He lived in Once Upon a Time.
When Princess Isabella diTalora needs an expert to study the ancient artifacts hidden beneath the royal palace, she’s determined to hire the best: Nick Black, a mysterious collector who knows San Rimini’s medieval era better than anyone.
Nick Black knows San Rimini’s history for good reason. He lived it. In fact, he was once known as Domenico of Bollazio, a … Bollazio, a powerful knight pledged to San Rimini’s king. But he was cursed for his ambition and will never know peace—or mortality—until he can solve the riddle of his enchantment.
Nick knows modern technology will soon reveal his immortality to the world, so—despite the risk—he accepts the assignment from the princess in hopes of breaking his curse. But as he spends more time with the beautiful princess, he learns that some risks bring unexpected consequences.
The Knight’s Kiss is the fourth book in the Royal Scandals: San Rimini series. The six-book series includes:
• Fit for a Queen
• Going to the Castle
• The Prince’s Tutor
• The Knight’s Kiss
• Falling for Prince Federico
• To Kiss a King
** The Knight’s Kiss was previously published by Harlequin. This is an updated, expanded edition, bringing the story into the modern Royal Scandals world. **
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Was their love destined to be written in the stars or hindered by the hands of time? Burnham brings class, heartache and magic to a modern fairytale. When past and present collide, anything is possible. The Knight’s Kiss reads like the most memorable sonata. Isabella and Nick take emotions on the most unpredictable ride of their hearts. His past heartbreak could hold the key to her future happiness, but the cost could be more than either are willing to endure. Get ready to be swept away by a larger than life love story.
All the right components to make reading a fun and exciting experience!
Nicole Burnham is an excellent author! I absolutely love both her royal series. The worlds she has created draws me in to where I don’t want to put down the story until I’ve finished. I feel like I’m right there and living within the story. Love her descriptive writings.
This one was different in that she had a paranormal element where Nick was born in 800+ years ago and had been cursed with immortality. He was searching out how to break the curse since each year that passed left him even more lonely than before, especially now that he had met Princess Isabella. Princess Isabella needed to learn to live life for herself so she wouldn’t be so lonely as well. This is their story. I only wish the book had been longer. Cannot wait for the next book!
I am absolutely, positively in love with The Knight’s Kiss. I love the premise, the characters, the way the story plays out, the irony and the HEA.
Nick Black guards his privacy like it’s Fort Knox because of the secret he carries deep within him. Isabella diTalora’s life is full with the nonstop duties and responsibilities she’s chosen to take on. So many that she has no time for herself ever. She doesn’t even realize how lonely she’s become until Nick, a kindred spirit in loneliness, points it to her. In learning Nick’s secret, Isabella gives him what he’s long sought…a way out. With it comes the love and happiness he had long ago given up on.
Hmmm, where do I start? The Knight’s Kiss is certainly different and I actually love it. About a very ambitious knight that was cursed to live forever unless he does something selfless. Then he fell in love, sigh. I don’t know how Nicole does it but she created a love story that’s different (you sometimes get tired of boy meets girl next door stories) and just as beautiful as the other stories in the series. You would love this book. Beware once you start, you can’t put down. Love story with a twist.
The Knight’s Kiss
Nicole Burnham
[some mild spoilers]
Domenico, 12th century, was following his duty to the king, and made a difficult decision not to assist someone in need. He was cursed until he could abandon his ambition and sacrifice his desires for the sake of another. What was the curse? Immorality: He stopped getting older
Fast forward 800 or so years… Princess Isabella of San Rimini wants an expert to catalog the extensive royal collection of art cached in/below the palace- Not someone with ulterior motives, like fame or fortune or political reasons, but rather an expert who loves the work/art and who will complete the museum expansion project started by her deceased, beloved mother. She is not at all interested in being distracted by an interesting and great looking man with a sense of humor. She wants Nick Black for the project: a highly recommended, leading collector of San Riminian medieval art and relics. Nick, who would love like a “chance to live out the rest of his life surrounded by those who knew and cared for him, maybe even enjoying the love of a wife and children”. So what’s the problem? Is it that he’s a recluse? Ugly? Nasty? Nope, none of those things. Nick is none other than Domenico. He has had to to reinvent himself and move every decade or two so that people don’t realize that he’s always the same age.
When first meeting Nick, Isabella is intrigued by several contradictions. He has extensive experience but looks relatively young. He collects historical artifacts, but has modern art and technology in his place of business. He’s reclusive, but very affable. Intriguing
So what happens when the busy but somehow lonely princess hires the ever-young expert on San Rimini? Nick reluctantly takes the job, hoping to find an antidote to the curse, and instead finds an impossible love, one that he can’t hold onto if he truly loves her. Isabella finds someone who understands her, but has guarded his secrets from her. This book kept me captivated as I watched Isabella and Nick fall in love, and wondered how they would reach their happy ever after. There was a fun scene in the bakery, and glimpses of people from previous books in the series ( I love Prince Marco and Amanda!). I’m looking forward to Prince Frederico’s story next, and hoping to see more of his children in it. Four stars.
This book was provided to me free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
I am a big fan of Nicole Burnham’s Royal Scandals romantic mystery series. This book had elements unlike any of the other stories in this series. An element of a fairy tale was entwined in a modern day romance. Princess Isabella needs an expert to help her catalog the ancient artifacts found within the castle’s storage room. The princess entices Nick Black, an expert on San Rimini history.
There are many twists, turns, mystery, and romance found within The Knight’s Kiss. Like all good fairy tales this one has a happily ever after ending. Can not wait for the next book in the series. I received an ARC for my honest review.
Witchcraft and a centuries old pursuit of sacrifice turn this medieval fairy tale into a modern-day romance in The Knight’s Kiss.
Princess Isabella seeks the world’s leading expert in San Rimini art history, Nick Black, to help her bring her mother’s dying wish for a musuem expansion to fruition. But Nick is harboring secrets from a dark past that spans centuries. Will this chance of a lifetime finally lead Nick to what he has been desperately seeking for so long; or, will it only lead to heartbreak for Nick and Isabella?
The fourth book in the Royal Scandals: San Rimini series, The Knight’s Kiss is an amazing tale of love and mystery; an addictive read in a wonderful, must-read series.
I read an ARC of The Knights Kiss and willingly left this honest review.
The Knight’s Kiss
Royal Scandals: San Rimini # 4
Nicole Burnham
I’ve loved the other stories in this series, and I reflow enjoyed this one, but it’s very different to the other San Rimini royal stories. The Knights Kiss is Princess Isabella diTalora and her mystery man Nick Black. It is a keep your mind open deal.
Taking her mother’s wishes for the catalogue and viewing of San Rimini’s historical artifacts in an expansion of the Royal Museum. It requires someone with extensive knowledge to piece everything together. That person has a San Rimini historian, Nick Black. Princess Isabella travels to Boston to meet the man, but what she gets is a whole other story.
Nick Black is an incredibly private man, his historical knowledge is like no other, but the man himself is a mystery. He prefers to be unseen to the world, his history on earth is steeped in secrecy, secrecy he intends to keep. Even from the stunning Princess Isabella.
Both share fears over who they really are, the public persona, and the secrets they keep. But will Isabella be the person Nick had always looked for but never found? And is Isabella about to be opened up by the secret mystery man? Filled with more of the royal drama, the family and of course mystery will once again begging to be finished in one sitting.
This is Book 4 of Royal Scandals: San Remini Series.
This is the story of Nick & Princess Isabella. Nick is originally from San Remini, almost 1,000 years ago. Nick had a curse put on him many years ago, and he never ages. He has to put someone’s life first instead of his own for the curse to be broken. Princess Isabella is the princess of San Remini. Nick has been looking for Rufina, the witch that put a curse on him, if she’s even still alive. That’s how he got into being an ancient artifact collector. Princess Isabella offers him a job cataloging art, artifacts and historical documents. They reach an agreement and he will take the job. He’s specifically looking for something, though, in this work. They form a relationship, and he always puts her first, not matter what. This is an interesting story based on a fairy tale, but is his reality. I’m sure all who read this story will enjoy it. It’s different from any romance story I’ve read, which is a good thing. A different take on a romance story. Looking forward to the next story in this series.