Imogen Hayes is the only female member of The
Survivors Club, a group of people who have been
scarred physically and/or emotionally by the war, and
have banded together to support each other and to try to
heal. Many of the members have successfully come to
terms with their wounds, and have even made happy
marriages, but not Imogen. She lost her husband in the
war, and now resides in the dower house of his estate,
getting along as best she can, but determined never to
feel love again.
Percival Hayes has inherited the estate and title that
would have come to Imogen's husband, if he had survived.
For years, Percy has lived a frivolous, carefree life,
drinking and carousing with his friends, with no thoughts
to his future. But today is Percy's thirtieth birthday,
and he feels a sense of uselessness and a need for a
change. So he decides to finally visit the estate he
inherited in Cornwall.
Percy arrives to find two older relatives residing in his
home, along with a menagerie of wounded or orphaned
animals, and widowed Imogen living in the dower house.
Everyone is welcoming except for Imogen, who has no use
for the handsome, but shallow young man. Percy finds
Imogen cold and stern, and can't wait to leave and go
back to town and resume his life. To his dismay, his
mother sends word that she is on her way with a barrage
of relatives in tow to plan a grand party for Percy's
birthday - he is stuck!
While passing time until the crowd arrives, Percy begins
to explore his inheritance, at first mocking the country
life. But soon, to his own surprise, he begins to enjoy
the country, the people and the lifestyle. Even more to
his surprise, he begins to find Imogen very attractive.
Imogen begins to return Percy's interest, and while she
is determined to avoid love, she's willing to indulge in
a temporary affair.
It was so enjoyable to watch Percy mature right before my
eyes, from a frivolous do-nothing to a caring honorable
man. Imogen, however, remains an enigma for most of the
book. Until her secret is finally revealed, we are kept
wondering why she remains so cold and hard shelled. As
Percy genuinely falls in love, it seems he's headed for
serious heartbreak. Mary Balogh's Survivors' Club
series has contained many emotional, heart wrenching
stories. While I felt that the romance in some of the
other books was more intense, ONLY A KISS contains
elements of personal growth and self forgiveness that
make for a strong addition to the series. The supporting
cast of characters was charming, and the occasional light
humor offset the darkness of Imogen's situation. I
enjoyed ONLY A KISS very much and recommend it to all
fans of historical romance as well as followers of The
Survivors' Club.
Since witnessing the death of her husband during the wars,
Imogen, Lady Barclay, has secluded herself in the confines
of Hardford Hall, their home in Cornwall. The new owner has
failed to take up his inheritance, and Imogen desperately
hopes he will never come to disturb her fragile peace.
Percival Hayes, Earl of Hardford, has no interest in the
wilds of Cornwall, but when he impulsively decides to pay a
visit to his estate there, he is shocked to discover that it
is not the ruined heap he had expected. He is equally
shocked to find the beautiful widow of his predecessor’s son
living there.
Soon Imogen awakens in Percy a passion he has never thought
himself capable of feeling. But can he save her from her
misery and reawaken her soul? And what will it mean for him
if he succeeds?
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy