The Kissing Game by Marie Harte

The Kissing Game, Marie Harte

The Kissing Game by Marie Harte was the book picked for my romance book for May. I don't often pick books I have not read before but this looked and sounded so cute I could not resist. I just had to give it a chance. I am glad I did. It had me smiling rather often!

The Blurb:

"I bet you a kiss you can't resist me."

Game on.

Rena Jackson is ready. She's worked her tail off to open up her own hair salon, and she's almost ready to quit her job at the dive bar. Rena's also a diehard romantic, and she's had her eye on bar regular Axel Heller for a while. He's got that tall-dark-and-handsome thing going big time. Problem is, he's got that buttoned-up Germanic ice man thing going as well. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, Rena's about ready to give up on Axel and find her own Mr. Right.

At six foot six, Axel knows he intimidates most people. He's been crushing on the gorgeous waitress for months. But the muscled mechanic is no romantic, and his heart is buried so deep, he has no idea how to show Rena what he feels. He knows he's way out of his depth and she's slipping away. So, he makes one crazy, desperate play... 

The Review: 4 Stars

The thing that surprised me the most prior to starting the book was the amount of bad reviews. Did you all read the same book I did? Are you sure? Usually I am sitting here having to write: "why on earth did you all like that?". I am SO EXCITED to be able to the opposite for once :) The Kissing Game was adorable! Perfect? nope. But who cares? I would read it again! 

First of all we got the Giant, the Ice-Viking, the Prince Charming of my dreams, Alex Heller! The guy is not easy to love or to understand at first. But boy I dare you not to love him or at least sympathize with him by the end. He knows he has issues, he does no cower from them, and when faced with the reality he could lose Rena if he doesn't at least try to fix things he goes to find help. Perfection. 

Rena has a big family. Friends that are loud and on your business the whole time. The kind of family you say you hate but could not imagine life without. She is also very sure of herself. I liked that about her. I thought she was a little silly giving Axel the cold shoulder to start, but he proved himself and she accepted that. 

There was also some tension with a racist group that brought another dimension to the story. It helped expose exactly how dangerous Axel could be if not in check. 

Books that deal with racism, specially if the person that wrote it is not black tend to get a little of a beating. Sadly, I think that's the case here. Axel got referred as 'tall, dark and handsome'. The internet is going mad because he is German and blond. One, people make mistakes; Two, anyone considered that maybe dark referred to his dark and dangerous personality rather than skin color? As a mixed race girl that could pass for both (black dad, white mum), I ain't offended and I don't care. 

The book is fun, the German words add a cute aspect to it- he was not born speaking English, so why not?-, their romance was different, his valentines gifts were all so wrong and all so hilarious...

I read it in two sittings. Someday I might read again!

Go Read Sunnies :) 

Find the book at: Goodreads - Inklings Bookshop 

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