A Scoundrel’s Kiss

Shelly Thacker

Apr 2020 · The Escape with a Scoundrel Series Book 4 · Summit Avenue Books

About this ebook

Her handsome rescuer is only pretending to be her husband…

 

Miss Marie LeBon is a brilliant scientist and a determined spinster—until she awakens in Paris with no memory of the accident that has erased her name and her past. A handsome stranger comes to her rescue, claiming to be her husband...but he’s secretly a British agent, Max D'Avenant, sent to abduct her and learn the truth about a new French weapon. With danger on all sides, the “newlyweds” go into hiding together, and Max soon finds himself torn between his loyalty to the English Crown and his love for this enchanting lady he is sworn to betray.

 

“One of the best romances of the year. Marie and Max are another winning pair of lovers for Thacker, a rising romance star.” -The Detroit Free Press

 

“Exciting and exquisitely romantic. Shelly Thacker is a virtuoso beyond compare when it comes to creating the perfect romantic adventure tale.” -Affaire de Coeur

 

“Marvelous and moving. If books were jewels, this one would be a diamond!” -Journey’s End Books

 

“WOW! What a different story! As a voracious reader of historical romance, it is truly refreshing to find a story that doesn’t just recount one of the 10 common ‘tropes.’ I highly recommend this book.” – Goodreads reviewer

“I loved this book! The tension of what would happen kept me up until three in the morning. I’m looking forward to more by this author.” – Goodreads reviewer

“So emotional from beginning to end, I read it in one sitting! This author knows how to draw all the emotions from her readers.” – Goodreads reviewer

“Wow! I am a VERY picky reader, and I give out very few five-star reviews. But I just can’t say enough good things about A Scoundrel’s Kiss. Sometimes, after reading a string of bad romance novels, a book like this will remind me of why I read romance in the first place. I devoured this book in a day. I just couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended.” – Goodreads reviewer

“Shelly Thacker is a terrific writer! I’m writing this review at 4:30 in the morning as I just couldn’t stop reading. I highly recommend this book and this series.” – Goodreads reviewer

An earlier edition of this novel was published by Avon Books under the title A Stranger’s Kiss. This new Author’s Preferred Edition has been revised by the author.

 

The Escape with a Scoundrel Series

Daring ladies tangle with dashing lords who are on the wrong side of the law in these dazzling, addictive novels. Each book is a stand-alone steamy historical romance. The Scoundrels series can be enjoyed in any order, so dive in wherever you like and escape today!

Book 1: ESCAPE WITH A SCOUNDREL (Nicholas and Samantha)

Book 2: HER SCOUNDREL EARL (Marcus and Elizabeth)

Book 3: ONE NIGHT WITH A SCOUNDREL (Saxon and Ashiana)

Book 4: A SCOUNDREL’S KISS (Max and Marie)

Ratings and reviews

Well-written, exciting and romantic, this novel kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Max D'Avenant is sent to France to retrieve a female scientist who formulated an explosive that was responsible for blowing up one of his brother's ships with devastating results. He sets in motion an elaborate plan that has echos of the 1965 WWII movie 36 Hours, but he is ultimately hoisted by his own petard when the hunter finds himself losing his heart to his prey. Marie LeBon has one thought only, to find a solution to the poverty and famine stalking her country. When her experiments go wrong, she catches the attention of the wrong people and before she knows it, Marie finds herself in a dark world, not knowing where or who she is. The man claiming to be her husband is her one chance to escape the hell she is in, but nothing is adding up. The plot is fast-paced and exciting as Max and Marie navigate the dangerous route back to Britain, remaining in hiding until the story comes to a disastrous point where revelations explode in their faces. One can only despair for both Marie and Max as betrayal and deep wounds prevent them from seeing the truth right in front of them. I became so invested in this book that I was completely taken by surprise when it came to an end and I very reluctantly had to close my Kindle. I received a copy of this novel through Booksprout and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Max is recruited by the English to go to France and retrieve the formula for the most powerful explosive ever made. Max is a scientist not a spy but he is resourceful in tough situations. He manages to rescue Marie from an asylum, make there way back to England but he never expected to fall in love with her. There are a lot of tense moments in this book, danger is rampant, a traitor to the Crown makes his mission even more dangerous. There is a HEA but it was a fight all the way. This is an entertaining read and I would recommend it.

Immersive Historical Espionage Romance What a well-done and gripping novel! And it is a true and proper novel of around 115K words, giving the author plenty of space to create a complex plot and develop believable, at times tortured characters. This takes place in Georgian times, and the British are concerned that the French have developed a chemical weapon. It was used on one of their ships. The scientist who created the compound is unexpected, a woman who was actually trying to make fertilizer! At the start of the book, the woman suffers a terrible accident and gets brain trauma, giving her total retrograde amnesia. She wakes up in an asylum, which is described in horrific terms that made the place seem very real. The British plan to break her out and bring her to England so she can make the chemical compound for them. This will involve a ruse using a spy who will pose as her husband. If it sounds complicated, it is. Especially at the beginning, the espionage element was powerful, but as the book progresses, it becomes more and more about the romance. They start to fall for each other. But of course, there's the complexity of her amnesia, his lies, and the endgame, where he is actually supposed to turn her over to his British higher-ups. The author did an excellent job of showing the heroine’s initial confusion and difficulties. Even though she was a scientist, she had an absolutely charming naivete while suffering from amnesia. The British spy, our hero, is so conflicted as his feelings and hers develop. The author keeps toying with you, not revealing until the very end how it will work out for this unlikely couple. It made for a compelling, page-turning read, one I was loath to put down. If you enjoy historical romantic espionage (or spy romance), this complex tale with sympathetic characters may be right up your alley. I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Shelly Thacker has earned lavish praise from Publishers Weekly, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Detroit Free Press and The Oakland Press, who have called her historical romance novels "innovative," "addictive," "steamy" and "powerful." Find out more at shellythacker.com