Everyone knows the rules of friendship, right? Rule #1: Don’t kiss your best friend. Rule #2: Don’t have sex with your best friend. Rule #3: Don’t pretend like it didn’t happen the next day. Bailey Renshaw is my best friend. Kind. Sweet as a peach, and so beautiful it should be a crime. Since we were kids I’ve wanted her, and one time when we were nothing more than teenagers I kissed her. It was … nothing more than teenagers I kissed her. It was the first mistake I ever made in our friendship. Giving her my heart and hoping she felt the same were my second and third.
That night she broke me, ripped my heart out of my chest and stomped on it. Anyone else would’ve hated her for it, but it only made me value her more, and realize that I would do anything I could to keep her in my life even if it was only as a friend and nothing more.
As a permanent resident of the friend zone, I promised myself that I would never cross that line again no matter how badly I wanted to, and I wanted to, badly.
Every time she smiled at me, licked her pink lips, or flashed her doe eyes my way I came a little closer to breaking the rules again… but I didn’t. I couldn’t do that to us. Until one night when we decided to break the rules together.
One Earth shattering night together and I knew nothing would ever be the same.
Friends, or lovers? I don’t know what we are anymore. The rules no longer apply to us.
Now the only question is, can we fix what we had before it’s too late or is our friendship over for good? And all because of one single kiss?
**Complete standalone with a happily ever after. Don’t miss out on all the gooey goodness this book has to offer.**
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This book….this book is the epitome of why the Friends to Lovers trope is my absolute favorite. These authors nailed it. The will they won’t they, should they shouldn’t they pull is incredible. Absolutely loved both of these main characters, and the side characters were great!I really enjoyed the duel POV and getting to see how they both actually felt about each other and percieved things compared to how the other thought they did! Kissing & Telling had me hooked from the start, waiting to find out where these two took their relationship next, what move would be made, and who would finally speak their truth.There is lots of steam and chemistry between these two, sexy times, vulnerability, drama, humor, and love beyond comparison. It’s definitely left its mark as one of my top fave Friends to Lovers tropes out there and I 100% recommend this book!
This is the second book that I have read from this duo and I really enjoyed it. It is a friends to lovers’ romance which is one of my favorite tropes. Bailey and Elijah have been best friends for years and there has always been an attraction but since they are friends, they never wanted to act on it. That all changes on one night. Are they able to go back and be just friends or did their one night open up something much more? You will have to read this book to find out but I don’t think that you will be disappointed once you do. I recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I couldnt help but want these characters – Bailey & Elijah (the main characters) to get together & stay that way. They have been friends for years & they have been dancing around one another by trying to ignore their attraction as well as their feelings for each other. Until one night they give into that attraction and the rest of the book tells the story of the fallout of that night. Both good & bad. The two of them are just great together even though at times i wanted to slap Elijah. Telling him to wake up & see whats in front of him. I understand the reasons behind the way he was though. Im just happy this book ended how i wanted it too even after some shock secrets were uncovered. A damn good read
I honestly didn’t expect a lot from this book but was pleasantly surprised with the characters and the storyline! I was drawn into their lives and could feel why the situation was both difficult AND easy depending upon how you looked at it. How do you decide to move forward with a relationship when it could destroy a lifelong friendship? This book kept me engaged all the way through – I will definitely read more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book was amazing! It was a friends to lovers romance. Elijah and Bailey were absolutely wonderful together. Their characters were great and they had an undying connection. Elijah and Bailey were best friends. But one night of passion leaves a blurred line of friends or lovers? Can they carry on like nothing ever happened and go back to being best friends or will they not be able to get enough of the other? Read this amazing book to find out. I highly recommend this book!
Received ARC from Author for Honest Review.
I Give this Book a 4/5 Star Rating.
HEA(?): Yes!
Heat: 3.5-4/5
Romance: 4/5
Drama: 4/5
Suspense: 3.5/5
No Crucial Spoilers.
The only thing I do wish, was the conversation Bailey heard when she was in high school and why she turned him down. I felt like that could’ve been a crucial thing that would’ve cemented things earlier on in the book, if they discussed why she turned him down.
Other than that this is a very fast paced book and you get to Epilogues and I loved them, even though I do wish that memory was discussed, it was a great book and I will most definitely be rereading this again.
I love this Author Duo!
Elijah and Bailey have been best friends since elementary school. Even though it’s revealed they’ve both had feelings for the other at various times, they have never gotten together. Bailey decides that for her birthday, she will seduce her best friend and rid herself of her virginity.
This was a quick read with (mostly) likable characters. I felt like after their rendezvous, there was a good chunk of story time devoted to keeping them apart. Which is standard, but the characters just seemed extra petty and juvenile with the way they acted to keep themselves away from each other. Once they got it together though, I liked the trajectory of the story more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this friends to lovers book. Being one of my favorite genres I’m always looking for new books and authors. This was a new to me author and she did an amazing job with Elijah and Bailey’s story. If you’re looking for a fun, steamy, angsty read this book is for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
From the moment they met Bailey and Elijah had a connection, one that eventually spawned feelings of love, feelings they both kept from one another. They were both so worried that if they acted on their feelings for one another that it could possibly drive a wedge between them and ruin their friendship if things went wrong. So they maintained their close friendship, while watching one another date other people, all while wishing that they were that other person.
Then one night Bailey decides it’s time to make her move and it changes everything…
Kissing and Telling is a story of testing boundaries, friendship, secrets, love, and healing old wounds. Watching these two navigate through their changing friendship, and into new territory was rough on the heart at times, but joyful at times too. They were skirting dangerous territory, and I often wondered if they would come out on the right side of it. With meddling family members and exes adding to their troubles they had quite a little drama to deal with, and had lots of obstacles in their way. I really enjoyed this one it delighted on all fronts, and squeezed my hearts in all the right places!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
Fantastic storyline of best friends wanting to be more. The characters were portrayed as genuine with emotion and flawed to make you feel comfortable reading their story. Nice in how walls were broken down and true feelings were bared to show there was no holding back from each other. Nice twist towards the end, that was unexpected and disturbing at the same time. Love the ending for these best friends.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Bailey only knows one thing…and that is the fact that she’s loved Elijah since she can remember. But Elijah has friend zoned her forever and despite the fact that she doesn’t believe she can ever break through, she has one wish for her birthday and only he can fulfill that. What happens when two people finally get what they always wanted, but never thought they’d have? A wonderfully sweet and super sexy story of friends who take a chance that they may throw their entire friendship away for one night of passion.
A friends to lovers romance that overflows with passion, angst, and a giddy sweetness that’ll make you swoon hard. You’ll gobble this story up so quick. Elijah and Bailey’s struggles to put faith in making this work had me in knots. They have a past that makes it hard for them to believe that it can. But they fight because in the end they have a friendship that means everything. I adored this read and can’t wait for more from this duo!
This was a beautiful yet tough read! It’ll break your heart but it will piece it back together. I absolutely adored Bailey. She was such a wonderful character! He took some time but I did get there. Great read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Bailey and Elijah have been friends since childhood but when they cross the line things go crazy. It was heart wrenching to see what they went through to get to where they did. Loved this book and could not put it down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Best Book Couple 2019!
This is my vote for best book couple 2019! Elijah and his Sunflower Bailey have been best friends since kindergarten. Both have had feelings for each other but have held back for their own reasons but on the night of Bailey’s birthday, she finally goes for what she wants even if it’s only for one night. Can their friendship survive the change in their dynamic? Can they go back, now that they have crossed that line? And if not, is there any way to move forward while keeping their friendship in tact? I read this book in one sitting to find out.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a book that just checked all the boxes for me. Hot hero? Likable heroine? Plenty of powerful emotions? Just enough angst to make your heart ache? A well written and engaging story? A romance that is heart melting and totally swoon worthy? I loved Elijah and Bailey. This couple will seriously give you a major case of the feels as they struggle to walk that line between their friendship and the romantic feelings they harbor toward each other. I truly do not believe there is anything quite so poignant as a friends to lovers romance. There is just so much deep rooted emotion, mixed with a powerful combination of fear and longing and the awful tension of having to put it all on the line and risk it all that just gets me every single time. Simply put, this was an incredible read and I am very eager to read more of this series.
I ended up loving this story. It took me a bit and there were a few times that I almost quit from frustration with the characters. I wanted to smack both Bailey and Elijah upside the head and tell them to use their words, a lot! Lucky for me, they did start to use their words so I didn’t have to yell at them. LOL.
Bailey is Elijah’s best friend. She is sweet, beautiful and kind. Elijah has wanted Bailey since they were kids. When they were teenagers, he kissed her and she broke his heart. He realized that he wanted her in his life, even if all they could be was friends, so he couldn’t cross the line again no matter what. Everything changed one night when they decided to cross the line together. Are they friends or lovers? Is their friendship over or can they fix it?
There was quite a bit of angst, it does it resolved, but it takes a while. Really enjoyed that everyone around them knew how they felt before they did. Loved when Elijah and Bailey were together and communicating. Loved their happy ever after. Definitely recommend reading this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kissing and Telling is an incredibly heart-wrenching journey of two friends finding more then they ever expected while allowing their hearts to take a huge leap of faith. Neither could have prepared themselves for what they would discover and explore when they made one incalculable decision. One night changed everything and one choice turned their entire world upside down. Instead of things being left in ruins, they find themselves at a powerful crossroads that will demand all the courage and love their hearts can give.
Bailey knows shes only ever wanted one man and its Elijiah!
Bailey and Elijah take on their obstacles and can they find their happily ever after!
Jenna Reed the combination duo deliver in this friends to lovers novella.
Read this book! 5 Star read!
It wont disappoint.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An amazing start to a series by my favorite authors. Bailey and Elijah have been best friends since childhood. One night drastically changes their friendship. They have to learn to navigate through their feelings and decide if they should continue to jeopardize their friendship.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kissing and Telling is the start to a fun new series from JL Beck and Cassandra Hallman, writing under their pen name, Jenna Reed.
Bailey and Elijah have been best friends since childhood, thick as thieves through it all. Although they’ve harbored feelings for one another for many years, including an ill-fated kiss on prom night, a promise is made that they’ll never cross that line again… until things finally come to a head when Bailey decides to make a play for one night only with her best friend on her birthday. After all, Elijah is no stranger to women, so Bailey thinks this should be easy for the both of them. Uncomplicated, right?
Wrong.
Their friendship becomes strained when they realize that it could never be just physical between them. But they each have reservations about taking this next step and it isn’t always easy to get to that level.
I thought Elijah and Bailey were such sweet characters, very relatable and engaging. Their story was emotional and you could feel their struggles along with them.
I’m excited to see where the series goes next!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.