Customer Reviews

Stolen Kisses

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book was a good read. Its a love story between Lilith and Jack the Marquis of Dansbury (the hunk) Lilith's family is determined that she marry a duke to restore the family's reputation but she falls in love with Jack the scandalous rake. Her father and aunt insist she have nothing to do with him. Jack decides he wants to become respectable so he can get near this women (When he falls off the wagon it is funny!) I loved the way Jack was so protective of Lilith and when things go wrong for Lilith she always runs into the arms of Jack. The book started out somewhat slow, but I give it 5 stars because once the pace picked up I really enjoyed the book.

While it may be true that this novel does have a few unbelievable moments as far as Regency England's rules are concerned, the romance and characters will by far make up for this. Jack Faraday, a rake who falls head over heels for the lady he is trying seduce is a very romantic character. Lilith, while remaining sensible and intelligent, gives in to her heart. The witty repartee and seduction scenes make this a must read. I had limited my romance reading to a particular set of authors (McNaught, Lindsey, Curtis(London), Deveraux, and Quick)and was agonizingly waiting around for a new release. I decided to try a new author in Suzanne Enoch, and I am glad that I did. I plan to read more of her novels.

I have read all Suzanne's books except the ones that are so greatly overpriced in the used section. But I wanted to read another "Reforming a Rake", so I took a chance on paying way too much for this book. Definitely not worth it. It was nothing special at all. What an unpleasant surprise!! It wasn't awful, though, just not worth the extra expense (or the anticipataion)

As a true Regency romance this book is a fake. While the story is well plotted and potentially exciting, everything else is wrong !
The characters do things that would simply not have been done in Regency England by members of the upper classes. It is therefore very difficult for the reader to suspend disbelief at some of the incidents described. - The critical scene, where the virginal heroine is molested in her own home behind closed doors, could just not have happened. No butler worth his salt would dream of admitting a gentleman caller in the absence of the young lady's parents, much less leave them alone together. The excuse that the staff had been given time off is not credible either - when the family were in residence, staff did not have "time off".

The language feels all wrong too. In her attempt at "English" colloquialism, she attributes to her characters the idioms of the lower classes. No English lady would have used the word "Quid" (and still would not today), to quote just one example.

If, unlike myself, you are not so closely acquainted with English history, social customs and the peculiarities of idiomatic language as to be irritated by the author's style, you will be able to enjoy this story for what it is meant to be: fast-paced, romantic, humourous and adventurous with a murder mystery thrown in !

Good character development even with the secondary characters. Enjoyable and entertaining dialogue. Good romantic tension. Fun to get lost in.

This is a very typical Suzanne Enoch book. Familial obligations and desire for respectably drive the main female character. While the male protagonist is a scoundrel, who reforms himself in the name of love.

As the book progresses, Lilith's starts to realize that respectability and duty to one's family should not supersede happiness and sees that her family is simply using her; she is nothing to them, but a ticket to respectability; she also realizes that behind a veneer of respectability, ugliness can lurk. Jack, on the other hand, deals with reconciliation with his family (brother-in-law) and feelings of quilt over having murdered, in self-defense, a woman he thought he loved.

I personally enjoyed Jack a lot more than Lilith. He was the one who drove the witty banter. He was the one who "opened the eyes" of not just Lilith, but her brother as well. He was good, honorable, and considerate. He was the one who pretty much made the book.

Lilith is eighteen-years-old. That, for me, is an instant no no. I do not like such young virginal female leads. And although her character wasn't bad, it wasn't anything special either. Yes, she is outspoken, but only to Jack mind, because he is not a suitable suitor. What does that say - it says she is a hypocrite. She can speak her mind only if you aren't in possession of a very lofty title and an imagine of respectability. But towards the end, in all fairness, she redeems herself; she grows a backbone and goes after what she wants not her family. Yeah!

As to the attraction and sizzling element of this novel - Enoch is a PG rated author, in my opinion. None of the works that I have read from her have had much sizzle. The sex scenes are glossed over, not delved into. I like hot.

Overall though, this is not a book I would not recommend. It is simply a book that may appeal to some who expect more of a murder mystery drive, self-exploration, and, at the end, uncharacteristic of that time period female behavior. If that is what you are looking for, then pick this up. If you expect more then look elsewhere.

I really enjoyed this one! Jack was a great, hot hero. I enjoyed Lilith once we got to know her a little better...though I wanted to slap her; why on earth would she want to stay away from Jack?! (Yeah, I know - to further the story - but still....) When Jack and Lilith are involved in a duke's death (he deserved it!), the story really gets rolling. I will definitely be searching on more books from Enoch.

I had just finished Reforming A Rake(LOVED IT!)when I decided to try something else by Suzanne Enoch. This led me to Stolen Kisses. While Stolen Kisses is not as blatantly humorous as Reforming a Rake, I believe it came into its own. While there were some period discrepencies, I was willing to overlook them because I was enjoying the story. They didn't jerk me out of the story like they did to some of the other reviewers. As a love interest, I found Jack to be clever, desireable & ultimately honorable.

Jack Faraday is given the cut direct by Lilith as they are introduced. This infuriates him so much (NO ONE treats HIM in such a manner) that he seeks his revenge by intending to seduce her. Lilith, honoring familiar demands that she marry for a title and social position, looks for a husband from the ton elite. She strives to stay away from Jack who has suddenly made himself available at every turn. While he is a Marquis, his name is embroiled in scandel. This is a fact that would bother Lilith's family and had never actually bothered Jack, until he met Lilith. The electricity flies between them and I found this to be a genuinely fun book.

As a devoted reader of Regency Romance novels I must say that Jack Faraday, Marquis of Dansbury, has to be high on the list of the top ten rouges - if not right there! You have to love him!

Across a the crowded ballroom of Almacks, on a lost bet with his mistriss, Jack Faraday, spotted the most stunning lady he had ever seen, Lilith Benton, known as the Ice Queen. Thinking he would see just how icy she could be, he sauntered across the ballroom thinking to do a little melting! He met his match as upon hearing his name, which had the most notorious scandal attached to it, Lilith gave him the most publicly scathingly set down and cut he had ever experienced! Jack furiously decided then and there that ruining her, would be be his revenge!

Lilith has for the past few years, been doing everything in her power to make a perfectly respectable marriage and restore her family's good name - any association with the notorious Marquis would hinder all her good intentions and she was determined to ignore him. Jack on the other hand, was just as determined to tumble down her defenses and the excellent scenes so brilliantly dialogued are priceless!

As the story goes on and Lilith begins to thaw, and Jack begins to have second thoughts of her ruination they both band together in trying to avoid scandal over a Dukes accidental death. Great reading and a super story! Definitely on my keeper shelf!

Normally I would not give a bad review to an author that is usually so terrific, but some scalpers, (yes, you know who you are) are asking ridiculous amounts of money for this book! I got an interlibrary loan for the book and I was so glad I did. I was not impressed with the hero at all and I found it to be not near as enjoyable as her other books. I had came close to spending twice what it originally cost until I remembered my library option. Now, the cost has skyrocketed even more. Don't spend the extra money, ladies. Although I liked the heroine, I got half way through the book and gave up. Her other books however, are fabulous.