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After the Kiss
400 pages
A sweeping, shadow-drenched historical romance where an outspoken heroine confronts a wounded, brooding duke.
What it feels like
This historical romance wraps the reader in a gothic-tinged atmosphere of shadows and deep emotional yearning. The narrative unfolds at a steady pace, transitioning from the bright, scandalous ballrooms of polite English society to the melancholic, isolated halls of a brooding abbey. It feels dramatic and angsty, leaning heavily into the beloved trope of a wounded, isolated hero and a fiercely outspoken heroine who refuses to be intimidated by his scars or his demands. The emotional texture is rich with themes of healing, hidden vulnerabilities, and the tension of a marriage of convenience. It will delight readers who crave earnest, passionate love stories where raw, hard-won acceptance triumphs over societal expectations and physical trauma.
- Mood
- shadowy
- passionate
- melancholic
- gothic-tinged
- Tone
- dramatic
- romantic
- earnest
- angsty
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- beauty and the beast dynamics · healing from trauma · scandal and reputation · marriage of convenience · hidden vulnerabilities
- The writing
- Expressive and emotionally charged, leaning into the dramatic contrasts between societal expectations and raw, wounded isolation.
- The arc
- Moves from a lighthearted, scandalous flirtation into a deep, shadow-drenched journey of healing and hard-won acceptance.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love classic historical romance tropes, especially the brooding, scarred hero and the outspoken heroine who refuses to be intimidated.
Content notes
- war trauma
- physical scarring
- scandal
About the book
THE INNOCENT Too tall and entirely too outspoken, Miss Eliza Sheringham grew up thumbing her nose at polite English society. So when Captain Lord Marcus Wharton, called Beau for his stunning good looks set his rakish sights on her, Eliza thought nothing of rejecting his advances. Until a stolen kiss swept her into the arms of a man too dangerous too love....
THE BEAU Called to battle, Marcus left behind the woman who had captured his heart--and the scandal ignited by their kiss. His brother's disappearance made him Duke of Blackthorne, guardian of twin nieces who were rumored to be his own daughters. Badly scared in battle, the Beau had become the Beast of Blackthorne, a wounded animal destined to spend his life hiding in a shadowy wing of Blackthorne Abbey.
THE BEAST When Eliza Sheringham showed up on his doorstep proposing herself as governess for the incorrigible twins, the Beast demanded marriage as the price of the job. He knew she could never love him. Surely his looks would drive her away--now that he hungered for her more than life itself....
Description from Open Library.
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