Inked with a Kiss left me feeling decidedly tepid. It's the story of Jamie, a 37 year old tattooist, and Sierra, a 25 year old social worker, and their faltering steps towards a committed relationship. While the pair have undeniable chemistry, fueled by Sierra's regular tattoo appointments, neither one has plucked up the confidence to act on it. Jamie has a lot of life commitments - a 13 year old daughter, an ex-wife and barely functioning alcoholic parents - while Sierra is trying to avoid commitment altogether, keeping life breezy and easy after losing her mum as a child. Add the age gap into the equation and it hardly seems like the basis for a sound relationship: Jamie absolutely does not want to be Sierra's substitute mum, and Sierra doesn't want to be obligated or tied down by anyone. They have a lot to work through to come to a mutual understanding of what being together might mean to them.

This work is facilitated when Sierra enlists Jamie's help in organizing a fundraiser for the crisis centre where she works. The tattooists at Thorn and Thistle will design bespoke tattoos and host an auction at the shop to raise money for art supplies for the kids in foster care. It provides a useful cover for the pair to see a lot more of each other, and start to trust that their attraction is more than chemical.

It's a pretty sound basis for a romance and there was quite a bit that I liked about this story. Both Jamie and Sierra are essentially good people, who do the best they can, and give each other pleasure. I liked watching them go on sweet dates, get to know one another's likes and dislikes, and the intimacy and sex was very nicely done. The relationship itself is low angst, even though alcoholism and parental death is central to the journey of the characters. But. There was too much that grated on my nerves for me to really enjoy it. Firstly, Jamie spends the first half of the book worrying how ancient, decrepit and past it she is; at the age of 37 her body appears to be pretty much failing her, despite the fact that she's active. It was incredibly overplayed as a point of conflict, and I'm not just saying that because I turn 37 this year. Secondly, these two spent a lot of time in the early scenes of the novel objectifying each other in a way that I don't enjoy. Repeatedly mentioning Sierra's curves and 'bouncy' breasts (to match her bouncing personality) and Jamie's muscly calves didn't work for me as a basis for their attraction; I wanted to know more about how they had got to know one another over the course of their tattoo appointments. Thirdly, there were quite a few 'here's some plot' moments to move the story along, many of which felt unearned, including the final conflict that precipitates the grovel and commitment moment. While Inked with a Kiss is the second book in a series it reads absolutely fine as a standalone. Unfortunately though I don't think I will be picking up another one.

*I received an ARC of the this book from Netgalley.

I couldn’t put this book down. It’s a very enjoyable read with relatable characters and an interesting story. This is the second book in the Thorn & Thistle series, I didn’t read the first one and it wasn’t a problem.

Jamie is a tattoo artist and a single mom, Sierra is a bubbly social worker and her client. Jamie has some issue with her parents and her slow social life. Sierra seems like the exact opposite always bubbly and talking a mile a minute. There is some obvious chemistry between the two, Sierra has tried flirting with Jamie several times, only to be shut down time and time again. Jamie thinks she is too old for Sierra, 12 year age difference, but Sierra doesn’t mind. When they start the courtship and working together on a fund raiser, things start to blossom and grow.

The author does a remarkable job pulling the reader in and keeping them engaged. Both characters have some back story and are relatable, very important in my opinion. The writing style is easy and leaves you wanting more.
I didn’t read the first book, but it might be nice to read it before you read this one, you might get some inside into the dynamics of the tattoo shop. The other ladies in the tattoo shop seem pretty great as well, I can’t wait for another book and will definitely pick up the first book.

What a romantic novel! Inked with a Kiss follows Jamie and Sierra, a tattoo artist and a social worker respectively, who are attracted to each other but - due to various reasons - don't think they can be together. I was immediately drawn into the world of the tattoo shop and the relationships between all of the characters! You can't help but to go for Jamie and Sierra and the "will they, won't they?" is super stressful as a reader waiting for that happily ever after! I highly recommend this novel for fans of queer or even hetero romance.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Jamie is tattoo artist and has a lot on her plate. Jamie had to grow up fast because she took on The responsibility of alcohol parents and her younger brother. She also has a teenage daughter that she has an OK relationship with even with the angst that comes with it.

Sierra is a social worker because she was a product of foster care and she loves getting tattoos of chibi animals.

Sierra and Jamie are attractive to each other. Jamie thinks she to old for Sierra but something about her she can’t resist they get to know each other when Sierra ropes Jamie help with a fundraiser. What I like about both characters is they have flaws and they don’t try to be perfect for each other and realize that the right person can come along when you need them the most.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

An honest review thanks to NetGalley. I highly recommend that you read the first book in this series first. The first book gives you a look at thorn and thistle as well as the tattoo artists that this series follows. I loved the first book in the series and I love this one as well. This author does an amazing job in getting the reader involved and enthralled with the characters.

There are some books that seem shorter than they are despite covering a lot of ground. This is one of them.

Sierra Clark is a social worker with a passion for her job. She also loves getting tattoos of chibi animals for not reason other than that they make her feel happy. She also has mad attraction towards her preferred tattoo artist, Jamie Winston. Jamie, older than Sierra by a dozen years, considers herself too old and too boring for her vivacious client and tries to keep a distance. Jamie is the oldest child of functioning alcoholics and has taken responsibility for her parents and younger brother at a very young age. A responsibility that she still carries. Additionally, she has the responsibility of a teenage child, daughter of her ex-wife. But Sierra is just too winsome, too alive, too everything to resist and despite herself, Jamie finds herself drawn irresistibly to the younger woman. Both, Sierra and Jamie aren’t really ready for a relationship, except that they aren’t doing ‘casual’ with each other too well.

Jamie comes across as stodgy and pedantic in everything including her emotions. Also, she seems to have a huge chip on her shoulder about having been too giving and too responsible in her past. This whole self-crowned preoccupation with seeing herself as always having taken care makes her incredibly self-centred and incapable of really opening herself to give, receive, embrace and accept in her interaction with Sierra. We’re sure this wasn’t quite the personality that the author was aiming for, but this is what Jamie turns out by the end.

In contrast, Sierra is a buoyant personality. She is alive, open and expansive in the depth and breadth of her emotions. Though younger, she is way more mature and sensitive to her partner. She is also wonderfully accepting, resilient and giving – all without seeming to be impossibly unreal.

To her credit, Davids manages to make the relationship work. Despite Jamie’s failures as a partner, you don’t feel Sierra absolutely shouldn’t be wasting her time with Jamie. In fact, this book really underscores the truth that a person doesn’t have to be perfect to be right for someone who chooses them.

The pacing is totally on-point. The characters are completely developed. This one is a fast, engrossing read.

Sorry I wasn't able to go on and finish this book.
I'll try again next time and leave a feedback.
Thank you for the accept

A tattoo artist and a social worker develop feelings outside of their professional relationship, but their combined baggage might be too much for them to handle. Both steamy and sweet, this romance felt a bit more realistic than some others I've read. Sierra and Jamie were interesting three-dimensional characters and I enjoyed following their lives. I'll admit I can be wary of age gaps in relationships, but it was handled quite well here.

Inked with a Kiss is the second title in Jennie Davids’s Thorn and Thistle series. I eagerly read the first book, New Ink on Life, and looked forward to the next title in the series. This one focuses on Jamie, a responsible divorced mother, and Sierra, a younger social worker.

I had assumed from that information alone that there might be more of a focus on Sierra as helping Jamie and her relationship with her daughter, but that was not the case. Instead, Sierra is a client of Jamie’s, and they’ve had both attraction and hits and misses in communication. What finally gets things going is Sierra enlisting Jamie’s help for a fundraiser.

Neither of these characters comes across as too perfect to be real, which can happen in some romances. Their communication differences persist throughout the story, and while that can be frustrating, they lean to talk to make each other understand. They lean on each other for strengths, and in the tradition of the best of romances, they let their guards down with each other.

The writing is breezy and light, which makes it the perfect antidote to stress. It’s just nice to have a story with two characters who fall in love without histrionic complication. As a writer myself, I liked seeing the different character arcs and how seamlessly plotted it appeared to be. Jennie made this look effortless, and readers should never worry about the labor of a story.

Recommended for readers who like tattoo romances (hey, if hockey romances can be a thing…), those who enjoy low needless drama, and of course, readers who like FF couples where being a lesbian just isn’t a big deal. Maybe that’s the best fantasy of all, where you can love who you want to love and it will be returned.

A fun read. You’ll like it.

The bond between a tattoo artist and their client can be a special one. What about when they are attracted to each other? This romance will take the reader on a roller-coaster full of reality checks and realistic moments between the women.

I couldn't put this book down. I found this book and writing style to be unique. There are not many easily accessible stories with tattoo artists and gay romance. It makes for a compelling story.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review of the story.

This is a tale of two very different women falling in love - not that unusual, right?

And these women have histories - again not that unusual, right?

What sets this story apart from the usual romance novel is how well drawn the characters are - the realisim of each personalitu is spot on

Jaime is the adult child of pravticing alcoholics. True to form, the oldest child, Jaime s responsible for everything and everyone. She is a fixer extraordinaire.

Sierra, a younger woman, is a product of foster care. Her mom died, her grandmother refused her and although she was only in the a few weeks before being claimed by a uncle - she was irrevocably changed. If you don't form attahments, you can't be devastated when someone doesn't want you.

Jamie's parents only drink on the weekends so they do not have a problem. Besides, if something goes wrong, Jaimie can fix it.

The recurring theme throughout is adults taking charge of their lives and changing for the better.

I reccomend this book - warning, there are very descriptive sex scenes but they are in context to the story. - as well written and insightful.

I read this for the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge for "A Romance starring a single parent," and I'm glad I did. I had never read a romance book before, not a book classified as romance anyway, and I thought romance was synonymous with erotica. Inked With a Kiss, however, is not erotica, and makes me think that perhaps hetero-romances aren't either. There is a heavy focus on the courtship, the longing, the lusting and the restraint between the two main characters, both of whom I enjoyed reading about. It's not heavy on backstory, but there's enough to give the characters a dimensional portrayal, in which their entire worlds don't revolve around each other. The sex scenes were explicitly consensual, which I thought was awesome. I don't know that I could ever read a hetero-romance, but after reading this, I would definitely consider reading another queer romance. Horizons Broadened!