Welcome to my tour stop! This was such a lovely read. Find my review below...
Kissing Kate
(Hearts of Cornwall #4)
By K. Lyn Smith
Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Paperback & eBook, 306 Pages
January 23, 2024 by Davenwood Press
Summary
“Benedick Kimbrell attempted to steal his first kiss from Miss Catherine Parker in the perfectly imperfect spring of 1808. But his hopes, then and since, were larger than fact.”
A LADY’S UNSPOKEN LONGING
Kate Parker is resolute in her quest for marriage, seeking a dependable match among Newford's eligible bachelors. But behind her composed demeanor, Kate’s heart holds a stubborn affection for her less-than-dependable friend and an unspoken longing for a kiss that was never claimed.
A ROGUE’S LOST AMBITION
Years ago, Ben Kimbrell harbored ambitions, chief among them a kiss from Miss Kate Parker. Fate, though, had other plans. Now, his heart is weighted by family tragedy, his pain concealed behind a carefree charm. His reputation as an aimless rogue is well-earned, but beneath the façade lies a man who yearns for more.
AND A HEART WELL-GUARDED
When Kate sets her sights on Ben's dependable cousin, a man who fits her expectations if not her heart, Ben can no longer stand idly by. His efforts to save her from a loveless match find the two of them paired together in a village production of Much Ado About Nothing. Tasked with crafting the enchanting sets for their town's inaugural performance, their undeniable affection finds the perfect stage to blossom.
But for their love to flourish, Ben must reveal his true self and confront the shadows of his past. Can he find the courage to unlock his heart before it's too late?
Kissing Kate is a heartwarming best-friends romance about finding the courage to choose happiness and the healing power of love. Set in the charming seaside village of Newford, each book in the Hearts of Cornwall series stands alone.
Praise for the Book
“I really enjoyed this book, and absolutely recommend it to historical romance readers who are looking for a “Hallmark” style read that offers real depth of character, beautiful Cornwall scenery, and a warm prosaic style.”— Bobbie Jo Fersten, Reading Historical Romance
“A sweet installment in the Hearts of Cornwall Series… I loved the progression of their feelings as they deepened from friendship to romance…This was my first read by K. Lyn Smith and I would pick up more!”— Genesis Aleman, Geny Reads
“The growth of Kate and Ben is so much fun to watch, and I enjoyed the entire construct of them getting ready to perform a play for their town along with the cousins and friends…Kissing Kate is such a warm hug of a read! I recommend it.”— Michelle, Tales Untangled
(Affiliate links included.)
My Review
KISSING KATE is a story about two friends who lost their hearts to each other when they were children but don't admit such nor see a future together. They have their own plans, but fate and a meddling cousin or two challenge those. It's a story with great characters, including a whole slue of extended family, set in a quaint Cornwall town amidst the town's first theatrical performance. An overall lovely Regency romance.
I enjoyed getting to know these characters. I could tell there were some backstories for some of the couples I was missing as this is the fourth book in the series, but this very much stood on its own. I will have to go and read the other books to find out how the other romances came about. Kate is very sweet and proper and maybe a bit one dimensional at first. However, she really comes alive in the second half of the book when she has some epiphanies. Ben is a bit of a flippant, rogue of a gentleman on the surface, but I could tell that he genuinely cared for Kate and his family from the start. He just didn't know the direction his life was going and if he could trust himself. Kate and Ben together brought plenty of teasing, sweet dialogue, friendship and a few romantically tense moments that I thoroughly enjoyed. I also enjoyed how everything played out with a few notable side characters and plot lines that added to the story. The ending is especially sweet.
I did feel there were places the story dragged, a few phrases overly used fairly close together, a few places of redundancy, and a few places where the story got sidetracked too much. None were anything major. More where some additional editing would have been helpful. I also would have liked the small-town setting and some of the characters more developed. Those would be my only criticisms.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This was honestly a lovely read. Likable characters, a cute town setting, a bit of Shakespeare, and a sweet romance. An enjoyable read from beginning to end.
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the tour host/NetGalley, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Other Books in the Series
(Linked to Amazon affiliate links.)
About the Author
K. Lyn Smith lives in Birmingham, Alabama, where she writes sweet historical romance about ordinary people finding extraordinary love. Her debut novel, The Astronomer’s Obsession, was a finalist for the National Excellence in Romantic Fiction Award, while many of her other titles have been shortlisted for awards such as the American Writing Award, the Carolyn Reader’s Choice Award, the HOLT Medallion, and the Maggie Award.
When she’s not reading or writing, you can find her with family, traveling and watching period dramas. And space documentaries. Weird, right?
Author Interview
K. Lyn shares her inspiration for the story and characters in Kissing Kate, the research process, and Regency era theater productions. Read the full interview here.
Have you read any of the other books in this series? What's your favorite thing about reading Regency romances?
No comments
Post a Comment
I love comments! I try to read and reply to them all. Feel free to agree or disagree and generally share your thoughts with me.