Libertine's Kiss (English Restoration, #1)

Apr 12, 2013 SueBee★bring me an alpha!★ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, heroes-favs-historicals, g-historicals, paperback, heroes-top-100, read-historicals, series-g-historicals, 5-stars, epic, written-reviews

★★★★★! Epic love story with a witty, flamboyant, charismatic, unreachable, beyond handsome playboy hero inspired by the legendary John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester.

Libertine’s Kiss is a stand-alone, book 1 in the English Restoration series. Each book has its own H/h, who will reappear in future books.

Hero: William de Veres, Earl Rivers/29 years old/Lord-Royalist-war hero-poet-author-wit/black hair/green-hazel eyes
Heroine: Elizabeth Walters, “Lizzy”/27 years old/widow/red hair/green eyes

This is the...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Mary B. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, romance-historical-european, kindle-books-i-own, kindle-books-available-for-loan, rakish-hero, james-judith, childhood-friends

Excellent read. A solid 4 stars. I got completely immersed, and it kept my rapt attention from beginning to end. It was the kind of book I read every free moment I could.

Firstly, I would like to say that Broken Wing by this author is one of my top favorite romance novels. And this book definitely had some of the things I love about Judith James' books - an eloquent and flowing writing style, and her ability to convey very deep emotions through the use of dialogue and the description of physical...more Excellent read. A solid 4 stars. I got completely immersed, and it kept my rapt attention from beginning to end. It was the kind of book I read every free moment I could.

Firstly, I would like to say that Broken Wing by this author is one of my top favorite romance novels. And this book definitely had some of the things I love about Judith James' books - an eloquent and flowing writing style, and her ability to convey very deep emotions through the use of dialogue and the description of physical sensations.

The book takes place during the English Civil War, an unusual era for a romance novel; which is another reason why I liked it. It also prompted me to do some research, and I found that the author includes many accurate historical facts, including the use of King Charles II and his mistress, Barbara Palmer, as well as other true-to-life historical figures, as secondary characters in the book.

The story begins during the time of Oliver Cromwell's rule, and the King's exile from England. Elizabeth Walters finds William de Veres bleeding on her doorstep. She takes him in, tends his wounds, and allows him to seduce her. They make love, and then he leaves. It is then that the story takes us into these characters' back-stories. We find out they were childhood friends, and first sweethearts. A bit of a star-crossed Romeo-and-Juliet-type thing, since they were both young and separated by being on two different sides of the Civil War. But during this one night William doesn't recognize Elizabeth, and again they do not come into contact for years.

When they finally do, the war is over. William, now Lord Rivers and a very close confidant to the King, vows to help her gain back some of the land she lost during the war. It is then that he recognizes Elizabeth both as his best childhood friend/love and the woman he spent the one night with when he was wounded (who he was unable to shake from his thoughts). William is now a notorious libertine and rake of the very worst sort. He moves from woman to woman to woman without any care beyond the physical pleasure in the unions. He also drinks heavily. But Elizabeth is looking for her friend William - who she knows is still there underneath the debauched Lord Rivers. William finds himself drawn to Elizabeth in a way he has never been with any other woman in his life, but he is unsure if he can ever be what she needs him to be.

This was a fantastic story. In the end, I think I wanted more from William than I got. There is an HEA, but I wanted to see more of a genuine transformation... a change in William beyond just loving the heroine. I really love reformed rake stories, even when the rake is as debauched and licentious as William is, but it needs to be written realistically. This one was... but only to a point.

One book I read that did this plot extremely well is Lucien's Fall. I kept drawing comparisons between these two books as I was reading Libertine's Kiss because the two heroes are so much alike - tortured, devlishly handsome, using women and drink to cover their inner pain. But in Lucien's Fall, the hero went through a more genuine reformation that was not solely due to the heroine's love, and which felt more believable.

Either way, Libertine's Kiss is a fantastic read, and I loved the characters, and the historical detail was fabulous. (less)

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Dec 19, 2011 Mollie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: net-galley, 2011, january, historical

Broken Wing by Judith James was one of my favorite reads in 2010. When I saw Libertine’s Kiss on Netgalley I was ecstatic! Broken Wing was an intense, emotional read and I was eager to try something else by Ms. James. While Libertine’s Kiss is not quite up to Broken Wing’s intensity, it still tackles serious subjects and delivers a satisfyingly sensual tale.

William and Elizabeth shared a brief but intense friendship as youngsters before William was shipped off to school, promising to return. Yea...more Broken Wing by Judith James was one of my favorite reads in 2010. When I saw Libertine’s Kiss on Netgalley I was ecstatic! Broken Wing was an intense, emotional read and I was eager to try something else by Ms. James. While Libertine’s Kiss is not quite up to Broken Wing’s intensity, it still tackles serious subjects and delivers a satisfyingly sensual tale.

William and Elizabeth shared a brief but intense friendship as youngsters before William was shipped off to school, promising to return. Years later, after seemingly breaking that promise, William, now a highway robber, traitor to Cromwell’s England, and right hand man of Charles Stuart the rightful owner of the crown, shows up wounded and in need of assistance on Elizabeth’s doorstep.

Elizabeth, now widowed from an abusive husband, recognizes her childhood friend immediately; welcoming him into her home and attending to his wounds. William, wounded but not so much that he overlooks this Puritan woman’s allure. The two spend a passion filled night together before William moves on. William is unaware that the Puritan woman who offered him her assistance, her home, and her body was his friend from long ago.

It comes to Cromwell’s men’s attention that Elizabeth has aided William, a traitor to the crown, and she is stripped of her lands. Once Charles Stuart is restored to the crown Elizabeth goes to court in hopes that her goodwill towards William, one of Stuart’s closest confidants, will earn her some of her property back. There William and Elizabeth cross paths and William realized that his one night affair with the Puritan woman was, in fact, Elizabeth. William insists on helping Elizabeth win the favor of Charles Stuart in the hopes of regaining her lands.

Passion ensues but I don’t want to give everything away. What I can say is that I really enjoyed this book. William is such a scoundrel, but you can’t help but love him. He’s nothing but honest with Elizabeth about his libertine ways and that he has no intentions of settling down. Elizabeth, in love with William since childhood, takes him anyway she can get him. Like Gabe in Broken Wing, William is a tortured soul. He is the way he is because of events in his past and Elizabeth is the only person he’s ever truly opened up to. The only person able to help him save himself.

I was also intrigued by the afterward where James explains that she based much of William de Veres on he very real historical figure of John Wilmont, Earl of Rochester. Even incorporating Wilmont’s actual poetry!

Libertine’s Kiss combines two of my favorite elements in a romance: a tortured hero and the friends-to-lovers plot line. Judith James, along with Courtney Milan, write some of my favorite historicals: intense, intelligent, intoxicating, and romantic. Libertine’s Kiss is not to be missed by fans of historical romance! (less)

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Aug 29, 2010 LuvGirl rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, rake-playboy, 2-half-star, what-did-he-see-in-her, dull-heroine, owned-non-keepers, writing-sucked, hero-raped, over-rated, plain-jane, unlucky-author, witty-hero

2.5 stars. I am not a fan of Judith James writing style. I don't see the wonderful prose that many other readers see. The dialogue between her characters does not seem authentic. It seems rushed and forced. Maybe I could have bypassed her writing style if the heroine was as fascinating as the hero, but he out shined her by a mile. It's too bad that the heroine wasn't worthy of the match with the hero because his personality was fascinating. The book is worth the read for the hero alone. He remin...more

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Nov 24, 2012 Farrah rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review also appears on my blog at http://www.thegoldenruleof666.blogspo...

Libertine's Kiss was not what I expected it to be. But in a good way. It was a pleasant surprise.

The story idea itself is interesting to me. I find a lot of Regency and Medieval romances, but the Restoration period is less covered within the genre. So, this book already had a unique point to get me interested. Then, though it doesn't mention it in the summary, we have a "best-friends to lovers" story, which I absolute...more This review also appears on my blog at http://www.thegoldenruleof666.blogspo...

Libertine's Kiss was not what I expected it to be. But in a good way. It was a pleasant surprise.

The story idea itself is interesting to me. I find a lot of Regency and Medieval romances, but the Restoration period is less covered within the genre. So, this book already had a unique point to get me interested. Then, though it doesn't mention it in the summary, we have a "best-friends to lovers" story, which I absolutely adore in any romance setting. Put those together and you have a recipe for my perfect book.

Elizabeth was an admirable heroine. Despite the fact that she lost everything, literally everything, she still stayed strong and fought to regain what she lost. That itself quickly won my respect for the character. When she goes to court to petition for her land, she is regarded with contempt at first, but doesn't let that get her down. Instead, she transforms herself into the darling of the court. I can honestly say nothing bad about Elizabeth. She was just a wonderful lead.

William wasn't as easy to pinpoint. Not that I didn't like him. I adored the charmer. But he had a serious chip in his shoulder. A few times, that got very close to bothering me, but, in the end, I couldn't fault him. He has a serious horror in his past that has driven him since its happening. I suspected it quite early on, so that kept me from being bothered when he lashed out. And, how could I possibly be irritated when he's such a charmer? Not only was he charming, but he was also incredibly sweet when he wanted to be and supportive of Elizabeth's goal.

He and Elizabeth were an adorable couple. We get a few scenes from their childhood and from the very beginning, they were the sweetest pair. William makes a comment at some point in the book that Elizabeth was the one light in his childhood, the only reason that he could have had to stay instead of going to war. Doesn't that just touch your heart? And, as adults, that sweetness gets tempered with some HOT spiciness. Their first time together occurs within the first couple of chapters and that heat only fires up more throughout the rest of the book. So, if you like some spiciness in your romance, this book has it for you ;)

The plot of the book was fast paced and kept me interested the whole time. The ending was SO sweet, it just had me smiling. I was so happy for the couple's happy ending after all the trials they went through.

Libertine's Kiss is an excellent book. Any romance lover, you should definitely read this.(less)

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May 09, 2012 Bluefly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Da appassionata di letteratura e storia della Restaurazione inglese, non vedevo l'ora di leggere questo romanzo, sperando di non restarne delusa. La James si ispira dichiaratamente, per il personaggio di William de Veres, a Lord Rochester, geniale poeta libertino alla corte di Carlo II, stemperandone il cinismo, illuminando di un po' di romanticismo il suo ben noto lato oscuro. Il risultato è ottimo, perché ne esce un eroe da romance e non da tragedia, ma un romance colto, intelligente, ben scri...more

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May 02, 2012 Miki rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: never-read-again

The Restoration Period in England is not one of my favorites. I thought I'd give it a try, after all, sometimes you come across a winner in unexptected places. This was not one of them.

The hero, carrying important papers in a pouch over his clothing (remember this fact), is wounded and on the run. He finds refuge with a plain young woman who takes care of him. So far, so good. Where it all falls to pieces is when he wakes up in a bed, completely naked, except for his BOOTS. And, of course, the p...more

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Mar 25, 2012 Laura Navarre rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Lovers of historical romance, Georgian-era fiction

Shelves: historical-romance

I love the thrill of discovering a historical romance set in an unusual time period, especially when the author evokes this unfamiliar world so clearly and compellingly I want to find more books just like it. Judith James deftly achieves this feat in Libertine’s Kiss, a sensual romance set in Restoration England (1660s) under King Charles II.

Lady Elizabeth Walters is a demure Puritan widow whose fortunes were destroyed under the repressive Cromwell Protectorate. Her dearest childhood companion w...more

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Jan 21, 2012 Patricia O'Sullivan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Elizabeth Walters has lost much during the English Civil War including her father, her husband and her lands. But when a handsome stranger knocks on her door one stormy night, weak and wounded, so begins her own personal restoration on the eve of the political restoration of King Charles II.

I have mixed feelings about this novel. From a romance novel standpoint, it had some good historical elements, but from a historical novel standpoint, the romance was predictable and there were a surprising...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I reviewed this novel for my blog www.bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com

I truly thought that Judith James could not write a better book than her "BROKEN WING" one, but I was so wrong. This is one of those books, that you CAN NOT put down and then do something else. A reader is compelled to finish it in one heart renching swoop...unless this particular reader is so darn lucky to have her husband point to a TV screen and catch an IFC movie with Johnny Depp as he plays "THE LIBERTINE" ([...])! So, I p...more I reviewed this novel for my blog www.bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com

I truly thought that Judith James could not write a better book than her "BROKEN WING" one, but I was so wrong. This is one of those books, that you CAN NOT put down and then do something else. A reader is compelled to finish it in one heart renching swoop...unless this particular reader is so darn lucky to have her husband point to a TV screen and catch an IFC movie with Johnny Depp as he plays "THE LIBERTINE" ([...])! So, I put the book to the side, and watched this tragic story of 2nd Earl of Rochester, to which the character of William is based.

I finished the book early this morning, and I have to agree with A. Bergeron in her review of the character of William. I would add one thing to her review. Will would make our Rock Stars blush!

We follow his life first as a young boy, then as a cavalier, and finally as a courtier in Charles II's Court. Have you ever read a story that you could literally HEAR the voice of the protagonist? I mean, REALY hear it? Really feel what they feel? To the point that you're going through their emotions? It is a rare thing for me, and I must say that Judith James has done an excellent job of taking me to this point! I FELT William. I HEARD William (Toby Stephens [...]).

Oh, and what a wonderful character Lizzy was. I was there with her on that tree, when she first meets Will, and I was there with her when she sits on the bed with Charlie and with her as she tries so hard to except her love of Will as Lord Rivers.

I have so much more to say about it, but I dare not to, as I might give away too much. And I would hate to do that to you. This story is meant to be savored and enjoyed. I highly recommend it to all readers of historical romance! The period in which this story develops is just facinating. This story will capture you from the first page as we encounter Will on the run from the Law, keep you turning the pages to find out why he's so cynical, and keep you rooting for this man to finally come to terms with his Demons. Please do not pass this one up...trust me, you'll be sorry you did.

Melanie(less)

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May 05, 2011 Gaby rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: chicklit, historical-romance, romance, summer-reading

Set in England during turbulent times - from Cromwell's bloody reign through the return of King Charles II - Libertine's Kiss captures the political uncertainty and violence of the period and places each romantic lead firmly in different camps.

The story begins with William de Veres, a loyal subject of Charles Stuart, who has entered England to raise funds for the Stuart's return. With the royal funds practically depleted, de Veres has to resort to highway robbery and other dangerous methods. As...more Set in England during turbulent times - from Cromwell's bloody reign through the return of King Charles II - Libertine's Kiss captures the political uncertainty and violence of the period and places each romantic lead firmly in different camps.

The story begins with William de Veres, a loyal subject of Charles Stuart, who has entered England to raise funds for the Stuart's return. With the royal funds practically depleted, de Veres has to resort to highway robbery and other dangerous methods. As things go awry, de Veres is injured and in his escape comes across an isolated cottage and pleads for help. He doesn't recognize his old friend, Elizabeth Walters, who takes him in, cares for him, and aids his journey. He isn't aware of the extreme danger that he puts her in.

In contrast, Elizabeth is a solid Republican, the daughter of a general who lost his life supporting Cromwell. Elizabeth and William de Veres had been neighbors and best friends as children even as their parents were on opposite sides politically. While de Veres fails to recognize her, Elizabeth immediately knows her best friend. She keeps their old friendship a secret and when he leaves, Elizabeth Walters is caught and punished for aiding an enemy. She loses her property and nearly loses her life. The punishment drastically changes Elizabeth's situation and it's with some desperation that she decides to go to court to seek redress upon King Charles II's return to England. Though a stroke of luck, de Veres sees his old friend as she reaches court. Elizabeth's presence recalls a gentler, nobler side to de Veres and he tries to protect her from the court, King Charles II, and himself. It's here that the love story really begins.

Judith James succeeds in creating a historical romance of the best sort. Historical events are critical to the plot and somehow it seems that the main characters meet and befriend the important figures of the time. While both de Veres and Elizabeth Walters are shaped by the events around them, they've modern temperaments and are clearly characters that we care about, sympathize with. Even their worst acts make them more likable. Once again, Judith James has delivered an engrossing and wonderful read!

ISBN-10: 0373775059 -Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: HQN Books (August 1, 2010), 384pages.
Review copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.(less)

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Dec 24, 2010 ~ames~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-read, e-book, historical

Libertine's Kiss opens up with a wounded royalist cavalier seeking aid. His rescuer? A Puritan widow. What do these details tell us? That Libertine's Kiss takes place during the mid 1600s, right before and during the early reign of Charles I. A time period of which I am completely unfamiliar. But Judith James's does a great job of making it interesting. So the Puritans are in power, but Charles is the rightful heir to the throne. And anyone loyal to him is arrested and thus the entrance of Willi...more Libertine's Kiss opens up with a wounded royalist cavalier seeking aid. His rescuer? A Puritan widow. What do these details tell us? That Libertine's Kiss takes place during the mid 1600s, right before and during the early reign of Charles I. A time period of which I am completely unfamiliar. But Judith James's does a great job of making it interesting. So the Puritans are in power, but Charles is the rightful heir to the throne. And anyone loyal to him is arrested and thus the entrance of William de Veres, royalist and friend to Charles. He has some information that he needs to take to Charles but he's wounded and he's sewn up by a comely Puritan widow. Waking up with his widow hovering over him, William accuses her of trying to steal his information. When he discovers that she really wasn't, she was just checking him for fever, he makes a move on his widow, and he's more than shocked when she lets herself be seduced! So much for her being a Puritan!

Up to this point, the widow knows who her wounded patient is, but he does not know her identity, nor have names been exchanged. How's this? Through the widow's memories, we find out that William was actually the widow's childhood friend, whom she hasn't seen since she was 14 or 15. You see the widow, her name is Elizabeth, and she grew up on the estate next to William's. They became friends when she was 11 when he rescued her from some local bullies. But they lost touch when he went to school, and her father prohibited Lizzie from seeing William again. William's father was not a Puritan, and so Lizzie's father didn't want William to have a bad influence on Lizzie, whom we realize only pretends to be a Puritan. It's a facade for her, not something she truly believes in her heart. So Lizzie's family is on one side and William's family is on the other.

Back to the present. William was being followed and so Lizzie is taken up before a makeshift military tribunal and found guilty of aiding an enemy of the state. Her lands are forfeit and for the next two years, Lizzie lives a step away from poverty.

When Charles I assumes the throne, Lizzie hears tales that he is giving back people the lands they lost in the previous reign. She decides to ask his highness for her lands back. Her father's lands and her husband's lands. At court, who does she run into? William. When William sees Lizzie at court, trying to get an audience with the king, he quickly recognizes her, as both the comely widow who helped him and his childhood friend. He immediately takes her under his wing and aids her in petitioning the king for her lands.

There is so much more to the story than that. William has a horrible childhood secret that influences his life still. He uses alcohol and women to keep the memories at bay. He is friends with the King and they are not averse to sharing women. But when Lizzie returns to his life, his world is thrown upside down. She makes him feel and he finds himself changing for her. Meanwhile, Lizzie herself changes by her friendship with William. She learns the ways of the court and William hates it when she becomes adept at those very ways. But she is a practical woman and she wants her lands back. She doesn't want to be tied to another man and at his mercy. Because Lizzie's husband was a horrible man who beat her. She never wants to go through that again.

So here we have two characters who were childhood friends and both have pasts that they are keeping secret from the other. But they do become lovers. And even though Lizzie falls in love with William, she is pragmatic. She knows he could never be the man she needs and although it hurts her, it doesn't stop her from doing what she needs to go get what she's come to court to get. That doesn't make her coldblooded, not in the least. It just shows how adept at the game Lizzie has become.

I thought Libertine's Kiss was a good read. In the early half of the book, when Lizzie is still acting like a Puritan, I found the mood of the book dark. And in the second half, when she's reunited with Will, although the darkness from both their pasts is slowly revealed, there was a definite lightness despite the weighty subject matter. I see it as hope for these two characters to come together.(less)

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Dec 12, 2010 NovelReaction rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Elizabeth Walters life is difficult and her kind gesture has made things even more difficult. In Judith James’ Libertine’s Kiss Elizabeth was forced into marriage with a parson who abused her and Cromwell’s war has made even making ends meet difficult. One night on old childhood friend, William De Veres, shows up injured at her door and Elizabeth takes him in, tends to his wounds and finds comfort in his arms after the loneliness that has become her life. Sadly, that one night of kindness brings...more Elizabeth Walters life is difficult and her kind gesture has made things even more difficult. In Judith James’ Libertine’s Kiss Elizabeth was forced into marriage with a parson who abused her and Cromwell’s war has made even making ends meet difficult. One night on old childhood friend, William De Veres, shows up injured at her door and Elizabeth takes him in, tends to his wounds and finds comfort in his arms after the loneliness that has become her life. Sadly, that one night of kindness brings her under the scrutiny of Cromwell himself when she is discovered to have helped William, a close friend and spy for the disposed King Charles II. Cromwell takes all of Elizabeth’s lands, throwing Elizabeth and her faithful retainers out on the street.

Years later Charles has taken back the throne and William recognizes the one woman he couldn’t forget, what he has fondly thought of as “his wren” since their night of passion when Elizabeth shows up to petition the king for her lands to be returned. William, feeling bad that his actions have cost Elizabeth so much, decides to take her under his wing and guide her through the intrigue that is the court to get her lands back. William is known as the Court’s biggest libertine, drinking to excess and spending each night with a different woman, but Elizabeth decides to enjoy the time she has with William, both in the bedroom and out of it. As William guides Elizabeth through the court she is brought to the attention of the court and eventually the notice of the notoriously womanizing King Charles himself (and his jealous mistress). While battling the court, can William admit his growing attachment to Elizabeth and can Elizabeth accept what little William is willing to offer.

Having read a lot of historical romance novels I was intrigued with the tumultuous time period that was the reign of Cromwell and Charles II. William is an admitted cynic, womanizer, and alcoholic but his early friendship with Elizabeth makes him endearing. William’s past continue to influence the choices he makes and as he struggles to battle his demons I found myself forgiving him for his ways. Elizabeth’s refusal to accept anything but what she deserved after having obeyed other’s dictates her entire life was admirable. Libertine’s Kiss kept me entertained with its great depiction of Charles’ reign and I loved the scenes where Elizabeth and King Charles spoke.(less)

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Nov 03, 2010 Jerelyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really like Judith James ability to write the tortured hero. The hero in Libertine's Kiss is based on John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, one of Charles II's cronies. Through the English civil war and finally the restoration, William has lost his soul long before he comes to Charles court in exile. Only a childhood love has kept a sliver of decency alive within him. Elizabeth his lost childhood love finds him on her door step, injured and takes him in, but long years have caused him to forget her....more

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Sep 12, 2010 RomanceNovelNews.com rated it 5 of 5 stars

Reviewed by C.M. Lessard for Romance Novel News

Friends from childhood, Puritan Elizabeth Walters, and William de Veres, a cavalier and notorious libertine are now on opposite sides of the English Civil War.

After years of separation, an injured William shows up on Elizabeth’s doorstep but he does not recognize her. She treats his wounds and they engage in an unforgettable night of passion. In the morning he leaves - without asking her name.

Because of William’s allegiance to the exiled King Char...more

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May 17, 2010 Emery Lee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Having read more than a few Harlequin Historicals in my time, I thought I knew what to expect when I opened this book. I could not have been more mistaken! The sumptuous detail of the setting, the impeccable research on the historical characters, the poetry, and the sizzling eroticism took me completely by surprise.

The main protagonist in LIBERTINE'S KISS, William De Veres, is closely modeled after the real life John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester. Courtier, playwright, and poet, he was one of the f...more

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Jul 11, 2010 Jody rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a very sensual story involving two people trying to turn fantasy into reality. Ever since they were children, Elizabeth Walters and William de Veres have lived their lives fighting battles and slaying dragons, some real and some imaginary. With her Puritanical upbringing, Elizabeth was set to always be a victim. From those who condemned her religious beliefs to an abusive husband, she was persecuted. The only person to teach her strength was William de Veres. As children he told her fair...more This is a very sensual story involving two people trying to turn fantasy into reality. Ever since they were children, Elizabeth Walters and William de Veres have lived their lives fighting battles and slaying dragons, some real and some imaginary. With her Puritanical upbringing, Elizabeth was set to always be a victim. From those who condemned her religious beliefs to an abusive husband, she was persecuted. The only person to teach her strength was William de Veres. As children he told her fairytales of strong queens and how to do battle. Even while fighting his own demons William took the time to befriend her and found the only person he could ever trust.

As adults, he's still fighting demons. From a childhood of physical, mental, and sexual abuse William's soul has become very dark. The only time he feels anything is when he's living in excess, either through wine or woman. Upon becoming a close advisor to King Charles, William's days revolve around drinking and writing poetry, until the day Elizabeth Walters comes to court to petition to get her family's lands back. Since it's because of helping him that she lost her lands, William teaches her what she needs to know to navigate court intrigue and get what she desires. Along the way he'll get what he wants...a breath of fresh air and honesty and a lover that he can't forget. Can he change his ways in order to claim her heart? And after an abusive marriage will she ever trust again? Only through feeding off each other's strengths do they have any hope of survival.

This story has two main characters who have lived through so much heartache that you can't help but ache along with them. It's only through their love for one another that the darkness will truly go away. Even as adults they believe in the power of fairytales to make their lives happy. There's heavy issues in this story and at times it's hard to watch William destroy himself. But with Lizzy on the scene you know there's hope for him. This is ultimately a very empowering story with a couple you root for every step of the way.(less)

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Oct 17, 2010 Tally Song rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Any girl looking for a romance to lift her spirits

Recommended to Tally by: netgalley

Shelves: net-galley-reads, romance

The book started out a little too slow for me in the beginning with much back history that didn't seem neccessary to me. Despite the slow start and the over abundance of poetry, the book turned out to be very fun. The sarcastic humor of the unlikely hero was a great contrast to the classy, straight-laced, gone wild character of the heroine. The book was charming as much as it was very witty in parts and I love the whole childhood friends seperated by war brought together again by circumstances s...more

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Jul 30, 2010 Barbara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, romance

It was nice to read a historical romance set in England that wasn't set during the Regency. James did a very good job with her Restoration court setting. The Cromwells are gone and King Charles II now sits on the throne. Known by some as the Merry Monarch, his court is a font of licentious behavior and William de Veres, Lord Rivers, is its poet laureate and leading libertine.
And to this court comes Elizabeth Walters, hoping to have her lands restored to her. Our Elizabeth is also the childhood s...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Aly (Mircea) Basarab rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: medieval, historical, favorites

I loved this book! It was very well written, had engaging characters and the history was, most of it anyway, accurate. Judith James is a wonderful author and I can't wait for the next book she writes :)

Quote:
"I will start by telling you this. I have always known you, even when I didn't, and I am going to know you forever. I have always been with you, and I have always kept you with me, even when I tried to forget I will not go away, even if you send me, and I will see you again even if you say n...more

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Nov 11, 2010 Gail rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: purchased-obtained, e-book, historical-romance

This was a lovely Restoration era romance. The hero and heroine knew each other as children, then were torn apart. The hero's family was loyal to the Stuarts, the heroine's family leaned toward Cromwell. He spent much of his young adulthood in France with the exiled prince. She was married off, and then widowed. The prologue has the hero wounded and running from soldiers, when he takes refuge at the heroine's house (He doesn't recognize her as his childhood playmate). She tends his wounds, has o...more

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Aug 26, 2010 Christy B rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs-and-galleys, historical-romance, stuart

I'm pretty regency-ed out when it comes to historical romance. I've been on a break lately from the regencies and have ventured into other time periods. Libertine's Kiss takes place during the Restoration period, which I am not too learned in, so it was welcomed.

Libertine's Kiss tells the story of William de Veres and Elizabeth Walters, childhood friends who come across each other years later under different circumstances. De Veres, a staunch supporter of the Royalist cause, seeks shelter from a...more

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Nov 05, 2010 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

Nicely done historical, set around the restoration period? King charles stuart period, 1660. elizabeth, daughter of a puritanical parlimentarlian general falls for her childhood sweetheart, william, upon their chance meeting at her house in the woods while he is on assignment for the fugitive exiled king. Because of the help she lends, cromwell strips her land. Once charles reclaims the throne, she goes to court to appeal for her lands back and runs into william, who realizes that the woman he s...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Lynn Spencer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

There are books I rather like and then, every once in a great while, there are books I love to the point of wanting everybody I know to go out and buy a copy. Libertine's Kiss is one of those rare books. This angsty historical is heartrendingly beautiful, featuring beautiful language and a fantastic setting with a smart heroine and a deeply tortured, flawed hero who turns out wonderfully.

This is a partial review. You can find the complete text on All About Romance: http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/...more

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Sep 22, 2010 Jackie rated it 2 of 5 stars

2.5. James' prose is truly bad -- did this author never meet an "and" she didn't like? Did no one ever teach her to write a subordinate clause?

100 pages of backstory before the actual story gets started is also a bit of a plotting problem. Once at court, the story picks up; I truly enjoyed the scene between the heroine and King Charles.

Basing your main character on the Earl of Rochester, then making him give up all the things that make Rochester appealing in order for him to match up with romanc...more

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Aug 19, 2010 Leslie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook

After having read and enjoyed Ms. James previous books I was looking forward to reading this, her latest release. The time period is not one of the more common periods found in historical romances. While I like Regency and Victorian settings, I also enjoy something different. The fact that the characters are inspired by real people from history made me curious enough to look up information on them. And left me curious as to how they would be portrayed in the novel.

William de Veres is a true rake...more After having read and enjoyed Ms. James previous books I was looking forward to reading this, her latest release. The time period is not one of the more common periods found in historical romances. While I like Regency and Victorian settings, I also enjoy something different. The fact that the characters are inspired by real people from history made me curious enough to look up information on them. And left me curious as to how they would be portrayed in the novel.

William de Veres is a true rake. He is loyal to his king, living in exile with Charles and returning to England when Charles takes the thrown. William is also very loyal to himself. He enjoys drinking and women and he doesn't try to make any excuses for his actions. It was refreshing to have him not use past abuses as an excuse for his debauchery. His way of thinking is that the excessive drinking and numerous women are simply how things are done.

Elizabeth Walters is a 27 year old widow, living quietly in the country when William bursts into her life again. They knew each other as children, were close friends even, but their families chose opposites sides during the war. It has been years since they have seen each other and now William needs Elizabeth's help and she willing gives it. Years pass before they meet again. This time it's William who helps Elizabeth when she needs it the most. Elizabeth is desperate to get her land back and William is there to guide her through the intrigues of court life.

Once William decided to help Elizabeth get her lands back, he sees that she is dressed in the height of fashion and lets the other members of court think that Elizabeth is his mistress, which she is. He doesn't concern himself with this since it's what they will believe, no matter what he tells them. This side of William was a little hard to take. He cares for Elizabeth but still maintains the lifestyle of a rake.

With William, Elizabeth experiences so many new things and seems to enjoy her time at court. She falls into love with William quickly and is having the time of her life. I liked that Elizabeth embraced her time with William. Of course she wished it wouldn't end but can't see herself with a man who can not swear to be faithful to her. William's life is at court and while Elizabeth enjoys her time at there, she longs for the simpler life in the country.

William believes in looking out for himself and playing the politics of the court. He has this habit of blaming his nature, or the nature of men, for his debauchery. After Elizabeth comes back into his life he doesn't suddenly become a new man, fully redeemed by love. His life with Charles, both as a fugitive and now at court, have left him very cynical. Even with this outlook he still holds fond memories of Lizzie as a child. His first love and his only good childhood memories. There were times when he could be cold and unloving but you could feel his need to take care of Elizabeth and that hidden need to love and be loved.

I must say Judith James makes the court of King Charles come alive with vivid details and descriptions of the ornateness of the palace and the people at court. The life at court with all its finery and excesses, politics and subterfuge, add another dimension to the story. I loved seeing William use his knowledge of Charles and the court to help Elizabeth navigate through those rough waters. Until a misunderstanding due to William's reputation and Elizabeth's previous experience comes between them. They keep their distance from each other but can't stop themselves from caring for each other.

I did, at times have some problems with the slow pace of the story. While I found most of the descriptions interesting there were points when the pacing dragged and I would have liked for William and Elizabeth to have spent less time apart. They do get their happily ever after but James really made these two work for it. They both go through some changes but they didn't happen overnight. They way it played out made it far more realistic with Elizabeth standing her ground and William, being William, and doing the unexpected. Judith James delivers an enjoyable love story with unique characters set in an equally unique historical period. (less)

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Jul 29, 2010 Caroline The HEA Lover rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, historical, romance

(This was originally posted on Book Lovers,Inc)

This books is set during a period of history that I didn’t know much about, the Civil War and the Restoration. I started reading Libertine’s Kiss and I just couldn’t stop. I am now fascinated by this period and by the reign of Charles II. I think Judith James’ writing might have something to do with that *wink*. I love her style! I already loved Broken Wing (My review here) but now after reading Libertine’s Kiss she’s on my Auto-buy list!

The hero Wi...more (This was originally posted on Book Lovers,Inc)

This books is set during a period of history that I didn’t know much about, the Civil War and the Restoration. I started reading Libertine’s Kiss and I just couldn’t stop. I am now fascinated by this period and by the reign of Charles II. I think Judith James’ writing might have something to do with that *wink*. I love her style! I already loved Broken Wing (My review here) but now after reading Libertine’s Kiss she’s on my Auto-buy list!

The hero William de Veres is a rake, a real one! Usually in historical romances, the said rake is only one in name for when he meet the heroine he is magically changed to a perfect gentleman. In Libertine’s Kiss, William is a true libertine, he knows who he is and he makes it clear to the heroine. I loved that fact. William doesn’t change in a heartbeat. He’s never cruel, he’s just true to himself and he doesn’t make promises he won’t keep.

Well I should have warned you but I fell in love with William from the first page. He is a poet but a rather cynical one and he’s never afraid to make fun of his king. There are many poems in this book, very funny cynical poems that entertained me a lot. Of course he’s charming and handsome *g*. But William is haunted by his past and he’s not the child he was when he first met the heroine.

One thing I adored in this book was the insight we have on Charles’ Court. The heroine finds herself at Court and she is completely lost but with the help of William she will learn the ways of courtiers, how to dress like them, how to attract the eye. I was mesmerized. This Court is a debauched one, pleasure is on top of everyone’s agenda and Elizabeth will have to listen to William’s advices to get what she came for. I found the king very interesting and the interactions with Elizabeth were fascinating. (Yes I have a soft spot for Court intrigues lol)

I can’t tell more without revealing too much of the book but I’ll just tell you that I couldn’t close this book (ok this ‘Ebook’, but you got the idea), I found myself reading until 3AM to stay with the characters. The writing is beautiful and sensual. Judith James gave depth too all of her characters. At the end of the book I was grinning from ear to ear. If you love historical romances you will love this book, I’m sure I will be rereading it. I can't wait for The King's Courtesan, it sounds amazing and I'm SO excited. *sigh* But it won't be out until Spring 2011!!! (Check out Judith's website...the cover and blurb is there!!!)

I give Libertine’s Kiss 4 1/2 bookies.(less)

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Jul 26, 2011 Gaile rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 17th-century, emery-s-2011-challenge

On the eve of civil war in England, young William De Veres meets a neighboring girl, Elizabeth Walters.
War separates them. Elizabeth is forced to marry a puritan she doesn't want. Years later they meet again
but William doesn't recognize her. More years pass when Williams comes across her at the court of Charles I vainly trying to petition for her lands back. This time he recognizes her at once and they take off where they left off except --- molested by a childhood tutor, William has carried his...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Victoria Vane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Having read more than a few Harlequin Historicals in my time, I thought I knew what to expect when I opened this book. I could not have been more mistaken! The sumptuous detail of the setting, the impeccable research on the historical characters, the poetry, and the sizzling eroticism took me completely by surprise.

The main protagonist in LIBERTINE'S KISS, William De Veres, is closely modeled after the real life John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester. Courtier, playwright, and poet, he was one of the f...more

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May 15, 2012 .þµŋψà. [Punya Reviews...] rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who loves a real rake's obsession with his childhood sweetheart, falling hard for her later

Shelves: judith-james, brilliant-cover, ewww-wtf-was-that, no-no-no-noooo, bitch-slap-coming-through, oh-honey-shag-me-silly, i-wanna-have-your-babies, favorites, nerdgasm

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...

In Libertine's Kiss, we get to meet a notorious rakehell, whose character is loosely based on John Wilmot; a poet and a close friend of Charles II. Now-a-days, I’m often leery about reading books on rakes; they annoy me and most of the times, I don’t feel any respect, love or affection for them. Not all author can convince me about a so-called ‘bad boy’ and so, I’d like to congratulate JJ for making me fall for...more

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Libertine's Kiss (English Restoration #1)

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