A Scoundrel’s Kiss

Shelly Thacker

Apr 2020 · 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

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.

Adventure, danger, spies, brilliant scientists, heartache, amnesia, passion....oh yes, this story has it all! Shelly Thacker has done an amazing job writing Max and Marie's story, I loved it!! From start to end, you will be so immersed in their story, you will feel like you're right there with them. All Marie is trying to do is make a fertilizer that will help people with their gardening but unfortunately her attempts aren't working out. In fact, the last batch she made caught on fire and now the French and English military want to use it as a weapon of war. When an accident occurs while she, her twin brother and her sister are escaping, she ends up with amnesia and in an asylum. When Max is advanced by the British Crown to find Marie and find out the formula, little does he know what he's getting into! After rescuing Marie from the asylum, he convinces her that he's her husband and even though the lies pile up, he can't help but start having feelings for her. Passion takes over and so does danger. When the truth comes out and Marie regains her memory, the heartache is real! I was given an ARC of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

A story with strong emotions from such sadness, to feeling a little happiness, then betrayal and everything in between. In the opening pages I was captured and felt my heart break a little but I kept going and this turned into a somewhat complicated spy, suspense, and with all of the falsehoods the hero led the heroine to believe, it seemed impossible for a happy ending. When Max is sent to France to retrieve Marie, who was a female scientist, she had lost her memory so she did not realize he was not her husband as he portrayed. She had been making experiments that had backfired and in trying to correct got the attention of some villains. Max is trying to get Marie back to England and so many things happen. Trust me, you do not want to miss this amazing story filled with intrigue, secrets, sadness, suspense, and wonderful characters and these two try to make it to a happy ending! I read this through Booksprout

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