A Secret in Her Kiss
Anna Randol

Avon
January 31, 2012 / ISBN 978-0062025807
Historical Romance/1815 Constantinople
Amazon

Reviewed by Linda Morelli

Major Bennett Prestwood is steadfast to duty and county. After fighting at Waterloo, he hopes to return to England to protect a family member, but is instead sent to Constantinople to safeguard Mari Sinclair, whose drawings are vital to the Foreign Office.

Mari Sinclair is a naturalist who lives with her archaeologist father, Sir Reginald Sinclair. Like her deceased mother, Mari is dedicated to Greece's independence. Feisty and independent, Mari is not afraid to take chances, even though treachery surrounds her.

Mari considers Bennett sexy and intelligent, and the feeling is soon shared. Bennett knows she has already been shot at once, but is unaware Mari is being forced to spy. He is awed by the vitality Mari captures in her drawings, while she yearns to have Bennett value her more than his orders.

A Secret in Her Kiss is a stunning debut novel with a strong hero and heroine, both of whom are clearly independent and dedicated to their causes. Her secondary characters are well developed, and I especially enjoyed the Ottoman Empire setting. Anna Randol's rich description of the people and culture made A Secret in Her Kiss a pure delight and a refreshing change from typical Regencies.

My only complaint is I didn't expect the hero and heroine to make love in a prison, especially when captors could walk in at any time, but I have to admit the scene was hot. The story moves along quickly, loaded with a sexually charged attraction between hero/heroine that makes it clear they are destined to lose their hearts.

A Secret in Her Kiss is an exceptional debut book by this author, with a plot loaded with intrigue and depth. I loved Anna Randol's refreshing, natural style, and expect to see her books on best seller lists soon.