Just A Kiss Book Review

Summer Harbor Series

Book Three

SUMMARY:  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 book 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?

REVIEW:  This is the third book in this series but it can stand on its own with no problems.  This story tugged at my heart.  Paige has struggled with her family all her life.  Riley was there for her whenever she needed him.  But, with no explanation, he up and joined the Marine Corp when she started dating his brother instead of letting Paige know how he felt.  

     I love how Paige gives her all to her relationships and her job.  When she finds out the animal shelter she works out may have to close due to the lack of money, I admire how she puts everything she has into finding sponsors, revamp her budgeting and trying to find homes for her sweet babies.

When it comes to her dating relationships, she tries to make them work, even when things aren't going well.  Even though things are strained between her and Riley upon his return, she gives him her best efforts in caring for him and helping him through the difficult time of adjusting to his disability.
     There were a few times when I wanted to strangle Riley because of his lack of communication.  Lots of times, he assumed what would be the best for himself, Paige, or his family without talking to them first, and makes a mess of it.  As soon as life gets a little tough, he tucks his tail and runs.  But, I like how he redeems himself in the end with Paige.
     This is a great finish to the Summer Harbor series.  I look forward to reading more by Denise Hunter in the future.

This book was provided by Revell for review without any compensation.

Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than twenty-five books, including Falling Like Snowflakes and The Convenient Groom.  She has won the Holt Medallion Award, the Reader's Choice Award, and the Foreword Book of the Year Award and is a RITA finalist.  When Denise isn't orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking green tea, and playing drums.  Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are rapidly approaching an empty neat.  Learn more about Denise online at DeniseHunterBooks.com; on Facebook: authordenisehunter, and Twitter: @DeniseAHunter.