Customer Reviews

His Wicked Kiss

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a long awaited historical by Ms. Foley, "His Wicked Kiss" was more than worth the wait. The pinnacle of this wonderful series takes readers on a spectacular voyage of oceanic proportions. Make way for the story of Black-Jack Knight, scourge of the Knight family-or is he?

Eden Farraday is tired of her rugged existence in the wilds of Venezuela. Her father, brilliant though he is, has finally gone round the bend. He wants to take them even further into the untamed lands, into the very heart of the forbidden Amazon! Craving a life amongst London society, Eden is determined to escape her mad father. When the infamous Jack Knight floats downriver to their settlement, Eden hatches a plan to stow away. Her plan becomes reality when he refuses aid, forcing her to hide on his ship. Jack discovers the untamed beauty, and finding the close quarters of ship and berth too much to resist, the two embark on a journey of survival and discovery-of the heart. Someone pursues Eden though, a dangerous man not of mind to give her up. Enemies lurk as Jack further involves himself in the war between Venezuela and Spain. Can their differences be set aside and most important-can Jack learn to trust in love?

Many readers wondered as they savored Ms Foley's Knight series-will we ever read about the elusive Jack? Jack's story is the best of the series to date and this reader couldn't have come away more pleased. Appearances are not always what they seem, something Jack proves in his vulnerabilities. His reputation precedes him, but it does not define him. Eden is a rare lady; one raised without the negative and twisted attitudes of society. Her fresh approach to life is the catalyst for Jack's healing. Foley uses rich dialogue and plotting to engage the reader from start to finish. A superb example of a writer that improves more with every book. But is this the end of our beloved Knights? Why, no! Stay tuned for three more Knights, cousins, Georgina, Gabriel and Derek.

K. Montgomery
Official Reviewer for The Mystic Castle

Like many of Ms Foley's fans, I have been very much looking forward to second son and blacksheep Jack Knight's story since he was first mentioned in THE DUKE. I think Ms Foley really delivered in the way she developed Jack's character, the way his childhood affected him and in the way he built his business empire. I think pairing him with the wonderfully open and optimistic but lonely Eden was also genius. I loved the opening setting in Venezuela amid Bolivar's insurgency against Spain and the subsequent voyage to England on Jack's ship was great. So what's the problem? The last third of the book.

As another reviewer mentioned, the first two-thirds of this book are fantastic! Five stars good IMO. Jack Knight, owner of a far-flung and profitable shipping enterprise is also occasionally a supporter of causes and he believes in Bolivar's revolt against Spain. Jack has secreted guns to the rebels and has also promised to recruit and deliver mercenaries from England and Ireland to fight with Bolivar. While traveling down river back to his ship he and his crew come upon an amazing sight. A lovely young woman sitting high up in a tree in the rainforest along the Orinoco!

She is Eden Faraday, daughter of renown doctor and naturalist Victor Faraday, and she is desperate to return to civilization. She's been living here in the middle of nowhere for twelve years and she longs to travel to England, wear beautiful gowns, attends balls, have a season. She asks Jack to take her back with him, but he refuses. Undaunted, she stows away on his ship only to be discovered two weeks into the trip. She and Jack are immediately attracted to one another and so a really nice relationship begins and then grows for the duration of the journey. They become friends and confidantes sharing their difficult childhoods, their mutual loneliness, and eventually become lovers. All's well until they arrive off the coast of Ireland and Jack's fears get the better of him.

As with many stories that start out in exotic locales, they tend to lose their sparkle once the action moves back to England. In this case, it's the characters who seem to change from the people we got to know on the voyage home. Suddenly Jack is completely uncommunicative and Eden has lost all empathy with his feelings and the issues that make him tick. They become almost childish in their lack of trust in one another which is in stark contrast to how they related to one another before. I was so disappointed that these conflicts were contrived in order to set up the climax of the story. And though I was interested in "catching up" with the other siblings, their blissful domesticity and universally beautiful children made my teeth ache. And peppered throughout were references to her next trilogy of stories involving Jack's Knight cousins from India, Gabriel, Derek and Georgie.

Bottom line, for the first 280 pages or so I LOVED this book. Jack and Eden were great together until they reached civilization. I loved Jack's Uncle Arthur (whose advice Jack should have followed) and I liked how Lucien and Damien assisted Jack in his endeavors. And the villain of the piece was not her usual one dimensional eeeevil creep, but was just freakin' crazy! Recommended with caveats.

An exciting start, likeable leads, and lots of fascinating historical details quickly involved me in this adventure-filled romance. It is the seventh book in Foley's "Knights Miscellany" series, and focuses on black sheep Jack Knight. Jack is the product of an extramarital affair between the promiscuous Duchess of Hawkscliffe and an Irish prizefighter. The Duke claimed him as his son, but his true parentage was widely known. Jack had a loveless childhood, treated as an outcast by his parents and society alike and, at seventeen, left home angry and disillusioned when the girl he loved refused him due to his inferior pedigree. Now twenty years later, the mysterious Jack is a wealthy, world-hardened and powerful shipping merchant based in Jamaica. He has never married, preferring to keep his liaisons temporary and procurable.

Jack is visiting Venezuela, where he secretly meets with Bolivar's rebels and agrees to sail to England to obtain needed assistance for them. He has not set foot in England all these years, and lives in dread of it. On his way to his ship, he stumbles upon Eden Farraday in the Venezuelan jungle. The red-haired beauty has been toiling in the wilds with her scientist father for twelve lonely years and is desperate to return to England, but her father refuses. Eden and Jack are immediately attracted to one another - Jack is more captivated by this sweet, smart and resourceful angel than he can ever remember being. She pleads with him to take her with him, but Jack reluctantly leaves her behind. The cynical and solitary Jack does not want any woman on his ship, and his mission must be kept a secret from outsiders. Eden sees her only chance at freedom, so she runs away and eventually sneaks aboard Jack's ship. When it's too late to turn back, Jack discovers his tempting stowaway. Compelled to protect her in his own cabin, how long can he keep his distance, when maybe this angel is just what he needs?

I very much like this novel for about two-thirds of the way. The leads are charming, and the villains are less dark and pervasive than some earlier books in this series - which is a good thing. The shipboard yearning and passion between the love-struck couple is quite enjoyable. I appreciate that the inexperienced Eden is no goodie-two-shoes and can hold her own with the worldly Jack. The love scenes are a little hard-edged, but not overly so. The many historical details add heft and interest to the story, and Jack's troubled past and the promise of a reunion with his family keep the reader involved. However, Eden's unjustified resistance and thoughtless behavior once they arrive is annoying, and is inconsistent with her fine character up until this point. It is used to lengthen the story and the romance, detracting from both. Although I feel this book is worth reading, and all turns out well in the end, less could have been so much more.

About six months before One Night of Sin hit bookshelves, I began reading Gaelen Foley, starting with The Pirate Prince and ending with Devil Takes a Bride in less than a month. After reading Pirate Prince, I was hooked, though I have to admit none of her heroes (while all likeable and admirable in their own right) quite lived up to Lazar in my eyes, though Lucien from Lord of Fire and Devlin Strathmore from Devil Takes a Bride almost made it ... but not quite. Then, along came His Wicked Kiss and Lord Jack Knight, the black sheep of the Knight family ...

Throughout the Knight family saga, Foley deftly built the anticipation for Jack's story, throwing in juicy tidbits here and there that whetted the reader's appetite for more. Why was he the proverbial black sheep? Why had he left England so many years ago? Was his black reputation deserved? If I'd begun reading the Knight Miscellany series back when The Duke was published, I admit I'd probably have gotten really impatient waiting for Lord Jack's story. As it was, I only had to wait a year and half, though I secretly wondered if Foley, despite being a mesmerizing story teller, could live up to the anticipation she'd created for bad boy Jack.

I ask myself now how I could've ever doubted Foley's ability to tell a story worth reading, no matter the hype. With Lord Jack, she has created a hero that stands a step above Lazar - certainly not an easy feat, at least in my opinion. Despite the fact that her plots are always intriguing, I would have to say Foley's true talent resides in her characterization, and her ability to make a reader fall in love with her characters.

Bad boy Jack is everything I hoped he could be - a cynical man, tortured by his past that has no use for attachment, much like Lazar. In Jack's opinion, attachment equals heartache. He's learned that lesson too many times, and thus he has hardened his heart and isolated himself from any genuine commitment to people, especially women. Jilted at a young age by an empty headed female who thought only of attaining a title, Jack never lets himself fall in love. Women are used for carnal pleasure, and he leaves without a backward glance. In fact, he never stays in one place long enough to form any kind of true bond with a woman ... until he meets Eden Farraday.

Eden, the daughter of a famed doctor who has all but secluded himself in the Venezuelan jungles researching potential medical cures, is isolated from society. She accompanied her father to the Orinoco Delta at a young age, following the death of her mother. Living in virtual wilderness and seclusion, Eden can wield a pistol or machete as well as any man, learning at a young age how to protect herself from the hazardous creatures of the jungle. In addition to this, being the daughter of a famed physician and scientist, she has far more than two brain cells to rub together and isn't afraid to show it.

On a secret mission in which Jack plans to recruit British mercenaries and soldiers to help fight for the Venezuelan rebels against Spain, Jack encounters Eden and is immediately enchanted by this woman who bears no resemblance to the society misses he is so familiar with. Aside from a strong willed female who can fend for herself, Jack finds a woman desperately in need of human companionship. She longs for London and society. Her father had promised to take her back to England, but reneged on his promise, saying instead he was planning a foolhardy mission into the Amazon. Desperate, Eden asks if Jack will take her back to England. Because of the secrecy surrounding his mission, Jack refuses, but Eden is not deterred. She stows away on his mighty gun ship, destined for England. Upon finding her stowed away, Jack is angry but cannot suppress his desire or his pride at how well Eden can fare for herself. She is unique - an "oddball" of sorts - and he cannot help his attraction.

The plot itself is both solid and exciting, but it is not this aspect which makes this book such a gem. It is the protagonists of the story and their chemistry. Jack is every inch the bad boy you'd expect him to be, but underneath a rough exterior lies a heart of gold. Eden is a formidable heroine, convincingly independent and strong - she practically grew up in the jungle, after all. But she is not a fool. Eden Farraday is a heroine a reader can easily admire and love for her strength of character and fierce loyalty. She is not ridiculously argumentative, but she stands her ground, and rightfully so. It is easy to see how these two fall in love, and it is a delight to witness it. One can conceivably see how Eden could break through Jack's defenses, and how he could give his heart wholly to this woman.

And though this is easily a stand alone novel, those who have read the Knight family saga will find a wonderful spattering of visits with former characters. The reunion between Jack and his family is sweet as well as an absolute joy as Foley is able to liberally sprinkle this novel with mentions of nearly everyone in the Knight family.

Though merely an opinion, I cannot speak highly enough for Gaelen Foley. She is a master of the genre, and while I have enjoyed everything she has written, His Wicked Kiss has become a favorite. Foley has taken her storytelling to an entirely new level with this novel, and I doubt that any new reader or any dedicated reader of her work could possibly be disappointed by this offering - a deft combination of tightly woven plot, heated romance, and sparkling characters.

If you're like me, and didn't particularly like Gaelen Foley's more recent additions to her Knight series, please give this one a try! His Wicked Kiss is Foley's best book since The Duke, maybe her best ever.

I loved this one because the romance between Jack and Eden was so captivating. I enjoy romance novels for many reasons, but it's a rare book that succeeds in telling a beautiful love story, a romance in the real sense of the word. Jack is the hero that we always want, but seldom get. The black sheep of the Knight family meets his match in Eden, a stowaway on his ship, and slowly learns how to trust after a lifetime of rejection and heartbreak. Jack tries to convince her that he's the villain that everyone believes, but Eden easily sees through this act and quickly grows to love him for being the honorable, brave and complicated man that he is.

Toward the end, the little misunderstandings between Jack and Eden are rather frustrating, but Foley's easily forgiven after creating such fascinating characters and such a memorable love story.

Eden Farraday has spent the last ten years living in the jungles of South America. She longs and wishes for the time that she and her father will return to London. Eden wants to live the life of society and perhaps find a man to love. Her father though has different ideas about this plan and when Eden sees her chance of escaping the potential war zone they call home she takes it. She stows away on Black Jack Knights ship. They meant briefly and their time together left her breathless and hungry for more. But once she stows away she worries...what will Jack do when he finds her? They have an ocean crossing to get through and plenty of time to come to terms with what is between them. But will Jack who has vowed never to allow a person close to him ever again accept the gift of Eden's love and will he trust her with his very badly battered heart?

Ms. Foley is an automatic buy for me for numerous reasons. The first and foremost is her characters. I loved Jack from the very beginning and the dance Eden and Jack performed while falling in love was enchanting. Add to this romantic and exotic locals, entertaining secondary stories and the chance to revisit with the rest of the Knight Clan and you have a winner for sure. Ms. Foley has a wonderful talent when it comes to penning stories readers will positively fall in love with. I can't wait for her next effort!

Gaelen Foley has outdone herself with this last of the Knight series. Starting with The Duke and breezing ravenously through the following five delicious books of this series, on it's release date I picked up His Wicked Kiss. Jack rules. Gaelen has written a truly fine grand finale of this family wonderfully. Kudos! It is so obvious why you are now on the New York Times Best Sellers extended list. You should soar to the top. Jack and Eden stole my heart. Of course, Gaelen, so did Robert, Lucien, Damien, Jacinda, Lizze, Alec and then came Jack Knight. If I could, I would give it six stars.

I agree with a lot of the other reviews that this book started off great but it just fizzled. The "misunderstandings" between Jack and Eden after they go to london seemed so trivial that it didn't make sense for them to fight about it. Eden's lack of understanding about Jack's problems and the way she shut him out was very annoying. Her character developed from a sweet, quirky girl that lived in the jungle to a superficial, cold shrew!

I really liked the other Knight books in this series, but this one just didn't do it for me. I liked "The Duke" the best, "Lord of Ice" is pretty intriguing, and "Lady of Desire" had me laughing aloud.

Without planning on it, I spent the second half of my weekend reading His Wicked Kiss because I could not put the book down for long. I was drawn into the story from the very beginning, when Eden Farraday meets Captain Jack Knight in a rain forest in Venezuela. She is desperate to escape the jungle, and stows away on his boat to return to England. Once discovered, Eden proves to be a worthy match to Captain Jack. She is not a shrinking violet (or orchid, in this case) and she avoids many of the mistakes that a less intelligent heroine would make.

Almost every aspect of the book - the character development, the locations, the pacing of the story, the chemistry between the characters, and the supporting cast - were very good. However, I do agree with some other reviewers that the book breaks down a bit at the end, when Eden and Jack have a series of misunderstandings that seem contrived and out-of-character. For that I would deduct a half star from my review, for an overall rating of 4.5 stars.

I have not read any of Gaelen Foley's other novels, but I will start to read her backlist now.

Gaelen Foley is one of the best historical romance writers out there. She has the ability to fully convey what a place looks like, as well as exactly describing how the characters are feeling.

The first third of the book is set in the tropics and is lushly described. I can understand how her father obsessed with dedicating his life to finding cures in the jungle, while at the same time making the selfish decision not to return to London.

I thought it was appropriate that Jack found his soul-mate deep in the jungle instead of in the civilized world. This fits his character well. I fully enjoyed when Eden and Jack got to Ireland/London. I understood why Eden was so hurt by Jack's decision to leave her at the castle. That was the third time the men in her life had let her down.

Once in London, it was nice how Jack attended all the social events with Eden. I felt that Jack was so thoughtful of Eden's dreams.

Gaelen Foley writes the most sensual love scenes. I love how I was shocked by what Jack told Eden what her maid wanted to do to him!

The ending with Connor coming to claim Eden and kill Jack was exciting.

Gaelen Foley remains one of my autobuys.