Sunshine Kisses (A Kisses Novella)

Absolutely loved this book! Audiobook review
I had so many different emotions in this book. I was sad for Crystal for what she was going through, but I was happy she wasn’t letting it get in her way. She was there for her BFF’s wedding and let herself start a romance (even if she thought it wasn’t) with her other best friend Spencer. Spencer finally found out what was going on when Crystal said she only wanted to be friends when they got back home. He was so sweet taking her to places she wanted to visit on their trip home. This was such an awesome, sweet book that I wish it was longer and there was more time to spend with this great couple. I also loved Whynter and Dominic in this book. The narrators did an awesome job on this book. Every person they voiced and every emotion was fantastic! These narrators are always great! This is a must listen/read!

This story had me guessing how it would end. Crystal gets a devastating diagnosis and decides to live her life before she has to begin treatments. At her friends destination wedding, she is out for fun, in every way. Spencer has lusted after her forever. He is tired of being in the friend zone and chooses the wedding to step up his game. Timing is perfect for these two as they are both determined to get what they are after. Because they have been best friends, the banter between them is exactly what I love in romances. The banter makes their story so real. I enjoyed taking the ride with them as they discover what they always had.

Tor Thom and Charley Ongel have a natural chemistry that creates a real chemistry between Crystal and Spencer. The banter seems natural through their narration. I always enjoy listening to Thom and Ongel. Their voices complement each other. Thom’s deep voice to Ongel’s sweet voice always bring the characters to life. Through their wonderful performance, they bring the story to life. I easily get lost in the narration and feel as if I am a part of the book. Another amazing, fun and enjoyable performance by Tor Thom and Charley Ongel.

I loved this story! Crystal and Spencer were great to read about. This author just knows how to grab you and take you through the story like you’re living it. This can be read as a standalone and you’ll want to have time to read this as you won’t be able to put it down once you start. Cannot wait for more from this author, going on my to watch list.

My heart strings! What a pull! This story is beautiful. Crystal is hiding a secret about herself from those who love her. She uses a friends wedding to forget her troubles and let loose. What she doesn’t plan on is falling for her good friend Spencer. But she can’t let Spencer know her truth. So she tells him they can’t be more than a fling. Spencer has real feelings for Crystal. He refuses to let her push him away. What Crystal didn’t see coming is that Spencer is what she needs. Get ready for a passionate and fun story. But also get ready to feel all the emotion. I was crying for these characters. I was also rejoicing and swooning. It’s a quick read/listen. These narrators were dynamite. I was already a fan of these narrators together, but they really blew me away as Crystal and Spencer.

Sunshine Kisses is the sequel to Snow Kisses and is a wonderfully written standalone. In Snow Kisses, Crystal is Whynter’s best friend and plays a big part in bringing Dominic and Whynter together. By the end of the book, they were engaged and it’s just about time for their destination wedding. Mexico is absolutely beautiful this time of the year and is a most romantic place to be married. Spencer is an “honorary member” of the gal pal crew, since he has been the responsible one to serve as the gals’ designated driver every time they’ve gone out to Marco’s. He’s known as “nerd boy,” because of his propensity for buttoned up shirts and geeky glasses, but Crystal sees him through his not-quite-closed apartment door and that’s not a nerd boy body she saw! She can’t wait to see if there’s more to him than the image he projects once they’re in Mexico. All it takes is a shared karaoke duet for the sparks to fly between them. But there is something not quite right with Crystal that Spencer has been aware of for weeks now. She has headaches, her eyes have circles and she’s not as cheery as usual. It’s a mystery that he wants to solve and a secret that she needs to keep. There is something very wrong that is threatening her future. The two lovebirds become quite close in a very short time and both are falling and falling hard, but Crystal has it in her mind that she has to stop this now. A call from Dr. Martinez lets her know that time is running short and she realizes that she has to tell Spencer why they can never be more than friends. She’s too stubborn to think that she might have options and to accept just how much Spencer loves her. As much as she loves him, she still sends him away. It’s heartbreaking to see the pain they both go through with her admission, but Spencer isn’t having any of it. He is determined to make what could be her last trip, the trip of a lifetime. With her health failing fast, Spencer knows he has to do everything he can to give her a healthy future. True to his word, there is plenty of drama, tension and ultimate joy! The ending is very sweet and full of sunshine!

Crystal Brooke just received heartbreaking news and has now found a new lease on life. She’s on an adventure to support her best friend getting married but on the search for a rendezvous, a romp in the sheets, if you will. She creates a tangled web when her new fling is someone totally unexpected. Spencer is on the prowl for the same thing Crystal is but has crushed on one of his best friends for awhile. He’s eager for Crystal to see him differently than who he has been. Will Spencer succeed in taming Crystal or will Crystal’s battle for her life run him away?
This book is heartbreaking yet fun to read. Love conquers all and this is well worth the emotional journey we take with these characters through their ride. I loved it from cover to cover.

Sunshine Kisses (A Kisses Novella) is by Elaine Marie and such a great short read book. I fell in love instantly and have already added more books to my TBR list for the year. This was an emotional read as the character Crystal is dealing with a medical condition but living her life to the fullest. When she decided to have a fling, she never expected it to be Spencer. Spencer has had a crush on her for years and just wants to be seen. Will these two be able to work it out? Or will Crystal let her medical condition control their situation? I found myself on that roller-coaster where you cry, laugh or aren’t really sure what you should feel. This book was written amazing and I cannot wait to read more from this author!

Sunshine Kisses is the 2nd novella in the Kisses series by Elaine Marie. I did not read the first (Snow Kisses) but still enjoyed this one. It can be read as a stand alone, but now I want to go back to read the prior book. This book centers around Crystal and Spencer. They are long time friends, but are about to move into something more. Crystal’s best friend’s wedding is coming up, and its a destination wedding. The perfect time for a vacation fling. Crystal just found out she has some medical problems, and wants to have fun, in case she doesn’t have much time left. She didn’t expect the fling to be with one of her friends…and isn’t sure if its the best idea. While Spencer has crushed on her for years, she never saw him as anything potential, until just days before.
This book has some heated scenes, but nothing over the top dirty. It is a cute, quick read that I recommend to anyone who enjoys romance novels with a happily ever after.

5 Star
Sunshine Kisses (A Kisses Novella) by Elaine Marie

Wow I kinda knew going in that this story would probably have my emotions going all over the place, but I had no idea I’d be such a wreck while reading. This is a friends to lovers / vacation fling. Crystal’s best friend is getting married and she’s going to enjoy her time because when she gets home she will have a very difficult decision to make. Crystal has a medical condition and is keeping it a secret only because she doesn’t want to ruin the wedding. Spencer on the hot guy who is also her friend. He kinda has a secret as well,these two are hot together and the chemistry is off the charts. She lays out the rules of this vacation fling but will he follow them? What will happen when the vacation is over? What will happen once they get home? I really loved this story and can’t recommend it enough. Find out what happens next in this absolute must read. I can’t wait to read more from this Author.

Where has Elaine Marie been? I have definitely missed some goodies here as this is my first but definitely not my last read by Elaine Marie. She has a writing style that reminds me of an author I adored as a young teen and I have missed that sort of heart string pulling writing in my life. Sunshine Kisses will make you feel all the feels and give you plenty of moments to smile as well to balance the devastating story line that runs at the center of the novella. Now it is a novella so you will want to give yourself a few hours to dive in and devour this gem uninterrupted. I know that I did and I was so glad to not have had to be torn away one moment from the story of Crystal and Spencer.

Crystal has a life altering and well eventually ending illness that has made her look at life completely differently, as it would obviously do. When the latest news from her doctor is not positive she decides that the upcoming destination wedding of one of her friends is the perfect place to live life with no rules and some abandon. She wants a fling, and only a fling too, but never expected that fling to be with a best friend, Spencer. Can life really go back to normal like nothing ever happened when the wedding comes to an end? This book is a must read for the ones who want to feel the emotion as you read. I recommend you grab a box of tissues before you dive in! I am off to grab the first in this series!