Lucky for Gabby, her best friend, Ben, is attending the same college on a music scholarship. He is the perfect resource—girls love him, and he's more experienced with relationships than her, since she’s never had a boyfriend.
When Gabby panics before her first date with Matt, she begs Ben to show her how to kiss. But Ben has a secret, one he’s been keeping from Gabby for years. He’s in love with her.
One kiss turns into two, leaving Gabby confused and scared that their friendship might not survive the unforeseen emotions. She avoids Ben until something unexpected changes his life forever, and he’s forced to drop out of school.
Gabby tries to contact him, but he won’t respond. And Matthew Cory, her sister’s ex-boyfriend and handsome law student, is ready to fill the void Ben left behind.
Now that Gabby has the man she thought she wanted, can she forget about the boy who kissed her twice?
REVIEW: 3.5 STARS
"I was terminally lovesick."
Oh goodness, where do I start....
I hoped for some tug. <sigh>
I wished for some tummy twisting. <sigh>
I pined for some angst. <sigh>
But, unfortunately, all I got was a very low key, sweet read. Signature JEA in the well written aspect of things, but just lacking in the tell-tale signs of the norm from her. I mean, that tells me that JEA can change it up as needed to fit the character - right? Positives. But, man - I was hoping for more. Just....more. Gabby was super sweet, super innocent (read: completely blindsided about all things relationship) and super naive. Like, suuuuuper naive. I'm not normally a sweet reader, so this threw me for a slight loop.
While the synopsis and lead up gave me all the makings of a good book (pun intended), it definitely didn't give me the angsty push and pull that I am used to with a JEA story, nor did it give me much of the emotion I normally get swallowed up in. I also didn't feel like I got the normal build-up that is so intrinsic in JEA's stories and that sort of took me out of the rush of the storyline. This was a very good read, don't get me wrong - I was just anticipating for the third and final book in this series to put me through the wringer and it just didn't. It was the most easy going, laid back, chill book I've ever read from Jewel.
Ben had me laughing and enjoying the bestfriend aspect of this story because that was laid out so perfectly. Matt had me holding my breath - actually waiting for the ass to show his head, and while a few things made me cringe, he redeemed himself. I fell in love with Ben and Matt in a different manner. I appreciated Matt for who he was to Gabby when she needed it the most - ultimate respect for him.
"That kiss reached far beyond my lips. I felt it everywhere."
But let me tell you this, when Ben and Gabby kissed, IIIIIII felt it!! Yep! Me. Felt it. Talk about knocking the wind out of you!! But....that was it, unfortunately. Some things were a little awkward, some were lacking the lead up - but some things just brought out all the smiles. I will admit I honestly didn't feel the Matt thing that she supposedly felt so deeply - so that helped me with my whiplash about Ben.
Hoooowevvverrrrrr, the big twist left me ultimately scratching my head. Wholly confused about this wrench in the plan of this thing called life - which in all reality is a factual sidebar. Maybe I was a tad bit put off on how it all actually happened and then the discussion afterwards, but it definitely made my eyes go a bit wider and my head piqued a bit.
Jewel has always, without fail, been a win for me, and while this wasn't my favorite of hers - it was an easy and classic read. It will be on my shelf - that isn't up for debate, because this series was a great one overall. It truly brought me back to my kindle for the first time in MONTHS and it has renewed my desire to pick up another book again. I got to sink into it and let go of the outside world for a few days.
"I was a dreamer floating in the wind, and he was my gravity, my gentle anchor to reality."
BEE
Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.
With 10 years of flossing lectures under belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.
After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.
When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree a a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course . . .heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.
~CONNECT WITH JEWEL~
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