Review: It could have been better
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 02 15, 2014
In Kiss of Lies, Ms. Evans has created likable characters and an intriguing plot.  Unfortunately there are some elements that kept this story from being much better than it might have been.  Bear in mind that the female protagonist Sarah/Serena is the victim of a very abusive marriage and is understandably wary of men, marriage and sex.  Yet, 10% of the way into the story, about page 30 or so, she's in our hero's bedroom in her nightgown ogling him while he's asleep and naked and allowing him to kiss and fondle her.  At the point that this happens she's known him less than 24 hours.  I read the rest of the story with a very jaundiced eye after that.  I think romance authors need to trust the patience of their readers a little more.Beyond that, there were some continuity errors and occasional lapses into modern language.  As far as historical accuracy is concerned, the author makes several references to the Underground Railroad.  The Underground Railroad's earliest known history was in the 1820s and the term underground railroad did not come into use until the 1840s.  Given that this novel is set in 1815, it's highly unlikely that Sarah/Serena made her escape from Virginia to Canada via the UR.  That's very sloppy work on the author's part.Bottom line: I'm sorry this wasn't a better book.  It is the first in a series and had it been better written I might have read the next one.