Story of a Kiss by Taylor Sullivan, Kelly Lincoln, Kathryn L. James, Sha Renee, Leslie Kung, Emma Marie Leigh, Louisa Blackwood, Polly J. Brown, Jaye Cox, Brandy Ayers, Kate DeHart, Jody Pardo, and Cherry Shepard
Published: February 1st, 2016
Genres: Adult, new adult, romance, contemporary

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Synopses:

There will be a thousand kisses in a lifetime but only a handful trapped forever in your heart. This Valentine’s day, join The Story of a Kiss anthology as we take you into the lives of thirteen couples. From a very first kiss of a high-school prom queen, to a kiss that travels the width of time. Kisses of redemption, heartache, discovery, and so much more.

Thirteen authors.
Thirteen kisses you’ll never forget.

Taylor Sullivan- Never Regret
At twenty-four, Margaret Andrews is still a virgin and sick of it. After a year on the top dating site in America, and a late night episode of HUNG on HBO, she’s decided to take matters into her own hands and hires a professional.

Kelly Lincoln- Maybe Now
Maybe now I should kiss her.
The thought haunts fourteen-year-old Hunter whenever he is with his best friend, Ava. The second he makes his move, their moment is destroyed and Ava leaves town. Ten years later, she’s back, and so is the maybe now that Hunter thought was buried.

Kathryn L. James- Crazy Beautiful Kiss
Two years after Calista DeLuca and Colin Williams shared a sizzling kiss…the one she couldn’t forget and the one he didn’t remember, their paths cross again. Secrets unfold. Tears fall. Hearts open. He’s the only one who can fade her pain into non-existence, but is it enough?

Sha Renée- Forbidden Kisses
Layla is enlisted in the Navy. Ethan is an officer. According to rules, personal relationships between officers and enlisted personnel are prohibited, but their desire is so strong, they can’t stand to be apart. Can military regulations separate lovers who are destined to be together?

Leslie Kung- At Long Last
Janny and Tom grew up together, but right before their friendship could turn into a budding romance, life and gravity pulled them apart. When the friends reconnected, their chemistry was undeniable–but tragedy put distance between them again. Sometimes it takes a lifetime to finally fall in love.

Emma Marie Leigh- Wrong Time
Jo Stevens is an archaeology graduate student on the opportunity of a lifetime- an excavation in Pompeii. When her group discovers a basement, everything Jo knows is rocked. Rules are broken. Lines are crossed. Jo unearths everything she’s ever wanted. She’s just in the wrong time.

Louisa Blackwood-  Can’t Let Go
Josephine “Joe” Burke has been running from the past since the night her mother died, choosing solitude over dreams. She’s suddenly forced to return to her Tennessee hometown and to her old flame, Colton James. Joe can feel her defenses crumbling under his irritating charm, but with the past still haunting her future, can she open her heart to happiness again?

Polly J. Brown- Ever Be
Evangeline’s life revolved around the water until she nearly drowned. Now, she’s returned to the beach to confront her fears, and Gregory Owen, the super-bro who saved her life. Greg wants to help, but can she trust his intentions? Or worse, her own?

Jaye Cox- Love in Photographs
When her heart remembers but her head doesn’t, will one photograph change everything? Claire didn’t need her memories when everything within her knew she loved him.

Brandy Ayers- Fighting Faith
At nineteen, Faith spent one perfect, passion-filled summer in San Sebastian. But just when she thought she might have her happy ending, Jasper, the love of her life, shattered her heart. Now, ten years later, they’re forced together once more. Can she hold onto the last few remaining pieces of her heart?

Kate DeHart- Missed Kisses
Struggling with the recent death of her mother, Jess finds solace in her best friend Ben. Everything about them says they shouldn’t click. He’s the trendy guy with the damaged family; she’s the bookish introvert with a lonely heart. Years of sweet memories cause their feelings to grow, until he does the one thing that could tear them apart.

Jody Pardo- Left Swipe Chronicles
Roommates Liz and Michelle venture into the world of online dating. After a series of bad first dates, how many swipes will it take to find her Man of Steel?

Cherry Shephard- Precious
18 year old Precious Montgomery is a nobody, she’s never even had her first kiss . . .  but that’s about to change. When her best friend nominates her for prom queen, Precious has just one week to make over her image and beat the queen bee – Amber Delancey. Amber has everything Precious doesn’t: Confidence, sophistication and popularity. But a chance meeting with Amber’s boyfriend changes everything.
Now, Precious has to decide what’s more important; what she’s always wanted . . . or what she’s always had.
Can a crown . . . or a kiss, really dictate your self-worth?

MY REVIEW

5 ***** A breathtaking collection of unforgettable kisses

The good thing about a collection of short stories is that there’s all kinds of stories in it. The bad thing about a collection of short stories is that there’s all kinds of stories in it. I mean you can choose the type of read you prefer and ignore the ones you don’t like. That’s good. On the other hand, you can buy a book with nine hundred pages and end up reading about a third of it. That’s NOT the case with SOAK. You’ll want to read them all. Moreover, you’ll want to read more of each one of these lovely, heart-warming, and sometimes plainly steamy stories. Another rarity with anthologies is that SOAK delivers what it promises – thirteen great stories and ‘thirteen kisses you’ll never forget’.

It would be a very close race if I were to name a favorite story among these thirteen because the collection is very eclectic. You’ll find first kisses, lost loves, and even time travel. But the story that stuck longer with me was Crazy Beautiful Kisses. Not only because Colin Williams is g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s and perfect and my newest book boyfriend but in fact because Kathryn L. James does a great job at tackling such a sensitive issue with grace and delicacy. No spoilers. Also because of the way she builds the story and sets the two main characters as old friends was very clever. It made the couple’s feelings seem more real and believable. Again I’m being deliberately vague in order to avoid spoilers.

Bottom line here is – these unforgettable kisses will take your breath away and leave you wanting more. After all, is that what unforgettable kisses are all about?

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