The biggest prank could be falling in love… Charley was in the city, he hasn’t stopped thinking about her naked. One night, and a realistic dream, changed everything.
When Charley Young spreads the word that Dylan has kissed a woman at sunset and is now engaged, her prank sets off a sequence of events. Her intent was to keep single women away from the hunky firefighter, but it has other, far reaching consequences.
Charley doesn’t quite know how to break the news to Dylan, but he’s been kissed at sunset. By her. Last time she was in the city a year ago. It was an accident. Seriously. She’s not kidding.
But if the legend is true, this could be the start of something big. Like true love.
Too bad Dylan isn’t a believer…
“Readers looking for a tender romance that leans more toward the emotional than the physical will find this very satisfying.” ~ Publishers Weekly on Country Gold.
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Wonderful Story & Listen A Heartfelt Delight!
The Accidental Kiss
By: Heatherly Bell
Narrated by: Kimberly Austin
This is a wonderful friends to lovers romance and I enjoyed every minute of the book. It is hard to believe this is my first book written by Heatherly Bell, she is a gifted author and I will definitely be checking out more of her books. She has a great writing style, the story grabbed my attention right from the start and captivated it straight to the end. The storylines and characters she created are realistic, easy to relate to and connect with. They also contain a whole lot of heart. I adored the two lead characters, Charley Young and Dylan Reyes, there were some great secondary characters as well including Charley’s sister, Milly. Dylan and Charley have been best friends, each secretly wanted it to be more but were afraid to take it to the next level. Dylan is a Lieutenant with the Fire Department and Charley an inspiring chef, it is her dream to learn from the best Chefs around, including Paris. When her sister was placed on bedrest for a high risk pregnancy she returns home to run the family bakery. She also takes it upon herself it upon herself to find her sister’s baby daddy, which Dylan objects to. I love how everything plays out in this book, the story is beautifully plotted with plenty of drama, a touch of angst, some great humor, lots of heartfelt and emotional moments and a slow burn friends to lovers romance. I highly recommend this book, there is a great balance of light-heartedness and some heavier real life situations, like what some foster children go through, the author does a great job covering the topic while keeping it real. Heatherly Bell thank you for the wonderful story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
I listened to the Audible edition, Kimberly Austin is a terrific narrator and voice artist. She does a great job portraying the characters, humanizing them, giving them their voices and personality. She sets the perfect tone for the story, captures the characters emotions and projects them into her performance. She is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for the great listen
I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The title of Heatherly Bell’s new romance includes a very appropriate subtitle, “A friends to lovers firefighter romance.” This subtitle perfectly describes the theme of this book.
This story takes place in a small San Francisco town. The town has a legend that is an integral part of this story. The townspeople believe that anyone who kisses someone at sunset on Miracle Bay will have found “true love.” In fact, every year, in the middle of July, the town holds a three day celebration which they call “kiss hello to summer.”
Lieutenant firefighter Dylan Reyes and Charley Young have been best friends since they were kids. Their friendship has never crossed the boundary into attraction – until recently. Of course, this change of events happens to be during the three day “kiss hello to summer” celebration.
Charley is a wannabe chef who was raised by her single, alcoholic mother. When Charley was very young, she was removed from her mother and placed in foster care where was constantly moved from home to home.
Even though Charley was finally placed in a loving home, the damage had already been done. Because of this, she has chosen to spend her adult life travelling all over the world in search of “something” to make her life worthwhile.
Dylan’s was raised by his widowed mother who was forced to take in boarders to make a living. Even though it was a loving home, Dylan learned that “everything and everyone other than family was transient.”
I loved reading about the growing romance between these two damaged people as they attempt to move from friends to lovers. I especially like that their friendship remains strong as they work to discover their feelings for each other. Ms. Bell makes certain that their trust for each other remains intact throughout the book.
Charley and Dylan had been best friends since they were fifteen. But now that Charley is back in Miracle Bay to help her foster sister, the attraction between them is very strong. But Charley is always leaving to pursue her dream of becoming a great chef and Dylan has a solid work as firefighter. Can they have a chance at love thanks to Charlie’s stolen kiss to Dylan at sunset some time ago? I received a free copy of this book and I voluntarily review it.
Haha..At the beginning of this book I was like man this chick is crazy. I get looking out for your sister/best friend but wow. I’m extremely glad I continued the story though. I ended up really liking Charley. Charley and Dylan’s story is a fun and sweet friends to lovers romance.
What I liked:
The writing style
Most of the characters
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue
I look forward to reading Marco’s and Joe’s stories.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from Hidden Gems Books.
This was a wonderful best friend’s falling in love story. Dylan and Charley had been best friend’s since high school but it never went any further because they didn’t want to ruin the friendship that they had and Charley always seemed to to want to leave when things felt too comfortable. I loved Milly, Charley’s pregnant sister, and Marco and Joe, Dylan’s brothers. They were great side characters that helped Dylan and Charley finally realize that what they were looking for was each other. I really liked Dylan and Charley as a couple. Charley wasn’t my favorite person at the beginning but she definitely grew on me as I read the book. I liked that Milly got her happy ending too.
Charley is back home to helping her foster sister, Milly while she’s on bed rest. She’s been traveling the world as a sous chef & isn’t planning on sticking around any longer than she has to. She’s had to take over running the bakery for Molly & baking isn’t what she wants to do. It’s nice to catch up with Dylan in person instead of by text & phone.
Dylan has been Charley’s best friend since high school. He knows she won’t be satisfied to stay in town. She’s destined for bigger places. That’s why he won’t let his feelings for her to deepen. He won’t hold her back.
I really enjoyed reading this story. It’s witty, funny & emotional. Ms. Bell does an excellent job of developing characters that her readers can relate to & engage with. Charley was always afraid to trust in other people because of being put into foster care. She thought people always left. She recognized the love her foster mother felt for her too late & was always trying to make up for it. She didn’t tell Dylan how she felt because she was afraid to lose his friendship. Dylan kept putting her feelings ahead of his own. He didn’t think she’d be happy there so he kept pushing her to leave. I enjoyed the experience of watching Charley come to her conclusions & grow into her emotions.
Whether you are a new reader or a faithful follower of this author’s works, and are looking for a sweet, and touching romance, this is the one for you.
The story takes place In a small San Francisco neighborhood where the legend of the sunset kiss exists. If you are kissed on sunset on Miracle Day, you will have found love forever.
The main characters Dylan Reyes and Charley Young have been best friends since their teen years. Now, thirteen years later, Dylan has followed his father’s steps, and is a lieutenant firefighter. Charley is a traveling sous chef that dreams of going to Paris and is always on the go.
When her foster sister, Milly, needs her, she doesn’t hesitate to go back home. A home that Carol, Milly’s mother provided to a then rebellious fifteen year old.
Could an accidental kiss be the trigger of a romance between Dylan and Charley or will the fears each one has, keep them apart?
The plot is engaging and both the main and secondary characters are well developed. You will laugh, shed some tears and at times , what to shake them, but you will end up loving each and everyone of those you “ meet”. Well , maybe not Sean!
I hope we’ll return to this neighborhood in the near future.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.