Name: Only a Kiss
ISBN: 9780451469687

Mary Balogh

Arriving at Hardford Hall for an impulsive visit, Percival Hayes, Earl of Hardford, finds Lady Barclay, who secluded herself after her husband's death, awakens a passion he never thought possible.

Only a Kiss

azliana aziz

a bit of slow paced at the beginning but once Lord Hardford arrived at Cornwall and met Lady Barclay i positively swooned. 

i just love and really appreciate how Mary Balogh wrote her heroine this time around. oftentimes in HR books the hero is the one with baggage and secrets, dark pasts notwithstanding giving them the reason to be a brooding master. 
also she wrote Imogen with such sensitivity that i hurt for her and root for her to live again. and her hesitant to live for herself after the incident of the past eight years i could really understand. such good writing by Balogh to reel us in to stand behind her heroine.

one more thing i love is how balanced is the writing for both H and h. Lord Hardford may seem as not that much but over time he rise to the occasion for himself AND for the heroine too.

it's just so wonderful all around just that nearing the last chapters, the smuggling mystery read as just the plot device and felt rushed on but oh well i'm reading an HR book so yes i can let that one pass on.