BestRomance - Your Ultimate Online Reading Destination for Stories, Audiobooks, and AI-Created Tales

P

Patrycja

July 05 2014

<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1391618077i/8420433._SX540_.jpg" width="400" height="40" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> Title: Kissing Madeline Series: Dearest #3, Can be read as a standalone Author: Lex Martin Release Date: 27 April, 2015 Rating: 4.25 - 4.5 stars Cliffhanger:. No HEA: <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="e0af0d23-a460-47c2-b2a8-44142b405321" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="e0af0d23-a460-47c2-b2a8-44142b405321"> Yes</label> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1391618077i/8420434._SX540_.jpg" width="400" height="40" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1430037365i/14670793._SY540_.jpg" width="400" height="400" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> Lex Martin once again charmed me and gave me a little piece of heaven. Her books are really good and with every new release she manages to completely bewitch me. Her stories are exactly what I need in my life – a mixture of fun, sex and love! So even though some time has passed since I finished reading Kissing Madeline, I am still swooning. In fact, the same second I start to think about this heart fluttering, intense and incredibly romantic story I am getting dizzy all over again. It’s just one of those books that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside – a novel that makes a reader smile and smile. It’s just so lighthearted and adorable you cannot help yourself. Kissing Madeline is superb! <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1430037365i/14670794._SY540_.jpg" width="400" height="400" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> Do you like reading about sexy, NFL players? Do you like steamy, panty melting scenes that involve said NFL player? Yep, I am sure you do. And that’s why you will want to read Kissing Madeline! Daren, the main hero is not only a quarter back in NFL, he’s also sex on stick and a really nice guy! He may have made few mistakes in the past, but now he really is decent, loveable character. If you have read Dearest Clementine, you probably already know that he cheated on his ex-girlfriend. Years has passed since that and he realized how terrible he acted and he is sure he’ll never make the same mistake. He’s met Maddie some time before his NFL draft and was smitten with her. He liked her good looks, feisty personality and the sexy vibe she had going on. So when Madeline accidentally becomes his neighbor and the reporter that interviews him for TV, he wants to get her naked and in his bed. They share instant connection, full of fireworks attraction and simply are made for each other. <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1430037365i/14670795._SY540_.jpg" width="400" height="400" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> Kissing Madeline is full of sweet, touching moments. With great romance and complex, likeable characters, used here ‘friends with benefits’ theme seemed to be more surprising and not so annoying. I liked the attraction and lust between the main characters. It was exactly the right amount of sexy without it being all about sex. The dynamics between Madeline and Daren was just AMAZING. I laughed a lot reading about their shenanigans, and their banter was so sweet and funny. Maddie really could be feisty firecracker. <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1430037365i/14670796._SX540_.jpg" width="400" height="400" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> Why not five stars then? Hmm… I just loved ‘Dearest Clementine’, first book in the series the best. Despite Maddie and Daren being awesome, characters from first novel were absolutely mind consuming. And I couldn’t help but compare them. Yet, I assure you that getting lost inside Daren and Maddie’s book is worth the effort. If you like sweet, spicy and heart racing new adult stories this is a must read for you. I highly recommend it! <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1427385833i/14267472._SX540_.jpg" width="400" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: <a href="https://twitter.com/BlogSmokin/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><img alt="Twitter" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1421958578i/13435641.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a><a href="https://plus.google.com/113975606544004548659" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><img alt="Google Plus" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1422284069i/13480403.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a><a href="http://smokinhotbookblog.blogspot.com/?zx=1f57d632ff8fa1c8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><img alt="Blog" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1421959618i/13436007.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a><a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><img alt="Email" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1421959244i/13435825.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6852653-patrycja%20target=" rel="nofollow noopener"><img alt="Goodreads" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1422284069i/13480404.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/smokinhotblog/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><img alt="Pinterest" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1421959244i/13435827.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a><a href="https://www.tsu.co/SmokinHotBookBlog" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><img alt="tsū" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1422281917i/13480086.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a><a href="http://facebook.com/smokinhotbookblog" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><img alt="Facebook" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1421958578i/13435642.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1391618259i/8420479._SX540_.jpg" width="400" height="40" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]>

E

Eliza

July 05 2014

<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1431890566i/14878986.jpg" width="400" height="40" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> Title: Kissing Madeline Series: Dearest, #3 Author: Lex Martin Release date: 27th April, 2015 Rating: 4 "sweet thing" stars Cliffhanger: No HEA: <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="15c9abd8-1f98-4161-ac92-861545af83f6" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="15c9abd8-1f98-4161-ac92-861545af83f6"> Yes </label> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1396707796i/9175086.jpg" width="400" height="40" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1429690213i/14621550._SY540_.jpg" width="400" alt=" photo 0B1A946C-675F-4C4D-AD77-B96708059784_zpsijfawa2k.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> Lex Martin manages to bridge the gap between New Adult and Contemporary in a way I find appealing and effortless. I've enjoyed every book in the series so far and Kissing Madeline is the winning hat trick of her trio of Dearest novels. Daren and Madeline are characters that have been introduced in Dearest Clementine and although their roles were minor, the impact was greater. It's a great welcome to see them return but it's in KM that we really see them come into their own. <blockquote> “I hate you,” she says under her breath. “It’ll pass. Then you’ll love me. I promise.” She turns and glares. “You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep.” I grin and motion toward her. “You need to be careful. I always keep my promises.” </blockquote> From the little known about Daren previously, I knew enough to know he'd have to work his little socks off to change my opinion of him and I was curious to see how Lex would do that. Turns out I needn't have worried as she achieves it by page 2. Neither Daren or Maddie are strangers to sacrifice and discipline, in their careers they strive to be at the top of their game. Their respective love lives however are in the relegation zone. Walking in on her MMA fighter boyfriend and the cage girl sees Maddie swear off athletes and focus on her career as an on air reporter. Something Daren is also doing, his near miss with his trifling hoe of an ex girlfriend means he's not interested in pursuing anything that will distract him from making his mark in the NFL. Until their careers collide. <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1429803341i/14632381._SY540_.jpg" width="400" alt=" photo 503D505F-E9CB-4257-AA67-26A388EA66EC_zpsabj8u7qs.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> Filling in on a sports segment means Maddie gets a whole lot closer to quarter back Daren than she ever wanted too. The onscreen chemistry is undeniable and eventually spills over to their personal lives. Due to the nature of her job and the fear of any conflict of interest they agree to keep it casual and out of the public eye. <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1429812395i/14633419._SY540_.jpg" width="400" alt=" photo DE604556-3C2A-4D89-96B4-59C3D374B3D6_zps64m2twd0.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> I didn't get the same sense of intensity from their personal stories as I did from the characters in the previous books but it certainly made up for it in its suspense and steam. With a winning touchdown of epilogues it's the perfect end to a wonderful series. KM was one of my most anticipated reads of 2015 and Lex Martin certainly delivered for me on that front. ..I close my eyes and rest my head on her chest, never more content with my life. And for the first time ever, it has nothing to do with football. <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1427666925i/14304506._SX540_.jpg" width="380" alt=" photo 8D80F14F-0FE8-4BD8-87E5-0D368D92E223_zpsh0pnbzgk.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: <a href="https://twitter.com/BlogSmokin/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><img alt="Twitter" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1421958578i/13435641.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a><a href="https://plus.google.com/113975606544004548659" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><img alt="Google Plus" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1422284069i/13480403.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a><a href="http://smokinhotbookblog.blogspot.com/?zx=1f57d632ff8fa1c8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><img alt="Blog" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1421959618i/13436007.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a><a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><img alt="Email" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1421959244i/13435825.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/15220898-eliza%20target=" rel="nofollow noopener"><img alt="Goodreads" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1422284069i/13480404.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/smokinhotblog/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><img alt="Pinterest" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1421959244i/13435827.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a><a href="https://www.tsu.co/SmokinHotBookBlog" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><img alt="tsū" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1422281917i/13480086.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a><a href="http://facebook.com/smokinhotbookblog" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><img alt="Facebook" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1421958578i/13435642.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1489256771i/22200105.jpg" width="400" height="40" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]>

K

Katerina

May 22 2015

<blockquote>"I hate you". "It'll pass. Then you'll love me, I promise." "You shouldn't make promises you can't keep." "You need to be careful. I always keep my promises."</blockquote> <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1385516879ra/7165377.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> Darn, this book was hot. I mean really hot. Super-duper hot. <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1467547020ra/19603792.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> Daren and Maddie decided that the friends-with-benefits situation worked for them, since they were busy with their jobs but they loved spending some quality time together, off the radar. Besides, with Maggie's job as a reporter who has to interview Daren weekly about his career on football, an affair between them would jeopardize Maggie's future and she isn't willing to let anything get in her way, not even the sexy athlete who lives next door. This should be easy, shouldn't it? Something casual, no strings attached, no dates and no emotions. But when they fail in the no emotions part, thay realize they may have to sacrifice everything they have worked for, everything they have wanted for what they want most. A future together. <blockquote>“It's a sick disease, this thing with Daren. He infiltrares my every thought, dances through my dreams at night, and fills my head with flights of fancy. Because when I allow myself to think about my future, I want one with him so badly my heart hurts with longing.”</blockquote> Although <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/22351498.Dearest_Clementine__Dearest___1_" title="Dearest Clementine (Dearest, #1) by Lex Martin" rel="noopener">Dearest Clementine</a> is my favorite book in this trilogy (that's why <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/20632298.Kissing_Madeline__Dearest___3_" title="Kissing Madeline (Dearest, #3) by Lex Martin" rel="noopener">Kissing Madeline</a> is a 4,5 stars), I really loved Maddie and Daren's story. <a href="https://goodreads.com/author/show/7792877.Lex_Martin" title="Lex Martin" rel="noopener">Lex Martin</a> describes her books as “the sexy kind with lotsa angst, a whole lotta kissing, and the hot happily ever afters” , which applies perfectly to this one! I loved how their relationship evolved from booty calls to you-are-the-love-of-my-life, how they opened up their hearts to each other and wanted desperately their relationship to last. Maddie is a very strong and independent heroine, focused and driven by passion and I enjoyed her POV but oh my God exploring what was inside Daren's head was fan-fuckin-tastic! I didn't expect to like him so much! After all, he cheated on Clem and broke her heart. And yeah his mind is as dirty as my laundry, but there is so much more in him! He is a loyal friend and a loyal boyfriend, the type that sends you flowers and plans romantic dates and can't get you out of his head, he's adorable! And ehem, very hot. <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1432547901ra/14980391.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/20632298.Kissing_Madeline__Dearest___3_" title="Kissing Madeline (Dearest, #3) by Lex Martin" rel="noopener">Kissing Madeline</a> was the perfect conclusion to a perfect series, and while I finished the entire trilogy in one weekend, I can't tell how thankful I am for our little infinity! <3 PS I also got rid of my web camera, you can't be too careful with these things.

L

Lex Martin

February 15 2014

To receive an email when I release SHAMELESS on April 26 and get sneak peaks, sign up for my newsletter here: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://tiny.cc/zhizjx">http://tiny.cc/zhizjx</a> I'll be giving away SIGNED copies of Dearest Series books and ARCs of SHAMELESS in my Facebook group. Here's the link if you want to check it out: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://on.fb.me/1oJN3mZ">http://on.fb.me/1oJN3mZ</a> Special Note: Several of you have asked about Harper and why she isn't prominent after Dearest Clementine. Thanks for loving her! Here's the thing... I want each book to read as a standalone, and I worry that too many characters from previous books make it difficult for new readers. That being said, I am definitely considering writing a book just for Harper. I love her too, so please don't feel like I've just disregarded her. I'll let you know more about this soon! Thanks for reading my books, guys! xoxo

J

Jacqueline's Reads

October 23 2014

5 Kissing Daren Stars Kissing Madeline is a standalone in the Dearest series. Each book in the series are standalones. Daren is Clementine’s ex-boyfriend. Clementine is the main heroine in book one of the Dearest series. Daren was just drafted into the NFL, he’s a newbie and he doesn’t get much play time, but he’s still a very popular athlete. He’s recently single and ready to mingle. He has no intentions in settling with any girl. Madeline landed her dream job. She’s a TV reporter for her local station. She wants to cover breaking news, something worth of substance. But her boss has other ideas. He wants Madeline to cover sports. I love that the timeframe in Kissing Madeline is set after college. Each book in the series kind of progresses since Clementine’s book is during college. I loved Madeline. I love how confident and career driven she was. I also love her name, but I am biased because that’s my daughter’s name, but I digress. Madeline is no damsel in distress. She wants to make it as a reporter and is willing to work the hours to get it. I’ll be honest. I was nervous reading about Daren. He wasn’t represented in the best of light in Clementine’s book, but I’m all about redemption. I’m also about reading the other side of the story. I loved getting to know Daren’s side. I didn’t realize all the problems he was dealing with in High School. I have to say, I do see him differently. The banter and chemistry between Madeline and Daren is amazing! There is insta-attraction at first, but the book isn’t overly in your face steamy. It’s very tasteful. Madeline is a beautiful woman and Daren wants her. Madeline is all about her job and I love that Daren chases after her. I’m a sucker when the Hero goes after the Heroine. It’s completely adorable and cute. <blockquote> Tell me later why we’re a bad idea. But tonight let me show you all the reasons we work She’s more than just a beautiful girl with an awesome laugh. More than a sexy woman with a great personality. She’s just… more. </blockquote> Madeline wants to be a serious reporter. She doesn’t want to interview Daren, because sports aren’t her field and it causes tension between Madeline and other co-workers at work. Daren also has ladies throwing themselves at him and Madeline has to deal with her cheating issues, which I completely understand. There are a lot of issues they have to deal with and it was delicious to read. <blockquote> I wanted to be close to him. It was like I was addicted to him, to how safe he made me feel. </blockquote> Overall, Kissing Madeline is a light steamy read. There was hardly any angst, but plenty of tension that kept me interested. What I enjoyed most was the character buildup. I really felt the connection between the two characters. I loved the sexual tension, the cute playful teasing and even the crazy issues they had to deal with. If you are a fan of the series, you will not be disappointed. An ARC was provided <a href="http://imgur.com/O9uLFpO" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1428937390i/14503445.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a> <a href="http://imgur.com/4HVZNaU" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1428937390i/14503446.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a> <a href="http://imgur.com/iIdL0hE" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1428937390i/14503447.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a> To Be Released - April 27 <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/22351498.Dearest_Clementine__Dearest___1_" title="Dearest Clementine (Dearest, #1) by Lex Martin" rel="noopener"> <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1401187496s/22351498.jpg" alt="Dearest Clementine (Dearest, #1) by Lex Martin" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1056911792" rel="nofollow noopener">REVIEW</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JRQ08HI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B00JRQ08HI&link_code=as3&tag=jacqsread-20&linkId=X5ZVK6TGM7UEARJS" rel="nofollow noopener">AMAZON</a> < --- FREE <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/20630331.Finding_Dandelion__Dearest___2_" title="Finding Dandelion (Dearest, #2) by Lex Martin" rel="noopener"> <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1402550442s/20630331.jpg" alt="Finding Dandelion (Dearest, #2) by Lex Martin" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1086123346" rel="nofollow noopener">REVIEW</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LOXIM3E/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B00LOXIM3E&link_code=as3&tag=jacqsread-20&linkId=KOTXZO3N56PUSR55" rel="nofollow noopener">AMAZON</a> <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/20632298.Kissing_Madeline__Dearest___3_" title="Kissing Madeline (Dearest, #3) by Lex Martin" rel="noopener"> <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1428948532s/20632298.jpg" alt="Kissing Madeline (Dearest, #3) by Lex Martin" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a>

✿

✿kawehi.reviews

April 22 2014

☆ I received an ARC via the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you and hugs&kisses for adding me in your acknowledgements!! I was very flattered and excited that I inspired one of your scene conversations in this book! Hehe. ☆ #YES!! Daren dumped that "slore"!! And NO ladies, put down your pitchforks, she DOES NOT appear in this book at all! *does a happy dance* Waah, words cannot explain how much I love, loved this novel! I know some of you are like, “why would I want to read a book about a guy who cheated?”… but, I’m sure like many, for those who have read bk1 Dearest Clementine, would understand my enthusiasm and curiosity over Daren as he had totally won favor back in DC. He did wrong, but ultimately, he is a sweet and upstanding guy. <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1429989383i/14659427.jpg" alt="10986839 438049843023332 4190359657493830185 n" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> His rapport with Madeline “Maddie” was so in synch and natural. They both exuded focus, tenacity, vulnerability, sexiness, and humor!! <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1429989383i/14659428._SX540_.png" alt="KM wildcat" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> I spent a good amount of time in the book just smiling and gushing over them. <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1429989383i/14659429._SX540_.png" alt="Love These Arms" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> Not to mention, the camaraderie of all of the characters that we see throughout. So yes, we do well and good get to see the involvement and updates of GavinXClem, JaxXDani, and RyanXJenna!! *squee!!!* LOVED seeing the "Out-Skank" texting between the gals!! Cracked me up!! I was literally on cloud nine, I tell you! Pretty please, Lex, write out Ryan and Jenna’s story as I just adore them! And oh, write an additional novel with updates on all of our couples combined! That last chapter just keeled me over with sugary goodness! Haha <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1416279206i/11927179.png" alt="Kawehi" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy">

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Amanda

July 17 2016

Third book in the Dearest series, Kissing Madeline reads like a mash-up of the two first books. There's the bland heroine, the duchy hero, a plot revolving around sex, a mystery that is no mystery at all, some casual sexism and slutshaming, but let's take it from the start. Madeline, the heroine, walks in on her boyfriend sleeping with another woman. Madeline breaks it off and decides to focus (even more) on her job. When she moves in with Sheri, she is now the neighbor of Daren, a Heisman trophy winner. They've met before thanks to mutual friends. Sheri suggest Madeleine should go out with Daren. <blockquote> “At least let me introduce you two before some slussy gets her hooks into him.” </blockquote> Instead, Madeline (literally) runs into Daren during one of her work outs. With Madeline not wanting a relationship, she and Daren soon decide on a friends with benefits relationship, but maybe one of them, or both even, wants more. This story is basically about Maddie and Daren hooking up while wanting more. There is no plot. Well, there is some stuff at Maddie's workplace, but it's so insignificant in the long run, and around 80% there is (again, like in the first book) a poor attempt at mystery. It doesn't help that both Maddie and Daren are such boring characters. He's somewhere in the middle between the previous two heroes in this series: a bit of a douche and casually sexist (Gavin), and all out sexist misogynist Jax. Daren falls right in the middle. His character had so much potential: he has a connection to Clem form the first book, in the fact that he cheated on her in high school, and for the past years have been dating a woman that has, by all means, treated him badly. Instead he's another in a long line of poorly developed new adult heroes. He says/thinks things like: <blockquote> "I’m fine with needing to convince you that you like when I touch you." He’s been bitchy all week, and I’ve been tempted to ask if he needs tampons. And Maddie is definitely not a fuck-and-forget kind of girl. </blockquote> You know, usual new adult hero bullshit. This book had potential. It could've explored the sexism Maddie has to put up with at her job (it could've explored the way female journalists/tv-presenters are treated), Daren coming to terms with his past and the moral struggles, it could've explored the friends with benefits better. It could've done so much more, much better. Instead it remains in the land of typical new adult, filled with weak plots, sexism, unhealthy relationships and heroes, the virginal heroine and the negative look upon sexuality.

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Dawn

June 25 2019

I debated about writing this review because I was a little biased against Darren going into it, but truly I was determined to try to see his side. Unfortunately this book didn’t change my mind, and I could have saved myself the time reading it if someone else had posted an honest review. So here it is and while there aren’t spoilers about the rest of the book, there are some from his point of view about cheating on Clem. While it is well written, I just don’t think the author handled Darrens relationship with Clementine well enough to turn him into a hero that deserves his own story. She tried to take a dirtbag who cheated on his girlfriend/best friend (who was also his other best friends twin sister) and make him a sweet caring guy who respects women and would never do that again... That fails to work in this story for several reasons. One is that if he were truly repentant and gave even a little bit of a crap about this person who had meant so much to him for his whole life, he wouldn’t have kept dating the girl (who was supposed to have been her best friend busy obviously wasn’t) for four years. It’s actually made me cringe when I read the line where he said he never even looked at another girl while with Veronica and that he loved her but partly a stayed with her because she had a crappy home life and needed him etc. He gave this viper all of the respect etc that he should have given the girl who he’d known his whole life. And since he stayed friend with her brother, his relationship with her ex best friend was rubbed in her face FOR YEARS. What’s worse is that Darren’s action were caused by failing to talk to his girlfriend/best friend to clarify things being told to him by a girl who was obviously into him combined with some mommy daddy issues. It kind of makes me dislike Jax more as well, because he may have held a grudge for a year but he then completely forgave the guy who broke his sisters heart while the guy was still dating the girl who he cheated with? She no longer had a best friend, she tried trusting her professor leading to her to be stalked and harassed . Their parents sucked so she truly had no one. It all left her feeling betrayed and alone. This all sent her down the road that fundamentally changed her as a person., while he kept staying the manipulative psycho who slept with her best friends boyfriend? How do you forgive someone of that? Yet somehow when he tells the story to Maddie, who was recently cheated on and betrayed by a famous boyfriend that she had grown up with (see the impossible similarities here?!?!) she listens and doesn’t judge or get upset... this is a girl who was afraid to date another athlete for fear of this kind of thing, but decides his betraying someone he knew for his entire life was ok because he found out that he might be adopted? If you are going to take the chance of writing the story of the cheater, you have to really nail it. Unfortunately this didn’t happen. This could have possible worked if he hadn’t stayed with Veronica so long, or maybe if had been 10 years later, but it’s just not believable that this guy is suddenly a hero having just finished college. And honestly, having read Clem’s story first, I couldn’t get her pain out of my head enough to even muster a grain of sympathy for him. I love an asshole main character I really do, but I can’t stand when authors write these characters who are presented as the perfect guy, so we should just whitewash over their mistakes. No, it doesn’t work that way. Cheating is a hard limit, and trying to pretend he had his reasons didn’t make it ok in this case.

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Lindsay

June 12 2014

Kissing Madeline…I’ve read the two previous books by Lex Martin and loved both of them. So when I had the opportunity to read this one, I jumped at it. I’ll be honest and say, from the blurb alone, I couldn’t recall either character name from the previous books. It wasn’t until I was a few chapters into this book that I realized that Daren was Clem’s ex and Madeline was the college reporter that interviewed Clem toward the end of her book. I’ll admit that I lost a little steam there. I wasn’t a huge fan of Daren (I hold grudges against fictional characters) and even though he stepped up and helped Clem and they made nice and it was all water under the bridge for them, I wasn’t sold on him. But… …I quickly fell for him. There was so much more to him than just being a jock. And I loved how he loved Maddie. Even when they were just “friends with benefits”, he didn’t look at another girl. He was all about her. While I don’t condone cheating (and FYI: there wasn’t any in this book), it was nice to know his side of what happened with Clem. I fully expected his ex to show up and cause trouble but she didn’t. I also really liked Maddie. She seemed so real and it was easy to feel for her. She was just coming out of a bad break up and my biggest complaint about that was the lack of confrontation with the guy and the chick he was caught cheating with. I wanted more from that! But…beyond that, I loved her story. I never felt like she was being stupid about her relationship with Daren. Yes, they kept the relationship quiet because she was afraid of losing her job by dating him, but she had good reason. I loved them together. Every moment of them was just pure perfection. I loved their chemistry, I loved their banter and I loved their history. I loved finding out that they had met back in high school and that he asked her out. That was beyond sweet. There was a little suspense/mystery/scandal element to the book (it was a long build with little hints that it was coming) and I totally called it. But when the scandal broke, I loved how Daren stood by Maddie. As much as I liked the previous two books in this series, I have to say that this was hands down my favorite. I don’t know if the author plans to continue the series with more characters/friends but if not, there was a very nice ending showing where each couple is a few years down the road.

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