Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Just a Kiss

GIVEAWAY

HUNTER, DENISE
JUST A KISS

Riley Callahan's  plans to reveal his secret feelings for his best friend are derailed when his life is drastically altered in Afghanistan.

Watching the love of his life fall for his brother was enough to send Riley straight to boot camp. But over a year later, he's officially a marine, and Beau and Paige are no longer an item. When Riley's tour in Afghanistan is up, he intends to confess his feelings to Paige and win his best friend's heart once and for all.

But all that changes when an IED takes the life of a comrade and leaves Riley an amputee. Now he's heading home, injured and troubled. His plans to win Paige are a distant dream. She deserves so much more than the man that's left. All he can do now is put some healthy distance between them. But upon his return he discovers his family has arranged for him to stay with Paige.

Paige is a nurturer at heart and happy to take care of her best buddy. By all appearances Riley is adjusting miraculously well to his disability. But as the days pass, Paige begins to see that the smiles and laughter are just a mask for the pain he's hiding. to make matters worse, her job is in serious jeopardy. The animal shelter that she's poured her heart into has lost its funding and she has three months to come up with the money needed to save it.

As the weeks wear on, Paige's feelings for Riley begin to shift into uncharted territory. Why is she suddenly noticing his arm muscles and the way his lips curl at the corners? will she be able to deny her feelings for another Callahan brother? And will Riley let his heart heal so he can let Paige in?

My Review:

Stunning conclusion to the Summer Harbor series. Such a bittersweet read. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the Callahan brothers or this lovely small town in Maine but Hunter blesses her readers with plenty of Beau and Zach and Miss Trudy not to mention Lucy and Eden. Reading Just a Kiss felt like a family reunion in some respects. No worries if you haven't read Falling Like Snowflakes or The Goodbye Bride because this book reads really well as a standalone too.

So I'm a bit of an emotional basket case now that I've said my goodbyes to the Callahans. There are so many highs and lows in Riley and Paige's story. My tummy is still doing back flips and my toes haven't quite uncurled yet. Because when this hero and heroine are on they are really, really on. Thud. Tender. Passionate. Yearning. All the glorious ingredients of a great romance story. Unfortunately, Riley and Paige are most likely to be off -- out of sync, running scared, afraid to 'fess up. In other words -- delightfully infuriating.

The kind of novel you eagerly race through and then lament coming to the end much too soon.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Just a Kiss please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstore read AT yahoo DOT ca. If you post a comment and leave your email address use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April 2 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

31 comments:

  1. Awe That is Sad when a series ends. Glad it stands alone. Sounds Great Thanks for the chance to win. iamabho (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. It is a standalone but once you read this one you'll want to backtrack to read the others. :-) Good luck, Linda.

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    2. I always do with good books. Thanks again. :)

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  2. The last book of a series is always anticipated but then it truly is sad when it is over. I have been known to save the last chapter for several days just to make the anticipation of the conclusion stretch out.

    I would love to win a copy of Denise's book. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.

    Blessings,
    Cindy W.

    countrybear52 AT yahoo DOT com

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    1. I'm the same way only I start trying to read s-l-o-w-l-y the closer I get to the end. LOL Good luck, Cindy.

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  3. Oh, I hate to see a series come to an end but I know this one is a great book as well as all of Denise's other books. She is a master story teller. Thank you for your review and giveaway, Kav!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. She definitely is a master storyteller. Good luck, Melanie.

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  4. I have The Goodbye Bride and would love to have both Just A Kiss and Falling Like Snowflakes too!
    Elly -Indiana-

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    1. Yes -- you need to read the whole series. Good luck, Elly.

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  5. She is one of my favs. cheetahthecat1986(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. You can't go wrong with a Denise Hunter book. Good luck, Kim.

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  6. Animals plus wounded soldier back home - enough said! Thanks for the review and opportunity to participate.

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    1. I know -- a lethal combination for sure. Good luck, CC.

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  7. Loved the first two books and can't wait to read this one. Riley's story is sure to be the best one yet.
    mindyhoungATmsnDOTcom

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    1. It's another emotional rollercoaster, Mindy. Good luck.

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  8. I have not read this series but it sounds good. Since it works OK as a stand alone, I'd enjoy it.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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    1. Yes -- and once you read this one you'll have to read the others. Good luck, rubynreba.

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  9. I admit to having a soft spot in my heart for books that feature our military heroes and their struggles to adjust to being home again after serving our country. This book sounds like a story I can't pass up. Thanks, Kav!

    Dblaser(at)windstream(dot)net

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    1. Yes, it's a touching and important subject that we should all be more aware of. Good luck, Diane.

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  10. I've not read the first two in this series but I know Denise is an excellent writer. This one sounds poignant and emotional just like I love a story to be. Best friends to lovers is one of my top favorite themes as it happened that way for my husband and I :-)

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    1. You'll love this book, Trixi and how cool that you are a friends to romance couple as well. Good luck!

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  11. I'd like to enter :)
    marcus802001(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  12. I've not yet read this series. I enjoy Denise's stories. KAV, thank you for the chance.
    psalm103and138 at gmail dot com

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    1. It's a scrumptious series, Caryl. Good luck.

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  13. Looks like a great series. truckredford(at)Gmail(Dot)com

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    1. It really is. Good luck, Truck.

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  14. Would absolutely love to be entered!

    Thanks for a great review and giveaway, Kav! You've made me want to read this so much!

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  15. This sounds like a great series! I haven't read any of them yet but hope to do so soon. Thanks for the review and giveaway. d[dot]brookmyer[at]yahoo[dot]com

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    1. It's an awesome series -- great family dynamics and the romance is toe-curling. Good luck, Donna.

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