“The Promise of a Kiss” by K.C. Bateman was recommended by a Youtuber that I follow, Jessica from PeaceLoveBooks. She recommended it on her Instagram stories and said that it was similar to The Mummy. I immediately knew that I needed to read this novella because The Mummy is one of my all time favorite movies. It’s not quite as good as the movie but I didn’t really expect it to be. This review will be spoiler free.

I like to give a heat level rating for all books with romance. If you’re curious about my rating system, you can check it out here.

Synopsis:

Egypt, 1815.

A reluctant hero.

When cash-strapped adventurer Harry Tremayne accepts five thousand pounds to locate Lady Hester Morden in Egypt, he knows he’s in for a rough ride. The headstrong mapmaker has been a source of irritation—and forbidden attraction—for years.

A damsel in distress?

Lady Hester doesn’t need rescuing. She’s far too busy enjoying her freedom to return to the stuffy confines of London. Besides, handsome scoundrel Harry Tremayne is the last man she wants to see; she’s still plagued by the memory of their one, unforgettable kiss.

A deadly curse.

When Hester discovers a necklace in the sand—one which may or may not be cursed by an ancient Egyptian goddess—the two are thrust into an adventure that takes them from the desert’s seductive heat to the perils of Napoleonic France. Can they ignore their inconvenient attraction long enough to save the world? The answer may just lie in the promise of a single kiss.

My Thoughts:

• Rating- 
• Heat Level- 

If I could rate with half stars, I would say this novella was more of a 3.5 star read. I loved the setting because I love almost anything to do with Egypt. I also really liked the characters but that’s also why I was slightly disappointed. A common problem that I have with novellas is that they just don’t give me enough. I really wanted more of everything, especially the romance.

The romance was a slow burn between longtime friends. I’m not sure why in the synopsis it says that their attraction is forbidden because there was nothing forbidden or scandalous about it. There was some really good chemistry and banter between the two but I found the actual romantic scenes to be pretty lukewarm. This also isn’t the read for anyone wanting a ton of adventure. The focus is primarily on the banter, and eventual romance, between Hester and Harry.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I liked “The Promise of a Kiss” and found it to be well written. As usual with novellas, though, I can’t help but wish it was an actual novel. If you like stories set in Egypt and Regency romances, this is a good, quick read. Does it sound like one you’d enjoy? Thanks for reading and have a great day!