Claire Davenport is a hopeless romantic who shared her first kiss with Alex Murphy during a game of Spin the Bottle. Only Alex never pursued her after their kissing session and Claire regrets not telling him about her crush. At twenty-seven, no boyfriends have captured her heart in the same way. Still, she hasn’t given up on finding the one. Unfortunately, Forever Designs, her boutique wedding … dress business, is accumulating more bills than invoices so love has to take a backseat for now.
When a famous model books Claire to design her wedding dress, she jumps at the opportunity only to find out the client is her childhood best friend and rival, Missy Peters. Claire and Missy’s friendship imploded when Missy stole Claire’s high school boyfriend. To save her business, Claire has no choice, but to work with Missy. To Claire’s surprise, the best man turns out to be Alex Murphy. Gone is the skinny boy with the awkward-but-endearing kisses. Alex is now a sexy scientist, who for some reason seems determined to stop the wedding, which Claire can’t let happen.
Now, Claire must design the perfect dress for demanding Missy, while at the same time countering Alex’s attempts to break up the bride and groom. Can Claire convince Alex to give Missy and her fiancé a chance, and that true love is possible? And can she do it without him breaking her heart all over again?
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Claire and Alex are so sweet. I love the history with these characters and the way Susan Hatler writes the story. Her books are so much fun to read, I feel like I’m an onlooker in the fictional Blue Moon Bay. Each of these stories is unique to each woman, just like it should be. The sweetness is so much fun and the “drama” pulls it all together. Read this series if you’re looking for a relaxing, fun series with great friendships.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Claire runs a bridal boutique, with bills piling up, so she is looking for a high profile account. Missy, from her school, is a model and getting married. Missy contacts Claire to design her wedding dress so her boutique is saved. The crush she had on her first kiss, Alex, is the best man for his cousin and is trying to stop the wedding, knowing that his cousin is not really in love.
The author sets up some interesting situations and plots that pit these two together. The characters have great backstories and intense emotions . The surprises and twists to the storyline keep it entertaining and the details make you feel like you are a part of it. Loved how the two work together and come to some conclusions. Pretty sure I will be checking out the other books in this series as well.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is book seven of the Blue Moon Bay series and the main character in this book is wedding dress designer Claire Davenport, who has opened her own boutique called Forever Design by Claire. She’s twenty seven years old and still can’t forget the boy who kissed her during a game of spin the bottle in his bedroom, when they were both in seventh grade. His name was Alex Murphy and after the unforgettable first kiss, he never spoke to her at school again. She finally gets an answer to why, much later in this story. Claire has no time for boyfriends at the moment, struggling to pay the bills, as her design shop has not had many clients and she will soon run out of funds completely. When her landlady, who is also a wedding organiser, tells her she has just taken on a famous client who needs a one off wedding dress designed, she jumps at the chance. She is told the client is a bit difficult, but she doesn’t realise quite how much! The bride to be is actually a woman called Missy Peters and she used to be Claire’s best friend and rival at school, until she took Claire’s boyfriend away from her at the prom in high school. She never kept in touch with Missy after that. It turns out Missy is marrying Kyle Murphy, Alex’s cousin and Alex is his best man. Missy has even dragged him along to pick her up from her first meeting with Claire, where he starts to disagree with the final design, she had finally managed to get Claire to agree was what she wanted. That was after hours of work, with Missy changing her mind on everything she said she liked each time!
Claire hadn’t seen Alex since school, but still dreamed about him often, never having found anyone else that could meet the feelings she got when they kissed all those years ago. Alex is now a very sexy looking scientist, as Claire knows from looking him up on social media, and has apparently set up in a new lab, in a firm run by Missy’s dad. Claire is still a full blown romantic and believes in love and marriage, as she should when she owns her own wedding dress design business! Why Alex is being so difficult about her design is anyone’s guess. When Missy forces Claire to come to the cake tasting session the next day, Alex and others are there, and he yet again tries to cause problems with the first few choices of cake, giving silly reasons why they aren’t suitable or original enough! Missy is really worried about her wedding being special, as she is now a well-known model and everything will be posted on social media. Claire is hoping that all the publicity will get her loads more clients and keep her business afloat. For some reason Alex is pushing Missy to push the wedding back or cancel altogether, but doesn’t give a real reason why. He is against the idea of love and marriage, after events in his own childhood. He does actually have a very good reason behind his wish for the wedding to be cancelled and it all comes out in the wash. Alex likes to muck about around Claire and gets right in her face all the time. Their relationship almost seems to be getting back to how they were together as kids, but she can’t afford to get her heart broken by Alex, especially when he doesn’t believe in love! A funny and sweet romantic tale, with memories from your childhood still having a massive impact on your adult life and decision making process. Great characters and an easy to read story. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
The seventh book in the Blue Moon Bay series a second chance for Claire Davenport and Alex Murphy. I enjoyed seeing this story get its happy ending. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Another well written saga in the Blue Moon Bay series. Ms Hatler never fails to deliver a quality tale. She always has an excellent plot and I invariably end up reading her stories twice
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
With her business on the brink of bankruptcy, Claire agrees to design a wedding gown for her high school BFF, an Instagram influencer. Claire is surprised to learn that the groom’s cousin is Alex, her childhood crush. The guy she can’t seem to forget. And after all this time, the spark is still there.
Except that for some reason, Alex is trying to sabotage the wedding. Claire is counting on those wedding day social media photos to save her business—so what’s Alex’s problem? Is he such a cynic that he doesn’t believe in true love? And what’s Claire supposed to do when she can’t help falling in love with him all over again?
This is a fun, flirty book that gradually turns deeply romantic and emotional. I love how Hatler uses side characters to expose the heroine’ misconceptions—it seems to be a theme in her books. There’s a strong sense of community here, a cast of well-meaning but flawed people just trying to do their best in the world. Claire and Alex filled my heart with the tender emotions they’ve cherished since childhood, which finally get the chance to blossom. This sweet small-town romance would make a great beach read.
Thanks, Booksprout, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I loved this book. The way Claire and Alex thought of each other and their kiss over the years but did not think the other remembered was great. Susan Hatler is a great author who makes you feel different emotions for the same person in her books. Missy seemed to be a bad person throughout most of the book. I love how despite what she did to Claire, Claire still tried to protect her from heartache. I love the relationship Claire had with Alex throughout the whole book. I like how Alex tried to keep Missy from marrying his cousin because he knew that Kyle was not in love with her. He didn’t come out and tell her about his suspicions but he tried to protect her in his own way. I love how Claire ended up getting an apology from Missy and forgiving her.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I am a fan of Susan Hatler books! In The Wedding Boutique she who a humorous romantic se love story for Claire (wedding dress designer)and Alex. Claire and Alex were easy to relate to and very easy to fall in love with them. I loved the chemistry between them and Alex’s attempts to sabotage Missy wedding plans and Claire’s attempts to stop Alex. This book is fun and really entertaining to read: I highly recommend reading this book for pure romantic fun and giggles.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Another spectacular book by Susan!! I loved the differing views of love that the characters have. Claire is a romantic, and thank goodness since she’s also a wedding dress designer. Alex is a cynic and doesn’t believe in true love. He is also Claire’s childhood crush and first kiss. She’s had feelings for him for years but hasn’t seen him in forever. Now he’s home to be the best man in her high school nemesis’ wedding. While Claire tries to help her plan a beautiful wedding, Alex tries to tear it all apart. This story is so awesome. Wonderful characters and amazing writing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Highly entertaining, sweetly sexy and laugh out loud fun adventure filled with witty and engaging charters, heart racing twists and exciting turns. Could not put down this emotionally thrilling and engaging journey. Great reading.
This is the seventh book in this series and we finally get to read about Clarie. She played spin the bottle with Alex when they were 12 and has measured every other guy against him. When they see each other after all this time sparks fly, can they get over the past to have a future?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Whenever I’m feeling down and need a pick me up, I can always count on one of Ms. Hatler’s books to lift my spirits. The stories are always so cute and sweet and filled with so much fun, I end up with a big smile on my face and a warm, contented feeling. Again, this book did not disappoint. It is the seventh installment of the Kissed by the Bay series but no worries if you have not read the others, it can be read as a standalone. Although, after meeting some of the other characters, I’m sure you’ll want to go back and read their storires as well. This book features Claire and Alex and their second chance at love. Claire is a struggling bridal designer and working hard to get her business running. She is the sweetest person and forever the optimist and believes in true love. Alex is a nerdy scientist and definitely does not believe in true love. He is also Claire’s crush back from childhood and now the best man at the wedding for which Claire is designing a dress. The sparks definitely fly when these two meet again and butt heads while he tries to sabotage the wedding and she desperately tries to save it. Another fun, laugh out loud, cute and romantic book by the talented Ms. Hatler that captivated me and just made my day. Most definitely recommend!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Omg…I am still laughing with Alex and Claire’s antics in order to boicote one another from their objectives…they are so funny and the chemistry between them is way up there and the more they fight it the hotter it gets. Wonderful characters, storyline and very well written I loved this story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Warm and Wonderful California Romance
This sweet and clean romance is part of the Kissed By The Bay series. Our main character has not found any man able to stand up to her memory of her first kiss. And then he returns to her life. This story has plenty of humorous moments without being slapstick. It is very romantic in a dreamy sort of way. I received this ARC book for free from Booksprout and this is my honest review.
This is the seventh book in Kissed by the Bay Series but can be read as a standalone. It’s been 15 years ago since Claire shared her first kiss with Alex in a game of ‘spin the bottle’ . Even though she was only 12 years old at the time she remembers it like it was yesterday. He set the bar for any other kiss or guy even though he left her heart broken. Her struggling bridal design business gets a boost when she’s hired to design a wedding dress for a celebrity. This celebrity turns out to be her high school rival Missy who also happens to be the first cousin of Alex, her ‘spin the bottle’ crush. Things get a little heated when Alex tries to sabotage the wedding which would also damage her business. He doesn’t believe in true love and she’s determined to prove him wrong. This was a cute story and their banter was funny at times. A mysterious matchmaker adds to the drama. A cute book that was a fun read. I read a free arc via Booksprout and voluntarily chose to review it.
Extremely entertaining, captivating and interesting sexy read. I could not put it down. Wonderfully written with strong, intriguing characters. I want to read more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sweet and fun romance
I have now enjoyed reading several books in the Kissed by the Bay series by Susan Hatler and Forever in a Kiss was no different. It is a fun story about Claire and Alex. I did laugh outloud numerous times and also had a few eye-rolling moments but the dialogue was witty, the story-line was fun and the characters were interesting. I will warn that you need to stick with this one because at the beginning you will most likely not like Alex. But if you hang in there and keep reading you will come around. I think part of this issue is that the story is told only from Claire’s POV so the reader has no idea what is going on in Alex’s head, which I think is a shame.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are all my own.
Could There Possibly Be “Forever in a Kiss” & IS The Time’s RIGHT For RoMANce…
Is IT Time To Find A Li’l Bit ‘O “Forever in a Kiss!?!” Find OUT By One-Clicking “Forever in a Kiss!”
Your gonna be highly entertained reading “Forever in a Kiss;” a delightful Tale by Susan Hatler! I can’t TELL you how many times I keep reading & Re-Reading Her books since finding Her as an Author in 2018… And YET, I keep coming back Again & Again! Why?! Because I truly LOVE Her work, & That’s also it’s the Hallmark of a TRULY Great RoMANce & a Spectacular Writer… When you can ReVisit a book like an OLD friend without getting Tired of it, but instead find Something New & hidden EACH & Every TIME!
I LOVE Susan’s writing! It’s witty & Fresh…. One-Click “Forever in a Kiss” & Experience IT for YourSelf!!
I was granted, via B00|{$P®0UT, Susan Hatler’s “Forever in a Kiss (Kissed by the Bay Book 7).” I recommend this book to others based upon its own merits. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given!
Until next time… Happy Reading!
Claire has what she believes is an unrequited crush on Alex, the first boy she shared a kiss with in spin the bottle, when she was younger. She is trying now to run a wedding dress design business. Missy, a former friend & now a successful model, comes back into her life wants her to design her dress.
Alex is the best man & does his best to sabotage their nuptials. This is where our two protagonists excelled as she needed the business & he was doing a great job on his task. Some seriously good moments there as they tried to one up the other!
Of course these frenemies become more but as usual their is an obstacle or two in their way. I will say my opinion of Missy changed towards the end & his sabotage is not what you think!
Again another winner for this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. 4.5*
This was a fun story. I enjoyed getting to know Claire. She just wants to find the right guy for her, but they don’t measure up to her first kiss. The way that Claire deals with a former friend that stole her boyfriend and then her first crush on the same day was comical. I found myself chuckling several times throughout the book. Alex seems a bit mysterious throughout the book. The book is told in first-person point of view. I would have loved to see what Alex was thinking when he was interacting with Claire. Overall this was an enjoyable book. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves sweet, clean romance comedy.