A perfect day…

Beck O’Brien is on a roll. Business is good, he’s about to marry a dependable woman who he’ll grow to love, and soon he’ll be picking up a prize filly for his stable. His life feels–secure.

Until Kitty steps in…

Kitty Summer has always looked out for her younger sisters. Today she may have taken that protection a little too far, but the goal was achieved. The wedding of convenience is off! All would be fine, except she’s stranded in Florida with her Grandma Dotty, and with no purse, she’s without a way home. Unless she can get a ride from the no-longer-convenient groom.

There’s a road trip ahead and fences to mend. And when the trio reaches their destination, Beck and Kitty find they may be interested in more than a marriage of convenience…

Titles in the Summer Kisses series include — A Kiss is Just a Kiss —♥— And Then He Kissed Me —♥— Kiss Me At Midnight —♥— When You Kiss Me —♥— It Happened One Night —♥—

*This title was also part of the Magnolias and Moonshine series.*

This is an adult romance that does not contain graphic violence, swearing, or sexual situations beyond kisses.

Booksprout ARC

Title:  A Kiss Is Just A Kiss
Series:  Summer Kisses #1
Author:  Melinda Curtis
Genre: Contemporary Romance Romcom
Published:  (original) April 2017
Publisher:
My Rating:  4

I had fun with A Kiss Is Just A Kiss, and really, that’s the entire point of any Romcom.  Take one protective oldest sister, a childhood vow with a way to weed out bad boyfriends, and an overheard comment just before the trip down the aisle for her younger sister, and you have the makings of a funny, frustrating intervention that goes way off course by the story’s ending.  Add to the mix a wonderful grandmother who is getting a bit up in age (and shenanigans) and all hilarious fun breaks out.

I liked Beck, although at first I really shouldn’t have.  From the start, we know that he’s a groom who likes his bride, and expects to eventually love her, but she fits into his overall life plan.  When everything falls to pieces around him Beck would have been perfectly justified to tell Kitty to find her own way to the family home on Tybee Island, including corraling her Grandma Dotty.  But he didn’t.  He fell into some outlandish plans in order to get to his bride to try to salvage this relationship.  When it becomes obvious to him that he really was about to marry the wrong sister, well, a lot of underlying emotions finally fell into place… if only he can convince Kitty that what they have is real in spite of everything going on around them.

Kitty is sort of the mother hen of all the sisters.  She’s been the one to step up during their mother’s illness and made sure that everyone was cared for, safe, and loved.  Her father?  Well, he’s pretty much a waste of space.  When she overheard Beck make a comment that completely (to her mind) showed his true colors she couldn’t help but step in with the sisters’ loyalty test… and kissed him right there at the altar.  A mistake on so many levels, but mostly because of that spark she wasn’t expecting which thrilled and annoyed her almost equally.

I loved Grandma Dotty.  She is the true star of this story (and eventually, this series).  Her antics kept me in giggles and laugh-out-loud moments throughout this story.  True love doesn’t always run smoothly, but sisters come first.  Beck and Kitty have to weave through some serious emotions and possible outcomes before they can find their happy-ever-after ending.  But, it was so worth it.  Looking for a sweet, funny, antic-filled Romcom to fill a sunny afternoon?  Then have I got a book for you!

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or author’s team via Booksprout. The opinions expressed in this review are my own – good, bad, or indifferent.*

Available for the Kindle as this title and this series are currently in KU