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mary00's review against another edition
3.0
Light, fluffy, predictable and clean fun. This regency romance provided a nice little escape from the dreary January weather.
madisonwray's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
cooki3_monst3r's review against another edition
2.0
Cute and short, though the two MC’s lack of basic communication skills infuriated me.
The “villian” was also two dimensional and I would have preferred more depth to understand why he was so awful.
The “villian” was also two dimensional and I would have preferred more depth to understand why he was so awful.
cburgbennett's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. The uncle was beyond vile. And the name Crispin made me so mad since my daughter has a TY gingerbread man named Crispin
kylastearns's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like this book would've been good, but if I'm being honest, this is how I pictured the main love interest.
so yeah, it was kind of ruined for me. I also hate to say that I still did NOT like the main love interest by the end of the book.
so yeah, it was kind of ruined for me. I also hate to say that I still did NOT like the main love interest by the end of the book.
jeweledrust's review against another edition
3.0
My actual rating is a 2.5.
This book needs a trigger warning for domestic violence. The FMC (female main character) has a verbally and physically abusive uncle. There are several instances where we are told how he hits and mistreats her and there are also instances where we *see* him hitting her in front of other characters. I personally felt okay reading it, but I would not recommend this book to anyone with out a domestic violence disclaimer.
I first read this about 10ish years ago as a teen and really enjoyed it. Revisiting it now, I'm less impressed. Crispin is a fine character, but we're constantly told that he "doesn't understand" why he feels a specific way about Catherine. That phrase is used over and over and as a reader it was frustrating to not have Crispin actually do any meaningful internal reflection even though he kept asking himself questions that SHOULD have led to introspection.
The book also centers around the miscommunication trope which I thoroughly dislike. The book could have been cut in half if the characters just asked each other 'how do YOU feel about this situation?' Instead, we have pages and pages of both characters (mainly Crispin) assuming how the other MC feels. It was honestly a bit exhausting. Likewise, the characters had two or three inside jokes that were repeated throughout the book without really being expanded upon. I just wish there was more tenderness, sensitivity, and jokes between the MC's to help build the tension!
Honestly I think this is a fine book if you like the miscommunication trope. I personally got a bit tired about halfway through and almost DNF'd it, but I felt determined to write a review so I pressed on XD. The writing is decent and the characters are likeable enough. If you want to read a clean romance (and domestic violence isn't a deal breaker) The Kiss of a Stranger is definitely a viable option!
This book needs a trigger warning for domestic violence. The FMC (female main character) has a verbally and physically abusive uncle. There are several instances where we are told how he hits and mistreats her and there are also instances where we *see* him hitting her in front of other characters. I personally felt okay reading it, but I would not recommend this book to anyone with out a domestic violence disclaimer.
I first read this about 10ish years ago as a teen and really enjoyed it. Revisiting it now, I'm less impressed. Crispin is a fine character, but we're constantly told that he "doesn't understand" why he feels a specific way about Catherine. That phrase is used over and over and as a reader it was frustrating to not have Crispin actually do any meaningful internal reflection even though he kept asking himself questions that SHOULD have led to introspection.
The book also centers around the miscommunication trope which I thoroughly dislike. The book could have been cut in half if the characters just asked each other 'how do YOU feel about this situation?' Instead, we have pages and pages of both characters (mainly Crispin) assuming how the other MC feels. It was honestly a bit exhausting. Likewise, the characters had two or three inside jokes that were repeated throughout the book without really being expanded upon. I just wish there was more tenderness, sensitivity, and jokes between the MC's to help build the tension!
Honestly I think this is a fine book if you like the miscommunication trope. I personally got a bit tired about halfway through and almost DNF'd it, but I felt determined to write a review so I pressed on XD. The writing is decent and the characters are likeable enough. If you want to read a clean romance (and domestic violence isn't a deal breaker) The Kiss of a Stranger is definitely a viable option!
morganj's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sarah_moynihan's review against another edition
3.0
I recently read one of the books from this series and adored it, so I decided to continue on with the rest of the series. I started at the beginning obviously, with this prequel to the series.
I loved the banter and snark between Crispin and Charlotte. Charlotte has had such a tough life since her father passed, I really felt for her. If she had to get stuck in such a situation, I was really glad that it was with a man like Crispin and that she could find such a good amd supportive friend in her sister-in-law, Lizzie.
I almost gave this book 4 stars, but I think that it got drawn out a little unnecessarily with the constant conflict through misunderstanding and lack of communication. It got to be too much for me. Plus the uncle, was so much of a vilian. Besides his bitterness for having to take on the responsibility of his niece and his greed, his evil didn't really seem to have enough of a driving force for him to reach the levels he did.
I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
I loved the banter and snark between Crispin and Charlotte. Charlotte has had such a tough life since her father passed, I really felt for her. If she had to get stuck in such a situation, I was really glad that it was with a man like Crispin and that she could find such a good amd supportive friend in her sister-in-law, Lizzie.
I almost gave this book 4 stars, but I think that it got drawn out a little unnecessarily with the constant conflict through misunderstanding and lack of communication. It got to be too much for me. Plus the uncle, was so much of a vilian. Besides his bitterness for having to take on the responsibility of his niece and his greed, his evil didn't really seem to have enough of a driving force for him to reach the levels he did.
I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
flowersofquiethappiness's review
3.0
This had just the right amount of sweetness to keep me in enthralled. Catherine and Crispin were pretty adorable together. Yet, there were times I also felt I got a little whiplash as Catherine seemed a bit inconsistent. I didn't always understand her reactions and that frustrated me. But overall I could overlook it and just enjoy the journey of these two characters finding all they could ever want in each other. A sweet and charming read.
katie_chandler's review against another edition
3.0
Family recommended this book to me years ago, and it's been on my to-read list since. Though I've read many of Eden's other books, it took me awhile to read this because I would have preferred to rent it from the library. Instead I purchased the Kindle version, which I slightly regret. The book was entertaining, but also frustrating and cheesy and entirely predictable.
The beginning of the book felt like a short story. It rushed through introductions to the main problem. Then so many chapters of coy non-communication, which is one of my biggest book/movie pet peeves.
The beginning of the book felt like a short story. It rushed through introductions to the main problem. Then so many chapters of coy non-communication, which is one of my biggest book/movie pet peeves.