Friday, May 5

His Wicked Kiss by Gaelen Foley

Over the next few days I'm going to try and finish some of the books I started last month, but didn't finish. The first book I picked up was Gaelen Foley's His Wicked Kiss.

This book should have been a keeper. It starts in the tropical forrest of Venezuela, great setting, Eden is dreaming of a London season and confronts her Doctor/scientist/adventurer father about returning to London as he's promised. Dad's hiding them away from the evils of society and has no plans to return and wants her to marry his assistant Connor, a painfully shy Australian, who turns out to be a complete psycho. Jack's "shipping" and other interests have brought him to Venezuela.

When her father refuses to return to England, Eden decides to stow away on Jack's ship, figuring her father would follow, which of course he does There starts an interesting and romantic trip back to England. Basically, they fall in love and marry aboard ship.

The book starts to fall apart when they reach Jack's estate in Ireland. He's decided to leave Eden there, rather than take her London. He's somewhat like her father, successful, but running away from his past and hates Society. They fight, he capitulates and she doesn't trust or forgive him. This little disagreement goes on from page 285-398, one hundred pages + of wasted space. Jack goes from strong hero to a neurotic, Eden becomes a superficial TSTL heroine. The only good part of this section--Jack reconciles with his family.

All ends well, without those pages it probably would have been a keeper.

Have a good one, and happy reading.

Tara

8 comments:

Kerri Wall said...

Gaelen has always been hit or miss with me. I hadn't picked this one up yet...maybe I'll look for it at the library instead.

Thanks!

...Fi

erika said...

It wasn't a keeper for me too but I still liked it.

ReneeW said...

I only read one Foley (One Night of Sin) and didn't like it much (C+). HWK doesn't sound like my cup of tea either. Too bad because I love tropical settings. Thanks!

sybil said...

ooooooohhhhhhhh

::bounces in chair and tries to look sad::

so sorry it didn't work out for you

;)

Tara Marie said...

FF--I'm hit or miss with Foley also, they're alwasy a little too long. I always think the story could have been told quicker.

Erika--since I liked 3/4 of the book, I rated it as good.

Renee--I love tropical settings and ship romances, and a good chunk of the book (through about page 275 out of 431.)

Sybil--I'm confused, not a real shock.

Was I supposed to love it or hate it?

And, like I said to Erika, I liked 3/4 of it.

Anneliese Kelly said...

Hey tara marie, thanks for the link to your review over on my blog. I'm in total agreement, the story just ground to a halt abruptly. Sad. Some editing would have really helped.

Now The Duke was a great, keeper Foley novel.

sybil said...

I want you to love all your books because that would make you happy!

I just don't want you to keep them (*eg* well not right now, later I will be gasping again in horror that you are not keeping them all). LOL, see I am working with your hubby to keep your book collection down ;). I am just a selfless girl that way. Between you, K and CW I will so get my hands on this book!

Nikki said...

Foley is autobuy for me. I have loved every book so far. I just finished HWK and it took me 1 1/2 weeks to read. I just didn't connect with the characters. I guess I was bored. I finished it because I knew the family reunion was coming. I don't know something was just missing. I feel let down. Not a keeper. There will be a hole on my Foley keeper shelf. Too Bad.