The irresistible Sawyer brothers of Blushing Bay, North Carolina, are back in this enchanting novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Forbidden Kisses and the Hero’s Welcome series. Krista Nelson loves being a pediatric nurse. What she doesn’t love is her demanding boss and stressful workload. Fortunately, Krista knows she can count on a waterfront happy hour every Wednesday with her … hour every Wednesday with her childhood best friend, Noah Sawyer, the one part of her life she never wants to change. But, like it or not, things are changing—because Krista can’t stop wondering what would happen if she grabbed Noah by the collar and kissed him like it was her job.
Bored of the superficial women he’s been dating, Noah’s putting his love life on hold so he can focus on his family’s high-end fishing business. Sure, there are moments when he’s tempted by Krista’s soft lips and killer smile—but her friendship is too important to Noah. How could he let himself jeopardize everything they share? The trouble is, if he doesn’t take the real risk of opening his heart, Noah might just let the perfect catch get away.
Look for the first Blushing Bay novel by Annie Rains:
FORBIDDEN KISSES
And the heartwarming Hero’s Welcome series:
WELCOME TO FOREVER | WELCOME HOME, COWBOY | WELCOMING THE BAD BOY | WELCOME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
“Don’t miss this sparkling debut full of heart and emotion!”—New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde, on Welcome to Forever
“Annie Rains is an author to watch. I can’t wait for more!”—USA Today bestselling author Sidney Halston
This ebook includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
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I LOVE Krista and Noah. Since reading Forbidden Kisses I’ve been dying to see what would come of these two best friends. Noah struggles with his past and fears commitment after an event that happened in college. He doesn’t want to ruin his friendship with Krista but she’s becoming harder and harder to resist. Krista is a hard working nurse. She’s the girl next door and everyone loves her. I love that she cares for others and will do anything for her friends. She’s very easy to relate to and a formidable protagonist.
Once again, Annie Rains knocks it out of the park. I’ve not missed a book of hers yet and I don’t plan to. If you love sexy fishermen captains and loving, strong female protagonists I highly recommend Stolen Kisses.
Favorite Quotes:
She certainly wasn’t a Barbie, though, which seemed to be all that Noah ever dated. Every few weeks, a new Barbie with a different hair color or shade of skin.
“I buy my clothes online, but I don’t find men there.” She didn’t find them anywhere actually.
“I’m not drunk,” Krista said, pulling her fourth beer in front of her. “Just a little flimsy.” “Don’t you mean tipsy?” Noah laughed.
My Review:
Stolen Kisses was an engaging and sweet, yet angsty, best friends to lovers romance, which featured the younger brother of the main character from the first book in this series, Forbidden Kisses. I am willing to offer up a bribe/sacrifice to Ms. Rains to entice her to feature the oldest brother, Sam, in her next book to solve the mystery of his marriage woes, as I seem to be overly fixated and highly curious about this enigmatic character. I adored sweet Krista and her big heart, although I frequently wanted to give Noah a few sound kicks to the back pockets through half of the book. Noah viewed himself as a born screw up, as his mother had died giving birth to him. Krista had been infatuated and obsessed with Noah for years only to be treated and told she was “like one of the guys.” Ms. Rains excels at creating significantly flawed yet endearing characters that resemble icebergs, in that they are profoundly deeper than what is on display. Written in my favorite dual POV, the emotion of the storyline was well-balanced between angst, humor, growing attraction, blossoming self-awareness, and a few steamy love scenes. I’m more than ready for Sam’s story Ms. Rains – please hurry.
I received a complimentarily copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
What a fantastic story. I fell in love with Noel and Krista. I could see the young couple evolving story play out like a movie. I do need to read the first story about Jack and Grace since they got married in this book. All of the characters were wonderful. I can’t wait to read more of their stories. I would highly recommend this delight friends to lovers romance book to anyone. What a great read.
Noah and Krista have been best friends for their whole lives. He views her as one of the guys and she’s been in love with him for as long as she can remember. Her love for him makes sure none of her relationships work and his fear of commitment makes sure he never crosses the line of friendship between them.
Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes because of the slow burn that usually comes along with it. There is no insta-love. There careful thought and consideration that goes into whether or not a relationship is worth it. Noah has been told by a lot of people that he either won’t succeed or isn’t the best man for the job which has shaped how he views himself in relationships. The consummate screw up shouldn’t risk his life long friendship for something that surely will not work out. Krista is the complete package: smart, loving, successful, and beautiful. Her decision to stop waiting around is what pushes their relationship from strictly friends to so much more.
I love every visit to Blushing Bay. This series is sweet, romantic, and engaging. I read this story in one sitting because I wanted to know everything that was going to happen. I was curious about Noah and Krista’s relationship from Forbidden Kisses and already pulling for them before their story even started. I can’t wait to see what’s up next for the Sawyer family!!
First, THANK YOU Random House Publishing – Loveswept for the gifted ARC copy of Stolen Kisses by Annie Rains. I loved every word!
This was phenomenal heavy but lighthearted, emotional read. LOTS of romance, and hot in the steam department.
I fell in love with the characters Krista and Noah from the very beginning, and kept falling until the very last page. Then, I was upset!! Why? Because the book was over and I had no more of this fabulous book to read.
I love a book when the strong, capable hero is unsure of those qualities in himself. The Noah and Krista had to work for the relationship to build. The feelings where Krista were concerned, were there for many years, however, Noah, he almost needed a skillet to hit him in the head to realize he loved Krista. I may have wanted to be the one to hit him with it.
Stolen Kisses is the second book in the Blushing Bay series, however, I have not read the first, Forbidden Kisses yet. I plan to remedy that real soon.
Ms. Rains’ writing takes the reader into the book really fast, in my opinion. I did not want it to end, the characters are just that engaging.
In my opinion, you cannot go wrong choosing this fabulous book if you like romance novels with a happy ending.
Thank you for reading my review.
This is the second novel in the Blushing Bay series by Annie Rains. While it can technically be read as a stand alone novel, I think reading them in order definitely gives readers an opportunity to really meet the Sawyer family since the characters and stories are fully intertwined. This was a very enjoyable friends to lovers small town romance. Krista and Noah have been best friends since they were children, telling each other everything. Well almost everything. Krista has never told Noah that she loves him but then she knows Noah is not the committing type.
I really enjoyed seeing the relationship between Krista and Noah develop especially as he realized why he had never committed to a woman before. It was Krista the whole time. Great characters and a great story, I can’t wait for Sam’s story as he tries to reunite with his wife.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
“Kris has always been just one of the guys.” Talk about a dagger to her heart. Krista has always been in love with Noah but she’s settled for friendship. Noah isn’t the type to settle down & Krista doesn’t want to lose him. Noah has been attracted to her but he doesn’t want the awkwardness when he walks away. He doesn’t do forever. Can anything change their minds?
Annie Rains has set up a wonderful story. Krista always lays her heart on the line whether with Noah or her patients in pediatrics. She knows she can get hurt but loves knowing she’s laid it all on the line. Noah holds everything back & has trouble expressing emotions. I loved being along on his journey as he realized the emotions he has felt for Krista all along were not friendship but love. The interactions between them made me laugh, cry, get angry & feel joy. A book that is not to be missed!!