Customer Reviews

Traitor's Kiss/Lover's Kiss (Pennistan Family)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've been reading Regencies for 40 years. Traitor's Kiss is up there with the best of them. Complex characters, witty dialogue, adventure. Plenty of romance but not swamped in pages of clinical sex scenes that border on porn that appear in many best-selling historical romances nowadays, which I dislike. Lover's Kiss is very good too, but the story is more subtle and the pace of the story is somewhat of a contrast to Traitor's Kiss. Just when it seems impossible to find the kind of intelligent, well written historical romance I love to read, I'm thrilled to find Mary Blayney. I couldn't disagree more with the one-star review.

Like Jane Stewart, this review is only on Traitor's Kiss, but other than that I could not disagree more with her assessment of this story. I won't give the story synopsis, because others have done that very well.

There were, indeed, few "smiles and chuckles" in Traitor's Kiss, but this was a dramatic and emotional story. There was excitement and danger, narrow escapes and surprises. The tone of the story was consistent and appropriate. This was essentially a character-driven book, the story of how two strong characters gradually forgive themselves for their pasts and gradually allow themselves to love each other.

I found Charlotte, the heroine, to be a fascinating character, a woman you know from the beginning is more than she seems to be. I loved how Blayney allowed the reader (and the hero) to learn about her in gradually unpeeling layers. Through the drama of the prison rescue, both Charlotte and Gabriel assess each other's character. That forms the basis of the attraction they both feel.

Blayney's style of connecting events in the story is not heavy-handed. Readers who skim the book are likely to miss some of the connections Blayney makes between events. I never felt like Blayney was telling, not showing, the events of the story. On the contrary, I thought the way Blayney connected events was masterful.

To top off a thoroughly fascinating and satisfying story, Blayney's prose was a pleasure to read. I loved it.

"Traitor's Kiss". In 1813 France, English scientist Gabriel Pennistan is imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. His brother offers money to Charlotte Parnell to get him safely out of France. She frees him from the jail and escorts him from Paris to Le Havre with danger every step of the way. As they complete their escape to the Channel, they begin to fall in love. However after a great night of lovemaking, Charlotte vanishes; Gabriel vows to find his beloved.

"Lover's Kiss". In 1816 although retired from espionage, former soldier Michael Garrett proves he still has his skills when he rescues a nearly totally nude Lady Olivia Pennistan from abduction. Her brothers persuade him to protect their sister, offering him money. He accepts the duty, as he wants her safe, but has doubts about a fee. As they fall in love, Michael knows his lower social class must keep them apart; Olivia thinks otherwise and begins a campaign that the military would admire.

These two exhilarating Pennistan family Regency romances are well written, filled with plenty of action and star great courageous lead characters. Sub-genre fans will enjoy both super tales.

Harriet Klausner

Terri of Night Owl Romance - © Night Owl Romance 2007-2008

[...]

Traitor's Kiss 4 / 5 Hearts

Gabriel Pennistan is a man of science. He enjoys studying things and paying attention to detail. This desire to learn had him travel to Portugal, though Europe was in the mist of a war with Napoleon, to learn about astronomy. While there his mentor urged him to do good for mankind. Upon the mentor's death, Gabriel takes this lesson to heart and approaches Wellington about buying a commission in the Army. Wellington asks if Gabriel could instead travel about as a man of science and collect details that he might use. Gabriel agrees and now finds himself in a French prison in Le Havre. Is he a man of science? A spy? A murder? Or all three?

Charlotte Parnell needs money and will do just about anything to get it. She's also a master of disguises. So, when she is asked to help of man of science escape from prison for a large sum of money, she doesn't hesitate to take it. What she finds is not the man she expected. Still a job is a job and she is determined to deliver Gabriel to England.

Georges is Charlotte's right hand man. He's right there with her all the way through all of her adventures. But what exactly is he to Charlotte?

This book is divided into two sections. The first deals with getting Gabriel out of France and dodging the French troops, a horny officer and unexpected allies. The second section is once Gabriel is back in England where several high placed men are trying to get him hung for being a traitor! Once again, unexpected allies appear as well as one very good master of disguises.

I enjoyed this book.

The characters were believable. When Charlotte explains that if she walks around town with a very low cut dress no one notices who she is with because they are all too busy watching her, you know she has thought this through and knows how to play this role. Gabriel's reaction to the first hot bath that he has had in months is perfect. I think we all know that ahh feeling. The men trying Gabriel are also perfect. Seven men are died and Gabriel was the last to see them alive. They have to blame someone so who better than Gabriel?

And who is the real Charlotte or is Charlotte even a real person? Why are they taking children with them to England? Where did these children come from? What is going on? Why does Charlotte need all this money? Poor Gabriel, these are the questions he is trying to figure out as Charlotte disappears from his life seconds after arriving in England. Better yet, how will he find her/them?

Readers are also given some background of the war that is raging. You aren't given battles or a lot of details but simply little things like the French are fighting on two fronts. In other words, enough to round out the story but not enough to distract from it. Ms Blayney blended this into her story extremely well.

The biggest question is will the man of science and this mysterious woman ever get back together and if they do, can they find a way to stay together.

Lover's Kiss - 5/5 - Reviewer Top Pick

Michael Garret had worked as a spy in France during the war against Napoleon. He would give information to the French concerning the British and then do whatever he could to protect the British. Now, he's home in England and looking for work. He wants to put the war behind him along with all the lies and deception. He thought to try in the small town of Pennsford or the castle near it but the thought of working for the Duke who seemed to rule this entire area was repugnant. Therefore, Michael was on his way to Manchester and the factories, sure to find work there. But while taking what he thought was the road to Manchester he finds a near naked woman wondering in the woods. With snow on the ground, this didn't look good and there was no way Michael could leave this woman to die.

Lady Olivia Pennistan had been kidnapped. She wasn't sure by who or why but she knew enough to want to get way. The kidnappers had taken most of her clothes, drugged her and one even tried to strangle her! Finally too cold and drugged to go on, she lies down to take a nap only to be found by a strange man. Though this man seemed to want to help, how was Olivia to know if he was part of this kidnapping scheme? Introducing herself as Lollie and telling tales of working in the kitchen, Michael believes that though Lollie may be more than a commoner, she isn't very far up in the higher society. She intrigues him as they make their way back to Pennsford and Lollie's family.

Though Lollie does love to work in the kitchen and experiment with food, she is also the sister of the duke. When Michael discovers this fact, he also finds more complications that he'd care to. Even so, when the duke offers him a job providing security for the castle and its inhabitants, Michael accepts as he doesn't think Lollie is safe and though he isn't good enough for a duke's sister, he is good at keeping her safe. His problem, who is going to keep her safe from him when she's trying to tempt him and he's tempted?

This story is written so I couldn't wait to see what next. Though I was fairly sure how it was going to end almost from the beginning, the who were the kidnappers and why and how is Lollie going to snare Michael kept me interested. The interactions between the characters kept the book lively. Lord David greeting Michael with a punch to Big Sam getting a promotion were things that kept the book alive.

This is another book about the Pennistan family. It is paired up with Traitor's Kiss which is about Lollie's brother, Lord Gabriel. Originally, these were to released separately and they can be read separately. Each story is complete without the other though Gabriel is mentioned in Lover's Kiss.

The characters are fairly well developed and with depth. Lollie is described as being spoiled, head strong and talented in the kitchen. Throughout the book, there are excellent examples of all of these traits as well as her good heart. Lord David is hot tempered and opinionated. He also doesn't say much. Michael wonders how he ever made it in the Navy. The biggest problem with the characters being so alive is I wanted to know more. Hopefully, the rest of the Pennistan family will get their own books.

While I loved this book, I was left confused at the very end. All through the book, the Duke's wife was in London awaiting the birth of a child. During the Epilogue, the Duke is in France grieving. This leaves the reader to wonder what happened to his wife and his children. Perhaps we'll find out in the next book?

Traitors Kiss- Lord Gabriel Pennistan is saved from a miserable existence in a French prison until his execution. Captured as a spy he is surprised when he is rescued by a sassy woman, who goes by the name Charlotte. She has been hired by his brother but he has no idea why his brother would go to the trouble, they are not a close family. There is an air of mystery to Charlotte and Gabriel finds that he will do what he must to figure out what secrets she's keeping while he finds himself falling in love.

Lovers Kiss-Lady Olivia Pennistan could never see herself in the role as kidnap victim but that is exactly what ends up happening. So when she is rescued by Michael Garrett while fleeing half naked through a forest she realizes just about anything can happen. Lollie is happy to find a rescuer but she is also highly suspicious as well. Who is he and exactly what should she do about her feelings that seem to be developing? Can these two find a happy ending amongst rumors and danger?

Of the two stories, I personally LOVERS KISS to be the more entertaining of the duo. Perhaps this is due to the unique storyline and the more engaging characters. The characters in TRAITORS KISS, namely Charlotte was flat and distant, as a result of the author trying to draw out the mystery that surrounds the lady. This left this reader less then willing or even able to connect to her. Overall this is a charming set of regency stories, although there are issues with some elements which keep this book from being a "keeper" for me. In other words, a pleasant read, nothing totally earth shattering or unique.

"Traitor's Kiss"

Charlotte Parnell rescues Lord Gabriel Pennistan from a French prison. Charlotte is woman who is alternately a prostitute, a spy and a lady of means. The mystery that is Charlotte gets to Lord Gabriel and he sets out to find the real woman behind the mystery and the flattery. Their escape to England gives them the perfect chance to get to know each other. But then Charlotte disappears and Gabriel sets out after her.

"Traitor's Kiss" was an action-filled, plot-twisty book based on the growing relationship between two people who just can't bring themselves to trust each other. Charlotte's many personas are fun to watch and Gabriel is a charmer in his own right. "Traitor's Kiss" was a sweet, fun story.

"Lover's Kiss"

Lady Olivia Pennistan is kidnapped and retired soldier Michael Garrett happens upon her. He knows something was not right with her situation and he offers to take her back to her family. Olivia isn't sure who this man is or if he's related to the kidnapping, so she tells him her name is Lollie and implies she's of a lower class than she really is. When he gets her home and finds out the truth, he doesn't know what to do with the feelings she inspires in him. But when he's offered the job of security around the castle, he can't help but take it - to keep Olivia safe and to keep her close.

"Lover's Kiss" is a typical sweet and charming love story. The kidnapping is a little unfinished, but story between Olivia and her fight for Michael is fun to read. "Lover's Kiss" is a great addition to first book in the series.

Niki Lee

Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

TRAITOR'S KISS

"Traitor's Kiss" focuses on Lord Gabriel Pennistan, an English spy who has been imprisoned in France for his spying activities against Napoleon. When the date for his hanging approaches Gabriel is rescued by a woman, Charlotte Parnell, who proceeds to hide him and then smuggle him back to England. Charlotte is something of a mystery, a woman who appears to be a prostitute, who seems remote and untrusting, and yet who needs money for some unknown purpose. When Gabriel discovers that Charlotte is rescuing orphans his attitude towards her changes. Yet Gabriel, once returned to England, still has to clear his name - and has to find the woman who rescued him to try to make a life with her.

This story was rather uneven. There were interesting sections, particularly when Gabriel and Charlotte were trying to avoid him being recaptured by the French, but there were also rather dull and complicated parts where I wasn't too sure what was going on. The story moved in fits and starts and the characterisation of Charlotte was never very clear, although Gabriel's nature was well summed up by the end of the book. There were several side characters and it wasn't always clear the part that some of them played in the overall plots.

The romance side of the book was also rather a disappointment. Charlotte and Gabriel seemed not to like each other too much and her motives were often unclear. The very end of the book played out rather more as I expected, with Gabriel working hard to try to show Charlotte she could trust him, but in much of the rest of the book the romance was fairly uninteresting.

The setting of this book, at the end of the war against Napoleon, was interesting and, despite the occasional Americanisms that slipped into the dialogue and setting, it felt reasonably authentic. However the book felt somewhat unsatisfying and it didn't inspire this reader to search for any other books by this author.

LOVER'S KISS

Lover's Kiss was rather more enjoyable than Traitor's Kiss, interesting from the start and with a slightly unusual plot. When Major Michael Garrett comes across a semi-naked and half-frozen woman as he travels to Manchester after leaving the army, he can't decide initially whether to help her or whether to just carry on. She's probably a prostitute or some other trouble. However he does stop to help her and as she begins to recover he discovers that she's rather more of a lady than he initially thought and that she has escaped from kidnappers. Of course the lady, Lollie, is very suspicious of Michael, assuming he is one of the kidnappers. When she is returned to her home - her brother is the Duke of Meryon - Michael thinks that he will continue on his journey. But the duke is still concerned for Lady Olivia Pennistan's safety and hires Michael to guard the house - and Olivia is beginning to wish that she had been rather more intimate with Michael; after all, if your reputation is lost, you might as well have had some fun. But Michael's sense of honour might get in their way, along with the kidnappers who are still out there.

The first half of this book was really good, where we travelled with Michael and Olivia through difficult situations, adverse weather and constant fear of the motives of the other person. The author did very well to keep the interest as the two spar verbally whilst trying to make sense of their situation. Unfortunately the book went a bit downhill once they returned to the Duke of Meryon's house with a fair amount of time passing and not much happening. There was little doubt as to how the book would end and this reader felt that the actual romance side of the story was a little lacking. However it was an interesting read and better than Traitor's Kiss. There were a few links between these two stories but none of these were particularly significant.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

Blayney combines a real sense of history with two wonderful romances. I loved the intelligent feel of both books and can hardly wait for the next one. I enjoy series based on families and am anxious for the duke's book. It is a delight to see two such different heroines each find their own perfect hero.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:

This book contains two full length stories. Each story was more than 330 pages long. I only read the first story: TRAITOR'S KISS. I did not enjoy it; therefore I did not read the second story: LOVER'S KISS. This review covers TRAITOR'S KISS only.

I don't care for this author's writing style. It felt flat. There was no spark or interesting conversation. I wasn't emotionally connected with the characters. I didn't smile or chuckle. In the end, the couple got together which was a pleasant event, but my feelings were more about I'm glad the story is over than feeling good about the couple. This author strives for historical accuracy and the plot has some surprises.

STORY BRIEF:

Gabriel is from England. He became a spy against France during Napoleon's rule. He was imprisoned by the French. Charlotte is a widow from England. Her disguises and acting ability cause her to be successful in bringing orphans from France to England. Gabriel's brother is a duke. He hires Charlotte to get his brother out of jail and bring him home.

CAUTION SPOILERS:

The heroine was talented, smart and brave. She rescued Gabriel from a prison. Throughout their journey, she was aloof, secretive and distant both to the hero and to me as a reader. I didn't feel anything for her. I cared for the hero but I couldn't care for her. After she left him, she used a different name and planned to live a life where he would never find her. She didn't want to be with Gabriel because she said "For me to marry him, or even be his mistress, would be to corrupt him the way Strauss ruined me" (page 333). Her husband (who died) had physically abused her. Therefore, she felt she was unworthy of anyone's love. Her mother then told her "Love him, dear girl, love him and all things will be new." "Love for one's family is at the heart of true happiness." This one conversation changed the heroine's mind, and she then went to be with Gabriel. She was aloof from Gabriel for most of the story, then after this one conversation, she decides to be with him? This was not interesting for me.

Here is another example that bothered me, showing not telling and lacking in emotional pull. Gabriel is one of four children of the Duke of Meryon. The Duke had an illegitimate child Robert with a mistress. The Duke did not help or have any further involvement with Robert or his mother, and she died early. As a result, Robert hates the family. Gabriel tells him that it was the father (now dead) who was bad, not the children of the Duke. The four children would welcome reconnecting with Robert. So, all of a sudden based on that comment, Robert writes a letter stating he would like to visit them. Several pages later Lynette's mother states that Robert had a reconciliation with the family. This was showing, not telling. I wanted to see the visit and hear the conversations. I wanted to know what was in the letter. This process of reconciliation was empty.

DATA:

Story length: 338 pages. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 4. Length of sex scenes: 0.2 to 2.3 pages. Total number of sex scene pages: 5. Setting: 1813-1814 France and England. Copyright: 2008. Genre: regency romance.

I love a good historical romance novel and especially ones that center on the lives of a particular family. Unfortunatley Ms. Blayney fell very much short with Traitor's Kiss/Lover's Kiss; Though the plots were interesting enough she didn't have enough follow through to really give the plots a life of their own. I had to force myself to read both books; in the first book Traitor's Kiss she wasn't discriptive enough to give the reader a chance to picture the character's personal apperance or the environment they were in and she spent too much time describing their feelings and thoughts.

In the second book Lover's Kiss Ms. Blayney did the exact opposite she didn't give you a good enough emotional atmospher to really connect to the two main characters. The end of the book was a complete let down because she put so much stress on how much danger Olivia could have been in and then she gives you the most juvenile reason as to why Olivia was kidnapped. COME ON!?!?!?!

HOW WAS THIS AUTHOR ALLOWED TO HAVE THESE NOVELS PUBLISHED????

I think she needs to read books by Galen Foley and Virginia Henley to get a good feel on how a romance novel..a novel period...should be written. I think if the novels were written by someone else they would have really been very good reads but unfortunatley they were very very bad.