Cover Image: Just a Kiss

Just a Kiss

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Member Reviews

Denise is an incredible author. She weaves wonderful stories about fantastic characters. I’ve come to her works with high expectations and this did not disappoint. Recommended for anybody looking for a cute, heartfelt read.

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JUST A KISS is the third book in the Summer Harbor series by Denise Hunter. Its Riley and Paige’s story and it is sure to pull on the reader’s heart strings. It will surely give you all the feels, let me tell you. My emotions were all over the place and I was giggling one minute and tearing up, the next. I really liked the setting of the small town of Summer Harbor and its history. I really got to know the people of this beautiful, small Maine town and I also know I will fall more in love with all of these characters as I go back and read the two books I missed.

JUST A KISS is a wonderful story of a tight knit family and childhood friends that will worm their way into your heart. Riley Callahan is in love with his best friend, Paige, but she falls for his brother and Riley heads off to boot camp. An IED leaves him as an amputee. He has to face the PTSD, the shame he feels towards having to learn a new sense of independence, and reliance on Paige. To say Riley is unhappy is a huge understatement! Hang on to your seats! The twists and turns will keep you flipping the pages long into the night. Paige has a big secret that she doesn’t share with just anyone!

JUST A KISS is a quick read that you can easily read in one sitting and love every minute of it. It is one heck of a crazy emotional roller coaster ride. Although this is the 3rd Book in the series, it could be read as a stand alone novel. My favorite character of this story is Riley…He’s a tough Marine, big guy with a big ego and an even bigger heart. I have never met a Denise Hunter book that I didn’t love and once I started reading I knew I was going on one heck of an emotional journey! Whatever you are reading, put it down, and run and get this book! If you’ve never read a Denise Hunter novel (and you know who you are) this would be a perfect one to hook you!



I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.

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Sigh. The leads lived together through more than half the book, then decided Riley ought to get his own place, because "he's just a man" and can't control himself around Paige. So sensuality was an issue, obviously.

I liked that the leading guy was an amputee. That was unique and something about war that isn't highlighted much at all.

Content: replacement expletives, expletives, profanity, sensuality, crude term, alcohol

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Riley Callahan's plan has been to return from his Afghanistan mission to tell Paige that he has always been in love with her. Yet, an IED happened. And how can an amputee offer a life - or even something - to a good woman? She deserves better than a cripple.
Paige does not see a cripple. She sees her best friend and wounded person in a need of help. But something shifts unexpectedly in her and she starts to see a man.

This is the right combination of sweetness a and depth to makes you pin for this couple. Sure, Riley Callahan is impossible and Paige Warren behaves like a saint towards him sometimes - yet we like them wild and untamed in our bookish romances, right? Even of this means grumpy, willful and sometimes selfish. Yet there is something about these Callahans and Riley is no exception.
And the issues here are real, which is another plus I could identify with Riley's lack of purpose and self-estee after his accident, and with Paige's abandonment issues as well.
And the romance is sweet and intense here!

And finally - yay for Sheriff and his love!

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Too mushy and lovey dovey for me. I keep an open mind, but this obe was a little over the top unbearable. I had to file this one away under could not finish.

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Just a Kiss is the third book in the Summer Harbor series, written by Denise Hunter and published by Thomas Nelson. I have really enjoyed this series, and am sad to see it end. I was hoping that this would be the best book of the series, but for some reason, something felt off about it to me. The story seemed to be researched with regard to Riley’s injury, but, well, I don’t know. Riley’s character didn’t seem as realistic as he did in book one.



Paige Warren has always had a thing for the Callahan boys. First she was best friends with Riley through tough personal problems of her own, then she dated the eldest, Beau, which made Riley crazy, then after Riley enlists to get away from seeing Beau and Paige together and returns, she’s caring for Riley.



Riley Callahan has always loved Paige, and it was torturous to watch her with his brother. Thus, he enlisted into the Marines–only to have the couple break up around his going-away party. Now back from deployment with one less leg than he left with, Riley has mixed feelings about seeing Paige again. On one hand, he is excited to be reunited with her after all their Skype chats, but on the other hand, he doesn’t feel worthy to be with her because of his survivor’s guilt, PTSD, and one leg.



I wish that I could pin down what felt “off” in this book. Maybe it was the fact that Riley had to stay at Paige’s house during his recovery. Or that Riley didn’t seem as realistic of a PTSD victim as did Jake Porter in Becky Wade’s A Love Like Ours. Maybe it was how Paige and Riley fought over stupid things and had poor communication even though they were supposed to have this great, long-lasted friendship. Friends have to know how to communicate. Maybe it was also that the climax seemed weak, and the romance not as strong as in the first two books.



Really though, I did enjoy this book–I read it over one weekend. I would still recommend reading it, especially after reading the other two in the series, although it does work as a standalone. It was a sweet story, and I hope I didn’t dissuade anyone from reading this, as it is still worth reading. I only wanted to explain why it was four instead of five stars for me.

https://abookloversthoughts.wordpress.com/2016/09/02/just-a-kiss/

Thank you so much to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and were not required to be positive.

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I did not like this book. It was very hard to get into.

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Just a Kiss is a great book written by Denise Hunter. Love her writing style and love her books.

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I didn't know there were previous books in this series so I read this like a stand alone. Even having done so this book was real. Real is hard to label when writing reviews because everyone's perception is different but this novel was everything you would find in the real world. When they are confused, you know how that feels. When they kiss for the first time, you know how that feels and so on and so forth. Having friends and family who went through the military this story could very easily be you or someone you know. I enjoyed the realness of it and am very interested in reading the other novels in this series.

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What a story! Definitely a romantic novel about second chances.

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I have bought this book in a kindle format and will read it in due course.

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4.5 stars! Denise Hunter delivers another stellar contemporary Christian romance with unforgettable characters and sizzling chemistry!

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There's something about an injured military hero that really tugs on the heartstrings. Riley was already suffering from unrequited love for his best friend/brother's girlfriend, but now he's getting used to life as an amputee and struggling with feelings of inadequacy and PTSD. Paige's loyalty and devotion to him in his time of need is admirable, but instead of growing closer together, they encounter more difficulties in their relationship. Riley's emotional pain has him fighting his feelings for Paige even as she is falling in love with him. Lots of drama and angst as Paige and Riley's relationship finally shifts into romantic territory and they both learn how to fight their own battles and issues while supporting each other. Great chemistry and tension, especially with the kisses that are more than "just a kiss" ;)

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Riley Callahan has always loved Paige but she was in love with his brother. Then things changed and he was going to confess his love to her; but life got in the way because he ran away to a tour of service in Afghanistan. There an IED changes his life forever making him an amputee and killing his best friend.


Back in the states everyone thinks they know what's best for him and he finds himself roommates with Paige and they finally must confront their feelings for each other.


Denise Hunter writes great books on angst and love and quandaries to be solved. She covers many difficult subjects and in this book she deals with PTSD. Just about all her books are keepers and this one is no exception. I received this book from Netgalley for my honest review.

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Classic Denise Hunter with wounded characters, plenty of interaction between hero and heroine, and more romantic chemistry than a reader knows what to do with. Pure romance here. A wonderful conclusion to a wonderful series.

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Just a Kiss was every bit as good as I thought it would be. I cannot believe this series is over...I don't want to say goodbye to these characters. Maybe that's why I took so long to actually start reading the story, even though I've had the book for months?? ;)

I loved both of the main characters. Riley and his struggles because of the amputation were heart-breaking at times...the pain... I could understand why he felt the things he did and I just wanted things to work out well. Paige and her mother, wow, that made me mad. That's all I'll say.

All in all, I loved Just a Kiss. I definitely recommend this book, and the entire series, if you enjoy romance. The series is definitely a little edgy romance-wise compared to other Christian Fiction, but it wasn't too much for me.

*I received a complimentary copy of this for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

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Denise Hunter has a special talent for writing contemporary romantic fiction. Not only do her books contain a satisfying romance but they probe the depths of human emotion. As a reader I am able to easily identify with her characters and want only the best for them. I might become frustrated with their stubbornness and/or poor decisions yet can also rejoice when positive things happen in their lives. I deem it a good thing when an author can pull me into her stories in this manner.

As the final novel in Hunter’s Summer Harbor series, “Just a Kiss” may have also been the most touching. Riley is secretly in love with his best friend Paige but his plans to tell her ended with the loss of a leg in Afghanistan. He feels that Paige deserves a whole man but despite his self-imposed honorable intentions he fails to convince himself. Paige is happy to help Riley as he adjusts to his new life but finds his ever changing moods puzzling. She also has a few problems of her own. Is there any chance Riley and Paige can acknowledge their true feelings and find a future together? From the very beginning I was hoping Riley and Paige would get together but there were times that did not look at all promising.

“Just a Kiss” was one of those books you just don’t want to put down. Both characters were portrayed credibly with believable and deep emotions. The plot moved along at a steady rate with enough ups and downs to keep it interesting. This book is one that can bring its reader to tears then have her laughing at the witty dialogue the next. I also enjoyed seeing more of the characters from the first two books of the series and learning more about their lives.

“Just a Kiss” can easily be read on its own but to get the whole story, why don’t you pick up the entire series and start at the beginning? I don’t think you will be sorry.

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I have read several others of Denise Hunter's books, but I haven't picked one up in a while. A couple weeks ago I just needed something light and happy to read, so I grabbed her latest, Just A Kiss.

This is the final book in the Summer Harbor series, and it was fun to see how some of the other characters ended up. This book covers the youngest Callahan brother, Riley Callahan, and his return home from Afghanistan, where he lost a limb. He is still pining after his best friend, Paige, but how can he pursue her when he doesn't feel like a whole man after losing his leg?

This book was just what I was looking for as far as being an easy read. One thing I always like about Hunter's books is how she keeps the story moving in a natural, enjoyable way. I will say that the two books I read in this series came off a little formulaic to me though. Guy and girl are falling for each other, realize it, get together, something drives them apart, then they realize they can't live without each other and get back together. I typically enjoy that kind of romance, and it could just be because I have been reading different sorts of books lately, but I found myself wishing she had changed it up a bit in this story.

However, I did enjoy this book. The characters were likable, and I liked the ending. If you are looking for a Christian (or even just clean) romance, definitely check Hunter's books out!

Note: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for a review. This is my honest opinion.

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Denise Hunter has a winner in this story that could be so true to life for many young Americans experiencing lost love, denied love, delayed hopes, and often the frustrations that life hands you. She brings her main characters to life and the reader feels their pain and happiness with the changes they must face. She gives hope to many who endure the same types of family problems. A sequel could be nice- to revisit the couples 10 years later..

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The tenderness of this story snuck up on me, Riley and Paige were truly an inspiration in their friendship and love...I enjoyed the characters, each with their unique personalities, Riley's especially was larger than life. His anger was understandable, his drive to succeed in his recovery admirable. The message of God's love and faithfulness that was layered throughout the story was a message well received, and served as a reminder of His presence in our lives...if we let Him in, the rewards are wonderful!

This book was provided by the Publisher and Netgalley, I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

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