The Pleasure of Your Kiss [Mass Market Paperback]

Teresa Medeiros (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 27, 2011

Some pleasures are worth any price...

Legendary adventurer Ashton Burke has roamed the globe for ten years trying to forget the spirited woman he left behind in England. His devil-may-care pursuits are interrupted, though, when he reluctantly agrees to retrieve his brother's kidnapped fiancée. Too late, he discovers his quarry is none other than Clarinda Cardew, the very same girl who made off with his jaded heart. 

The last thing Clarinda wants is to be trapped in a palace of sensual delights with the man whose irresistible kisses still haunt her sleepless nights. She quickly realizes that allowing Ashton to rescue her may put her yearning heart in even greater peril. In a journey both tantalizing and treacherous, Ashton and Clarinda resume the impetuous steps of their dangerous dance only to discover the most seductive pleasure of all may be love itself.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A seductive delight and a witty adventure overflowing with swift action, a lusty, exotic setting and plenty of hilarious, sometimes bawdy moments." Library Journal, Jan 2012

A Romantic Times TOP PICK! "A wildly thrilling tale of untamed passion. Medeiros holds onto readers' hearts with another winner!" Romantic Times, Jan 2012

"Absolutely delicious! Grabs your attention from the first sentence and doesn't let go. It will have you laughing, crying and even blushing. Charming characters, humor, tender love scenes, sizzling hot situations, a sexy setting, fast-paced adventure, plot twists and surprises. Don't miss this enchanting romp!" Romance Junkies, Jan 2012

"A cold shower might be necessary after reading this one. A delightful combination of humor, drama and romance!" SEDUCED BY A BOOK.com, Jan 2012

"Wonderfully romantic, a great novel and one of my favorites for 2011. Teresa Medeiros has now become one of my absolute favorites!" Night Owl Reviews, Dec 2011

"A spellbinding tale of love lost and found...The story's unusual setting is both exotic and luxurious. The lush descriptions of Middle Eastern food, dress and culture will absolutely enchant readers. But beware, what starts out as a quick, fun read, turns into a much deeper story that will have you reaching for the tissues."

-- RT Book Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star; Original edition (December 27, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439157898
• ISBN-13: 978-1439157893
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #313,814 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not my favorite by this author January 2, 2012

By silia

Format:Mass Market Paperback

It has been a while since I read Ms Medeiros books but as I recall, I liked them a lot. Therefore, when I saw this new book I instantly bought it without any research.

From the very beginning I was a little puzzled if her books had always been this way or if my tastes had changed. When the hero was described as having a "mocking grin" I started counting the phrases I find almost embarrassing to read. The historical aspect of the book is very Hollywood-ified, as the characters and their dialogue seemed very temporally unspecific. The mindset of all the characters could also be described as too modern for the era the book is supposed to be in. ANYWAY, once you understand most of the book is set in a sultan's harem/palace where the heroine has NOT been "ravished" or traumatized in any way, you realize that the whole thing is very much a fantasy/romance based on an idealized old Hollywood "Sheik" fantasy.

Minor points: I found the massage scene annoying as a very movie-plot sort of scene and I also found the way the heroine justifies turning off the man who helped her for almost her entire life very shallow.

Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this book but it really didn't make me care for the characters as I did for the author's previous works.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Winner! January 8, 2012

By ReadingIsSexy

Format:Mass Market Paperback

You know how your favorite authors seem to lose their steam after awhile? You get a little bored or their books just don't capture you anymore. I keep waiting for this to happen with Ms. Medeiros because I've enjoyed almost every single one of her books, but I am happy to say that she's still on a roll!

The Good:
In all honestly, yes, the beginning is stretching belief a bit far. However, it was also a breath of fresh air to read a historical romance that took us outside the "normal" setting of England. It was different and intriguing and fun.

I loved how the romance between Ashton and Clarinda slowly built throughout the book with snippets of how they met and the things they used to do to one another as children. It made the romance so much sweeter because you got a full picture of their lives. The whole ending of the book was really wonderful and made me sad, happy and gooey inside all at the same time.

The (kind of, not really) Bad:
Forgive me if I'm shallow, but I was a little disappointed that the love scene didn't come until the last 1/5th of the book, however the timing in terms of plot and character development was spot on.

Bottom Line:
If you are willing to ignore the somewhat implausible beginning I really think that you will be happy that you added this book to your collection. I can't wait for Max's story now!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars My first Regency romance, and I loved it! January 5, 2012

By MyBookishWays

Format:Mass Market Paperback

When Clarinda Cardew is kidnapped off a ship by the Corsairs, she's sure that she and her best friend and companion, Poppy, will be sold as slaves into a fate worse than death. However, they are rescued (after a fashion) by the handsome sultan Farouk, and whisked off to his palace in the desert. Keep in mind, it's 1834, and women aren't treated quite the way they are today. Farouk is enchanted by his new English Rose, and affords her all the luxury that his wealth has to offer, but she is essentially his prisoner, even if he calls her his guest. Clarinda is no shrinking violet though, and she realizes that she'll have to get with the program in order to eventually orchestrate her escape, even if that means being taught the art of sensual delight in service to the sultan. Luckily, her first love, Ashton Burke, is coming to her rescue. If only it weren't for that pesky engagement to his brother, Max...

The Pleasure of Your Kiss is my very first Regency romance, and in the spirit of trying new things in the new year, especially with books, I was happy to dive in. I'm so glad I did! The author is a pro at sexual tension, and Clarinda and Ash's back story isn't as black and white as you're led to think in the beginning, and this is played to the utmost effect. When Ash's brother, Max (yeahhh, about that...) hires him to find Clarinda and rescue her from the sultan, Ash doesn't feel like he can refuse, but he's terrified to see the girl that broke his heart almost 10 years earlier. Clarinda feels the exact same way about Ash though, and it's this tension that really keeps you glued to the pages. Well, that's not the only thing. The Moroccan locale is rich and exotic, and created the perfect backdrop for Clarinda and Ash's drama. I also really appreciated that Farouk wasn't made out to be terrible villain that you usually see in these kinds of scenarios. He's a product of his upbringing (and the pressures of his station), and he genuinely has feelings for Clarinda. However, Clarinda's best friend Poppy only has eyes for Farouk, and this storyline was great fun for me since I couldn't help but fall in love with the charming, underappreciated, and romantic Poppy. The Pleasure of Your Kiss also made me laugh, frequently, and that's always a plus for me. Ms. Medeiros is a pro, and it certainly shows in her writing. Yes, I love my dark fantasy and grey characters, but I'm a romantic at heart, and sometimes I like my happy endings. I found myself grinning like a fool at the end of The Pleasure of Your Kiss, and most of the pleasure is in getting there. This story reminded me a bit of an Indiana Jones movie crossed with Romancing the Stone (with some naughty thrown into the mix-I mean, come on, it takes place in a harem), and I enjoyed it immensely. Confident writing, exotic locations, and characters you can fall in love with mark this as a must read for romance, and adventure fans alike. I'm so happy I gave this one a try!