Review: If His Kiss is Wicked by Jo Goodman

Title: If his Kiss is Wicked
Author: Jo Goodman
Genre: historical romance
Grade: DNF
Reason for Reading: Everyone ever on the romance blogosphere loved this book, so I figured I would, too. Oh, there was that nagging voice that reminded me that Rosario, my reading twin hadn’t liked it, but I ignored that voice.

Synopsis: Shy by nature, Emma Hathaway usually leaves the drama to her rebellious cousin, Marisol.
But when Emma agrees to meet with her cousin’s secret lover to end the affair, she
is pulled into a dangerous game. Now Emma is convinced her involvement in the scandal
has put her life in jeopardy. The trouble is none of Emma’s confidantes believe anyone
is trying to harm her. As whispers of madness begin, Emma turns to the only person
who might be able to help…The very handsome, barely respectable Restell Gardner
has gained a reputation for helping people out of compromising positions. Never one
to turn away a lady in need, Restell agrees to help solve the intrigue. Sensing there
is more to the green-eyed beauty than meets the eye, Restell feels himself falling
for Emma. But he resists succumbing to his passion…at least until he learns the
truth about the danger that is haunting her. For if he gives in to temptation too
soon, he could lose Emma forever…

My Thoughts: I should have liked this a lot more than I did. In fact, it’s so very frustrating because I know that there were things here I should have loved. Like the dialogue, which reads very authentically to me. And the characters, like the very tortured heroine and the Regency-era PI. But there was something missing from what little I got through, and at one point I even fell asleep on the bus as I attempted to read. I think I might try it again, but clearly I am not quite ready to get back into reading historical romances yet.