Eloisa James attempts to tell a story in one of the most unique ways: a serial. WITH THIS KISS is made of three parts and features Lady Grace, the eldest daughter to the Duke and Duchess of Ashbrook whom readers will be familiar with from THE UGLY DUCHESS, the fourth book in James' Fairy Tales series and also Colin, the eldest adopted son of Sir Griffin Barry from SEDUCED BY A PIRATE.

James explores the concept of young love between Lady Grace and Colin. Their families have always been close and friendly, but as both characters become their own people, Colin's decision to join the Navy changes things for them. Lady Grace decides to write to Colin while he is away and this is where their romance starts, though I found that Grace put more of herself into the letters than Colin did. Grace is an admirable character. Though often living in the shadows of her sister, Lily, Grace doesn't let resentment build between them. However, that doesn't mean Grace can gracefully keep her head up when her heart is so heavy with heartbreak.

Colin is a man turned cynical by the acts of war. The things he has seen in the Navy have changed him and it is part of the reason why he can be so callous and so clueless of Grace's feelings towards him. Like a drug, Grace's occasional letters to him provide a much needed escape in his mind and soon he finds himself anticipating the next letter to arrive.

Though as short as this installment is, James has created two characters that stand out amongst a sea of faces. Grace is admirable and deserves so much more than Colin can give her at this point, but she is so blindingly in love that she does not care. Colin's character has so much room to grow and I am eager to see how and when he will finally open up his eyes and see the gift in front of him.

In the last chapter of WITH THIS KISS, James packs a punch and it propelled me to frantically grab the next installment. I needed to know what would happen to them! Though serials aren't my favorite style of reading books, I cannot deny the appeal and excitement of one done well.

WITH THIS KISS is a story filled with heartbreak. Let's hope that James delivers her gentle readers a happily-ever- after fitting to the fantastic characters she has created in the installments to come.

Book Summary

Lady Grace Ryburn, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Ashbrook, has fallen wildly in love with Colin Barry, a dashing young lieutenant serving his country in the Royal Navy. When he returns home to exuberant celebrations, will he even notice the quiet wallflower he grew up with ... or will he fall for Grace's sparkling, gorgeous sister?