A Kiss of Lies: A Disgraced Lords by Bronwen Evans 

A Kiss of Lies: A Disgraced Lords Series: A Disgraced Lords Series Book #1
on January 14, 2014
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical / Regency
Pages: 320
Goodreads

In Bronwen Evans’s Loveswept debut, a pair of damaged souls ignite each other’s deepest passions—even as they tempt fate by deceiving the world.

Desperate to escape her abusive past, Sarah Cooper disguises herself as a governess in the employ of Christian Trent, Earl of Markham, the man who, long ago, she fantasized about marrying. Despite the battle scars that mar his face, Sarah finds being near Christian rekindles her infatuation. A governess, however, has no business in the arms of an earl, and as she accompanies Christian on his voyage home, Sarah must resist her intense desires—or risk revealing her dangerous secrets.

One of the renowned Libertine Scholars, Christian Trent once enjoyed the company of any woman he chose. But that was before the horrors of Waterloo, his wrongful conviction of a hideous crime, and his forcible removal from England. Far from home and the resources he once had, Christian believes the life he knew—and any chance of happiness—is over . . . until his ward’s governess sparks his heart back to life, and makes him remember the man he used to be. Now Christian is determined to return to England, regain his honor, and win the heart of the woman he has come to love.

A Kiss of Lies is book one in A Disgraced Lords Series by Bronwen Evans. I really enjoyed this book. “Who overcomes by force hath overcome but half his foe.”  – Milton. This is a tale of love, revenge, and redemption. When a beautiful woman answers the Earl of Markham’s ad for a governess, war scarred Christian Trent is enchanted. Chased out of England by lies, he finds some solace with new friends in Canada. But when his friends are killed, Christian is left as guardian to their young daughter. He must find a governess who can accompany him and his ward back to England so he can clear his name. Lady Serena Castleton has secrets. When she presents herself to the Earl as Mrs. Sarah Cooper, a widow, realizes that feelings she once carried for Christian are still alive and kicking. 

This is a complex story, but well worth the read. My only negative comment is that I thought there were too many sex scenes. I don’t mind a steamy scene here and there, but this book had a few too many for me. Other than that, this is a superb launch to this series. It has twists and turns in it that I just didn’t see coming. I loved the hero Christian and his vulnerability with Sarah.