Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Just A Kiss (A Summer Harbor Novel) By: Denise Hunter

Back of the Book

Riley Callahan’s plans to reveal his secret feelings for his best friend are derailed when his life is drastically altered in Afghanistan.
Watching the love of his life fall for his brother was enough to send Riley straight to boot camp. But over a year later, he’s officially a marine, and Beau and Paige are no longer an item. When Riley’s tour in Afghanistan is up, he intends to confess his feelings to Paige and win his best friend’s heart once and for all.
But all that changes when an IED takes the life of a comrade and leaves Riley an amputee. Now he’s heading home, injured and troubled. His plans to win Paige are a distant dream. She deserves so much more than the man that’s left. All he can do now is put some healthy distance between them. But upon his return he discovers his family has arranged for him to stay with Paige.
Paige is a nurturer at heart and happy to take care of her best buddy. By all appearances Riley is adjusting miraculously well to his disability. But as the days pass, Paige begins to see that the smiles and laughter are just a mask for the pain he’s hiding. To make matters worse, her job is in serious jeopardy. The animal shelter that she’s poured her heart into has lost its funding, and she has three months to come up with the money needed to save it.
As the weeks wear on, Paige’s feelings for Riley begin to shift into uncharted territory. Why is she suddenly noticing his arm muscles and the way his lips curl at the corners? Will she be able to deny her feelings for another Callahan brother? And will Riley let his heart heal so he can let Paige in?

My Thoughts

  Just A Kiss has so much depth as Riley comes home injured and heart broken, and as the reason he enlisted starts to come to light, dealing with his permanent injuries takes a difficult turn.  Hunter's depth and knowledge of PTSD and the other issues vets deal with was perfect.  Paige is her usual kind self, but as their struggles progress so do her personal issues.  As Riley and Paige tug of war with their relationship, and the rest of the family work to help Riley find purpose in life, you really get an idea of what families of injured vets deal with.  

Just A Kiss is a perfect wrap up for the series and left nothing unfinished.

I was given this book free from Net Gallery for my honest review.

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