What a sweet friends to lovers story.. Noah and Krista have been friends since they were little. When they finally let their feelings known can they make it work or will they ruin everything?

Review by Amber for Love Romance Books Blog

Krista has loved her best friend Noah forever, but has been afraid to say anything because she is afraid to jeopardize their friendship. Little does she know, Noah feels the same way. When Noah brings a date to his weekly wing night with Krista, Krista decides she can't take it any more and leaves. Noah isn't sure what happened, but slowly realizes their relationship is changing into something more than friends.

I could tell this wasn't the first book in this series, but I haven't read any other books by this author and I thought it did fine as a standalone. I liked the characters, and it was cute story. I would give this book 3.5 stars. I was asked by the author for an honest review.

Stolen Kisses tugged at my heart-strings. I wasn’t ready to enjoy this book as much as I did. I should have been. I liked Forbidden Kisses when I reviewed it a few months back. Also figuring in my surprise is that the sophomore books in a series usually aren’t as good as the first books. It’s like the author’s creative juices got sucked up by the first one. Then when writing the second one, they were doing enough to get by. Let me make it clear that Stolen Kisses is not such a case. The author had plenty of creative juice to write this book.

The plotline of Stolen Kisses was pretty straightforward. It is a story about two best friends who finally fall for each other. There are some drama and tears in realizing that they want each other and that they were in love with each other. It was that story that made it so much fun to read.

Stolen Kisses is most definitely a romance. Everything about this book screamed it. The storyline reflected it. What also made this book so good to read is that there was nothing else to distract from the plot line. I do like it when books are multi genre, but sometimes I need a good romance that I can sink into. I got that with Stolen Kisses.

Krista was the main reason I started reading the book. I couldn’t imagine crushing on my best friend and having to hide it. It must have been exhausting. I also like that she was a pediatric nurse who loved her job. My oldest was hospitalized when she was 2 1/2 months old and I had the most miserable nurse…ever. So, when I read the Krista loved her job, I started to love her a teeny bit. I completely loved her when she decided to face her feelings for Noah. I did a mental version of a fist pump when she did that.

I liked Noah but wish that he had realized his feeling for Krista sooner. I also wish that he had gotten over his chip on his shoulder (read the book) and his near miss (read the book) a tad bit sooner too. I was a little surprised when he didn’t tell Krista what happened in college. His relationship with Krista’s brother was hilarious. My cheeks hurt from giggle fits as I was reading their interactions. From now on, I will never think of the phrase “super sonic hearing” the same way. I also liked the dynamics in his relationships with his own brothers. It reminded me of the way I interact with my sisters.

Noah and Krista have a lot of sex. It did take them a bit to get to that moment but when they did, they were like bunnies. All over the cabin and using the spiky condoms that were part of a bridal gift for Grace and Jack. They couldn’t keep their hands off of each other and that was super hot. The sex scenes were burning too.

I don’t have any complaints that will take points off of my review. I do think it was unfair to end the epilogue where it ended. If there is a book 3 (please let Abby and Sam have their time!!), I will have to wait until then to find out what happened.

The end of the book was everything that I thought it would be. I also loved the epilogue. Like I said above, I can’t wait to read book 3!!

4 stars

My Summary of Stolen Kisses:

Stolen Kisses is a sweet romance that will sweep you away. I couldn’t get enough of Krista and Noah’s story. This has to be one of my favorite books that I have read to date!!

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Language and sex

I would like to thank Annie Rains, Random House Publishing Group, Loveswept and NetGalley for allowing me to review Stolen Kisses

All opinions expressed in this review of Stolen Kisses are mine and mine alone

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

This is my first book by Annie Rains.

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Friends to lovers
Part of a series: Blushing Bay
Standalone
HEA

I look forward to reading more from this author.

3.75stars
Stolen kisses is best friends to lover story. Krista and Noah are a best friend since they were kids but they both are hiding their attraction toward each other until one drunken night and getaway weekend. And so their friendship become more but it will be enough. Both Krista and Noah are well developed. I really liked Noah although he was so easy going person he has strong character. He is also a person who is afraid and who is searching for confirmation that he has worth. And it comes from his brother, job, and Krista. Krista, I didn't t love her, she was an ok character but it really bothered me her way of acting and thinking. Yes, she was a great nurse but you don't do the thing she did. I m the nurse too but I would never bring the job in my personal life especially not the patient and their family. And the way she dismissed Noah so cowardice move. I like how Noah came to conclusion why did he came home and who, what is the true reason.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly

Blushing Bay series has become a must read for me. I have fallen in love with all of the characters and the trouble that they get into.
Krista is a dedicated nurse and friend. Noah is the lucky guy who she claims as best friend. Until Noah finally sees her as more. I like a good best friend to lover book.

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. I loved the story of Krista and Noah. We met them in the previous book but learned more about their friendship and also the love that each had for the other but tried to hide it. The character were both well written and like book 1, I loved reading the history, the interactions and the present day romance. I'm a huge fan of happy endings and Annie Rains doesn't disappoint. I loved the book. I want to read what happened with Abby and Sam's marriage and Joey Nelson and his home town sweetheart. Definitely 5+ stars.

This was a very sweet and lovely romance book. It's very well written and has characters that you can relate too. They chemistry is the right amount of steamy for this type of romance book. All in all a very good read by a good author. Would recommend to everyone.

Krista has been in love with her best friend, Noah, forever, but he’s been oblivious to her feelings and she doesn’t want to rock the boat on their friendship so she suppresses her feelings until Noah realizes how he feels about her. As they try to work their way through the changes in their relationship, Krista realizes she might be pregnant. Will Noah be able to handle that? Great read!

I loved this book so much. It was beautifully written & kept me rooting for the longtime love between Krista & Noah. The childhood friendship that blossomed into love for both of them was a beautiful thing, that they both found comfort in each other & that home only meant the other to them was also wonderful. It's amazing to find that one true love but to have it for a lifetime is even more amazing. What we see through Krista & Noah's eyes is surprising & the future is at their feet if only they're strong enough to grab for it. I enjoyed catching up with the characters of Jack & Grace, as well as Joey, Sam & Abby. I'm hoping that eventually we will get to Sam & Abby & see what they're going through & why. Definitely recommend this book and series.

This was a really cute book. Krista and Noah were great together. I really like it when books have the couple know each other for more than 3 days before they're in love and live happily ever after. I did like how they were best friends first and were worried about ruining that friendship by taking it to the next level. But they were perfect together and made it work. They both had issues and were able to work through them.

Sweet, clean and heartwarming. This friends to lovers story is the perfect beach read for someone who likes their romance sans cursing and sex scenes.

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

"She was tired of shrugging off her feelings. Tired of being in love with a man who viewed her as just one of the guys. Just plain tired."

"Their entire history was written in the space between them."

"His love for her was interwoven in his DNA."

Stolen Kisses is the kind of book that doesn't require a long review. It is the kind of book that just speaks for itself and sings to your heart. 

Told from dual points of view, Stolen Kisses follows the story of Krista and Noah. Krista and Noah's story is one that is from one of my favorite troupes. I love a good friends to lovers romance and this one had one incredible slow burn to it. Now, normally I am not a fan of the slow burn, but these two made it perfection. I loved the friendship that Krista and Noah had. It was intense, and overwhelming. You could tell just from spending a few minutes with them that their chemistry was the kind that demanded to be explored. However, Krista and Noah meant more than a few stolen kisses. Their connection was not one to be thrown away and that made all of the will they/won't they moments so incredibly worth it. 

Stolen Kisses was a sweet and heartwarming story. It is a fantastic friends to lovers romance. I thought this story was sweet with just the right amount of romance, a few steamy moments and light drama. This is my first book by this author and I look forward to discovering more books from her in the future.

A great best friends to lovers story and a wonderful addition to the Blushing Bay series. Krista has been secretly in love with her best friend, Noah for years, while he was trying not to acknowledge his sexual attraction to her. Their friendship was really great but it was so sweet reading how their relationship became more. Fun and lovely story to read.

*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book*

It was a very intriguing read. I will definitely recommend this book in my book group to my friends

This is a sweet friends-to-lovers romance. I’m always partial to that plotline in romances since it seems so much more realistic that two people who really like and understand each other would realize that they have something worth exploring whether it could be more. This book does exactly that.

Krista and Noah have been best friends since they were small children. Krista realizes that he’s the guy for her, but Noah is slower at realizing that she’s the one and only for him. He has issues thinking that he isn’t good enough for her and that he’d make a bad husband and father. Fortunately, they share a hot kiss and then move from that to deciding to try to see if they could build something more solid. The rest of the novel is about how the ups and downs of their attempts to build a dimension to their relationship.

This is the second in the Blushing Bay series about the Sawyer family of fishermen and their community on the North Carolina coast. You don’t have to have read the first book, but that was also a sweet read about two people who know each other well and have to navigate a new romantic relationship.

I was given a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you love friends to lovers story then this book is for you.

I devoured this book in less then 24 hours and i absolutely loved it it was just what i needed to help me out of my book slump. I can not wait for Sam's story though

Krista and Noah have been best friends for as long as they can remember. Krista has always been secretly in love with Noah, but until recently Noah has only viewed Krista as a friend or so he thought. Noah soon realizes that he does have and always had feelings other than friendship for Krista. They two explore a relationship, but past behaviors lead Krista to feeling like Noah isn't right for her.

This was a great read. I loved the caring nature of Krista and how this helps bring out good qualities in Noah. Good book. I look forward to reading even more by this author.

Noah is all for being conservative, "one of his eyebrows lifted. “What do you know. I happen to need a shower, too. Perhaps we could conserve water.” Noah is a man who takes care of his woman, "Noah stood and met her in the small kitchen area. “I brought you chicken soup. It’s supposed to make you feel better.” I liked this book, I loved Noah.

Who doesn't love a good friends to lovers romance and this was a cute one. Krista and Noah had been best friends for years and I loved seeing their relationship evolve, the story was very well written and a pleasure to read the only oddity I found with the story was Noah's behavior, no one can be that oblivious to what's going on around them especially concerning someone they know so well. There are some great secondary characters particularly Kristas brother, I look forward to seeing what his story is.