The Secret Kiss of Darkness by Christina Courtenay

"Must forbidden love end in heartbreak?

Kayla Sinclair knows she’s in big trouble when she almost bankrupts herself to buy a life-size portrait of a mysterious eighteenth century man at an auction.

Jago Kerswell, innkeeper and smuggler, knows there is danger in those stolen moments with Lady Eliza Marcombe, but he’ll take any risk to be with her.

Over two centuries separate Kayla and Jago, but, when Kayla’s jealous fiancé presents her with an ultimatum, and Jago and Eliza’s affair is tragically discovered, their lives become inextricably linked thanks to a gypsy’s spell.

Kayla finds herself on a quest that could heal the past, but what she cannot foresee is the danger in her own future.

Will Kayla find heartache or happiness?"

I had read one of Christina's books before and recall enjoying it far more than I had thought I would (as I'm not usually a massive fan of historical books) but this book was amazing, just perfect in every way.  

The book alternates between 1781 and 2013, Devon and London, seamlessly moving between two timelines linked by an invisible thread and a gypsy's spell. 

The gypsy's spell doesn't just affect Jago and Kayla, Christina casts the spell much wider than that because I too felt spellbound as I read this book.  It's been a while since I've felt so involved in a book - I could feel my heart thudding harder at the tense moments and the tears came at the end of the book - but it was like I had been deposited in Kayla's world. So much so, that whenever I was disturbed from my reading of it, I got more and more agitated as the story unfolded. 

The tale is packed full of romance, but not so much so that it outshines everything else. You don't realise it, but it's just there and it becomes more and more consuming the more you read. I also loved both Wes and Kayla's relationship with little Nell, which was perfectly depicted. 

The two timelines are interwoven perfectly, the characters are excellently drawn (each with their own traits to make you instantly love or hate them) and the book is just perfect. Choclit have never failed to deliver a delicious hero and/or heroine, and this is no exception. I can't fault Christina's latest addition to the Choclit family. 

Available now as an eBook or in paperback from 7 February!