
Sometimes you have to write a review because you enjoy a book so much that you are tempted to start over at the beginning and read the book all over again. It’s THAT good of a story!
March 16, 2023
3.5 This is the first book I have read by this author, and I really liked it. It’s a fun, clean, romance, perfect for a cold evening by the fire.
probado-y-no
April 10, 2024So, the hero is overcome with lust and kiss the heroine and when they are busted, he whined and nauseaum he had been tricked so he throw her to the wolves?
What???
I'm so sick of this... stuff.
What???
I'm so sick of this... stuff.
May 24, 2020
I absolutely loved this book! I will read more of MA Nichols! You better believe it! The characters were spot on! Thank you!
June 2, 2020
A fun story as Lily meets Jack and then the challenge of social conventions and everyone’s expectations some into play.
Clean and entertaining book as love tries to grow.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Clean and entertaining book as love tries to grow.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 19, 2020
Wonderful story!
As usual, M.A. has delivered a delightful book. The lead gentleman in this one reminds me so much of Mr. Darcy.
Loved this romance, the story and the ending. Off for more!
As usual, M.A. has delivered a delightful book. The lead gentleman in this one reminds me so much of Mr. Darcy.
Loved this romance, the story and the ending. Off for more!
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