An Unkissed Lady

Evesham #3

by Audrey Ashwood

It is the most wonderful kiss of her life.
But who is the man who gave it to her?

When Lady Rose Evesham decides that it is high time for her first kiss, she crafts a promising strategy to not only be kissed but also happily married.

The man who has the honour of kissing her for the first time has already been chosen by her. He is of pleasant appearance, from nobility, and a promising marriage candidate. And indeed, the Lord appears at the appointed time and kisses her. Although she does not see his face, Rose knows that she will accept him and no other as her husband.

Months later, her fondest wish comes true – she is going to marry the man whose lips brushed against hers on the enchanting summer night. But then she realises that something is not right.

Nothing about his manner reflects the daring gentleman of that night. Or is his change in behaviour caused by the return of the gloomy Marquess of Cavanaugh, whom Rose despises from the bottom of her heart and who happens to be the only witness to their rendezvous?

Romantic – captivating – intoxicating. The sweet Regency romance novel tells of a kiss that triggers an absolute storm, of big and small secrets, of deeply felt feelings and of the great power of love that triumphs in all its forms. No Cliffhanger. If you like authentic women, romantic moments, and surprising fortunes, then you’ll love this delightful love story.

LARGE PRINT EDITION

Genres: Audiobook

396 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2020

About the author

Audrey Ashwood hails from London, the city where she was born and raised. At a young age, she began diving into the world of literature, a world full of fairytales and Prince Charmings. Writing came later—no longer was she a spectator of fantasies; she was now a creator of them.

In her books, the villains get their just desserts—her stories are known for happy and deserved endings. Love, of course, plays a major role, even if it’s not the initial star of the show. With each written word, Audrey hopes to remind people that love transcends oceans and generations.

Reviews

[Deborah]

I enjoyed this book.
It’s another entertaining far-fetched read.

Rose was exasperating at times. And naive doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Gabriel more than makes up for her however.

[Phylis Collins]

What a wonderful read. Such a mix of characters and delightful storyline. I loved the situations that went on and how each character reacted to the unforgettable secret first kiss.

[Kaye]

☀️☀️ONE SENSATIONAL TREAT☀️☀️
Magnificent! Audrey nailed this baby with 100% on point realism, delivering each heartfelt nuance, weaving in such silky finesse and spinning this heart pounding, pulse racing, block buster, wrapping this jewel up sleek, shiny and tight. Sparks fly as daring drama, damning secrets, captivating intrigue, mystifying turmoil, misgivings, electrifying suspense and intense situations along with a boatload of revelations, you have one mind-blowing adventure. Boundaries are heightened and exploited, exposing the fervent facts, daunting deals and electrifying escapades, thrusting this baby into the eye of the storm kicking it into a tailspin with an intoxicating culmination. The characters, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits, adding depth and diversity, transforming into outstanding personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and descriptions, as to give you a full understanding and realism that flows smoothly. Amazing job Audrey, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.

[Emma]

What a wonderful romance. I loved the storyline. Lady Rose infatuated but thinks it is true love with Lord Richard. His good friend Lord Gabriel was the one actually in love with Rose. But he knew where Rose's heart lay. Rose's character was well written. She began as an immature seventeen-year-old and throughout the story grew into a mature young woman. She was loyal, loving, stubborn, opinionated and compassionate. I felt that Gabriel's maturity balanced Rose very well. He was strong, demanding but understanding. A little impatient at times but knew when to give way. He was of good morals and sound mind. In the story he was under quite a bit of stress. He took the title when his father died and he was unable to find his older brother who was eventually declared dead. His sister was a wild card and his cousin suffered from melancholy. He had a lot on his plate. When it came to Rose, his heart softened. It was incredible the patience he had for Rose to let her see Richard for what he was and to see him as a possible suitor for her heart. I would have given this a 5-star rating but there were some loose ends in the story. In the end did Richard meet Gabriel for the duel and if so, who won? Was Gabriel successful in bringing his sister Rose's love interest home for them to marry? And what solution did they come up with in the event that Rose's beloved absconded? Other than that, I really enjoyed reading this.

[Dana Redding]

AN UNKISSED LADY
AUDREY ASHWOOD

Lady Rose thinks she may have feelings for Lord de Coucy. She asks Lord de Vere if he will deliver a message to Lord de Coucy. He feels shattered because he has feelings for Lady Rose. He takes the message to de Coucy and he tells him he can take the note and have at it. Lord de Vere is walking back to Lady Rose and her back is turned he takes and blindfolded her and gives her a wonderful kiss. He leaves and is going to war and doesn’t return until two years later he learns the Lady is now engaged to Lord de Coucy.


Gabriel returns from war and is no longer Lord de Vere but now Marquess of Cavanaugh. He finds out his sister has been laid aside as you could say and is now expected. She blames de Coucy. And Gabriel calls out the rake. The day of the duel de Coucy doesn’t show up but Lady Rose does. She begs Gabriel not to harm de Coucy.

He takes the lady home and meets her later that day to find de Coucy and confront him about his sister.

Great story I’m not going to spoil the story.
Wonderfully written and clean romance.

My disclaimer...
I was given a copy of this book for my honest review.
Any book or novels I leave reviews on are not dependent on the book/novel review author’s opinion. No one influenced my voluntary review for any of the books or novels I read, they are my own opinions.






[Space Cowgirl]

The Wrong Man🐺💋

Misplaced love 💘and trust.

Lady Rose Carlisle💃💋 wants to be kissed 💋for The first time by Richard de Coucy👺, a man she admires and believes she wants to marry👰. She wants this so badly, She writes a note to him with a poem and has an acquaintance, Gabriel, hand it to him at a ton function.

Richard dismisses Rose💃💋 and her naive note, requesting he meet her in The garden, passing it back off to Lord Gabriel de Vere🐺, the younger son of the Marquess of Cavanaugh. Rose's mother has tried to steer her towards Gabriel🐺, a serious and steady young man, but Rose💃💋 thinks he is a bore.

The garden is dark, and Rose💃💋 doesn't realize it's Gabriel🐺 who gives her her first exciting kiss💋.....

ARC Provided by Booksprout🌱
I also got this ebook with KU.

Loved the book! Lots of plot twists and the Napoleonic War leave Gabriel🐺 in the driver's seat as the new Marquess of Cavanaugh two years after his first and only Kiss💋 with 🌹Rose💃💋.

There are a few continuity errors, such as when the Author writes that Gabriel's sister is over 20 years younger than him, but she is still a young adult. That would make him at least 40, far too old to have fought in the war against Napoleon just a couple of years earlier. He was a young man two years before!

[Cindy Cooke]

Another winner!!!!

I will miss the Evesham sisters; they are quite entertaining ladies. Getting engaged to the only man she had ever fallen for was difficult, because Rose needed the romance of a stolen kiss to seal the seal for her. Finally she decided to force tne issue, and in return got tne best kiss ever, plus the added romance of having Shakespeare quoted to her while being kissed! Though puzzled when her fiance refused to repeat his actions during the courtship, Rose felt she was deliriously happy in marrying the man of her choice, even when he was a bit overbearing. And the memoey of that kiss kept her going.She was puzzled by her sisters's lack of enthusiasm as well as their cautionary remarks regarding her future husband. Whatever made them think they knew her fiance better than did Rose?
Another sweet book, filled with great characters and plot twists...such a wonderfully goodread!

[dumbells]

A bit of a flimsy start. The H putting h on such a high pedestal for no reason but he decided she is gonna be his "English Rose"… Very random, but ok. I hope they develop a better relationship and bond as they get to know each other. I do hope they do get to know each other and it's not just angst and "she does not deserve such a broken man such as me". For now, I am liking the H's sister and his family and him more that the h. h is showing as more as a frivolous fickle little thing, and if the H had any sense whatsoever he would know developing deep abiding and enduring feelings for such a shallow creature will only end in pain. Hopefully, she starts showing some personality and depth soon.

Annnnd the secondary characters showed more interesting sense and backbone than the h and H together….

[Vickie Bright]

Ms. Ashwood has written a marvelous account of Lady Rose’s desire to wed the man she deems to be a perfect match for her and the rules of society. Unfortunately for her, the road to romance is filled with some pitfalls. Firstly, the man brushes her off to another, Gabriel. Gabriel has loved her for years and wishes to win her for himself. This journey takes Lady Rose to some seedy places, as well as the normal setting and trials for ladies of the ton. This author has captured both sides of London quite well. Rose and Gabriel make it through all the challenges to unite and find the true love they both desire. A very well written tale you don’t want to miss!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nancy Hardy]

Historical Romance

I thoroughly enjoyed this story of Rose and Gabriel as a kiss 2 years earlier still played on the minds of these young people. Meeting Gabriel after his return from the war, Rose is happily engaged to the Lord who kissed her so long ago...or was it him? Rose believes she is in love and resents Gabriel's return into her life through association at balls and the theatre, leaving her with mixed feelings each time they meet.
Rose is a strong minded woman that appeals to me and I followed her tale with awe and much humour that kept me turning the pages to the very end with a smile. Well written, with almost no errors and A Happy Ever After. Recommended read and will definately follow this author!!

[Pam Coll]

A light and romantic escapist story with lords and ladies and balls and duels and proposals of marriage. A young gentlewoman is kissed deceptively, in the dark garden during a ball and falls in love with the man who kissed her so lovingly. The game produces unintended consequences, leading the girl who was kissed to agree to marriage with the man she believes was the "kisser". Unfortunately, there is much caddish behaviour to be unearthed. The young woman seeking the man of her dreams is challenged to correctly identify him and on the way, a good deal of hanky-panky is discovered.
This was mostly enjoyable, a bit slow and predictable. Definitely an escape from reality which is what such stories are intended to be.

[Marie Bourgery]

Rose was foolish, infatuated with a man she didn’t really know, thinking they were destined to marry because she believes he is the man she secretly kissed. Gabriel shouldn’t have blindfolded Rose and kissed her before he left for war, but he was infatuated with her and wanted her kiss to dream about. I was surprised she didn’t wonder about a difference in voices. I wanted to shake her at times for not listening to anyone else who warned her about Richard. I also don’t know how she could pass off a child as hers so soon after marrying without anyone questioning it or being scandalized. This was a clean enemies to lovers historical romance.

[Anonymous 5]

I have recently started reading Ms. Ashwood's books and have enjoyed each one. This one was also a delight to read. A creative and charming story and full of great moments, this book will pull you right in and keep you engaged and smiling all the way through. I enjoyed seeing Rose grow from an immature girl to a more level-headed mature woman. The author does a great job of bringing the story to life with great characters that are lovable and endearing. A sweet romance with plenty of drama, this was definitely a delight to read. I would definitely recommend it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Margie]

It has been a long time since I was a teenager but I drive by the local college and remember how mature I thought I was at 18. Rose was eager to find the one that she wanted to marry and had a fool-proof method of getting a kiss that would tell her “he” was the one. Things don’t go as she planned but unfortunately, she doesn’t know it. Audrey Ashwood has given us a wonderful story of romance, mystery, intrigue and a bit of a surprise ending. Gabriel has to be a super patient guy, with a bit of a temper. I fell in love with this story.

[Tammy]

Lady Rose is ready to receive her first kiss she requests some help and the man she is supposed to marry declines. Gabriel is leaving for France and wants to something to remember Rose by so Gabriel kisses her without her knowing who it is. Months later she discovers the man she is supposed to marry isn’t the one she kissed. Will she discover that is was Gabriel? Fast-paced historical read with plenty of drama and sweet. I liked it.

[Sandy]

Kissed by fate.
A tale of a young woman who believes the man who kissed her is the one she is fated to be with but when things start to turn that way it does seem a bit off. Rose and Gabriel put in a wonderful performance in this book it was a sweet tale with some rather interesting twists to it. The moral of the tale is a man home from war will fight for what he wants. I loved the piece and highly recommend it. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Sherry Westendorf]

What fun this was to read. She is young and after not only a kiss but much more. She is head strong stubborn but so naive. This is well written with excitement, surprises, twists and turns, some danger and much more. The one who kisses her is a surprise to her and after that let the fun begin. I highly recommend this. I couldn't put it down. I received a review copy and voluntarily review it.

[M]

Ending was not complete

While I generally enjoyed the book...the ending was lacking. It left me with a major unanswered question: What was the outcome for Henrietta and James? Did James ever acknowledge Gabriel’s letter about Henrietta’s pregnancy? How did James react to the news of the coming baby? I was glad, at least, to learn that Catherine and the doctor we’re going to marry. But what was the final outcome for Henrietta and James?

[Aj]

This was a delightful story, sweet and captivating. The main characters and supporting characters were very well written. The story was well paced and kept you interested.

Rose was in love with the idea of being in love. The romance starts off with a kiss that sets the premise of the book. Misunderstandings, secrets, jealousy, and true love that triumphs in the end.

[Linda Romer]

I really liked An Unkissed Lady. I loved the setting in London England. I thought the characters had great personalities. Rose was wonderful and kind. Gabriel was strong and proud, everything a real man should be. A sweet story that will leave you feeling happy.

I give An Unkissed Lady 4 stars for its Romantic read.
I would recommend this book to Historical Regency Romance Fans.

[Sheila]

This is a case of mistaken identity when Rose intends to marry the first man that she kisses and she thinks is Richard the man she always thought she would marry but she actually kissed Gabriel. When Gabriel returns from the war to claim Rose he finds she is engaged to Richard but he does not intend to give up on the woman that he never forgot. Loved this story and the characters.

[Karen]

Story of a young debutante that thinks she knows the man that kissed her. Turns out not to be her mister right. Will she realize they are meant to be together or will she cast him aside? Characters are awesome and story well written.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara]

Part of The Evesham Series a well written story that kept me turning pages. Lady Rose Evesham and Gabriel the stoey Marquess of Cavanaugh’s of enemies to lovers, I enjoyed reading. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kety]

A wonderful romance for all...
A young lady that want her perfect first kiss with her future husband...
A young man in love... but she thinks he is a bore...
Who will she marry?
A surprising end...

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda Pérez]

Are we sure that, uhh *reads hand* ableist language *reads hand* making being gay the reason for the actions of the antagonist and *struggles to read hand* having the hero threat to out someone... are those the things we’re going for?

[Divya]

This was a sweet regency love story that follows Ms. Rose as she tries to find true love. The interaction between the main characters is well portrayed.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa Barry]

Love this one

I enjoyed reading the first two books in the series but this one really kept me glued to the pages.

I just love these two, Rose and Gabriel.

Looking forward to more from this author.

[Penny Wright]

Stubborn!

Rating 3.5. An Unkissed Lady is not my favorite in the Evesham series. Rose is soooo stubborn she almost cuts off her nose to spite her face. Fortunately, true love wins out in the end.

[Noma Byrne]

I really enjoyed reading this book! This is a really good book about a beautiful young girl and the men she picks for her love interest! I recommend this book to anybody who loves to read!

[Michaela (Reading in the Heartland)]

An enjoyable regency that took a few unexpected directions. I enjoyed the characters and their escapades.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.