Riley Callahan’s plans to reveal his secret feelings for his best friend are ruined when his life is drastically altered in Afghanistan.
Watching the love of his life falling for his brother was enough to send Riley straight to boot 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 he’s 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. He has nightmares and mood swings, and his unwavering independence keeps him from accepting help from anyone, including her. 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 the money needed to save it.
As the weeks wear on with the two in such close proximity, Paige’s feelings for Riley begin to shift into unchartered territory. Why is she suddenly noticing his corded 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?
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Sexual Content - 1/5
1/5
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Violence - 1/5
1/5
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Language - 0/5
0/5
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Drugs and Alcohol - 0/5
0/5
Summary
Just a Kiss is book three in the Summer Harbor series. I have been waiting for Riley’s story. He enlisted in the Marines when his best friend Paige, was dating his brother and he was in love with her. I loved how the author shared when Riley started having more than ‘friendship’ feelings for Riley while they were in high school. Then years later Paige starts going through the same thing; noticing his muscles, smile, and lips.
Riley was planning to declare his feelings for Paige when he got home since she and his brother have broken up. However he comes home much sooner than expected with injuries from an IED. He is going to stay with Paige as he recovers (I did find this a little odd for a Christian book).
I was glad to see characters from the series involved in the story. Lucy and her matchmaking were adorable.
There was a lot of action in the book; Paige has trouble at the animal shelter, we have a bachelor auction and Riley gets a job.
Another special treat to the series has been Aunt Trudy. You cannot help but love her almost as much as the sheriff does. We learn more about their story in this book.
Even if you have not been following the series I think you will enjoy Riley and Paige’s story. It is one of the better friends to “more” storylines I have read.
I also loved how the author tied the book title into the story.
Sexual content; kissing
Violence: nothing present day; recollections and dreams from the war and his injury