Beyond a Wicked Kiss

This is truly the best historical romance that I have read to date. The main characters are so easy to fall in love with, and I was disappointed when it ended. The story is both romantic and funny, and the love scenes (of which there are plenty) are touching, honest, innocent and real. I realized after starting the book that it is actually the last installment of a 4-book series, but I continued with it anyway and was not disappointed, as it made me look forward to reading the other three. West (the fourth member of the North, South, East & West Compass Club) is different from his friends. Although he is as close and loyal to them as they are to him, he grew up "on the wrong side of the blanket," and therefore, never expected to earn the title of Duke. His childhood was not easy, so to say he's not the easiest man to get to know, would be an understatement. But of course this is a romance, so there must be a love story, and the wittiness and innocence of his love interest, Ria, makes this book a must read. When I took my time with the book and tried to picture each scene in my head, as well as imagine how I thought the author intended each line to be delivered, I literally found myself laughing outloud. If you do the same, you won't be disappointed. There is an author (I can't remember who at the moment) who after much begging from her readers, actually decided to follow up one of her most popular series with another series involving the same characters. I find myself hoping that one day Jo Goodman will do the same with the Compass Club. Since these four stories took place simultaneously, their lives together have only just begun, and surely there is more trouble that they could get into together.

I was pleasantly surprised by Jo Goodman's writing style. The character development (for the protagonists, at least) was well done and unlike so many American writers the vocabulary and dialogue in BaWK was authentic and appropriate. As I read closer to the end of story, though, my loyalty to the book began to wane. What was initially a thoughtful and engaging romance and mystery turned into a stark study in female bondage and slavery. I found myself skipping over pages because the story, still technically well-written, was just too disturbing and sad. That said, I'm looking forward to reading Ms. Goodman' work again. I'll just check reviews first next time.

I bought this book first then realized that there were three others and believed (correctly) that they should be read in order. North, South, East and West - while they occur at the same time you appreciate them all much better if read in that order. As for West and Ria - wow - this was a true love story. The pace of it and the development of their love was so real and even better than the previous three. And West himself - while not so much apart of the other books was so distinct from the others - more of a real person. Perhaps because he was not of title born, though he would find out that he had been. But he was just more of a man's man - And Ria well she was just priceless - she just did what she felt like so often and those appearances in West's bedroom in the night early on were just priceless. And the underlying story once again about the Society of Bishops was even more relative to West and Ria's story than even the other three. This was just from start to finish the best of the best. Actually the Compass Club is one of the best groupings or series that I have ever read and Jo Goodman get high marks for her writings. I would love like a previous reviewer said if she could write one more - bringing the lives of all three together as one. It would be fascinating to see how the women would interact with one another. I absolutley recommend this book and the other three!!

It was really wonderful to read a well written book with great characters, smart, funny, grown-up - not prone to 'big misunderstandings' or dithering heroines, or other plots that often appear in romance novels - the ones that make the reader stop caring about the characters, because it's just so ridiculous. This book was awesome, if you liked Devilish by Jo Beverley, try Beyond a Wicked Kiss.