Customer Reviews

A View to a Kiss

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've read several bland HR books lately so I was surprisingly pleased when I finished this one. Societal rules are no match for the attraction and eventual love that develops between this spy and the free-spirited world-traveled daughter of an Earl. The heroine is bored to tears with the stuffy aristocratic men of London and the hero, a spy who is watching her father and others, is just the man to pique her interest. This is not a story in which I ached for the love between the hero and heroine, but, nevertheless, I enjoyed it from start to finish. The hero and heroine are likable and the story was interesting and unfolds very well - not completely predictable and utterly boring like the last 3 HR books I've struggled to finish. It also covers some of the political challenges of the time if you're interested in that, but it's not enough to detract and interefere with the story if you're not. I recommend this one if you're looking for an enjoyable and worthy new read.

I waffled back and forth on Caroline Linden's newest read, "A View to a Kiss". She writes with flow and emotion and her characters become people I want to know. However, I really dislike amazing coincidences that solve problems and this novel had that at the very end.

Mariah is the daughter of an Earl--an Earl who is very highly placed in political circles. After spending several years with her parents on the continent, doing business for the government, they have finally returned to London and Mariah will now have her season and find a husband. The problem is that all the eligible men she meets see her only for her dowry and political connections. Mariah wants a man who will see and love her for herself. Now where to find such a man?

Harry Sinclair is a spy. He works for the Home Office, hoping to eventually raise himself high enough to do political work to help those less fortunate. He's in disguise watching over some highly placed politicos after the Home Office received hints of treason...Mariah's father is one of these. From his first sight of Mariah, Harry is bowled over by her beauty. From their first meeting, on a dark and deserted terrace, he's attracted to her brains and temperment. But Harry is not titled and knows Mariah is so far above his station, seeing her is only a form of self-torture. But neither can seem to let it go.

A great match of hero and heroine. A fairly interesting mystery, but I guessed the 'bad guy' and his methods pretty early on. The relationship between the lead characters was well handled and grew over time rather than in the whole 'love at first sight' thing. My only beef is with the very end, but it really wasn't enough to spoil my enjoyment of the overall story.

Caroline Linden knows how to write attraction and love scenes that are both touching and racy. Her characters are multi-faceted and slowly unveil themselves to both readers and each other. While "A View to a Kiss" won't make my keeper shelf, I enjoyed the read very much. Now I hope she continues in this vein with one or two of her engaging secondary characters from this story!

As the only child of the wealthy Earl of Doncaster and his loving wife, Lady Mariah is very close to her parents. So when at 16, her father became an emissary for the Crown to various European capitals, naturally his wife and daughter traveled with him. Five years later, Mariah finally gets her London Season and so far it isn't what she'd hoped it would be. Not even close. Until the night of her parents' ball and she meets a mysterious stranger on a darkened balcony. He's impertinent and blunt and candid . . . and the most interesting man Mariah has met. She becomes instantly smitten. The only problem is she has no idea what he looks like, only that his name is Harry. And then he starts coming to her bedroom window under the darkness of night uttering the sweetest things . . . and she begins to fall hopelessly in love with him.

Harry Sinclair is a spy for the Home Office and a master of disguises. While taking in some fresh air dressed as the elderly Lord Wroth, Harry meets the object of his instant attraction, the incomparable Lady Mariah. Knowing that a common spy is well beneath the station of an earl's daughter, Harry can't help himself from speaking to her. And even though his current mission could be compromised by doing so, he can't seem to stay away from her. But will his double life full of secrets destroy any slim chance they might have to be together?

I love, love, love the "reverse Cinderella" plot. There's just something so appealing to me of the complexity of a story in which a hero whose social standing isn't high enough or doesn't feel as if he's good enough for the heroine. Harry is just such a hero. I admired him for staying strong while managing his inner struggles and absolutely adored his raw vulnerability regarding Mariah. For him, it was love at first sight. *sigh* And Lady Mariah was the perfect heroine for him. She trusted her instincts and Harry, even when he couldn't supply answers to all of her questions, and was very determined to find a way - any way - for them to be together.

A cross between Jane Austen and 007, A View to a Kiss is a sweet, passionate romance filled with intrigue and surprise twists. This one kept me up late into the night because I couldn't put it down. Caroline Linden's first book for Avon is a book that should not be missed!

Andrea
Romance Novel TV
4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this story; read it in one day. It was not totally predictable as some are, but held my interest throughout. Would definately recommend to all lovers of spy romance novels.

I am a new Caroline Linden fan, having just stumbled across her books and downloaded almost all of them to my Kindle. So first I want to say, thanks for making them available on Kindle, and especially with the text-to-speech enabled. (This feature is getting harder to find with some of my favorite romance authors.)

I read a lot of historical romance novels by authors like Julia Quinn, Elizabeth Hoyt, Judith McNaught, Lisa Kleypas, etc. and I consider this author just as good at crafting a enticing, engaging historical romance novel.

I have read several books by Caroline Linden now and this one is my favorite. I love the obstacles that Harry and Mariah have to overcome and they have some great chemistry together. It's the first book in a long while that I didn't want to put down until I was done reading. I will probably reread it before too long, I enjoyed it so much.

I look forwarding to reading more books by this author!

I love this book. Read it in 2 days. As soon as i was finished i wanted to read it again.

Lady Mariah Dumore is having a belated Season, after having toured the world with her diplomat father. Unfortunately, she is finding the men a little boring. Only one mad has interested her, and she never even saw his face. But when he appears at her bedroom window, instead of being afraid, she is intrigued. All she knows about him is his name and how he makes her feel.

Harry is a spy, used to sliding in and out of character. He knows his attraction to Mariah is beyond unacceptable, but he can't stop himself from seeing her. If she knew who he was, not only would his job in jeopardy, but so would even the brief visits he has with her. He is so far below her on the social scale he knows she would never be his. But that doesn't stop either of them from wanting more.

A View to a Kiss was a very fun book, with twists and turns in both the romance and the intrigue. The pacing was a little random, but it didn't stop the book from being a quick read. I had a hard time reconciling the spy and the lover in Harry, but it was entertaining to watch as he comes into his own and Mariah deals with her own struggles to accept him as he is. Definitely an unusual book that keeps the interest after the last page is done.

Niki
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

A View to A Kiss is a charming, romantic, read with wonderful characters, an engaging story and many surprises to keep the reader guessing what will happen next.

Harry Sinclair is not what he appears to be. He is a spy who can transform himself into a footman, an aged earl and even a rookery resident. His assignment is to guard two aristocrats. One he works for as a secretary and the other is Lord Doncaster, a diplomat recently returned to England whom he watches from afar.

While attending Lord Doncaster's ball Harry meets Mariah, the Earl's daughter. He is completely enchanted, so enchanted that he risks his assignment and speaks to her albeit in the dark, so he can maintain his disguise. Mariah is bored with all the proper English gentleman and when she strikes a conversation with an unseen stranger with a velvety voice on the dark balcony she believes she has finally found an interesting gentleman of the ton.

Harry comes to Mariah's balcony outside her bedroom frequently and the two have meaningful conversations but Mariah never can see what Harry looks like as he makes certain his face is in the dark. Mariah is determined to discover Harry's identity, she knows his voice and that is enough for her to start her search.

I never could guess what Mariah would stumble into and what Harry would discover in his investigation. There are some laugh out loud moments in this especially when Harry is in his disguise as the old aristocrat.

Both the leads are exceptional. Harry is ambitious but with a purpose. He is a reformer and desires a seat in Parliament. He truly hopes his service for the crown will help him achieve this. He is also aware that he is beneath Mariah in his station, it disturbs him greatly. Mariah is not one to settle and her ability to see past pretenses is charming. Her optimism keeps her going despite the many pitfalls in her relationship with Harry. These two are a very winning couple.

The ending of this novel hits just the right note. The author gave the reader a plausible and satisfying conclusion to this couple's story. Finally, I loved the sweetness of the romance between the leads. Their passion was evident in their conversations and their strong loyalty to one another.

Mariah never thought to find her true love in the shadows of the ton's social event of the season. The mysterious man fascinates her in a way she never thought possible.
Harry Sinclair is a top field operative for the British government and his latest assignment brings him undercover to the ball where he meets Mariah. Very soon his desire for her clashes with his sense of duty. While Harry tries to follow through with his investigation, Mariah starts her own investigation because she wants to find out who her midnight lover is. Suddenly they are in the middle of a political intrigue that threatens not only their blossoming relationship but also their very lives.

I am normally not so much a fan of Spy novels, but because I am a huge Caroline Linden fan I picked up this book and I wasn't disappointed. The book is an exciting combination of Regency romance and Romantic suspense with two interesting protagonists. Mariah is not the typical Regency heroine, because although she is the diamond of the first water and the catch of the season she isn't the woman you might expect, but she is curious and quite brave. Harry undergoes quite a conscious conflict during the story, because normally his duty comes first and now he is distracted by Mariah.

A VIEW TO KISS is not only a book for all Caroline Linden fans but also something for those who want to try out her works.

Courtesy of Loveromances and more!

Harry Sinclair is a spy working for the British home office. He is assigned to protect and monitor three influential noblemen who may be the target of British radicals. None of the men knows he is being watched and Harry is always in disguise, often as an elderly gentleman named Lord Wroth. One night Harry, undercover as Wroth, attends a ball at the mansion of one of the noblemen, the Earl of Doncaster. While surveying the grounds from a balcony, he happens upon the earl's daughter Lady Mariah who has come to take a breath of fresh air. She cannot see Harry, because the balcony is pitch black, and assumes he is a young gentleman. They have a wonderful, electric conversation and Mariah, who has yet found any man to interest her, is very interested in Harry. However, when her mother comes to search for her, Harry escapes to the garden below and Mariah only knows that his first name is Harry. Neither is able to stop thinking of the other and the next night, against his better judgement and at the risk of compromising his position, Harry sneaks into Mariah's bedroom and begins a friendship with her. He does not allow Mariah to see his face - he does not even come near her - and stays only a few minutes. Yet it is clear to both that there is something vital between them...and it has only just begun.

This author writes well and I liked the mystery/spy part of the story. It felt as if all was not as it appeared - and I don't mean Harry's double life - and I was curious where it all would lead. And I liked the sweet and sometimes funny way Mariah attempted to discover Harry's identity, while he was trying his best to conceal it. The weakest part of the story was the puppy-love feel to the couple's relationship. They were effusive and exuberant and starry-eyed, seeming at times more like teenagers than twenty-somethings. It was somewhat incongruous with the serious business in which Harry was involved. Both leads were pleasant, however, and their story held my interest. The romance was nicely upbeat...the lovers were just a bit young and impetuous.