Just One Kiss (Hqn) by Susan Mallery Edition: Mass Market Paperback Price: $7.19
Charming But..., May 28, 2013   Just One Kiss – Susan Mallery Publication Date:May 28th, 2013 He won't hesitate to put his life on the line…but will he ever risk his heart? Falling for Justice Garrett was a high point in Patience McGraw's otherwise awkward adolescence. Even after he disappeared, Patience never forgot the boy who captured her heart. Now he's back in Fool's Gold, California, and her passion for him is as strong as ever. But how can she trust that he won't abandon her again—and her daughter, too? When bodyguard Justice Garrett was a young man, witness protection brought him to this idyllic town and he never forgot its warmth, or the sweet beauty of his childhood friend. He's returned to open a defense academy, and the Patience he once knew is all grown up. He can't resist her smile, or her curves. But Justice's past doesn't make him husband, or father, material. Patience and Justice think they'll succumb to just one kiss… Then one more… Okay, just one night together. But they might learn that falling in love is beyond anyone's control. This review is from: Just One Kiss (Hqn) (Mass Market Paperback) I tried very hard to get into this book and to like the protagonists Justice and Patience. But no matter what I did, I just couldn't get beyond the fact that they just didn't seem to have that certain something that should have me believing in them. The relationship they had just seemed to be too forced. I actually like one of the tertiary characters the best -Felicia, which I am sure there will be a book about her coming up soon. Her story sounds like it will be very interesting. Patience had a crush on Justice back when she was 14 years old. One night Justice and his Uncle up and leave without a word to anyone. Now years later, he is back in Fool's Gold and he is now one of those darkly brooding, seemingly unworthy men that most romances seem to feature lately. Patience has a daughter by a man she made a mistake with, then married and divorced and has not dated in years. After all what man would want her AND her daughter as well as her other who is suffering from MS. Patience has had a bit of good luck - a Great Aunt that she couldn't even remember, has left her 100,000 dollars and she is going to follow a dream. Now she is opening up a coffee shop; a shop that has been her innermost dream. Wasn't that just so darned lucky for her? She had just mentioned that she wanted to open a coffee shop - she even had a name and logo picked out - how fortuitous. I understand that the interactions between the townspeople are very important to the theme of these books, which it is supposed to be charming. In this instance, however, I found it to be less charming than a bit cloying. The ending is a bit predictable. However, I will say that about the last 25 percent of the book is the most interesting. I think it was because it was when Felicia joined the cast and had the biggest part Justice and Patience story almost seems to be a secondary story line compared to how much else is going on. This was not a horrible book, but I don't think it will be one that I re-read either.*ARC PROVIDED BY PUBLISHER*