Title:  The Memory of Your Kiss
Series:
Author:  Wilma Counts
Genre:  Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Published:  March 17, 2015
Publisher:  Kensington Books
My Rating:  3 stars
Source:  NetGalley

Story Blurb:

When her father falls gravely ill, eighteen-year-old Sydney Isabella Waverly dutifully agrees to marry the earl whose estate borders her family’s modest country home. But on a trip to Bath before she weds, Sydney meets the enigmatic, heroic Captain Zachary Quentin, with whom she feels an unmistakable mutual attraction.

Still, they have no choice but to part ways, regretting what might have been. Sydney cannot know that one day they will meet again under vastly changed circumstances, that Zachary will play an unexpected role in her life—and that the man she never forgot still ignites her heart. All that will remain is to find out if he feels the same way…

Read on for my thoughts on The Memory of Your Kiss.  No true spoilers, promise.

Sydney finds her self about to be married off.  Like many young women of her era, there is really little choice to the decisions made by the men in their lives.  In her situation, Sidney’s father is ill and his days are numbered.  Setting his eldest daughter up in the marriage planned by he and his best friend years ago seems the most logical solution for Sidney and her younger brother and sister.  At least their futures will be secure before he leave this world.

Pardon me if I snund snippy – but as much as I enjoy Historical Romances, I know that for the times this was not usually a romantic situation for the young ladies at all.  Thought unable to hold a thought more serious than the latest fashion, most women of this era were mere property to be moved about at a man’s decision.  If they were lucky, their husbands were bearable and they came to love them in time.  But not all were so lucky.

Fortunately for Sydney, she had known Henry for years and found him acceptable.  If her heart yearned for more, then she told her heart to shush.  Unknown to Sidney, Henry was in love with another woman – and while she would be an acceptable bride as far as society went, she was already married.  So, Sidney starts out her marriage with one strike against her.

Shortly after announcing the marriage plan to his daughter, Sidney’s father sends her off to relatives in Bath to have a fun, carefree experience before marriage ties her down.

It is here that she will meet Captain Zachary Quentin – the man who will be the love of her life.  While they share a light flirtation during her three weeks in Bath, Sidney does not let Zach know that she is about to become a married woman – and he begins to fall in love with an unattainable lady.  Strike two.

Sidney goes ahead with her marriage.  Zachery returns to the War.  Neither knows that eventually their lives will meet again – and perhaps that time will be the right time for them.

I enjoyed this novel very much.  If I wanted more of Sidney and Zach’s reunion instead of their time apart, then it was my own longing for happy ever afters.  For me this novel gets a 3 outta 5 on my rating scale – good, enjoyable but I wanted…more or in some ways less.  But that is my opinion, yours might be far different.  So with any review, make your own choices about books by picking it up and reading for yourself.  You might agree or you might just find your favorite new novel.

*I received an e-ARC of The Memory of Your Kiss from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*