Hello, and welcome back! A little more rain here, and it’s cooler, which means today the soup pot and the bread machine are both working with new recipes. The kitchen smells absolutely amazing right now, and I can hardly wait to taste. I’m kind of glad we haven’t gotten any intriguing new romances at work lately, as I’ve been working hard on getting through the stack of September books here on my desk, and I’ve been saving two of my faves for last.

This time out, I have Mary Blayney’s Stranger's
Kiss(Bantam). Lynford Pennistan, Duke of Meryon, meets Elena Verano one night at his first ball since his wife’s death, and the attraction between them is instant. Elena, too, is grieving her late, beloved husband. This is the first time she’s been in England since she was a young girl, and she’s a singer of some renown, but that isn’t her only reason for returning: she has a ward who needs some polishing before being dropped into
the marriage mart. Meryon still grieves for his wife, but his grief is mixed with a lot of guilt. He cared deeply for his late wife, but he never told her exactly how he felt, and of course, now it’s too late. But it isn’t too late for him to wreak revenge on the man who has done much wrong in Meryon’s life and the lives of those around him, the Duke of Bendas. Meryon had no intention
of continuing a relationship with Elena after their first meeting, but he can’t seem to help himself. Nor can she, and when she seeks him out, the results are not unexpected. But Elena isn’t looking to become a rich man’s mistress or for another husband. No man will have control of her life ever again, and no matter her feelings for Meryon, she knows men of his station are quite used to calling all the shots, not just in their own lives, but for everyone around them as well. Then, as they grow closer and Meryon reveals all his secrets to her, she realizes her own secret past will certainly create a rift between them that will be unbreachable. Meryon works out her secret on his own, but it doesn’t extinguish the feelings he has for her. He just can’t quite see how to make things right between them, and Elena won’t give him the chance to try. These are charming characters, though with the reader knowing Elena’s secret nearly from the beginning of the tale, it doesn’t create much tension about the big reveal. I liked the story well enough; it’s a good way to spend a rainy autumn afternoon, but I didn’t find it to be a keeper. I will say, however, I liked it far better than Ms. Blayney’s last book. I’m borrowing three of Cupid’s five arrows for this one.

Until next time, happy reading!