Book Review: A Kiss to Remember

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

A Kiss to Remember     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Teresa Medeiros
Class/Genre:   Romance   Historical
Bantam, Jul 2001, $21.95, 324 pp.

Sterling Harlow is excited to see the splendid coach pull up by his house. He is even more ecstatic over meeting a duke for the first time as his Uncle Granville Harlow of Devonbrooke has come to visit. However, Sterling’s elation turns to anguish when he learns that his father has sold him to his uncle, who names the lad his heir.

Years later, Sterling is now the duke, but he cares little about anything more than being a rake. When he learns that his mother died leaving a will that contains a stipulation for three orphaned children, Sterling travels home for the first time since he was sold. He plans to kick Lady Laura Fairleigh and her two younger siblings out of his home. However, on the way he suffers a horse spill and is knocked out cold. Laura finds him and cannot resist kissing the sleeping beauty. When he awakens, Sterling has no memories so Laura feeds him one that will keep the three Fairleighs under a roof. After Laura and Sterling marry, he regains his memory only to find he loves the woman who sold her soul like his parents once did him.

A KISS TO REMEMBER is a delightful historical romance that uses two common devices (amnesia and a will) to forward the bender gender Sleeping Beauty plot. Under a lesser talent than Teresa Medeiros (see THE BRIDE AND THE BEAST), this story line would have been trite. However, the wonderful writer makes the tale seem fresh and humorous with intriguing characters that turn this novel into a Fairleigh fine time for sub-genre fans.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner