After having written Medieval romances for years (with a Restoration-era trilogy thrown in for good measure), Kiss Me Quick, a Regency-set historical, is a bit of a departure for Margaret Moore. Unless I miss my guess, it’s a permanent departure. Like most heroes from historicals set in the Regency, Edmond Terrington (Viscount Adderley) has a close knit group of friends, all of whom seem to be expecting their own stories to be told. While I often find myself drawn to connected books, I’ll probably pass on the rest of this series. The premise of this book had some promise, but its actual execution left something to be desired.

Lady Diana Westover is a duke’s daughter, but she been living in relative seclusion for years. Her late father was very critical of the ton and wanted no part of it either for himself or his daughter. After his death, Diana accompanies her aunts to Bath. They think perhaps she will make a suitable match there, and although she has no immediate plans to marry, she doesn’t mind going along for the ride and taking in a few of the local sights. Secretly, she sees the trip as a knowledge-gathering mission. Diana has aspirations to become a great gothic novelist, and she’s sure that Bath society will provide her with material for her first book.

At her first party, she notices Edmond (Viscount Adderly). Though her aunts immediately warn her off and tell her to cut the viscount entirely, she decides that he would make an excellent model for the villain of her book. Their initial frosty encounter convinces her that she’s right, and she plans to quietly eavesdrop on him whenever possible. Meanwhile, Diana’s blatant staring and blistering tongue have caught Edmond’s attention. He decides to give her a taste of her own medicine and follow her around for a while.

They eventually discover that they share a passion for gothic novels – and a passion for each other. But Diana’s aunts remain steadfast in their dislike of Edmond, whom they are sure is a rake and possibly even a murderer. They are convinced that Diana’s other suitor, Lord Fallston, would be a better matrimonial choice. Coincidentally, Fallston actively dislikes Edmond and has been spreading lies about him all over town. He’s very determined to win Diana, and he doesn’t care if he has to ruin Edmond’s reputation to do it.

A hero who devours gothic novels isn’t something you come across every day in a romance; this was a cute change of pace. I also liked that Edmond found Diana attractive even though she was something of a Plain Jane. His attitude once he decides to pursue her is endearing, and I would have liked him if I could have convinced myself even for a second that he resembled a real person.

Unfortunately, none of the characters in this book attained any level of realism. The flimsy, somewhat gimmicky premise may have something to do with that; a heroine who follows the hero around trying to get novel material seemed ridiculous. But I think the bigger problem was the dialogue, which sounded stilted and unnatural. In the hands of a skilled author, dialogue can sound so real that we almost feel like we are standing in a room with flesh and blood humans rather than fictional characters. Choppy dialogue, on the other hand, serves as a constant reminder that we are reading a novel.

The characters aren’t helped by the plot either. The whole thread involving Fallston and his accusations just smacks of junior-high intrigue; it’s not the sort of problem an adult would have. When you’re in the preteen/tweeny years, So-and-So telling lies about So-and-So behind her back is a cataclysmic drama worthy of major attention. I should know; there’s a preteen at my house and we get to hear about things like this on a daily basis. But most adults grow out of this sort of thing – and if they don’t, they ought to. Not every book needs a suspense plot with a villain out to annihilate the hero, but surely there has to be something better than a hero and his friends who are still dealing with their boyhood nemesis because he’s like, sooooo mean and two-faced. Like, totally.

If you absolutely cannot get enough of Regency-set historical series about groups of men who bonded as schoolmates, then you may find this one worth a look. Maybe, but I like, totally doubt it.