**Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**

I wish I was more witty to come up with some pun about how I didn't like this game, but I'm not. Unfortunately, "The Kissing Game" is a hard pass for me.


PROS
+ Attempt at diversity???
+ Fun and cute book cover, but it doesn't help the story in any way.


CONS
+ Too many tropes (and I'm a sucker for most of the cliches)
+ Axel is described as tall, dark, and handsome, but he's blonde-haired and blue-eyed?
+ Again, they just accept that they're head-over-heels in love with each other. I didn't really see a point in the story because we know from the beginning that they like each other/ will end up together?


All-in-all, I had to DNF this book. I was not having fun nor was I engaged in the story.

So I was totally judging a book by its cover. I didn’t know much going into it, just what the synopsis and cover had to offer. But don’t let that fool you. This books is hard and rough.

Axel is tough. He’s an owner of a repair shop and has, on more than one occasion, been found outside of a bar most likely in a fight (even though his fighting is completely justified). So I’m scared of Axel. He’s portrayed to be one tough German who doesn’t take anybody’s crap. But what was surprising is that Axel has one soft spot which comes in the form of a beautiful women with the cutest dimples. Under his tough exterior and brooding complex he’s got a huge heart and such a sweet soul.

Rena sees herself has a future CLA (cat lady of America). She’s over being single and wants to be romanced. I love her spirit. She’s funny and kind, but I would totally be scared to cross her. At times I thought she was acting unreasonable with her expectations of love and relationships; that of plot elements of romance novels rather than real life.

I had a hard time connecting with this story. I didn’t really see Axel and Rena together or feel the chemistry of the characters. I felt that they were so completely different that they didn’t complement each other well.

One thing I didn’t enjoy were the multiple points of view. Two characters I can understand, but when your adding more than that and not indicating until you are deep in the paragraph who’s view it is, it makes it hard to keep track. Also having the book told in third person, when it should have been first, kept me from enjoying the story.

The family and friends were one of the best parts of this book. It was hard to keep track of everyone at times, but everyone had a shining moment that brought the story to life. They brought humor to mix with the serious tone and were fiercely devoted to the main characters. I found myself more invested in their story rather than Axel and Rena’s.

All in all I really wanted to love this story. I was rooting and fighting to connect with it, but in the end I don’t think this book was meant for a reader like me.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for this ARC.

I really dug the premise but the execution was lacking for me. The couple's relationship seemed to lack sparks; they just accepted that they liked each other without really going through many internal debates--this made it lack romantic tension, which is a major reason I read romance. The violence in this book was extremely shocking, as I got not inkling of it from the summary, and the execution made me sad. When the "hero" nearly killed two people and his friends covered it up--immediately followed by him getting laid--I knew this book wasn't going to do it for me. That said, I enjoyed the relationship between the mother and daughter & the fact that it was set in Seattle, and would read more by this author. Just, no more violence of that level please.

I didn’t really like the opening... or the fighting. It did take me a little bit to get into the story itself because of that. I wasn’t a huge fan of how it was written. I think the idea behind the story is cute though.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This story is part of several series so it was one I had been waiting for and I really enjoyed it. It stars Axel who is friends with Del and the guys at her auto shop. We see Donnigans in this story and all the past characters from all the interconnected stories.

Mostly its a story about a girl, Rena who is one tough cookie, bartender and beauty salon owner. She is quitting the bartender and opening her own salon and Axel has a huge thing for her but not the confidence to think he is good enough for her. Rena has a thing for him too but she is tired of waiting for him.

On one hand Axel's mom has died, he is a BIg, buff, and sensitive fellow who also likes a good fight. Very rough around the edges but also very emotional after losing his mother. Rena comes from a good family, has many friends and family but is looking for that special someone and she thinks that might be Axel but she wants him to ask her out and pursue her.

I found Axel a little too prone to fighting but also a little too sensitive for me. That said I did nejoy the story and revisiting all my previous characters from the other books in the series I have read.

The story of Rena and Axel. They are both great characters and you want them to get together. I liked how it is told from both of their points of view so you can understand them more.

There was a bit too much violence in it for me!

This is a very fun romance. Rena is a romantic who has just opened up a salon, and Axel is the intimidating auto shop owner who has a crush on her. I didn't realize this was part of a series when I picked it up, but everything made sense and I still really enjoyed it. I'll have to go back and read the rest of the series now.

I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.