38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A nobleman hero & commoner heroine & they don't even care!, August 6, 2003
After the Kiss was such a splendid book! It is my second Karen Ranney book and much better than the previous one. This is a great romance story between two very likable characters. Both the hero and heroine are unique for romance writing and realistically portrayed.
Michael Hawthorne, Earl of Montraine, is your typical, very attractive, self-confident and sexy historical English hero. He hates attending events of the Season or any such formal party or ball. His similarities to the typical hero end there. He is actually looking for a wife. It's not that he likes the idea of marriage so much - rather - he accepts it as fate and knows his future bride will have to be a rich heiress. His family is in need of funds after his father's poor handling of their estates and his mother's tremendous overspending.
Margaret Esterly had been widowed several years earlier when a fire killed her husband and destroyed their home and bookstore. She has few funds to provide for her existence and lives the life of a poor woman. She has no ties to nobility and has no desire to even know anyone of that class. Margaret has in her possession three books that her husband had stored in their strong box prior to the devastating fire. Margaret had only been able to take the strong box with her as she barely escaped death. Now most of the money is gone and she must sell one of these valuable books.
These three books are a set of highly sensual journals and she locates a list of possible buyers her husband had left in one of the journals. She arranges the sale of the first journal and travels to London to deliver it. When Margaret arrives at the home of the buyer, she sees that he is hosting a masquerade ball. After she completes the sale, she creeps into a garden to get a glimpse of the ball. While catching that peek of a masquerade ball in all its grandeur, the hero, Michael, spots Margaret and the two share an interesting interlude while dancing in the garden. Within a few moments of their meeting, Margaret flees to her hired hack and proceeds home. Behind her, Michael is left desiring her company and cannot forget her. He is determined to find her and claim that kiss she had almost given him prior to the interruption that had made her run away.
Michael is basically a genius at mathematics and breaking codes. Although he is an earl, rank is of little importance to him. Most of his friends are not even members of the ton. He doesn't even require a wife that is a part of London society. However, he is viewed as a very serious man that is not overly friendly. In fact, his persistent look of brooding scares the ladies a little although they remain very attracted to him. His near obsession of Margaret really rankles him. He is used to a very structured life and is very self disciplined. His logical pursuit of a wife has become a necessity. But Margaret has a way of making him illogical. Margaret, in turn, is very drawn to Michael but does not believe they will ever have a relationship. Although Michael wants her for his mistress, she flatly refuses and will not consider any of his arguments.
The tale of Michael and Margaret is a fascinating one. Michael does tend to be dominating and Margaret leans to sugariness but both are very balanced characters and mature. This is a book about their romance. Although there is the usual villain in the background, the author spends little time on the suspense or secondary characters. We are treated with page after page of great interaction between the two. That is definitely the way I most love romance writing. We are allowed time to see their relationship grow and there are no silly misunderstandings. The leads communicate truthfully with one another and genuinely like each other's company. There are some good sensual scenes that rate a solid 4.0 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines).
There are not that many books that come so close to my idea of perfection in romance writing but this one does. Although After the Kiss is not one of my all time favorite books, it still has a definite place on my keeper shelf. I know I will enjoy reading this book more than once. And that is about the best thing I can say about any book.
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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow, what a fantasy, February 24, 2001
By A Customer
Karen Ranney has created the perfect hero in Michael Hawthorne, Earl of Montraine. Margaret Esterly, a young woman widowed and poverty stricken following a fire which destroyed her bookstore, has managed to save only three volumes of rare erotica. She must sell them to survive. While bringing the first of them to a wealthy earl, she and Montraine meet accidentally. Amidst their love story lurks a mystery. The writing is intelligent and lyrical, the love scenes lushly erotic, the mystery deftly woven through the plot. A wonderful, can't put it down read.
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sweet love story and terrific sensuality, October 14, 2000
By A Customer
Karen Ranney has carefully sculpted a gentle love story about two lonely souls who are destined for each other. I have read all of Ms. Ranney's books and this is the best by far. Margaret, a woman widowed by a violent fire, seeks to enrich her meager living by selling a rare book of erotic to a titled gentleman. In the process, she meets a stranger - a lonely man who believes he must mary an heiress to save his family's fortune.
The characters are well drawn - even the secondary ones. The main characters are both lovable and real. There is a sense of sweet sexuality that pervades the book, even while the hero and heroine are getting to know each other and overcoming the problems in their relationship.
If you are a fan of Christina Dodd, Stephanie Laurens or Julia Quinn, I highly recommend this book. It is a sweet and satisfying read.
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