This checked off everything I look for in a book. Was not disappointed. Really enjoyed this book. I will read more from this author. Must read

Judson has a tragic backstory here with being bullied at school and then beaten and punished by his guardian uncle at home, to the point where he thinks that he’s dark inside and doesn’t deserve love. He meets Lucy, who’s in her debut season, and even though he’s attracted to her, he thinks she deserves someone better and stays away. Until he can’t. Lucy is equally attracted to Judson, but she’s trying her best to enjoy her first season and look for a serious prospect to marry. But we all know she’s going to end up with Judson anyway. I loved how Judson slowly starts to open up to Lucy and some new friends and starts to yearn for love and affection for himself. We get some bonus drama with some villainous bullies and that terrible uncle, but it all resolves pretty quickly without leaving us hanging. An easy and comfy read.

This story started out very tragic and sad with the abuse that Judson endured as a child. I almost could have skipped that chapter because it was a lot.
Judson meets Lady Lucy through one of her male relatives. He initially really isn't looking to get married yet.
Lucy has a large extended family. She meets Judson at tea, just at the beginning of her come out. When some rogue tries to compromise her at a ball, Judson saves her and therefore ends up married to Lucy, himself.
It was very gratifying to see someone open up and let love in by just being around Lucy's sunny personality. They both deserve LOVE and happiness and I'm here for it! Oh, and Judson HOLDS A BABY. A pretty wee small one too. Yes, my heart just grew three sizes.

Thank you to Dragonblade for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

An Impulsive Kiss by Alexa Aston is book two of the Captivating Kisses series. Judson Jarvis had been abused as a boy, by the other boys at school and by his uncle, his guardian. Then he grew, and he was tough, based on all his mistreatment over the years. His uncle was resentful that he was not the heir, but his father may have been ill, but he was not stupid. He and his solicitor had protected the estate so when Judson was old enough, there was something still there. Lady Lucilla (Lucy) Allington was excited to see her cousins. It had been years. The three of them were to make their come outs together. But, that was not to be as their father, the duke, collapsed and died right in front of them. Her mother was secretly glad. Less competition. Judson believed his heart incapable of love. Lucy knew hers was not, but she didn’t want a marriage of convenience; she wanted love. He vowed to stay away from her; he was too attracted, but when he cam upon some reprobates trying to ruin her he took her in his arms to comfort her and they ended up kissing, and being caught.

Aston’s books tend to be entertaining and this one was. Plenty of twists and turns. Things happened, of course, that’s what moves the book along. Judson learned he could love and Lucy already did. She didn’t put up with much, for example, she approached Judson’s mistress only to learn interesting information. It was all good and another happy marriage ensued. Good characters, enough of a plot, a damaged man and a woman determined that was not so. Good read!

I was invited to read An Impulsive Kiss by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #AlexaAston #AnImpulsiveKiss

Judson Jarvis, Marquess of Huntsberry after the death of his father when he was 10 years old he was weak and small , some of his schoolmates bullied him and also his uncle who was in charge of the Dukedom because his father was in bad health . With his uncle punishment and exercises he grew in size and then he put the bullies into their place . That made him have no friends but his valet .
Lady Lucilla Alington is ready to have her Season and hoping to meet her new husband . When two Lords who are among the rakes trying to ruin her reputation Judson saves her but one Lady Which was rejected by him sees them together alone and now they must marry .
He only want a typical marriage because he believes that he doesn't deserve her but she is determent to change his mind and make him understand that he is a very good man .
I received this book from netgalley , the author and the publisher as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

I was jonesing for a lighthearted but steamy Regency romance—and it totally delivered! Judson, the brooding, emotionally scarred marquess, and Lucy, the sweet but surprisingly bold debutante, make for a perfect grumpy-sunshine pairing.

After a rather traumatic prelude explaining what made Judson the way he is, the main story kicks off with the titular impulsive kiss, which soon leads to Judson rescuing Lucy from a near-scandal, followed by a marriage of convenience. Through it all, Lucy is able to chip away at Judson’s hardened exterior in a way that keeps you rooting for them.

A few things kept it from being a 5-star read for me: Some conflicts wrapped up *too* neatly (especially the villainous uncle), and I wished for a bit more tension in the third act. But still, I devoured this in one sitting. It’s the perfect blend of angst, passion, and sweetness—plus, the wacky extended family are in place for the next books in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the ARC!

This second book in the Captivating Kisses series is a very engaging and well written historical romance. It had drama, action, childhood trauma, a compromising situation, an attempted ruin, a terrible uncle, a mistress, bullies, death, and so many intense and emotional issues that are very entertaining. I enjoyed the family bond between the cousins. The characters were complex, interesting, and likable. Their chemistry was strong, and their live was undeniable. I highly recommend reading!

Lucy is the innocent girl making her debut in the polite society while Judson is your cold, unfriendly, and angry man as he claimed to be. Except to me (reader) and Lucy or even anyone around Judson who knows who he is even without knowing his background, would say he is more of a gentleman than any other man supposed to be in the society. Maybe because he doesn’t have a friend to tell him so he is a nice guy but how the hell can he think of himself as the bad guy here? You know only good guys call themself a bad guys. And sorry to anyone who read this review, this may come out as a spoiler to some people but all he did in this story is being good, sweet and gentle to everyone in the story. Although I feel like his past doesn’t seem to affect his present self as I thought it would. Yes, he has his own trauma but not to the point of being the unfriendly, angry, lonely guy he claimed to be. Despite being a loner he's pretty good at making friends though. Maybe it is just me being insensitive or maybe I wish his personality has more depth to it.

But it was nothing bad. I understand this kind of story. A short, fluff, heartwarming story with a bit of spice. Nothing serious with the plot and solely focused more on the romance. It will be a nice read for the first time but it can be a bit bland and boring if it continues to be the same for other stories in the series as well. So if you ask me if I will read the other book? Maybe not if it turns out having the same plot as I think it will be. I need something with a more exciting premise or serious theme to get my attention. However it’s not a bad thing because I believe some people like this nice, heartwarming vibes, nothing too dark happening and I myself read this as an escapee sometimes when I need it. If you’re looking for purely romance, historical romance with no serious theme going on, you can give it a try.

This is the second book in a series, but each book is easily read on its own. Our hero has a difficult childhood, but has since learned to bury his feelings deeply. The large loving family that our heroine is part of is completely foreign to him. Her innocence could land her in trouble as she navigates the often, harsh world of the London season.
The characters all seem to have hidden depth and are brave and fun. We get a few surprises and a beautiful love story.
Great fun.

I recently found myself not enjoying Alexa Aston's novels as much as I had when I first discovered her and took a break from her work. I thought this story sounded interesting so I decided to return. Overall, I enjoyed the book but I found some parts to not make a ton of sense. Judson thought to engage Lucy in a passionate kiss moments after she was almost assaulted? His school bully makes an attempt to kill Lucy only to give up and just walk away when it failed? The kiss part forced the plot forward but the later scene with the bully made zero sense and ultimately accomplished nothing. Also, the uncle abuses Judson throughout his adolescent years and just quietly gives up when Judson cuts him off? That whole thing just felt underdeveloped. As for things I did like, I really enjoyed Lucy as a character. In a way she is a typical female from this time in history - not educated in the ways of the world because she was too "sweet"- but she learns to stand up for herself and handle difficult situations. It really is no wonder Judson falls in love with her. Judson is fine as the hero - it would have been nice if he had been able to just be honest with himself about his feelings rather than continue to give Lucy very mixed messages. I feel like I've been a bit negative here, I didn't dislike the book but I was hoping for more from it.

I found this romance heart-warming and tender. A man filled with rage due to past abuse and a sweet debutante shouldn't be the best match, and yet from the moment the Marquess of Huntsberry sets his eyes on Lady Lucilla, Judson's days as a reclusive bachelor are numbered. When his enemies threaten Lucilla and he comes to her rescue, that causes complications that neither wanted. Lucille may seem like a gentle dove, unable to defend herself, but when it comes to the man she is falling in love with, she has an iron fist in a velvet glove and demands respect. Judson has never had anyone stand up for him in his life, and Lucilla's stance wins his heart. However, the course of true love never did run smooth, and there are still obstacles to overcome before they can find their happiness. I received a copy of this lovely romance as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

This is a fun, entertaining read. Judson and Lucy are interesting, relatable, intriguing, wounded, strong, complex, caring, entertaining characters. I enjoyed their romance and the path it took to get to their HEA. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. I love that we got to see so much of the couple from the first story. Judson is one of those heroes who finds a place in your heart and stays – I enjoyed seeing his development as he falls in love with Lucy. The story is easy to read and get into.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Book two of the series takes us to the second of ten cousins. Lucy is getting ready for her coming out Season. As well as looking forward to spending time with her cousins. In the meantime, Judson is getting ready for another Season spent alone. Their's is a story of hope, joy and light after years of darkeness and pain. The plot is well executed and the characters are by far amazingly wonderful. We get to spend time with Con, Val and some of our new friends from the prior story which adds to the joy of the story. Beautifully written, setting us up for the next book in the series. This can absolutely be a standalone but why limit yourself to just one set of new friends.

He has a horrid past...

Judson was a sweet young boy, who was orphaned at a young age. He was bullied at school and severely abused by his uncle for years. He turned into a bully himself. Now, as an adult he is a bully with no friends. But he did an unexpected thing in protecting and kissing the very young and coddled Lucy. She is sweet and naive and in possession of a healthy dowry. Will her good nature temper his anger issues?
I liked this one and can recommend it.

From the first page to the last you will spellbound by An Impulsive Kiss. An Impulsive Kiss brings past characters from from the first series together and you're able to catch-up with those you haven't visited with for a while. Judson, Lord Huntsberry is haunted by a dark past. But when Judson rescues Lady Lucy from a rakehell bent on revenge they find themselves in a compromising situation and they must marry. What starts out as a marriage of convenience Judson soon realizes is just what he needed to heal his soul. Alexa Aston has given readers a book that is well-written, filled it with a great cast of characters that will hold you spellbound as their individual personalities become more than just part of the tale they come off the pages and pull you in, filled with drama, sizzling passion, and with an enjoyable plot that leaves you eagerly anticipating the next in the series.  

I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

An Impulsive Kiss, had some pretty Impressive kisses. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was light hearted and fun. I loved the family involvement that Lucy has.

Judson is cold and hardened due to a difficult childhood.
Abuse at home and bullied at schools, he looks for revenge.
He is not expecting to meet a sweet woman like Lucy and knows he does not deserve her,
But her mother continues to push her because he is a Marquess.
A sweet first kiss and he cannot get her out of his mind even though he was trying to teach her a lesson.
Lucy is conflicted by his demeanor but cannto help her feelings.
A sweet love story, truly enjoyable.
.

An enjoyable story between a hardened marquess and a naive young lady making her come-out and an impulsive kiss which leads to a marriage of convenience and so much more for Judson and Lucilla. A worthy romance and happily ever after.

What a touching story! The first chapter broke my heart and hooked me into the book. Judson becomes such a strong man, but still retains the pain from his childhood. Lucy is all sunshine and beauty, but she also has so much strength and can endure anything. This story is a great addition to the series!

An Impulsive Kiss is the second book in the Captivating Kisses series. It can be a stand-alone read.

This story begins with Judson Jarvis who will one day inherit the title of Marquess of Huntsberry. His mother died giving birth to him and his father has been sickly for most of his life. He has been raised by his jealous uncle who has abused him while reportedly making a man out of him. He would come to regret those words when Judson retaliates in response once he is old enough to stand up against the uncle. As a result, Judson feels he has let his father down by not being a good man. Having no friends, he has kept to himself until he meets the charming Lucilla Alington.

Lady Lucilla Alington excited about is making her come-out this Season. Her family wants her to marry for love by choosing the man she wants as opposed to her domineering mother's desire for choosing for tittle and wealth as the most important factors. Lucy meets Judson and feels drawn to him, but she does not understand his coolness after a great beginning.

A childhood bully of Judson seeks her out in order to hurt her and retaliating against Judson. Just as the plan in underway, Judson arrives to stop Lucy from being hurt. But as he gently kisses her, they are seen by a jealous woman, they are forced to wed immediately to save Lucy's reputation.

Now faced with a marriage he did not plan, Judson will make sure that Lucy has everything excluding the love he does not feel he can give her, Lucy and Judson will have to decide if this is enough for the both of them for the rest of their lives or will they find the deep and abiding love they yearn for.

This is a wonderful quick afternoon read. I enjoyed the characters and the evolving love story. I did think that the ending wrapped up a bit to quickly for me. I kept waiting for it, since I knew that there had to be another hurdle in the love story. It came just as I thought but it was much to quick for my liking. All in all, it is still a wonderful story.