Books › The Fifth Kiss
The Fifth Kiss
First published 1981 · 322 pages
A tempestuous battle of wills that erupts into sudden, overwhelming passion within the strictures of Regency society.
What it feels like
Reading this vintage Regency romance feels like stepping into a tempestuous drawing-room drama where sharp words mask simmering desires. The pace is brisk, driven by the fiery, often combative banter between a meddling spinster and an exasperated, domineering earl. It carries the distinct, slightly melodramatic flavor of 1980s historical romance, where sudden, forceful declarations of passion shatter the polite veneer of upper-class society. The prose is breathless and dramatic, leaning into the overwhelming physical sensations of unexpected love. It is a cozy yet fraught read, perfect for readers who delight in old-school enemies-to-lovers dynamics, alpha heroes who lose their temper, and the thrilling shock of a proper lady discovering the surging tide of her own hidden desires.
- Mood
- tempestuous
- swoony
- fraught
- cozy
- Tone
- dramatic
- passionate
- combative
- earnest
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- unexpected passion · enemies to lovers · awakening desire · family duty · the spinster's rebellion
- The writing
- Breathless and dramatic, characterized by fiery dialogue and vivid descriptions of overwhelming physical sensations.
- The arc
- Moves from prickly, judgmental familial tension to an overwhelming, undeniable romantic surrender.
- Who it's for
- Fans of vintage Regency romances who enjoy fiery banter, domineering heroes, and the classic trope of a spinster finding unexpected passion.
Content notes
- outdated gender dynamics
- aggressive physical contact
- family conflict
About the book
A shocking declaration
The fist of Miles, Earl of Langley, smashed down, overturning the crystal decanter and causing Olivia to jump at her brother-in-law's sudden fury.
"How dare you sermonize about my character as a husband and father! Confound your damned spinster meddling!"
Before Olivia had recovered, Miles had seized a handful of her curls and forced her to face him.
"What you need," her brother-in-law growled, "is a man--a husband-who'd handle you as a wench should be handled--like this!"
In a flash, the world was different. His lips pressed to hers, she seemed to be living through a storm or a tidal wave. In the instant before she gave herself to the surging of her blood, she thought: Does one, could one, survive?
Description from Open Library.
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