Smugglers Kiss

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Home Contact Us Help Free delivery worldwide. But though Isabelle has fled, she is still trapped. If the secret of her previous life is revealed then the smugglers who have found her will not let her stay on board The Invisible - and she has nowhere else to go. To survive, Isabelle must help her captors - even though she detests what they do. But soon her principles are thrown into confusion, as she discovers that outwitting the King's Men fills her with excitement.

Soon she finds herself becoming fiercely loyal to the crew - and to one mysterious smuggler in particular. The Best Books of Check out the top books of the year on our page Best Books of Looking for beautiful books? Visit our Beautiful Books page and find lovely books for kids, photography lovers and more.

Smuggler's Kiss by Mary Louise Jensen- review

Jensen's plot shines in this teen novel to provide a refreshing read; whether you like fiction or not, Smuggler's Kiss promises to captivate any imagination. Marie-Louise Jensen has established herself as one of the foremost writers of historical fiction for young people and this latest novel can only enhance that reputation This is a very good story with real depth and a joy to read Our customer reviews This book was very exciting, full of adventure and mystery, with a lovely twist of romance and a brilliant ending.

The love interest, the only other character besides the main one to have grown and who is more than an archetypical, one-dimensional prop, behaves a bit like her mom, and is otherwise a self-righteous, holier-than-thou know-it-all, who I really can't blame for initially disliking her and making life a bit hard on her for her airs and graces.

Yes, the romance is hate-turns-into-love, a trope I usually adore, yet I couldn't in this instance, since the characters are so horrible under-developed, unsympathetic, and I didn't much care for what they did or didn't do. As intimated above, the whole crew of smugglers are an unauthentic, generic mass of hardly-developed men whose reason for indulging in smuggling is some sort of sob story across-the-board. The antagonists are spiteful, and thoroughly bad and irredeemable for some reason, and the sense they speak is ignored in favor of convenience; otherwise they are badly developed archetypes.

There is some artificial drama thrown into the mix that only managed to elicit an annoyed eye roll from yours truly. The smuggling shenanigans are as interesting as watching paint dry, and there is never a sense of danger to emotionally pull the reader in. Now detract any kind of plot or likeness thereof, since this book does not have any such thing and is entirely unexciting. It goes without saying that every twist and turn is visible a mile away, and managed to enhance my disdain for the characters and their painful stupidity. Feb 08, Rebecca Pates rated it really liked it Shelves: Review originally published here: She's also lovely on Twitter although that does not interrupt my opinion of this book.

A friend of mine in the blogging world read this and told me I needed to read it. I find good historical fiction can be quite hard to come by now I guess I'm more critical but I Review originally published here: I find good historical fiction can be quite hard to come by now I guess I'm more critical but I know I'll always find a brilliant, absorbing historical novel in Jensen. Isabelle is rescued from drowning in the sea by a group of men who she finds out are smugglers. To Isabelle - a lady from a wealthy family - smugglers are dangerous and deadly. However, without escape on the ship, she soon finds excitement in deceiving the king's men and her loyalties changing as she becomes friends with the smugglers, especially one in particular.

Isabelle doesn't want to return to her old life but she has to keep the truth from the smugglers in order to stay aboard. I'm a great lover of historical fiction especially if the author is British and even more when it's this writer. I find historical fiction can either be the kind that draws you in, keeps you wondering and then spits you out at the end - much like Queen's Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle review was. Or they can be the fun kind that is just a lovely, relaxing read. Which is where this book falls. Isabelle is a character which it is incredibly hard to like on the first page and I think that's why it took me a while to get into the story.

This made her so much more likeable as the novel continues until the conclusion where I felt so much for Isabelle's situation. It's great to see this feisty and strong side to her personality flourish throughout as she adjusts. One thing I really liked about this book was that the romance didn't dominate. I'm one that admits that I love a to dabble in a bit of historical romance but sometimes it can be too much, sometimes too unrealistic. This book is about the romance that evolves but it's also about status, class and the friendships and rivalries that form out of them.

It's clear early on that she has a soft spot for Will, a younger smuggler who is a little different from the rest and keeps disappearing for a day or so. It was the mysteries behind Will and Isabelle's past that kept me reading, wanting to know the events that happened to lead both these characters to the smuggler's ship.

I did really enjoy reading this book, it's not the best from Marie-Louise Jensen but still shows how great an author she is in the YA historical genre. It is full of details from the period as well as moments of high tension mixed with a few moments to make you smile.

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Jan 29, Michelle Fluttering Butterflies rated it really liked it Shelves: I haven't read the author's previous books as yet, but she comes very highly recommended from my blogging friends. Especially now that my mind has been changed about historical fiction, it gives me great pleasure reading books like Smuggler's Kiss. Especially as this book was very adventurous and exciting as well as romantic. I loved the bit of mystery that surrounds both main cha This review was originally published at Fluttering Butterflies I really loved Smuggler's Kiss by Marie-Louise Jensen.

I loved the bit of mystery that surrounds both main characters and finding out more about their secrets really kept me turning the pages furiously. There's something really timelessly appealing about a huge change in circumstance like the main character of our story, Isabelle, goes through in Smuggler's Kiss. At the start of the story, she's a bit snobbish and arrogant about her wealthy and priviledged position in the world. But things start to change when she is rescused from drowning by a ship full of smugglers. I really liked witnessing how much Isabelle changes - both physically and mentally during her time aboard this boat.

She becomes less of the simpering, whinging weakling who can barely climb a hill and who has a very narrow view of the world into a strong young woman who is able to better see and understand the prejudices in her world. And while this book is called 'Smuggler's Kiss' with the tagline 'It's not a crime to steal a heart' I really loved how the romance that is involved in this book is really quite subtle and is built-up slowly.

But it's a slow-burn that makes its presence known throughout. I felt myself growing very attached to the characters that we meet and I felt incredibly invested emotionally towards Isabelle's romantic prospects. I loved how exciting it felt reading this book and going on these adventures alongside these smugglers.

Aug 03, Smithjamest rated it it was amazing. Smuggler's Kiss by Marie-Louise Jensen was another masterpiece to add to her already amazing collection. Jensen has been an author that I have followed and collected since I found one of her books The Lady in the Tower in a bookshop. She has a conversational tone to her writing and I find it makes for a welcoming smooth read, books that I can pick up, sit with a cup of tea, and fall into, transported to whatever magical scene Jensen ha originally posted at http: She has a conversational tone to her writing and I find it makes for a welcoming smooth read, books that I can pick up, sit with a cup of tea, and fall into, transported to whatever magical scene Jensen has concocted.

In Smuggler's Kiss this was a smugglers ship in Jensen weaves humour, danger, intrigue, suspense, intricate plots and romance to create this novel and quick note here - all Jensen's books are set in the past which I really adore as not only do I get to read an amazing story but I also get to experience a glimpse into the past made all the more accessible by Jensen's vivid and detailed descriptions of life in the 18th century in this case.

Smuggler's Kiss follows Isabelle as she attempts to drown herself in the sea but is rescued by a band of smugglers and taken aboard their ship, The Invisible. Fearing that she will betray the smugglers keep her captive onboard but Isabelle being a blueblood, upper class woman, is unused to being alone amongst so many men and without servants.

For the first couple of chapters she is a spoilt and unpleasant character acting more like a spoilt child than a teenage woman and you can't help wanting to slap her. However as she gets used to her situation and begins to warm to some of the smugglers she becomes a more pleasant character to follow.

The romance between her and one of the smugglers Will is one of sparring and snide quips and sarcastic comments which makes for some very humourous and endearing as you can guess it'll work out OK scenes. It's always nice not to have a romance where the characters fall deeply and unrealistically in love and the reader has to cope with a ridiculous amount of gush and drivel for the whole novel. I struggled to put down Smuggler's Kiss whilst I was reading it but looking back I wish I had as it would have made it last longer!

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It was lovely to read a book that had its own plot and didn't follow the generic outline of so many YA novels nowadays and being set in the past offers a break from this recent spat of dystopian futuristic novels that appear to be so popular. Jensen has again delivered a comforting read that I know I will enjoy reading again especially on a wet and windy night so I can imagine the howling cold wind rattling through the Invisible's sails as Isabelle would have. Though to be honest Jensen's description paints as vivid a picture as any and I could probably still imagine the punishing wind and sheets of rain, the waves from the rolling sea, even on a warm summer's day!

Mar 09, Fleur Hitchcock rated it it was amazing. Ok - I'm a sucker for romantic fiction but it can be so completely sugar sweet that it's a delight when you come across a book that sizzles with bite and energy. Smuggler's kiss is the story of pompous snob Isabelle, and her journey to self discovery - but her adventures are genuinely thrilling, and I finished this book at 2. Now reading to my 11 year old daughter who is loving it. I rate this book 3 out of 5 because at the start I thought it was readable but the ending was actually very disappointing.

The plot twist was interesting but extremely underdone and unpolished. I also like how the main character develops as she learns more and more how much harder other people had it compar I rate this book 3 out of 5 because at the start I thought it was readable but the ending was actually very disappointing. Aug 24, Marian Taylor rated it it was ok. This book was passed over to me by my 11 year old grand-daughter Isobel with a recommendation it was an ok read. Well she got that spot on. Girl runs away, gets rescued by smugglers, has an adventure, a small mystery and some romance.

Mar 24, Celeste rated it it was amazing. I did not at all expect to enjoy this as much as I did. Pirate-esque excitement and danger, character growth, and a few well-laid-out mysteries made this a fun and engaging read. I'm sure it has some historical inaccuracies and other flaws but I really just found it so delightful that I either didn't notice or easily forgave them. It seems like historical YA is Jensen's thing so I definitely would like to track down some of her others for future reading! Jan 30, Hannah rated it really liked it Shelves: This book is just gorgeous. Smugglers, thrilling adventure on the high seas and a lovely slow-burn romance - Smuggler's Kiss had it all, and was beautifully written to boot.

The author has a flowing style that places you right in the period and drops you into the scenes themselves. It's quite easy to be swept along with every crash of the waves, the rocking of the ship during a rainy night and the flurry of activity as The Invisible's crew scramble about deck. I have new appreciation for the astounding amount of research authors must do in order to write such vivid scenes. For all the heart-thumping adventure, though, this is above all a story of Isabelle's growth.

She's an incredibly hard character to like at the beginning; spoilt, whiny and unreasonable, it was hard to blame the smugglers for their harsh words when she simply refused to wake up and smell the coffee. It makes the first third of the book a bit hard to stomach as you watch her fight the inevitable at every turn, but her subsequent growth is worth the wait - underneath the weeping child is a young woman with an iron will and true courage.

My only complaint is that the transition between the two phases is sudden and jerky rather than gradual. Isabelle spends a good while being a brat while Will shows her some seriously tough love, and this continues for a period before she seems to have a sudden off-screen, so to speak epiphany I must admit that I liked the "changed" Isabelle so much that I'm glad we got her sooner rather than later, though. The romance is a welcome departure from the YA trend of late, where hero and heroine seem to fall madly in love with each other instantly. Isabelle's romance with Will is the very definition of slow-burn; it takes time for both of them to see past each other's faults and reach a truce, developing mutual trust and striking up a friendship before finally realizing their love for one another.

More importantly, it's nice to see that this love story is only part and parcel to Isabelle's journey, NOT the be all and end all. She matures, gains freedom, real friends and family in the crew and finds love along the way. That's the type of journey that I love reading about most. An exciting, fun and feel-good read - highly recommended!

May 06, Bryony rated it liked it Shelves: This book was good. But I have had to cap it at three stars due to the trashiness of the cover. Isabelle is a rich girl who kicks off the storyline by trying to kill herself happy stuff but is saved by a group of smugglers. Though she starts off as an annoying, spoiled princess much This book was good. Though she starts off as an annoying, spoiled princess much like she is portrayed on the cover she soon grows and changes into a heroine I quite like.

Of course, from about five pages in, it is fairly clear that the Smuggler's kiss will come from Will - a mysterious, gentlemanly-yet-goddamn-annoying smuggler who she has sworn she hates, yet starts to repent and they start to do romantic things like pretending to be ghosts and tying knots. Although I started the book with an eyebrow raised, making sarcastic judgments about the route of the plot, I actually quite enjoyed the route it took, not so much the predictable romance which the cover poorly tries to sell, but the poignant points the the book makes about the socioeconomic problems in Georgian England, as well as the gorgeously colourful historical descriptions of life on board the ship.

Though there could have been a little more historical detail and a little more time spent on the ending, this book contained enough intrigue and fun characters to keep me hooked. But then there was the cover, which did justice to neither the heroine nor the plot; the title, which makes it sound like some crappy, soppy TV series; and, worst of all, the byline: But though the cover is the worst I've seen in a while, please forgive it: Feb 12, Neptune Violin rated it it was amazing Shelves: Isabelle is an upper-class girl of Brittan.

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She has a typical life until one day, when the book begins, she attempts to drown herself. Isabelle is pulled out of the water and saved by a ship called the Invisible. She is told to be quiet until they leave the harbour. The men on board ask her who she is, so instinctively she lies. She tells them she is an orphan, with no family to miss her so that they will let Isabelle live with them. Isabelle is horrified that they make her change out of her Isabelle is an upper-class girl of Brittan.

Isabelle is horrified that they make her change out of her dress, into men's breeches and vote on whether to let her stay. The vote is close but she is allowed to live on board.

Smuggler's Kiss Synopsis

Isabelle has never had to do work in her life, having servants to do it all for her, so all the tasks she has to earn her keep she finds utterly impossible. Throughout the book Isabelle is learning new skills, from peeling potatoes to knot tying. I liked that this was feminist historical fiction that was not based entirely around the medial life of dresses, makeup and balls or wasn't centered about a heroine who already rode astride and wanted a masculine life but couldn't because of her gender.

And them on the ship one man is Will. Isabelle can tell that he has a similar background to her, and can easily pick him out from the rest of the men who are also on the Invisible. Isabelle wants to know why he choose this life above the luxurious life that she so prefers. The only problem is Will seems to hate her, and she hates him for it. I'm not a big romance person, but Will and Isabelle's relationship felt very natural, and wasn't forced. Also when Will was Betty. I would recommend Smugglers Kiss to anyone even though the cover design and title just make it look some ultra girly chick lit and I was very embarrassed to be reading it in public.

May 30, Shaz Goodwin rated it really liked it. We begin with a very dramatic scene — Isabelle walking into the sea! Having been used to being waited on, life onboard is rough and harsh. Once the toast of London society and the reigning beauty of Bath, Isabelle is reduced in status and cleanliness! At first acting like a spoilt brat with tantrums and her high principles, having experienced things like the Quarry workers plight for herself, she re-examines what she believes about the world. Throughout the time on the ship, we see Isabelle become stronger — both in health and character.

The banter she has going with Will and the parental bond with Jacob draws her emotionally into the life they lead. She takes on a chore on ship and starts to belong to the community. Exciting and heart-pounding smuggling runs loved the scene smuggling lace into Weymouth! I would also recommend for the any age if you have an interest in history and of course, smuggling!

I would like to thank the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review. I think I like the ending to this one more than The Girl in the Mask but it also seems less realistic, so that ruins it a bit. Interesting world of smuggling, some good character development that could have seemed a bit overly-dramatic were it not for the social class Isabelle comes from. Aug 24, Katelyn rated it liked it Shelves: I've got to hand it to Marie-Louise Jensen on this one. Not only was this a highly entertaining and fun read, but she had me guessing up until the very end.

I was close to figuring some things out and piecing together others, but no matter how hard I tried to think about it, I was still surprised when she wrapped up the last revelation in the very end. I love that kind of read, don't you? Isabelle and the rest of the crew on The Invisible were a great lot of characters. And one of things I enjoyed most about this read was the character development throughout its pages. All of the main characters went through some type of adjustment and growth throughout the story and it was so much fun and all together an exciting ride while watching how they all turned out.

There's romance, suspense, mystery and secrets out the wazoo, and so much fun to be had with this one. It was a light read overall but in the best possible sense. I was never overly stressed out no matter how tense things got, but at one time or another I did refuse to put the book down in order to find out what would happen next. This was my first experience with Jensen's writing and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work in the future. I enjoyed her writing style as well as how she paces her story lines. Overall I have to say that this was just the type of read I was looking for at just the right time!

Be sure to pick this one up to read when it hits the shelves. Mar 08, Alice rated it really liked it Shelves: If I am honest this is probably more of a 3. But I have decided to give this a four based on sheer enjoyment.

It was just a really fun book that I really enjoyed reading but at the same time there was a very interesting plot, which made me laugh. Originally I didn't want to pick this book up because it is set in and I thought I would struggle getti If I am honest this is probably more of a 3. Originally I didn't want to pick this book up because it is set in and I thought I would struggle getting through this book.

I think it was because it was written in a very modern way, which personally I found easier to read but at the same time I think it may have felt more authentic if it was written in a more old fashioned way. But I am glad it wasn't written in this way but I felt as though it could have reduced the potential of this book.

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