Thomas Halford, Earl of Wycke is attracted to Honey Farthingale, but he can’t seem to figure out why she keeps avoiding him. Honey knows with her background and secret she is above the lower class and a class lower London’s society and the Earl Thomas Halford so to avoid heart break she keeps hiding from him. Tom continues to peruse Honey in an effort to see why all the other woman are flocking to him, and she’s not and finds himself even more intrigued by her. As they spend time together he sees her patience and kindness to his mother who has early signs of dementia. Love grows between them and Honey confesses her secret afraid it will ruin her chance of marriage. I have voluntarily read and reviewed this amazing story.

Lady Emma Spencer never had a come out as a young woman, as it was stopped when her father comes home and tells her that he is leaving England without her. Then he steals the diamond necklace and earrings; that were her mothers, off her person and disappears out the door before he could be caught. She is left penniless and homeless as her cousin does not want her either. Appears that her father has embezzled money from many of his peers. Marcus becomes the Earl of Rutherford after his father’s death finds out that he is bankrupted, thanks to his father’s gambling and bad investments. What surprises lie ahead for these individuals as they use the Black Widow of Whitehall in looking for a match? I have enjoyed this series that tells the stories of couples that need the help of the service that is provided by the Lyon’s Den.

This book did have charm and a certain sweetness about it. Honey Farthingale and Thomas Halford, the Earl of Wycke, are two nice, likable, genuinely good characters. Their relationship is basically love at first sight, and may be one of the quickest insta-love romances I've ever read. There's a heartwarming subplot about the Earl's mother suffering from dementia, which was handled by the author with great care and grace. There were large scenes involving many characters, these were fun and well done and definitely makes me want to check out the author's other books.

Unfortunately, at times, practically perfect and characters aren't always interesting, and I felt that the H/h lacked some depth. Honey and Thomas spoke a lot, and talked about their feelings, but the lengthy conversations often felt a bit forced. There wasn't much conflict in this story.

The "villains"weren't really much more than immature "mean girls," and Honey handled them well. I like the set down Thomas gave the Duke about his daughter's bad behavior, but we never heard anything from the Duke. No reply, nothing. This is just one example where the tension in the book could have built a bit.

The "secret" that Honey was keeping really wasn't that big of a deal, even for the time period (considering she wasn't part of the peerage or the ton).

If you're looking for a nice, sweet, insta-love, easy, no angst read, then this is the book you need. And there's nothing wrong with any of those things. We all need a little love and goodness in our lives.

I received this book from NetGalley, the opinion is all my own.

This is the 6th book of the Book of Love Series and it is about a lovable Farthingale Family member, Honey. It also has the famous Chipping Way in the story, so I knew I would love it. I was not disappointed. Meara Platt always writes a nice entertaining story which I enjoy very much. Honey and Thomas have secrets but cannot help falling in love and neither will you.
I received a free copy of this book for my honest review.

The Kiss of Love by Meara Platt is another in the Book of Love series. I love, love, love this series. The book always plays a role, usually relatively minor, but there it is, none-the-less. Thomas Halford, the Earl of Wycke, also known as Wicked Wycke is mightily taken by this girl, Honeysuckle Farthingale, who is no different from other young women, and yet supremely different. It is now is task to convince her to attend the house party at his country estate. The house party is primarily for his mother, Lady Wycke, who has recently been drawn further and further into her own world of dementia. It is his hope that being in the surroundings she loves will help her re-establish her good health. Honey knows better than to get anywhere near this man. Her secret precludes her from ever marrying and he is a danger to that resolve.

Honey is a kind, gentle, pleasant girl with a positive outlook on most things. Tom is a confirmed bachelor and a rake of the highest order. He has gotten to be an expert at avoiding marriage, woman interested in marriage, and mothers interested in him as a son-in-law. He is smitten and he can't understand it. This has never happened before. But, there is his mother to worry about. Being in the country hasn't helped at all. It seems she is getting worse. Sometimes she knows who he is; sometimes she thinks he is his father. He won't have her ridiculed by unfeeling guests, or see himself ridiculed, for that matter. Honey is so able with his mother, he can barely fathom it. How could he be in love after three days? His sister would never let him live it down. He had made her wait six months. Then there is the matter of Lady Sarah and he little following of "mean girls." They were a thorn in his side. Something must be done. It's a terrific story with good characters. I love this series. I recommend it to lovers of romance.

I received a free ARC of The Kiss of Love from Dragonblade, through Netgalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #dragonblade #thekissoflove

Honey Farthingale has a devastating secret that could destroy her chance of ever finding love. For this reason, she has sworn off marriage. But if she is to live out the rest of her days as a spinster, what harm can there be in stealing a kiss from the season’s most sought after bachelor, the handsome as sin Earl of Wycke? Thomas Halford, Earl of Wycke, is determined to discover why Honey Farthingale keeps running away from him when every other debutante is throwing themselves at his feet. She claims she will never marry, but when she asks him for a kiss, he is more than willing to oblige. However, he wants more from this beautiful girl who has stolen his heart.
The sixth book in this lovely series, it could be read on its own but if like me you love series I'd recommend reading from the beginning. I loved both Tom & Honey & the journey to their HEA wasn't easy but I loved it. I also loved how characters from other books featured. A lovely heart warming romance
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Honey Farthingale has recently learned a devastating family secret that has made her decide she can never marry. Before she hides herself away and concentrates on the family business she will enjoy a weekend party.
Thomas Halford, Earl of Wycke is holding a weekend party at his country estate. He hopes being there will help his mother, and he wants to get to know the one woman who hides from him.
A very emotional historical romance that has fascinating characters. That pesky "Book Of Love" is at it again. Weaving it's magic for those who read it. A vicious woman is intent on mischief and an illness that was not well understood in those days causes heartache.
Each book in the series can easily be read alone, but be warned you will be tempted to buy them all.
Good fun.

Thomas Halford, Earl of Wycke, is not ready to settle down. He enjoys his bachelor life, that is, until he invites Honey Farthingale to his house party. He's intrigued by the sweet young woman, but she tries to avoid him and vows she'll never marry. The more she resists Tom, the more he wants to get to know her and find out her 'terrible' secret.

Not having read any of the other stories in this series, I was a little lost with all the characters that were introduced in the beginning. I'm also not a fan of the 'insta-love' aspect of stories and wasn't impressed when after only 2 days at the house party, Tom is willing to give up his bachelor life to marry her. Honey's terrible secret did not end up being all that important in the end even when the mean girl Lady Sarah announces it to everyone at a ball. Beside this one thing, there wasn't much conflict in the book at all.

This is the sixth book in the Book of Love series. I have not read Meara Platt and the other books in this series, but now I’d like to! Family members from the other novels are involved, but it did not distract from my enjoyment of this story.

Thomas Halford, Earl of Wycke, doesn’t understand why Honey Farthingale keeps running away from him when every other debutante is falling at his feet. Honey is holding in a family secret that she believes makes her unmarriageable. She tries to hold Tom at arm’s length even though she just wants to draw him closer. During a house party, Honey sees more of Tom’s protective nature as he deals with a mother in deteriorating mental health and Tom falls deeper for loving, compassionate Honey.

This book was exactly what I needed right now! The characters were so warm and likable, and the writing compelling.

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #TheKissOfLove #NetGalley

I absolutely love that this series the names are different from most books, its refreshing to be able to remember who your reading and a lot of book tend to use the same names so will sometimes get them tangled in my head.
Honeysuckle Farthingale dreams of having a family, but due to her "secret" believes that will never happen. Unbeknownst to her she has caught the eye of the Earl of Wycke. He has seen her a briefly spoke to her but already feels pulled to her when ever she is near. He invites her and several others to a house party, and his feelings for her deepen. He has a lot on his plate with his mother, thinking he is his dad most days and unable to remember the simplest things. (early dementia but it was such a hard thing for them to deal with as they didn't understand it and most didn't treat it with compassion.) Honey immediately feels pulled to his mom and helps in any way she can; deepening his feelings for her. Neither hide their feelings but his love doesn't change Honey to the point of trusting him with her secret. I felt like she should have told him earlier as that part felt dragged on a bit. But the ending was very sweet and overall a great book!

I love Meara Platt stories. They encompass real life experiences with love makes this such a small and loyalty. This one is no different and I loved every word written.

I'm not sure why I haven't read any of the other books in Meara Platt's The Book of Love series before now, I've read most of her other books but these ones somehow passed me by. It doesn't really matter though, although this is book six in the series, it's really a standalone novel and while it does mention characters from previously in the series, it also mentions characters from other series too.
Honeysuckle Farthingale has a secret, one which means that she fears that she will never be able to marry. She has fallen in love with the Earl of Wycke and thinks that if she can share just one kiss with him, it will give her memories for the rest of her life.
This is quite a cute love story. I wasn't completely convinced about her secret, but as this is what I think I would be more likely to call a 'fantasy regency' rather than one that is historically accurate, then that doesn't matter. In fact, Meara Platt specializes in fantasy regencies and very enjoyable they are too. The really interesting part of this story is that Thomas (the Earl of Wycke) is dealing with the declining health of his mother. I thought that the way that this part of the story was dealt with was very good.
The book of love which the series is named after is a book that seems to help each woman who has it find their true love. It's clear that this is a series with more to come as the book is passed on to it's next recipient by the end of the story.
Overall this was an enjoyable romance and one that I would recommend.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the first book I have read in what is obviously a series. It was very sweet, had some heat, and a couple that were in love from page one. I will need to read some of the previous books as the Farthingales are a hoot, 4 stars.

Will her secret and shame be the end of their burgeoning romance ...

I’m kind of a Dory at time, but after a few pages, I remembered what secret laid between Honey and Society’s conventions as it was revealed in the previous book.
Honey is like all the Farthingales, a sweet and caring miss. That she decided to never marry because of the circumstances of her birth is a bit stretching things. She would not be the first nor the last.
Yet it was well known during these times that most things were decided upon someone’s birth. And as there were the many ranks in society, there were also the context of everyone’s origin.
So even if I thought she kept her secret for herself a bit too long, I understood it could be a life’s altering event if it was acknowledged.
Thomas for a Wicked Wycke, as he is known, is more honorable than it was expected. Sure, he was stalking the one woman who does not fawn at his mere presence.
But like all the men when they encounter a Farthingale miss, he was instantly caught up, and unable to stop thinking about her.
Thus their courtship is an easy one, they do not really fight their attraction, only stands between them Honey’s secret. And Thomas being a knight in shining (or not) armor, it will not dim his interest in her.

A special note about Thomas’ mother, her affliction, slowly drifting toward dementia, was even more a cruel turn of fate at this time, as it was ill-seen, misunderstood and not treated as an aging disease.

It is always a pleasure to see again all those Farthingales and their spouses and the chaotic world they all live in.
Why I am forever eager to put my hands on every Farthingales and their associates’ stories.
4.5 stars for this sweet tale of acceptance and persistence.

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Dragonblade, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

Beautiful, thoughtful, emotional.
Three words that spring to mind when I think of this book.

There are issues that we all may have to deal with in here, that our Lord and Lady also have to cope with.
The main being Dementia,
In our time we specialists who we can turn to.
In theirs they were virtually on their own and it was looked down on , a madness in the family, not understanding it they didn’t cope very well.

Meara deals beautifully with this issue as does our beautiful lady Honey Farthingale, a lady with such love and compassion especially for Earl Tom and his mother that she takes it all in her stride, and instantly finds solutions to any problems.

Tom is dealing with so much . Never knowing if he’s going to be playing himself or his father, whenever he comes across his mother.
Honey helps him deal and cope with her, and its at this time they cement their love in place.
They were always meant for each other , such chemistry.

Unfortunately not everyone is happy, and they have another force at work to keep them apart.

Loved the book , characters, story plot, in fact everything about it was excellent.
This really was an enjoyable book to read even with the elements that you’d think would make it a sad story . It wasn’t , it was inspiring to be honest, the love and affection that poured out of the pages was wonderful.
Congratulations Meara , I loved how you wrote this.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

Two people, Honey and Tom, say they will not marry. Honey won’t marry because of a terrible secret and Tom because he is not ready to settle down. Intrigued by Honey’s dismissal of him when all the other woman fawn over him, Tom sets out to seduce Honey. He succeeds. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

The description of the book was very promising, however the actual book didn’t work out for me.

The writing was slightly dull. The male MC was also dull. The female MC was especially dull.

The ‘terrible’ secret made me roll my 21st century eyes.

Not my cuppa.

This novel was another enjoyable read in the series, bringing back some of the Farthingales and introducing new characters. Each novel builds into the next lady and gentleman destined for love. Honey has a secret that if exposed would ruin her, so she has decided never to marry. She helps to run the family business of perfumes. Thomas Halford, Earl of Wycke, has wanted Honey since he first laid eyes on her but she was constantly avoiding him unlike the rest of the debutantes trying to ensnare a husband. He has a reputation as a rake, but is a good man. Convincing Honey to attend his house party, they get to know each other better and read The Book of Love to understand what is it they are feeling towards each other. Still, they have to overcome some obstacles to get their happily ever after.
I received this novel as an ARC from net galley and the publisher. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I should probably begin by saying that I read a lot of romance. A lot. Contemporary, supernatural, steampunk, post-apocalyptic, YA, NA, historical and pseudo-historical (that is to say, historical with more than a nod to modern sensibilities such as independent women and consent) and every combination therein. Regency romances are one of my favourites and I was very keen to read this novel by Meara Platt – she is not an author I had been previously aware of.

I liked the description, after a little searching I was delighted to find that The Kiss of Love is one in a lengthy series of novels – something that I could happily sink into. And then I began to read.

We soon find out that Honeysuckle Farthingale has A Secret. A Secret so awful, so terrible, so debilitating that she has No Choice but to remain a Spinster for all time. This Secret is mentioned a great deal but when it is revealed, seems something of an anti-climax. Yes, given the Regency setting and the sensibilities of the time, it is important. However, given the wildly anachronistic feel of this novel, it actually seems too minor for words and becomes a non-issue, despite it being milked for as much drama as possible.

Then there is the central relationship. I didn’t like it. I didn’t feel anything except mild irritation at Honey and annoyance at Tom who seems to flip-flop between cinnamon roll and alpha but never fully commits to either one.

The dialogue is exposition heavy and clunky; there is an inordinate amount of telling and not showing and the whole thing seems both heavy handed and yet far too light on details. We are told how much the main characters feel for one another – very insta-romance – but their relationship is neither built well nor shown. The uses of US English grate – “gotten” may originally have been an English word but it fell out of favour in the 17th or 18th century. Most definitely not used in Regency England. We don’t use the phrase “go chaperone” either. I also found myself, upon finishing the novel, doing an internet search for the average size of a kipper. That isn’t something I have ever found myself having to do before now.

Another thing that struck me, almost as much as the kippers, was the first sex-scene between the Hero and Heroine. It was almost utterly one sided and told from the perspective of the Hero. I’m all for Deep Third narration usually but it wasn’t well done and left me with the distinct impression that, for a novel that embraces a lot of modern sensibilities, the heroine was left wanting in all senses of the word.

I’m not angry. I’m disappointed. I thought I had found a wonderful new series of Regency romances to devour. I haven’t.