What to Read

#TBT Recs: National Kissing Day

Yesterday, June 19th was National Kissing Day, so I figured now would be a good time to revisit some books of days gone by that stepped up the first kiss scene. Do you remember your first kiss? What about your first kiss with your current partner? I guess my first kiss happened when I was six or seven-years-old, and it’s a peck from a boy I crushed on pretty much my entire elementary school life. It felt magical and special in a completely innocent and sweet way. My first kiss with my husband, well, that was even more magical and special and in a completely non-innocent and sexy, sweet way. Plus it had the promise of a giant cheeseburger attached to it, which, if you know me you know I will never say no to the promise of a giant cheeseburger!

The Story Guy by Mary Ann Rivers

Let’s kick this #TBT National Kissing Day list off with the greatest kissing book I’ve ever read in my entire life, the end, carve it in stone, amen. The Story Guy by Mary Ann Rivers is novella released in 2013. The Story Guy is 120 pages of perfection; a masterclass in the fine art of kissing. In this soulful tale, Brian Newbergh is dealing with some incredibly trying and challenging family responsibilities. These life-altering responsibilities have him somewhat isolated from the rest of the world, and he longs for human touch. So, as you do, he places an ad that reads: “I will meet you on Wednesdays at noon in Celebration Park. Kissing only.” Carrie West is a librarian that answers the ad. What happens next is one of the most heartwarming, achingly sweet interactions I’ve ever read. As their relationship progresses, and the kissing leads to more, oh boy Mary Ann Rivers can pack a whole lot of emotions into a perfectly paced novella that I promise, will leave you swooning for more.

Dark Skye by Kresley Cole

I am giant fan of paranormal romance. Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series is one of my all-time favorites and is a go-to for all sorts of romance recommendations. Fated mates are the absolute best; an author’s true creativity can come out when fated mates collide. I tend to think Dark Skye is often overlooked in the long line of IAD tales, but so far as first kisses go, Lanthe and Thronos take the cake! These aren’t just two characters in an enemies to lovers trope; these fated mates come from warring lines of creatures, who must never, ever be together for fear of the world collapsing. Dramatic much? Yes, yes, it is. I will admit, MacRieve would be the natural and obvious IAD book to select for the kissing scene, but don’t sleep on Dark Skye. When Lanthe bites his lip and Thronos wipes his blood on her lips, marking her, that should absolutely not be as sexy as it is. The world is literally crumbling around them, and these two sincerely hate each other, but when the fates align and conspire in this way, all hell breaks loose.

On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

Samantha Young’s On Dublin Street has such a slow burn, sexual tension build up, Jocelyn and Braden’s first kiss, on the desk in a bar’s office is so incredibly hot and full of promise, I am pretty sure I didn’t exhale for a solid ten pages. Here’s where I come clean and tell you I was late submitting this post because I had to re-read the whole book; you know, to double check the first kiss was as hot as I remembered from all those years ago. Spoiler alert: it was fabulous and not a hardship at all. Braden Carmichael is 15 out of 10 do recommend! That man sits high up on my list of favorite heroes in romance always and forever, amen again.

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Donna Soluri

Donna Soluri started in the book world as Scandalicious; now, this almost empty nester is going her own way. A lover of cupcakes, champagne, old-school rap, and Harry Styles she likes to read books with characters closer to her age still romancing and kissing and causing trouble.