It's been too long since I read a book by Kate Angell. She's a wonderful author who's really great at combining gut-punching feels with fun sexy times. Her books are always a lovely pick me up, and this one in particular makes for a lovely beach-read!

BUT

I do have some issues with this one. Mostly the pacing. This is basically a story about two couples, Zane and Tori, and their respective best friends Race and Blu. They've know each other since high school, Zane and Tori being high school sweethearts and later husband and wife, while Race and Blue bicker and fight their feelings until later in life. But instead of giving us their early history as a short prologue, the initial relationship and Zane and Tori's wedding take up the first 52% of the story. The first half ends with Tori and Zane getting a divorce.. My main problem with that is that we get little information about what happens during their separation. Apparently, Zane frequently comes home whenever he is on leave, but they are definitely over for that time. Though not for lack of trying on Zane's part apparently.
So after Zane comes back for good after having retired from the Air Force, he decided to finally win back his first and only love. While Race and Blue also work through their issues, he convinces Tori to go to couples counselling, which takes all of two days. This only takes up half the book unfortunately. I would have preferred more time for them to work through their issues than two days, it just felt a bit rushed to me to be honest.

BUT

Kate Angell is really good at giving you all the feels. So while both couples had very little time to work through their issues, those pages were packed with emotions! The first half was all sweet and fun, capturing the joy of that first crush and love, while the second half had all the regrets and more mature feelings that come with time and experience.
Unfortunately, it took me a while to get into the story, and I only got into it in the second half. Part of the problem is that the synopsis already tells you that they end up divorced, so I thought the focus would be on the second-chance part of their story.

Still, I enjoyed this story very much. It was a good mix of fun and feelings!

It's a tale of two halves for me in No Kissing Under the Boardwalk. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book. Zane and Tori have a meet cute on the beach (involving an adorable dog) when they're 17. The story follows them throughout parts of their senior year. They were such a cute couple and when something bad happens in Tori's life Zane is 100% there for her. Zane was awesome, including her Nana in future plans. They got married young and were only a week into when Zane's late acceptance to the Air Force Academy came in. We didn't get to see their discussions about what to do, but we know the result was a divorce and Zane leaving. First part of the book: ****

The second part focused on Zane and Tori's reconnection 18 years later. I struggled with this part. Zane comes back and he is aggressively pursuing Tori, despite her dismissive attitude and saying things are never going to happen. He keeps popping up everywhere, it was just a little much for me. He finally convinced Tori to go on a couples counseling retreat to work on their issues, and whatever she decides he'll accept after that (how nice of him). With that little weekend that worked out everything and got together again to live happily ever after. I just felt that it happened to quick for all the issues they had to work through (Tori never left Barefoot WIlliam, was still working at the same place, his life away, etc).

Not related to the book, but a logistical issue. Tori was driving the same car she was in high school. Driving the same car for 18 years seems a bit of a stretch, but buyable, until you find out that it's a 2000 model, which means that she would have bought it new at 18, which she couldn't have afforded.

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

Loved this book very much. It had just enough comedy & sweet romance and the storyline was great! I highly recommend!

Tori and Zane spent their senior year in High school Kissing Under the Boardwalk. They were briefly married immediately after graduation, before Zane was offered admittance to the Air Force academy since cadets couldn’t be married. Zane expected them to remarry after his graduation, but Tori was devastated by their breakup. Zane retired 18 years later with the goal of reuniting with Tori. This story was heartwarming, but also painful as readers learned of Tori’s devastation after the divorce. However, witty dialogue helped to offset some of the sadder moments. A nice summer read.

You just can't go wrong with a Kate Angell book.

In No Kissing under the Boardwalk, we see Zane and Tori as high school sweethearts. They love each other desperately and Zane would do anything for Tori.

We see young love, heart-break, angst, and possible second chances. Choices may rip them apart, literally, but will adult choices bring them back together or will past hurts never heal?

We have got to see Zane and his crazy dog Oswald in past Barefoot William books, but it was good to see him as a grown man. I would suggest this book to anybody who likes romance books.

When Zane leaves his young wife to pursue his lifelong dream of getting into the Air Force Academy nothing will ever be the same. Tori, said young wife, is heartbroken; especially since she has no family left except for her grandmother that has several health problems.
Twenty years goes by and Zach is retired from the Air Force and has returned to his home town and to the love he left behind...but Tori wants nothing to do with him. Hellbent on winning her over for a second time Zach will do anything that he can to show Tori he loves her and has never stopped.
This book was a great escape, which is just what I was looking for. I laughed, I cheered for Zach and I fell in love with Tori's friend, Blu. Thanks Kate Angell for writing the perfect summer read.

This is my first book that I have read of Kate Angell. I loved this book. The love and lost between Dane and Tori felt so real to me. I read a lot of romance novels. This story seemed very sweet and realistic to me. I loved the book so much that I am going to start the series from the beginning.

A great beach read! A fun, quick, feel-good story.

Thank you #netgalley and #kensingtonbooks for this eARC.

I have read all the books in this series and I would have to say this one isn’t my favorite. I liked Zane and Tori but the book didn’t flow to me. The 1st half of the book was focused when they met. To me the story starts present day and that was at halfway through the book. I wanted more of a story with them as a couple current day then of them at 18.

I did like the book, just wished there was more story. I think it was to short and felt a bit rushed.

I received an early copy for an honest review

Zane and Tori meet in high school, and are sweet together. Tragedy makes them marry by impulse, and then a week later divorce. I get the idea, and I see the reaction making sense. What I didn't like was how long it took. Eighteen years later is a long time. Also, the time and age thing threw me a bit. Not positive, but do dalmatians live to 20 years? seems long for a larger dog. And her grandmother had a massive stroke when she was in her 40s? Twenty years later she is only in her upper 60s. Minor, but threw me a bit, plus the anger and hurt while justified didn't make sense if he had been planning all along to get back together. A good story, but little issues distracted me from the story as well. Would still recommend, as still a good story, but could have been better. Would give it 3..5 stars

I couldn't wait to read this book and was not disappointed. Just another fabulous story to go with the rest of this series. Loved it. So glad we finally got the whole story about these two. I want to live in Barefoot William.