Product Description

A Notorious Gentleman . . .

Sullivan Waring wants only two things: his rightful inheritance, and revenge against the man who stole it from him. By day, Sullivan is the most respected horse breeder in England; by night, he plunders the ton's most opulent homes to reclaim his late mother's beautiful paintings. His quest is going swimmingly . . . until the night he's discovered by Lady Isabel Chalsey. Clad only in a revealing nightdress, she's an entrancingly different kind of plunder, and how can a thief resist stealing a kiss?

A Curious Lady . . .

Surprised by a masked man in her own home, Isabel should be quaking with fear. Instead the sight of the sinfully handsome Sullivan makes her tremble with excitement. Who is this man, and why is he so set on this reckless pursuit? Lady Isabel loves a challenge, and she'll dare anything to uncover Sullivan's secret—but she may instead convince him that she is the greatest prize of all.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #97297 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-01
• Released on: 2008-06-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 384 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780060843090
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author

A native and current resident of Southern California, Suzanne Enoch loves movies almost as much as she loves books. She once appeared on an E! special, Star Wars Is Back, as an expert on the romance in the Star Wars movies. Other highlights include winning her third grade spelling bee, receiving an E.T. poster and T-shirt in an alien-inspired poetry contest, and submitting a script for The A-Team (which was not why the series was cancelled). When she is not busily working on her next novel, Suzanne likes to contemplate interesting phenomena, like how the three guppies in her aquarium became 161 guppies in five months.

Customer Reviews

Good start to a new series -The Notorious Gentleman
A kiss. Who would have thought that so much trouble started from just one stolen kiss? Sullivan Waring didn't. He was simply out for revenge against a man who stole what was rightfully his. By day Sullivan is a respected horse breeder but by night he becomes the Mayfair Marauder stealing back his mother's paintings. Only this time during one of his forays he just didn't steal some art, he stole a kiss from a beautiful innocent young Lady. And Isabel Chalsey isn't about to forget that one kiss from the masked thief. Sullivan is an exciting mystery to be solved and she loves a good puzzle. Isabel is used to getting her own way and she won't stop until all of Sullivan's secrets are exposed. But once they spend time together and everything is uncovered both realize that they have made a huge mistake -with their hearts. Because a man who sells horses has no future with the daughter of a Marquis.

A good start to a new series. But I did find some annoying points. Isabel to be a bit irritating with her shabby aristocratic nose-in-the-air treatment of Sullivan. And he has a chip on his shoulder the size of Alaska -thus the revenge. Then again that didn't bother me as much since they do have great chemistry. The sparks really fly between these two. I think thats Enoch strong point here. And the loves scenes where steamy too. The mystery wasn't so mysterious and very predictable but seemed carry some momentum. And the ending is believable.

My favorite part of the book and thus the four instead of three stars is Sullivan's friend Bram. He stole the scenes he was in. I loved his devil-may-care rakish attitude. Enoch spent a fair amount of time developing his character but his book is not the next in the series. Huh? What a teaser! Instead Phin's is. Before the Scandal: The Notorious Gentlemen And he is barely in the book! *Shakes head* why do authors do that?

I recommend this book to those historical romance readers who are fans of aristocrat and commoner pairings. If you like this type of scenario then you might want to check out The Leopard Prince.

terrific Regency romantic mystery
A year after being shot as an officer serving in the Peninsular War; highly regarded horse breeder Sullivan Waring lives a secret life. During the day the Ton admires his work with horses; at night they treat him with contempt. He does not care how they feel; instead he wants what was stolen from him; so in the evening he sneaks into the homes of the affluent to take back his late mother's paintings.

However Lady Isabel Chalsey catches the notorious Mayfair Marauder in the act of thieving. He is stunned by her beauty and cannot stop himself from taking a kiss; he is further shocked when she demands he train a horse for her use or she will expose him. As he falls in love, he prepares a mare for Isabel while helping her overcome her fear of horses; but may not be able to overcome his own dark secrets that eat at his soul.

The first Notorious Gentlemen tale (Sully's Peninsular War buddies to follow) is a terrific Regency romantic mystery that hooks readers when the heroine going for a late snack catches the notorious gentleman removing a portrait from the wall. The story line never slows down as Lady Isabel "blackmails" the thief after a witty exchange. Readers will enjoy their antics AFTER THE KISS as Suzanne Enoch provides a superb opening act.

Harriet Klausner

Off to buy my next Enoch book
Normally, I stick to historical fiction, but these days it's become harder and harder to find good historical fiction with romantic elements or romantic endings. Tracy Chevalier did a good job in A Girl With a Pearl Earring, and I very much enjoyed Michelle Moran's Nefertiti. But now I'm branching out into historical romance, and I am very glad I've decided to do so.

After the Kiss is only my fifth romance novel, and I enjoyed it immensely. The real story begins with Lady Isabel discovering Sullivan Waring in the process of stealing from her home. To keep her from screaming, Sullivan kisses her, but Lady Isabel manages to grab his mask and later discover his identity. The characters are well drawn, the romance is full of tension, and the historical setting is spot-on.

Highly recommended.