Book Review
It Started With A Kiss by Lindy Dale
Publisher: Secret Creek Press
Publication Date: October 10, 2013
Format: e-Book - 60 pages / Kindle - 830 KB / Nook - 153 KB
ASIN: B00FSFJ75G
Genre: Chick Lit / Romantic Comedy / Women's Fiction
BUY THE BOOK: It Started With A Kiss
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book blast event hosted by Juniper Grove Book Solutions.
Book Description:
Book Excerpt:
“You don’t remember me, do you?”
Nate peered at her closely. He was struggling for recognition that she could see wasn’t coming.
Georgie removed her sunglasses and cap. Her ponytail swung carelessly and flopped over her shoulder as she looked into his eyes, trying to trigger his memory. He had to remember her. It would be soul destroying if he didn’t. Not to mention, more humiliating than having her name and some rather untrue accusations plastered on the boys’ toilet wall in her last year of school. One of the male teachers had seen it first. When he’d confronted her, Georgie didn’t know whether to be embarrassed about the fact that it was there, or that she had no idea what the lewd action mentioned was. Georgie and Nate had been together a long time. He’d kept her sheltered.
“It’s me,” Georgie said, hoping that if she stared straight into Nate’s eyes he’d remember. It was either that or run. If she did that, his only memory would be of the kooky chick that’d stopped him on the bike track thinking they knew each other. She’d be an amusing story to recall at dinner parties.
Nate looked again. Then visibly, his face began to change. There was a small glimmering hint of recognition and he was trying to hide it but Georgie saw it. She’d always been good at reading his expressions.
“Georgie?”
Georgie almost collapsed with relief. “Yes.”
Nate’s face burst into the grin she remembered so well. He flicked his sunglasses to the top of his head and rubbed his hand over his face in disbelief. Mischief wrestled in his eyes, just as it had when they were young.
“I can’t believe it. Jesus, how long’s it been?”
Georgie could see him mentally calculating the time.
“Twelve years.”
If you rounded off the three months, five days and oh, two hours.
Nate’s grin broadened, as he looked her up and down, taking in her soggy, ripped leggings, sweaty tank top and missing shoe. “You’re still a fashion plate, then?”
“Don’t be smart. I stepped in dog poop.”
“I wondered what that smell was. I, sort of, remember your perfume being a heap nicer than that.”
“Sorry. I was trying to get rid of it when I saw you.”
“By taking a dip in the river? I gather that’s how you got so wet or do you sweat a lot when you run?”
Georgie glared at him, remembering how he’d always had an answer for everything. Once upon a time it used to be endearing, funny even. Now, it was plain annoying. Sort of. God, Nate was here. Here. This was unbelievable.
Nate peered at her closely. He was struggling for recognition that she could see wasn’t coming.
Georgie removed her sunglasses and cap. Her ponytail swung carelessly and flopped over her shoulder as she looked into his eyes, trying to trigger his memory. He had to remember her. It would be soul destroying if he didn’t. Not to mention, more humiliating than having her name and some rather untrue accusations plastered on the boys’ toilet wall in her last year of school. One of the male teachers had seen it first. When he’d confronted her, Georgie didn’t know whether to be embarrassed about the fact that it was there, or that she had no idea what the lewd action mentioned was. Georgie and Nate had been together a long time. He’d kept her sheltered.
“It’s me,” Georgie said, hoping that if she stared straight into Nate’s eyes he’d remember. It was either that or run. If she did that, his only memory would be of the kooky chick that’d stopped him on the bike track thinking they knew each other. She’d be an amusing story to recall at dinner parties.
Nate looked again. Then visibly, his face began to change. There was a small glimmering hint of recognition and he was trying to hide it but Georgie saw it. She’d always been good at reading his expressions.
“Georgie?”
Georgie almost collapsed with relief. “Yes.”
Nate’s face burst into the grin she remembered so well. He flicked his sunglasses to the top of his head and rubbed his hand over his face in disbelief. Mischief wrestled in his eyes, just as it had when they were young.
“I can’t believe it. Jesus, how long’s it been?”
Georgie could see him mentally calculating the time.
“Twelve years.”
If you rounded off the three months, five days and oh, two hours.
Nate’s grin broadened, as he looked her up and down, taking in her soggy, ripped leggings, sweaty tank top and missing shoe. “You’re still a fashion plate, then?”
“Don’t be smart. I stepped in dog poop.”
“I wondered what that smell was. I, sort of, remember your perfume being a heap nicer than that.”
“Sorry. I was trying to get rid of it when I saw you.”
“By taking a dip in the river? I gather that’s how you got so wet or do you sweat a lot when you run?”
Georgie glared at him, remembering how he’d always had an answer for everything. Once upon a time it used to be endearing, funny even. Now, it was plain annoying. Sort of. God, Nate was here. Here. This was unbelievable.
My Book Review:
It Started With A Kiss is an enchanting story about first love and second chances. Author Lindy Dale weaves a fun tale set in Perth, Australia, that follows the love story of Georgie Bird and Nate Adams.
Georgie and Nate met when they were eight years old, when Georgie's family moved from Melbourne to Perth and she was the new girl in school. Their friendship grew and they became inseparable best friends over the years: they pretend married each other at the age of ten, and shared their first real kiss and became boyfriend and girlfriend at the age of fifteen. But when they turned seventeen their relationship was over after high school graduation when Georgie left for university in Melbourne while Nate deferred university for a year of traveling the world. They never spoke to each other after their parting, nor did they ever seek each other out. Twelve years later Georgie has moved back home to Perth, and while out jogging she meets up with Nate. At first he doesn't recognize her, but when he does they spend the rest of the afternoon reminiscing and catching up with each other. Old feelings for each other are still there ... first kiss, first love, and soul mates ... but can past loves be rekindled? Will Georgie and Nate get a second chance at love, or is it best to keep the memories in the past?
It Started With A Kiss was a sweet romantic novella that quickly draws the reader into Georgie and Nate's love story. Written in the third person narrative, their story alternates between their past (from age eight through seventeen) to the present time of twelve years later when they unexpectedly meet again. I really enjoyed following the progression of their relationship, it was cleverly interwoven with very detailed humorous and romantic memories that they shared during their relationship. I couldn't help but fall in love with Georgie and Nate ... who knew that love that lasts a lifetime could start with just a kiss?
If you are a hopeless romantic who believes in first loves, soul mates and second chances, then It Started With A Kiss is a quick little romance story that will leave a smile on your face.
RATING: 4 STARS ****
About The Author
On a good day ~ when not at her day job teaching literacy ~ you can find Lindy lurking around Twitter and Facebook generally seeing how much useless information she can impart in 140 characters or less. She's a hopeless U2 and Bon Jovi fan, a rugby union fanatic, coffee lover, chocoholic, over-exaggerator, trashy TV, music and iPhone addict. If you can't Google it then it's not worth knowing!
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Great read!
ReplyDeleteHi Angela! Thank you for visiting my blog. I agree, this was a great read. :)
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