A View to a Kiss

by Caroline Linden

Book Overview

Mystifying kisses . . . It was a most coveted invitation--a glittering ball attended by all the important people of the ton . But Mariah, a ravishing beauty thought by all to be the catch of the season, never expected to find true love amid the shadows. The mysterious man she meets there ignites a passion within her she never thought possible. When he starts a clandestine midnight courtship in her bedroom, Mariah is scandalized--and enthralled. From...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061706353
• ISBN13: 9780061706356
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

Beautiful Regency spy romance!

As the only child of the wealthy Earl of Doncaster and his loving wife, Lady Mariah is very close to her parents. So when at 16, her father became an emissary for the Crown to various European capitals, naturally his wife and daughter traveled with him. Five years later, Mariah finally gets her London Season and so far it isn't what she'd hoped it would be. Not even close. Until the night of her parents' ball and she meets a mysterious stranger on a darkened balcony. He's impertinent and blunt and candid . . . and the most interesting man Mariah has met. She becomes instantly smitten. The only problem is she has no idea what he looks like, only that his name is Harry. And then he starts coming to her bedroom window under the darkness of night uttering the sweetest things . . . and she begins to fall hopelessly in love with him. Harry Sinclair is a spy for the Home Office and a master of disguises. While taking in some fresh air dressed as the elderly Lord Wroth, Harry meets the object of his instant attraction, the incomparable Lady Mariah. Knowing that a common spy is well beneath the station of an earl's daughter, Harry can't help himself from speaking to her. And even though his current mission could be compromised by doing so, he can't seem to stay away from her. But will his double life full of secrets destroy any slim chance they might have to be together? I love, love, love the "reverse Cinderella" plot. There's just something so appealing to me of the complexity of a story in which a hero whose social standing isn't high enough or doesn't feel as if he's good enough for the heroine. Harry is just such a hero. I admired him for staying strong while managing his inner struggles and absolutely adored his raw vulnerability regarding Mariah. For him, it was love at first sight. *sigh* And Lady Mariah was the perfect heroine for him. She trusted her instincts and Harry, even when he couldn't supply answers to all of her questions, and was very determined to find a way - any way - for them to be together. A cross between Jane Austen and 007, A View to a Kiss is a sweet, passionate romance filled with intrigue and surprise twists. This one kept me up late into the night because I couldn't put it down. Caroline Linden's first book for Avon is a book that should not be missed! Andrea Romance Novel TV 4.5 stars

Great 4.5 stars

Mariah never thought to find her true love in the shadows of the ton's social event of the season. The mysterious man fascinates her in a way she never thought possible. Harry Sinclair is a top field operative for the British government and his latest assignment brings him undercover to the ball where he meets Mariah. Very soon his desire for her clashes with his sense of duty. While Harry tries to follow through with his investigation, Mariah starts her own investigation because she wants to find out who her midnight lover is. Suddenly they are in the middle of a political intrigue that threatens not only their blossoming relationship but also their very lives. I am normally not so much a fan of Spy novels, but because I am a huge Caroline Linden fan I picked up this book and I wasn't disappointed. The book is an exciting combination of Regency romance and Romantic suspense with two interesting protagonists. Mariah is not the typical Regency heroine, because although she is the diamond of the first water and the catch of the season she isn't the woman you might expect, but she is curious and quite brave. Harry undergoes quite a conscious conflict during the story, because normally his duty comes first and now he is distracted by Mariah. A VIEW TO KISS is not only a book for all Caroline Linden fans but also something for those who want to try out her works. Courtesy of Loveromances and more!

loved it

I really loved this book! I loved that the parents of Mariah actually loved her and were not mean to her. Im sick of the evil mom and dad that force their daughters to marry someone the daughter hates. Also the attraction and love between Mariah and Harry was so sweet. Harry is so romantic, it makes you sigh. I am really glad I read this book, and plan to read it again and again.

Great Undercover Spy Love Story!

I really enjoyed this story; read it in one day. It was not totally predictable as some are, but held my interest throughout. Would definately recommend to all lovers of spy romance novels.

Really Enjoyable Read You Won't Want to Put Down 4.5 Stars

I've read several bland HR books lately so I was surprisingly pleased when I finished this one. Societal rules are no match for the attraction and eventual love that develops between this spy and the free-spirited world-traveled daughter of an Earl. The heroine is bored to tears with the stuffy aristocratic men of London and the hero, a spy who is watching her father and others, is just the man to pique her interest. This is not a story in which I ached for the love between the hero and heroine, but, nevertheless, I enjoyed it from start to finish. The hero and heroine are likable and the story was interesting and unfolds very well - not completely predictable and utterly boring like the last 3 HR books I've struggled to finish. It also covers some of the political challenges of the time if you're interested in that, but it's not enough to detract and interefere with the story if you're not. I recommend this one if you're looking for an enjoyable and worthy new read.