His Scandalous Kiss audiobook

This book started off at the same high rating as book 1 and way better than my 2 star rating of book 2. However, NOTHING HAPPENED in the later end of the book and the author did not explore the characters more with the angst. Our hero is scarred and feels like he doesn't deserve love or a normal life. Our heroine is almost forced into a betrothal to a man she has no interest in. They meet at a masquerade ball and she falls for him and not his face. They have an attraction for each other but that's not emphasized aside from her brothers stupid gambling habits. And then it was annoying because her brothers past got between these two people and then it was quickly fixed with an apology. also, I did not like the pacing. I thought it was weird at how fast they liked each other, resolved issues, and got married really quickly.However the ending is interesting and quickly picks up in pace!!! So I'll bump it up to a 4 stars LMFAOOOOOOOOO

Link to full review below!Another great historical romance! Mary is witty and likable and Richard defines tortured hero! This review was originally posted on The Book Disciple

Kitty's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book ReviewsI adore Historical Romances. Why? Because they really do bring the romance back. No, there’s not any explicit, hot, sweaty sex. What there is is a bit of mystery, a ton of romancing and a whole lot of love.Sophie Barnes really pulled out all the stoppers with His Scandalous Kiss. And, as we learned the truth about both Lady Mary and Richard Heartly, about the secrets they have both been hiding, you can’t help but hope that all works out well for them. Because, when everything and everyone is revealed, it could mean the ruin of Lady Mary and the end of what Richard thought would be the beginning of the rest of his life.The writing in this story really made me feel like I was back in the era of Masquerade Balls, walks in the garden, picnics on the lake. It made me yearn for simpler times when being entertained was with music, reading or talking and not computers or cell phones. You knew who the good people were and who were just out for revenge. You knew who was going to be the back-stabber, who was going to try to bring ruin to Lady Mary But, what you didn’t know is who Richard brought down and how that was going to affect his budding relationship with the one woman who saw him for who is was and not what he looked like.I fell in love with Richard. Yes, he was mysterious and had nothing but revenge on his mind. But, he was truly romantic and loving. He knew that Mary was special when he first laid eyes on her but did not think that she would ever be interested in a man like him. He was almost a recluse because of his injuries. She saw right through to the heart of the man and he, in turn, decided that she was definitely worth facing the public and the ton again.Mary had her own mystery around her. She was a caring person with a passion for Opera. She knew that her secret, if it came to light, would ruin her whole family. She also had no choice but to continue since her brother could not handle the responsibilities of running the estate. Until everything comes to a head and she has to decide who she loves more … her brother or Richard.There is also another mystery that still has not been solved and I am really looking forward to finding out what it is all about. Thorncliff Manor is a really interesting place and I am sorry that I haven’t read the other stories leading up to His Scandalous Kiss. The good thing is that it can definitely be read as a stand-alone and you won’t be lost in the least … you would have just missed all the other weddings leading up to this story. So, Ms. Barnes really has me interested in finding out just what did go on down in the tunnels and the secret rooms. With that said, I will really be looking forward to reading the rest of the Secrets of Thorncliff Manor and enjoying the wonder writings of Sophie Barnes.Review copy provided for an honest review.

Honestly Historical Romances aren't really my go to novels but when I read the blurb for His Scandalous Kiss I was definitely intrigued and wanted to give it a try. Once I started I was quickly wrapped up in the world Barnes created and really wanted to know all the secrets of Thorncliff Manor. Since I didn't read the previous books in this series I wasn't sure what to expect but I loved how the story starts off with a Masquerade Ball and provided in great detail the scenery. I really felt as if I was there alongside Richard and Lady Mary which was a plus for me. Richard has been back from war and hidden away for five years. He is consumed with revenge and carries scars that he doesn't want anyone to see. The ball is the perfect way for him to step back into society without anyone knowing it's actually him including members of his family. Richard sees a young woman who is dressed simpler then the rest with her lovely locks down and is intrigued by her but getting to know her will be impossible for he doesn't believe anyone can look past his scars. Mary has no desire to get married and wants to live her life on her own terms. She is kind, generous and has some secrets of her own she doesn't want to share but after meeting "Signor Antonio" she feels a deep a connection to him and enjoys his company. With stolen moments she gets to know him better and secrets begin to reveal themselves but one of Mary's suitors will stop at nothing to claim or destroy her reputation. This story had remarkable details and interesting plot and took me on journey to the past where two people had secrets but found an everlasting love. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough as details started to come together. It was one of those stories that I needed to know how it would all come together. Mary and Richard were a fairy tale dream couple who started out as strangers and made their way to friends to quickly falling for one another. In every interaction I felt their chemistry and loyalty to one another. Even when the times got a little tough I loved the devotion they both had and just knew this was a couple who would make it in the long run. From what it looks like the mysteries of Thorncliff Manor will be coming to the surface in the next story and for once I can't wait to read a historical romance. Since reading His Scandalous Kiss I am invested in finding out the conclusion but in order to do that I need to go back to the very beginning. I am excited to say Barnes has a new fan and I'm looking forward to reading her future books. If you're looking for a beautiful love story that has mystery, secrets and a HEA that will win your heart, His Scandalous Kiss is a recommended read.

House parties and matchmaking abound at Thorncliff Manor, where its guests inevitably find themselves embroiled in a search for evidence of a secret societies. This story is follows the same vein, but gives us new and unique characters to refresh a familiar plot line.Five years ago Richard Heartly came home from fighting the war against France a different man. In his mind, he was so changed that he thought it better if society continued to think he was dead, so he has been living as a celibate hermit. He even refuses to see his family except for his father and brother, Spencer (from Lady Sarah's Sinful Desires). Richard has come to Thorncliff with his family, but he stays hidden away in his room. He finally ventures on the night of a masquerade as a favor to Lady Duncaster, the eccentric widow and owner of Thorncliff Manor. That is where he sees an enchanting lady in disguise.Lady Mary Cartwright intends to avoid marriage as she doesn't believe a husband would allow her to continue her secret hobby/profession. She has also been helping her ne'er do well brother, Lord Cartwright, who seems to be gambling his inheritance away. Unfortunately for Mary, her aunt is determined to marry her off before they leave Thorncliff, and said aunt does not approve of the mysterious masked man at the masquerade.I enjoyed watching Richard and Mary get to know one another, particularly as Richard stayed masked so Mary was forced to get to know him as a person without being distracted by his good looks (or lack thereof). I think wearing the mask also helped Richard to relax and be himself with Mary instead of being self-concious about his scars. Richard is one of my favorite types of heroes - a little broken and broody, but he's just waiting for that one person who can draw him out of his comfort zone to see that life is worth living. This is a clean romance, so don't expect more than kisses to be traded between our characters. There are a couple of side plots going involving Richard's vengeance and the secrets at Thorncliff. Richard's vengeance became predictable as we read, but I don't think that detracted from the plot. We could see the obstacle coming and the dread added an anxiety element to the reading experience. The exploration of Thorncliff and its secrets in this installment was really cool. I don't want to say anything about it because I think its best discovered by the individual... but I really enjoyed this aspect of the story. I do wish that it would have been tied in better with the previous stories, but it was entertaining all the same.I received an advanced copy of this book from Avon via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars / 1 flame. Full review posted at Bambi Unbridled.

Another amazing addition to the Secrets at Thorncliff Manor by Sophie Barnes.This is the story of an honorable gentleman and soldier. Richard Heartly hides himself away from Society and his family because of the scars he received during the war.. Everyone but his family thinks he is dead so that he can get his revenge by ruining the man who betrayed him.. He is so close to his goal when he meets a young lady at Thorncliff Manor that makes him question the life he has chosen to live.Mary is taking a moment away from the noise and crush of people in Thorncliff Manor's ballroom. She is unaware of the man watching her from the shadows. She is at the Manor with her Aunt who is determined to find her a husband. Mary knows that is is impossible for her to marry because she has a secret that could ruin her whole family. When she spots the man in the mask watching her she is at first startled until she realizes there is something about him and invites him to sit with her and listen to the music. Oh did I forget to tell you, this is a Masquerade Ball and they are both wearing masks.They both are drawn to each other and start meeting in secret, but Richard still hasn't revealed his idenity or his face. He is afraid that Mary will be horrifed by his scars and not want to be with him. But he has underestimated Mary's feelings and the lengths she will go to win Richard's heart.There are so many layers to this story. More than one Villan, a mysterious underground Roman Villa, and intriguing secondary characters that hopefully will have their own books.Sophie wrties a beautiful love story that is filled with the emtional peaks and valleys that draw you in to the story till the very last word. Her historical research is evident in all of her books mixed with her own version of some of the events and characters that make this a fascinating and compelling read. It always amazes me how much history I learn when I read Sophies books.I am a big fan of her writing and recommend this book. You will love it.

Richard Heartly has been back from the war for five years, and only his brother and his secretary have seen him. He purposefully remains a recluse because he cannot bear to show his scarred visage to anyone. He is also planning a vendetta against the man who betrayed him, and anonymity better serves this purpose. However, a friend of his grandmother’s convinces him to attend a masquerade ball at Thorncliff Manor. Wearing a full mask and a hooded cape, Richard encounters a vision of beauty. Dressed simply as Eleanor of Aquitaine, therefore making herself more visible than she wanted, stands Lady Mary Bourneville. Richard escaping the crowded ballroom, happens upon a concert, where he encounters an enraptured Mary. The two strangers share a passion for music, and soon they discover, literature as well. Richard is convinced, he will never marry, while Mary doesn’t want to, fearing the loss of her precious independence. However, the intense intellectual connection they share makes Richard and Mary re-evaluate their former views on matrimony, if only they manage to deal with the secrets they both have.Very loosely based upon Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera, HIS SCANDALOUS KISS is a very complex story revolving around appearances, honour, betrayal, greed, and of course true love. While Mary and Richard have secrets that initially seem to make a relationship impossible, it also allows them to appreciate the soul of the other, and their bond becomes a very solid one. Sophie Barnes’ sumptuous and evocative prose along with clever dialogues convey flawlessly how deeply Mary and Richard understand and respect each other, and their shared love of the arts is the ground on which a beautiful romance slowly blooms, and a magnificent romance it is. They eventually tell each other their secrets, and I must confess that I never anticipated the epic – and entirely plausible – plot twists that eventually surfaced. For once, nothing was due of silly misunderstandings or contrived elements, merely added for shock value; it’s all real. HIS SCANDALOUS KISS is very intricately plotted and delightful historical facts are woven throughout the story. Mary and Richard are extremely appealing characters and perfectly matched. I love the care Ms. Barnes displays when it comes to propriety and Regency customs, and I applaud her delicate touch when it comes to the couple consuming their burning passion; it’s all done subtly and yet their passion is as palpable as if they were sexually explicit scenes. HIS SCANDALOUS KISS is a riveting story about characters and love I really believed in. A gorgeous and intelligent book that historical aficionados will devour!I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Returning to Thorncliff Manor for a Masquerade Ball provides the perfect backdrop for intrigue, mystery and clandestine assignations. It’s also a wonderful diversion for Richard Heartly, a distraction from the endless time spent consumed with revenge. He’s been out of society since returning from the war, and with no real intentions to immerse himself, a ball is the best way to gather intelligence, gossip and dip his toes in. The house is, after all, the purview of his grandmother’s dearest friend, Lady Duncaster. Surely this is the opportunity he should not miss. Mary Bourneville is utterly real and fabulous – thoughtful, generous, kind and wholly determined to live her own life on her terms. She’s also doing her utmost, with her own scandalous secret, to finance her elder brother’s life and home. She’s a wonderfully complex woman, full of moments that juxtapose her own innocence with the worldliness that comes from struggling to take charge of her own life without being hampered by a controlling family or husband. Oh the secrets and revelations! Scandalous, deadly, shocking and even cowardly the layers of reveals and deepening of an underlying mystery involving a group of peers seeking to influence and control history, the story just glides from one moment to the next. Mary and Richard are delightful together – her far more confident and optimistic approach to life and the people she encounters are tempered only by her kindness and wish to cause no harm. Richard’s immersion in his quest for revenge and subsequent isolation from society, combined with his own fears of how he will be perceived with his injuries keep him on edge and carefully dissecting every utterance, insecure in his own approach to items that are not in line with his quest for revenge. The story is slowly building to a conclusion of the underlying mystery at Thorncliff, with rumors of treasure and connections to earlier generations of the major characters in this story. Lady Duncaster, the current resident and owner, has brought the players together again, requested their assistance and silence, and hopes to close this chapter. A wonderful installment that keeps interest and excitement for the next book. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

From The Book Junkie Reads . . . His Scandalous Kiss (Secrets at Thorncliff Manor, #3) . . .There was intrigue, mystery, plots within plots, deceptions, misguidance, and some masquerade foreplay. We have returned to the one place that holds secrets and intrigue for the masses. Where else can you be seen but not seen than at a masked ball? One came to uncover a plot. The other came to be seen but in a different light. The music attracted them both. Richard Heartly and Lady Mary both have their own reason for wanting to attend the Thorncliff Manor Masked Ball. Each has a plan and will stay on course until it is complete. Neither was expecting to find commonality on the dance floor. There was much that unfolded in the time spent at Thorncliff Manor. This one has been a good addition to the others of the series. It builds on the mystery, intrigue and suspense of the previous books. I would advise taking the time to read them all and in order. You will find so much more enjoyment out of this Historical Regency Romance. **This ARC was provided via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.**

Having read as many books as I have, it's easy for me to make a decision on how I feel about a particular story and author writing style. Sophie Barnes made that harder for me with His Scandalous Kiss. Ms. Barnes is a masterful storyteller. Her imagery is so vivid that I felt like I was experiencing the story first hand. Thorncliff Manor proved to be the best setting for the unfolding romance of Mary and Richard. One reason is the place was as mysterious as the event that took place there. Another is that it added to the undercurrent of seduction between the two main characters. Secrets, suspense, romance and sensuality abound with this novel. Copyright of Night Owl Reviews

This is the story of Richard and Mary and the path they each took to come together to be the people they are. Mary took on a position as an Opera singer under a stage name in order to help her selfish brother.Richard was a soldier injured at war when he was captured and tortured when his brother in arms deserted him instead of staying to help him. Richard when he had return sore he would seek revenge on this person who has claimed to do things he did not and was awarded monkey and a title.Richard and Mary meet a ball and in course of a week of knowing each other fall in love and neither knowing that Andrew, Mary's brother is the same man Richard is trying to destroy and Mary helping him. Another at the Party is also interested in Mary because of the land her grandfather has left to her and for his selfish ways and wanting the land and learning of Mary's secret plans to expose her but can Richard save her?Secrets are never a good thing but Mary shares hers with Richard but he still keeps one of his till the time the engagement is announced and Andrew shows up and this is where they must put aside feelings and anger but can he do that for Mary once her brother challenges him to a duel for his honor?

Best novel of the series so far. The Hero and Heroine are both wonderful, with deep secrets but a high sense of honesty. Also, there's a definite literary influence going on in this novel that, while I won't spoil, I will admit it gave me both a bit of a laugh and no small amount of joy. I didn't see the twist coming until more than halfway through the novel, so props for that. Overall, a really fun romance with a well-earned HEA. I do hope there are more novels in this series since the overarching mystery has yet to be finished.

This was a great book/ Great characters.Richard Heartly was injured during the war and hide himself away.Lady Mary is suppose to be looking for a hushand until she meets Richard at masked ball.They connect. They interests and become friends.Her aunt warns her away from him.She has her own secret and of course he has his.But inspite of this they come together and the sparks fly.They eventually find the love is meant just for them.This is a great story in the two people can find the person for them.

This is a four star romance novel. Those who don't read romance novels, this is not a four star book. I think the real driver for my rating is this book was read at the right time. Light in content, no real plot, but I liked the characters (though they had their moments). And they held off on having sex; a surprise to me as other romance novels I've read recently was growing rather tedious with chapter to chapter of sex.

SecretsLove this story about Richard and Mary! Richard was in the war and was captured by the French. He escaped but came home with scars. He meets Lady Mary at the masquerade and he is curious about her. There are so many events and secrets that I would recommend reading the book to see what happens.