Review: A Duke’s Wicked Kiss – Kathleen Bittner Roth

Miss Suri Thurston knows the pain of abandonment. Intent on confronting the grandmother who tossed her to the lions, she travels from England to her birthplace in India. Her plans run afoul when she encounters the man who, ten years prior, left a mark on her soul with one stolen kiss. But he is a duke, and far beyond the reach of even her dreams.

The Duke of Ravenswood, secret head of the British Foreign Service, has no time for relationships. His one goal is to locate and eliminate key insurgents involved in an uprising against the British East India Company before it’s too late. But when Suri appears in Delhi, his resolve is tested as he finds his heart forever bound to her by the one haunting kiss they shared once upon a time.

With Suri’s vengeful Indian family looking for her death, and insurgents intent on mutiny tearing their world apart, can their love rise above the scandal of the marriage they both desperately want?

Series:
Release Date: August 26th 2014
Publisher: Entangled: Select
Source: Provided by Author/Publisher via Manic Readers
Reviewer: Michelle
Rating:

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Reviewer’s Thoughts

3.5 Cocktails

Marguerite and Suri Thurston are daughters of a duke.  However, Suri is the illegitimate daughter of an Indian woman.  Suri’s mom died in childbirth and her father rescued her and brought her home to his wife.  The author describes the girls as having a very close relationship.  However, Marguerite quickly told strangers Suri’s story of being illegitimate and left to die.  That didn’t sound like Marguerite was such a great sister to me.  I couldn’t imagine having the circumstances of my birth discussed with anyone and everyone.  The adventure begins when Suri and Marguerite receive their first kiss from the same man, Lord John Fairfax.  The kiss between John and Suri was electric or “wicked” and serves as the reason for the book title.

The kiss left a lasting impact on both of them for the 10 years they were apart.  John and Suri were reunited while Suri was visiting Marguerite in India.  This is where the story becomes suspenseful and dark.  Suri’s character became very driven to achieve her own goals even at the expense of others.  She was overly dramatic.  Her selfish theatrics really made the rest of the book difficult to read.  It seemed like everyone in the book had to cater to Suri’s whims.  Even when it was explained to her that people could die so she could have her wish she disregarded their warnings and moved on with her desires. I was stunned at the casualties that mounted because of her actions.  I never became vested in any of the other characters either.  Marguerite seemed to be nice/nasty.  John had a lot of issues from his family and past relationships.  The other background characters added depth to the novel.  However, none of the other characters really stood out.

The storyline was incredibly busy with betrayal, greed, sibling rivalry, espionage, and a governmental uprising.  I can say that there was never a dull moment in the book, and I read it in one day.  I felt like I had to stick with it until I finished it.  I think the casualties and suffering of the child made the book seem dark.  I like suspense, but this particular book went a little further than my comfort zone.