4.5 Stars

I really enjoyed this book! It would have received a full 5 stars but I found the part at the end where the author gets into the reason behind the hero's revenge and who the killer was, really slowed down the pace. I understand why she put it in that part in of course but I could have done without it as well. ( )

What a great story! I laughed and cried many times! Such wonderful writing and really engaging characters!! I love this authors work!!

The switching cousins was a great angle I loved seeing how both tales evolved! Bold and brash Madeline and sweet shy Eleanor. Terrific stories!

I am currently on a Regency kick and this one was awesome!! ( )

A fairy tale from grown ups, Christina Dodd produces a masterpiece One Kiss From You.

Eleanor is the perfect heroine in this amazing novel. Raised as the companion to her beautiful cousin, the duchess, she is used to being in the background and to championing her cousin in her every cause. When her uncle loses a gambling match in which he bet the duchess to marry a rowdy American Remington Knight, Eleanor goes in her place to try to stall for time.

Remington, bent on revenge after the murders in his family, is determined to make the man responsible pay. What better way to show the snooty English that he cannot be beaten then to marry the daughter of the man he blames for the ruin of his family. He carefully plans a card game to win the duchess and claim his revenge. He could never have dreamed that his victory prize would be so sweet, so beautiful, so compassionate, so full of surprises. He could have never imagined that his plans could go so awry and the object of his punishment would end up being the object of his affection.

Eleanor hopes to get this encounter with the American over as quickly as possible. Her cousin Madeline the duchess, should hopefully be arriving shortly to smooth over the delay. With each day fear of their switch and her deception grows stronger. With each day so do her feelings for Remington. Always in the background, Eleanor has never before had a man look at her so directly for who she was. Remington is handsome, kind, and shows general interest in her happiness, although she can tell there is a dark secret he still keeps. With each day her desire to be with him grows stronger. Will he find out she is not his duchess? Can she betray her cousin and marry her betrothed? Will Remington's revenge be the last thing he ever does? Will love cost them their lives?

A wonderful story through and through. I would highly recommend this novel.

Overall: 5/5
Hero: 5/5
Heroine: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Steaminess: 5/5
Plot: 5/5 ( )

Better than the first book in the series, but not an entire star's worth. A fun story that stretched the boundaries a little bit too far, Eleanor and Remington's story was missing much of the ick factor from Maddie and Gabriel's story, thank goodness. It also had a cute dog, which is always a plus. The revenge subplot was a bit on the confusing side at times, but nicely resolved. So far, though, I like Dodd's contemporary stories much better than her historicals. ( )

Eleanor, out of gratitude to cousin (the duchess) for taking her in when she fled her father and stepmother's house, agrees to impersonate cousin in meeting the man who won the duchess's hand in marriage in a poker game. Of course, Eleanor falls in love, and though Remington doesn't get the duchess he planned for, he eventually realizes he won anyhow. Great chemistry - Dodd is a VERY steamy writer! ( )