THE KISSING GATE

THE KISSING GATE... The new Earl of Wraxham, Lionel Westfall, was unprepared to move from town life to the doldrums of his late father's estate. He was even less prepared to find Sophie Bowerbank. The girl has turned voluptuous woman, but she is still the rector's daughter he'd tenderly kissed across the barrier of the kissing gate— the girl who twenty years ago had given him his only taste of love. AND BEYOND... But Lionel didn't just need Love. With six rebellious sons from a previous marriage, he needed help. And Sophie seemed the perfect choice. A woman bold enough to research erotic texts in his father's library could surely handle his hellions. And if she would put into practice some of her book learning, if she would take a chance on him, he would finish what they began so long ago— he would usher her through the kissing gate onto the glorious path beyond.

Fiona Carr's THE KISSING GATE features a 35-year-old spinster who is given a second chance with her first love. Having never married, Sophie still resides with her father, the local rector. Lionel Westfall, Earl of Wraxham, decides to return to the family estate after the death of his wife, thinking it would be a better environment for his sons. Faced with raising his six sons alone, he turns to Sophie for help and hires her as the tutor for his youngest three children. Before long, the sparks between Sophie and Lionel ignite again.

THE KISSING GATE is just all-out fun. Sophie is adorable. Having secretly borrowed from the old earl's erotica collection, Sophie now longs to experience the passion she's only read about. Recognizing Lionel's return as possibly her last chance, she sets out to seduce him. Lionel, in turn, struggles to resist her enticements, believing he's being honorable. The sexual tension between these two sizzles, and their relationship progresses in a believable and honest fashion. The Earl's sons, especially the three youngest, almost steal the show. All six sons make appealing secondary characters. A subplot concerning malicious pranks blamed on the twins seems unnecessary and a bit distracting.

Overall, THE KISSING GATE is a satisfying read. If you're looking for a book to enjoy during an afternoon's indulgence, pick up this one and you won't be disappointed.

Kendra Patterson