Debut author Anna Randol tells the exotic, sultry, and adventurous romance of a fiercely independent heroine determined to live life on her own terms and the handsome soldier who will break the rules he has lived his life by to realize a love he never believed possible.
A Secret in Her Kiss
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Product Description
About the Author
"ANNA RANDOL writes sultry, adventurous Regency romances. Her debut novel is set in the heart of the Ottoman Empire.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars
23 reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
An exciting, well-written debut
6 Feb 2012
By Book Light Graveyard
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed this book! Not only did it have a great romance, but it was witty and exciting.
The setting was really unique--the Ottoman Empire after the Napoleonic Wars. You could tell that it was well-researched, but you never feel like you're getting a history lesson or reading a travel guide--the setting and historical aspects were really well-integrated into the story. And there's so much adventure in this book. This is definitely not a romance novel where all the characters do is go to balls. Randol has the characters traveling and spying and getting up to their ears in intrigue.
Randol does a fantastic job at keeping the characters believable. They are talented and strong but have their share of weaknesses too. Mari was resourceful and brave--which are both characteristics I love in heroines. She definitely wasn't the shrinking violet type, but she wasn't headstrong either. I feel like so many times when an author tries to write a brave heroine, the character just ends up doing really stupid things that have me pulling my hair. But Mari's practical and levelheaded, and she ended up being someone I really admired.
Bennett is a great character too. He's very duty-conscious but not to the extreme where he's too straight-laced or smothering. Randol does a great job at making his motivations clear, so even when he does slightly overbearing things, you can at least understand why he's doing it. The secondary characters were surprisingly well-rounded and made for an entertaining backup cast.
Most of all, I think this book was just so well-written and readable. The writing style flowed and felt natural and never seemed awkward or obvious. It was really well-paced too. I started reading this book intending just to stop at bedtime, but I got so sucked in, I stayed up way past that. So needless to say, I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by Anna Randol.
The setting was really unique--the Ottoman Empire after the Napoleonic Wars. You could tell that it was well-researched, but you never feel like you're getting a history lesson or reading a travel guide--the setting and historical aspects were really well-integrated into the story. And there's so much adventure in this book. This is definitely not a romance novel where all the characters do is go to balls. Randol has the characters traveling and spying and getting up to their ears in intrigue.
Randol does a fantastic job at keeping the characters believable. They are talented and strong but have their share of weaknesses too. Mari was resourceful and brave--which are both characteristics I love in heroines. She definitely wasn't the shrinking violet type, but she wasn't headstrong either. I feel like so many times when an author tries to write a brave heroine, the character just ends up doing really stupid things that have me pulling my hair. But Mari's practical and levelheaded, and she ended up being someone I really admired.
Bennett is a great character too. He's very duty-conscious but not to the extreme where he's too straight-laced or smothering. Randol does a great job at making his motivations clear, so even when he does slightly overbearing things, you can at least understand why he's doing it. The secondary characters were surprisingly well-rounded and made for an entertaining backup cast.
Most of all, I think this book was just so well-written and readable. The writing style flowed and felt natural and never seemed awkward or obvious. It was really well-paced too. I started reading this book intending just to stop at bedtime, but I got so sucked in, I stayed up way past that. So needless to say, I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by Anna Randol.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Unique debut
31 Jan 2012
By Lisa Wolff
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Attention grabbing cover? Check. Unique historical setting? Check. A smart and sassy heroine? Check. A hero destined to protect her, no matter the cost to himself, his country and his heart? Check. Great writing from a debut author? Yup, another check.
Obviously the biggest thing that drew me to this book was the unique setting. The entire book is set in Constantinople and with that came the lush descriptions of the land and fashions, which were done very well. I really enjoyed our strong heroine, Mari and her belief that she can protect herself even though her life has been in danger before due to her secretive drawings. When the overbearing, Adonis looking Major Bennett Prestwood arrives to protect her during her last mission, the gloves are drawn on both sides and the sparks fly.
For a debut I was very happy with this book. The storyline was interesting and moved quickly along. There is a sweet side story that was enjoyable and I really did not see the big reveal at the end of the villain. The chemistry between Mari and Bennett was smoldering and the little attentions to detail were fabulous. It is so refreshing to read a historical that is set within a unique setting that gave me glimpses of the new area without overwhelming me with too many details. There is just enough freshness that will have you finishing up this books with a wonderful smile on your face. I would have liked an epilogue, but that is just me. I love epilogues :) If you are in the mood for a fresh location and storyline that features a strong couple amongst danger and intrigue, Anna Randol looks to be an author on the rise if her debut is any indication. 4 stars
Obviously the biggest thing that drew me to this book was the unique setting. The entire book is set in Constantinople and with that came the lush descriptions of the land and fashions, which were done very well. I really enjoyed our strong heroine, Mari and her belief that she can protect herself even though her life has been in danger before due to her secretive drawings. When the overbearing, Adonis looking Major Bennett Prestwood arrives to protect her during her last mission, the gloves are drawn on both sides and the sparks fly.
For a debut I was very happy with this book. The storyline was interesting and moved quickly along. There is a sweet side story that was enjoyable and I really did not see the big reveal at the end of the villain. The chemistry between Mari and Bennett was smoldering and the little attentions to detail were fabulous. It is so refreshing to read a historical that is set within a unique setting that gave me glimpses of the new area without overwhelming me with too many details. There is just enough freshness that will have you finishing up this books with a wonderful smile on your face. I would have liked an epilogue, but that is just me. I love epilogues :) If you are in the mood for a fresh location and storyline that features a strong couple amongst danger and intrigue, Anna Randol looks to be an author on the rise if her debut is any indication. 4 stars
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Exotic, breaking the mold in romance, but more an adventure than a love story
6 Aug 2012
By Erin C. Spock
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Unrelated to the story itself -- I hate it when covers don't match the book. Yes, the cover is beautiful, but Mari has tons of curly, dark hair. Her hair is prominent in the story, but wrong on the cover. I know it's a marketing decision based on what's available, but it bugs me.
Okay -- the story. The author set up the characters of the leads right away through their actions. They were believable and layered. I found them both sympathetic and rarely wanted to slap either of them. I was rooting for them to get past their differences, but their personal happy ending was not at focal as discovering the intelligence leak. This is a plot, rather than character, driven story. The setting, the political intrigue, and the eminent danger was was interesting, but took me out of the romance to a point where the romantic elements were side plot. It straddles a line between historical fiction and romance (something I understand), but as such, is not an emotionally satisfying romantic read.
It was well written, with rich (but not overwhelming) description. I would read this author again.
Okay -- the story. The author set up the characters of the leads right away through their actions. They were believable and layered. I found them both sympathetic and rarely wanted to slap either of them. I was rooting for them to get past their differences, but their personal happy ending was not at focal as discovering the intelligence leak. This is a plot, rather than character, driven story. The setting, the political intrigue, and the eminent danger was was interesting, but took me out of the romance to a point where the romantic elements were side plot. It straddles a line between historical fiction and romance (something I understand), but as such, is not an emotionally satisfying romantic read.
It was well written, with rich (but not overwhelming) description. I would read this author again.
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4.2 out of 5 stars
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