Book Review and Giveaway for Blind Kiss by Renee Carlino

BLIND KISS
by RENEE CARLINO

Penny spends her afternoons sitting outside a sandwich shop, surrounded by ghosts. Fourteen years ago, this shop was her childhood dance studio—and she was a dancer on the rise. Now she’s a suburban housewife, dreading the moment her son departs for MIT, leaving her with an impeccably-decorated McMansion and a failing marriage. She had her chance at wild, stars-in-her-eyes happiness, but that was a lifetime ago. After The Kiss. Before The Decision.

The Kiss was soulful. Magical. Earth-shattering, And it was all for a free gift card. Asked to participate in a psych study that posed the question, “Can you have sexual chemistry without knowing what the other person looks like?” Penny agreed to be blindfolded, make polite conversation with a total stranger, and kiss him. She never expected The Kiss to change her life forever and introduce her to Gavin: tattooed, gorgeous, and spontaneous enough to ask her out seconds after the blindfolds came off.

For a year, they danced between friendship and romance—until Penny made The Decision that forced them to settle for friendship. Now, fourteen years later, both of their lives are about to radically change—and it’s his turn to decide what will become of their once-in-a-lifetime connection.

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REVIEW: 5 STARS
"I'm not trying to hurt you. I'm trying to keep you close."

I know a love triangle is not everyone's cup of tea. In fact, I see very often that it's vehemently denied by many as a trope they're willing to read. However, it's high on the list of my favorites, if not the favorite trope for me. No, I'm not a cold hearted woman that loves a cheating partner in her books. Quite the contrary. In truth, I seek the emotional challenge of a story that, if written well, can make me empathize with the characters that are questioning their relationships and what is drawing them to another person. The reason that they can't stop their heart from pulling them towards someone else. I like the mental and moral challenges that need to be worked through because the decision isn't an easy one. It's that why that is very important to me. Because in a black and white world, there is always some gray. There is always another side to the story, whether we agree with it or not. That's the side I like to listen to. I want to feel it. I want to hurt for those characters and feel that pain they are going through.

Case in point with Gavin and Penny. It's not how it appears, yet it is exactly how it appears. It also depends on how deep you want to get into their story - take it for what it's worth, or dig deep and find out what is actually happening. The emotions were real, the pain was evident, and the implications were broad. There was so much to work through that my mind was racing with every possible outcome - good and bad. In the very beginning, after originally only getting one side of the story, I was honestly shaking my head. I thought Penny was a raving lunatic!! Here I am wondering how I'm going to get through this book with a heroine that has literally lost every single one of her marbles. But as I got deeper into the story, I saw how her emotions warred within her mind. How she tried to protect her heart, but found out that was a mistake of epic proportions. I loved seeing that part tear them up inside, singularly and together. Because the reality was, they were inseparable and she couldn't deny it no matter how hard she tried. It was a love that was intertwined deep within the fabric of their friendship and the lines were smudged....blurred beyond recognition.

Gavin was everything you could ever want in a friend, but wanted even more in a lover. Patient, kind, funny, smart, playful...he had it all. He skirted every realm of perfection....with very evident imperfections. He was the devoted friend that you could call on anytime, the one that would always be by your side, but he also fought for what he believed in, even if it was to the detriment of his own heart. His conviction and his personal truths about his love for Penny was unreal. There were many layers to these two, and that gave their characters a depth that worked well in this story. The pull Penny had on Gavin was just as strong, if not stronger than the pull Gavin had on Penny, but they were never on the same level playing field at the same time. That variable added many other conditions to contend with. The emotions were real, the pain was evident, and the implications were broad. There was so much going on and so many challenges to work through that my mind was racing with every possible outcome - good and bad. I'll admit I was scared from time to time, but I loved this book so much. The journey was incredible. Painful, but incredible.

This book will probably rub many wrong, and I can totally understand why. Many will question why Gavin and Penny couldn't just be together - why the back and forth. But I was able to see the reasons and the emotional dilemma they provided. I was able to connect with the characters and their fears. I was able to understand why the barriers to their love were real - whether in their mind or a truth in their world. I loved this turmoil, this torture and anguish they felt. It was all consuming and heartbreaking and I soaked it all up! I read straight through this one and couldn't put it down - completely hypnotized not only by the storyline, but by the intensity between Gavin and Penny. So so good. So good.

I love the discussions that come from stories like this because the variables are great, and the opinions even greater....

There's something to say about the depth of one's love and the lengths they will go to for said love.

"I know, but it hurts to be this close."
~BEE
 

It's not what you look at that matters. It's what you see.

                                      - Henry David Thoreau

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~MEET RENEE CARLINO~

Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of contemporary women's novels and new adult fiction. Her books have been featured in national publications, including USA TODAY, Huffington Post, Latina magazine, and Publisher's Weekly. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. When she's not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate. Learn more at www.reneecarlino.com

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