Megan Wallace wants three things: to make a living as an artist, to fulfill a promise she made her grandmother to visit the Boboli Gardens in Italy, and—oh yeah— for her best friend Brian Watts to fall in love with her. When the local library hosts an art competition, in which the winner will receive a one-year contract to paint in Florence, Italy, Megan sets out to make all her dreams come true.… true.
Since Brian is a talented woodworker, Megan plans to ask him to make the custom frames for her paintings. She’s crushed to discover he’s already partnered up with Chelsea Chambers, Megan’s rival since art school. Megan is even more devastated when Chelsea sets her sights on Brian romantically.
The stakes are high and there can only be one winner. When the contest judges praise Chelsea’s classic style, Megan wonders if she should forego her own surreal painting style for one that’s more traditional. Brian urges her to be true to her talent. He also gives her reason to believe that maybe he feels more than friendship for her after all.
Will Megan have to give up her vision in order to win the contest? And if she wins, will she have to say goodbye to the love of her life?
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Megan enters an art contest hoping for a chance to study painting in Italy for a year. But when things heat up between her and Brian, her best friend’s brother, will winning the contest mean leaving him behind?
Megan is dealing with a lot in this book—especially the challenges of being true to herself and her art, when financial considerations get in the way. And then there’s Brian, and her confusion over the messages he’s sending. Even though this is comedy, the struggle is real.
One of the things I admire about Susan Hatler is how she uses her characters’ history to make their present actions believable. When Brian says “no long distance relationships,” not even with an ex-girlfriend who moved 45 minutes away, that seems pretty extreme. But in the context of the story, it works. Even though Hatler doesn’t spend a lot of time on those wounds. This is chick lit, after all, and it’s supposed to be fun. There’s just enough to make the characters seem internally consistent—to make them seem like real people. There are hurts underneath the surface, which add poignancy to the humor without giving the books a dark feel. This is an enjoyable, satisfying novel that would make a good beach read.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review. .
Rating:
This was a great story. It was heartfelt and had true meaning. I loved the incorporation of art. The characters were amazing. They had emotions and grew throughout the story. I look forward to reading the next books in this series. I liked seeing characters were past stories in this one.
The story follows Megan. She’s been in love with her best friend’s brother for quite some time. She believes that he only sees her as a sister’s friend though. They’ve been hanging out recently and that isn’t helping her feelings. She has the opportunity to go to Italy for an art project. You see, she is an artist who has to work as a web developer and a dress seller to make a living. She’s stoked about this but Brian and she just revealed their feelings for another. Brian doesn’t do long distance.
I wrote this voluntary review in exchange for an ARC copy.
I just love Susan Halter. She has done it again, another wonderful romantic story with characters so real in their thoughts, actions, and faults. Dream big, Go for your dreams.
I enjoy these sweet and clean romances.
“The Sweetest Kiss” (nook) is a lighthearted romance which is easy reading. Ms Hatler writes funny stories and I enjoy her descriptive word usage.
I probably am old and staid but I felt that both Megan and Brian acted immaturely.
Delightful in more ways than a Hershey’s kiss
The Sweetest Kiss is the fourth book in the Kissed by the Bay series and I found it an entertaining read. I have read other books in this series so was lucky when I was able to pick up this book while it was on special. This book is the story of Megan and Brian. As with other books by Susan Hatler this is a sweet and clean romance…………so fade to black with anything other than a kiss between the characters. But there is a nicely developed story-line and the characters are likable. So if you want a delightful romance then this is a book and series that delivers.
Rather generic and all together too much angst. Not what I expect from Susan Hatler.
Love all the books by Susan Hatler. All the characters are charming, the stories and plots are great. Buying them all! Thank you for some great entertaining tales.
easy and fast read
It was a fun, clean read.
Really enjoyed this book
Fun and easy read
I already knew I liked Susan Hatler’s writing from prior stories. This is another good one. 13 chapters. Good basis. Good flow. Heartwarming.
If you are looking for a light-hearted read that’s clean but sweet, you may like this. Megan has many insecurities but decides to put herself out there by entering an art competition. Little did she know was that her rival ends up joining as well and partners with her best friend, Brian. She has a crush on Brian and now all her insecurities come more to the surface. I had a hard relating to her because at certain points she felt immature. We didn’t get Brian’s point of view so it was hard to feel for him and their relationship felt forced; probably because he partners with someone else. Overall it’s sweet. There is only mild kissing and the ending makes up for the rest of the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a wonderful story that I thoroughly enjoyed. This is the fourth book in the Kissed by the Bay series and it’s, funny, sweet, and a lovely romance story. The storyline is exceptionally well written, easy to read, the characters and the plot keeps you turning pages. The story and romance flowed nicely and progressed at a perfect pace. I loved the main characters Megan and Brian, watching their relationship evolve, they had a great connection and chemistry. A truly great read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Megan and Brian have known each other and been friends for years since he is the brother of her best friend, Wendy. Megan has always had a crush on him, but he never seemed to see her as anything more than a friend. Megan’s dreams are to become a professional artist, fulfill her aunt’s request to visit Boboli Gardens in Italy, and to have a real relationship with Brian.
When a competition sponsored by the newly renovated library offered as prize a year-long trip to Italy where she could study art, it looks like her dreams might just come true! She asks Brian to make the frames for her art pieces for the contest, but he is already on a rival team. Worse yet, Chelsea is making moves on him that Megan is not happy about!
In the course of the competition, Megan and Brian get their kiss. But Brian doesn’t “do” long distance relationships. If she wins the competition, she would be away for a year! Can they find a solution or will her pursuit of her passion make her lose the love of her life?
This was an adorable story about the tiny town of Blue Moon Bay, immersed in its traditions, including the legend of kissing under a blue moon. Is there any truth to that legend? The town’s inhabitants are wonderful. Come for a visit – you just may choose to stay!
Solid 4.5 star
I loved Megan’s story especially after getting to know her from the last three books as well as gruff Brian. Megan finally has her chance to show her painting skills that she has only done when she has a chance between web designing and working in the dress store however with her town rival also doing the competition and Brian working with her things don’t look good for the competition or her attraction to Brian. Jackson stepping in to help causes Brian to reassess his feelings but that doesn’t mean that they are finally going to get together especially with the prize looming over their heads and Brian’s issues from his child hood. I love these ladies and their stories of love that doesn’t come easy but is well worth the trials they go through!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is such a cute story in the inimitable style of Ms. Hatler and the title fits so perfectly! I really liked the chemistry between Megan and Brian and how everything played out for a great ending! This sweet clean romance will be sure to lift your spirits!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A wellwritten and fastpaced book filled with a lot of emotion and great characters. Will definitely check out more books from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The author has continued to give us characters that we can connect with. Blue Moon Bay is a small town but they still have big city problems. Megan has wanted to be with Brian for years. Hopefully, they can make a relationship work since they feel like they belong together.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.