REVIEW: 21 Stolen Kisses by Lauren Blakely

21 Stolen Kisses 
by Lauren Blakely
Release Date: May 26th 2015 by Bloomsbury Spark
Pages: 251
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Author's Links: Goodreads, Website, Twitter, Facebook
View/Purchase: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N

When I first met him I resisted. 
Like any forbidden love, I told myself he was a crush, and it would pass.
That was a lie. It never faded.

And I never expected he would fall for me just as hard. 

There were so many reasons that should have kept us apart, least of all, the decade that separated us. Growing up in New York City, I learned early on that love is a double-edged sword. Love broke up my parents, love took away my friends, and love — the big, intense, never-been-like-this-before love — landed me in therapy. Now I’m heading to college, and it’s time to give love a clean slate again. But, can I really start over when he’s still in my life Because the one man I’ve always wanted, is also the only guy I absolutely can’t have…And he wants me just as fiercely.

Can I settle for anything less than the love of my life?
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

My Review:

21 Stolen Kisses is a story about love and second chances.

After reading the synopsis I was intrigued, there was just something that pulled me in. Needless to say, I was happy to have gotten the chance to read an early copy of the book. The story follows a young girl, Kennedy, who is 17 at the time. She has grown up in New York City with her mom, a well known writer. Having grown up surrounded by her mother's agent and those that work for her, Kennedy never imagined herself falling for the very man that has helped her mom achieve success. After her father divorced her mom, she has had trouble trusting people, and after a series of events she ends up seeing a therapist. It is not after she starts to realize that she wants the relationship that she had with her mom's agent back that she discovers the secrets that those around her have hidden from her, especially her mother. There is a lot of guilt that she has hold on to, but thanks to her best friend, she discovers a way to make things right and find who she really is. Noah wasn't expecting to fall in love with one of his client's daughter, but he can't seem to stay away from Kennedy. Ever since she broke up with him, he has been devastated, yet he understand why she did it. With that in mind, he is willing to fight for her no matter what it takes to get her back.
I really liked the story, it was well written and the characters are relatable. Although I did have issues with how the story was set up, it went from past to present throughout the book that made it a bit confusing. The story itself starts a bit off, as readers we don't technically know who Kennedy is talking about right away. She is basically describing events, and how she meets the guy of her dreams, but we don't know his name until later. Throughout the book, we just see her reflecting on the past, and not so much on the present. I liked the overall story, there is definitely character development between Kennedy and Noah. They both grow as they experience the pain of heartache, and learn from their mistakes. There is chemistry between them, in several of flashbacks we find out how they started to grow closer and learn about their past relationship. Overall, I would recommend reading 21 Stolen Kisses, we get the romance, sweet scenes, and a great ending. :)

*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*

My Rating: 

Thanks for stopping by! :)

✯RELEASE WEEK BLITZ✯: 21 Stolen Kisses by Lauren Blakely {EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY!}

 21 Stolen Kisses by Lauren Blakely

Release Date: May 26th 2015 by Bloomsbury Spark

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, New Adult

When I first met him I resisted.
Like any forbidden love, I told myself he was a crush, and it would pass.
That was a lie. It never faded.

And I never expected he would fall for me just as hard.

There were so many reasons that should have kept us apart, least of all, the decade that separated us. Growing up in New York City, I learned early on that love is a double-edged sword. Love broke up my parents, love took away my friends, and love — the big, intense, never-been-like-this-before love — landed me in therapy. Now I’m heading to college, and it’s time to give love a clean slate again. But, can I really start over when he’s still in my life Because the one man I’ve always wanted, is also the only guy I absolutely can’t have…And he wants me just as fiercely.

Can I settle for anything less than the love of my life?

Purchase: Amazon, Amazon UK, iBooks, Kobo, B&N, GooglePlay

About Lauren Blakely:

Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and she has had seven books on the New York Times Bestseller list and eleven on the USA Today Bestseller list. Like the heroine in her novel, FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. She loves hearing from readers! Her bestselling series include Caught Up in Love, Seductive Nights, No Regrets and Fighting Fire. She recently released Forbidden Nights, a standalone novel in her New York Times Bestselling Seductive Nights series that became an instant New York Times Bestseller. This summer she'll release Consumed by You, her next title in her NYT Bestselling Fighting Fire series about sexy firemen and the women they love, and Sweet Sinful Nights, the first book in her new series Sinful Nights. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, text BLAKELY + your email address to 678-249-3375(please use the actual + sign). 

Website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads

{EXCERPT}

He inhales sharply. The look in his eyes says we’re crossing into the danger zone again. It’s the only place I want to be with him. Because when we’re there, nothing between us feels dangerous. Everything feels right.

“I turn eighteen in a few more weeks,” I say, like my birthday is an open invitation for us to slam back into each other.

He nods. “I know.”

A breeze blow by and rustles his hair. A lock falls out of place. Instinct takes over. I raise my hand to reach for his hair.

But he’s faster. He grasps my wrist, and the second he does, the moment expands. It stretches and unfolds into the thing I will replay tonight and tomorrow and the next day. I stare at his hand clasped around my wrist, flashing back to all the times he held my hand, touched my wrist, and ran his fingers along my arm. I shiver as the memories collide, the past slamming into the present.

I look up from our hands to his eyes. Blazing, full of heat. Full of all that restraint from him that I know so well.

{GIVEAWAY!}

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COVER REVEAL: 21 Stolen Kisses by Lauren Blakely

{{{COVER REVEAL!}}}

21 Stolen Kisses by Lauren Blakely

Release Date: May 5th 2015 by Bloomsbury Spark

Genre: Romance

When I first met him I resisted.
Like any forbidden love, I told myself he was a crush, and it would pass.
That was a lie. It never faded.

And I never expected he would fall for me just as hard. 

There were so many reasons that should have kept us apart, least of all, the decade that separated us.
Growing up in New York City, I learned early on that love is a double-edged sword.
Love broke up my parents, love took away my friends, and love -- the big, intense, never-been-like-this-before love -- landed me in therapy.
Now I'm heading to college, and it's time to give love a clean slate again. But, can I really start over when he's still in my life?
Because the one man I've always wanted, is also the only guy I absolutely can't have…
And he wants me just as fiercely.

Can I settle for anything less than the love of my life? 

PREORDER: Amazon, B&N, Bloomsbury, Others

About Lauren Blakely:

Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and her books have appeared multiple times on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. Like the heroine in her novel, FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. She loves hearing from readers! Her bestselling series include Caught Up in Love, Seductive Nights, and Fighting Fire. She recently released Nights With Him, a standalone novel in her New York Times Bestselling Seductive Nights series that became an instant New York Times Bestseller. Her next book in that series is Forbidden Nights, releasing in early 2015. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, text BLAKELY + your email address to 678-249-3375 (please use the actual + sign). 

Website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads

Thanks for stopping by! :)