This was a pretty interesting book. However, it was completely predictable, with everything resolving itself so obviously. But, it was nice to be proven correct. The ending was a bit cheesy and too convenient, but it really couldn't have ended any other way. The identity of the traitor was obvious too, but there was a moment of action surrounding the reveal that wasn't expected. So that was good.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this. I'm anxious to start the next story in the series. ( )

“No, no! Don’t go.” She retreated to her bed as she spoke. “But why must I stay over here?”
“We hardly know each other, miss,” he said with affected affront. “Keep your distance, if you please.”
Mariah choked back a snort of laughter. “You’re afraid of me?”
“A wise man never underestimates a woman."

I enjoyed this one but the romance felt a bit insta with our hero kind of going all-in with the heroine from simple seeing her. The heroine is instantly intrigued with the hero but with the vast majority of their meetings taking place for only a couple minutes at a time in her bedroom at night, I didn't really believe in their life long connection. The heroine is the one who really pushes for them to be together but her infatuation had a twinge of rich girl rebellion for the wrong side of the tracks guy.

The mystery, our hero is a spy, was a bit muddled as the circle of spies and their leaders wasn't flushed out quite enough, I struggled in the beginning learning who was who and what was what. Half-way through it becomes decently clear who the villain is and in such a way I think our hero should quit his day job, he was missing the picture for too long.

My favorite part of this was the author's sneaking political commentary, the romance genre is the best at this. Had a different feel to it, probably due to its little older publishing date 2009, but the hero and heroine didn't have the amount and depth of interaction I typically hope for. ( )

I waffled back and forth on Caroline Linden's newest read, "A View to a Kiss". She writes with flow and emotion and her characters become people I want to know. However, I really dislike amazing coincidences that solve problems and this novel had that at the very end.

Mariah is the daughter of an Earl--an Earl who is very highly placed in political circles. After spending several years with her parents on the continent, doing business for the government, they have finally returned to London and Mariah will now have her season and find a husband. The problem is that all the eligible men she meets see her only for her dowry and political connections. Mariah wants a man who will see and love her for herself. Now where to find such a man?

Harry Sinclair is a spy. He works for the Home Office, hoping to eventually raise himself high enough to do political work to help those less fortunate. He's in disguise watching over some highly placed politicos after the Home Office received hints of treason...Mariah's father is one of these. From his first sight of Mariah, Harry is bowled over by her beauty. From their first meeting, on a dark and deserted terrace, he's attracted to her brains and temperment. But Harry is not titled and knows Mariah is so far above his station, seeing her is only a form of self-torture. But neither can seem to let it go.

A great match of hero and heroine. A fairly interesting mystery, but I guessed the 'bad guy' and his methods pretty early on. The relationship between the lead characters was well handled and grew over time rather than in the whole 'love at first sight' thing. My only beef is with the very end, but it really wasn't enough to spoil my enjoyment of the overall story.

Caroline Linden knows how to write attraction and love scenes that are both touching and racy. Her characters are multi-faceted and slowly unveil themselves to both readers and each other. While "A View to a Kiss" won't make my keeper shelf, I enjoyed the read very much. Now I hope she continues in this vein with one or two of her engaging secondary characters from this story! ( )

Harry Sinclair is an undercover secret agent in early 19th century London. Working with a few colleagues, whe is charged with spying on three noblemen at the same time. At a ball, which he attends in the guise of an elderly gentleman, he meets Mariah Dunmore, the daughter of one of the men he spies on. Being of humble origins, he knows he will never be able to court her, but he can't help himself: he starts to secretly visit her. At night, in her bedroom. Mariah and Harry fall in love, but can they have a future together?
This isn't as sleazy as it sounds. Instead, it is an utterly romantic story with one of the best - and romantic - scenes taking place during a concert. Harry is far from being one of those alpha neanderthal heroes, and he tries to give up his relationship with Mariah several times throughout the book, because he knows he will never be allowed to marry her. It is Mariah who drives their relationship forward. She is in her early 20s, and, having grown up in a very sheltered way as the only child of her doting parents, she occasionally acts rashly or is a little naive. But Mariah, her family, and Harry are all very likable characters. There was just one plot element which I found quite unlikely: Mariah doesn't only have plenty of admirers, she also gets lots and lots of marriage proposals from men who hardly know her and whom she never encouraged even a little. But that isn't a pivotal part of the plot, and barely hurt my enjoyment of the story. ( )