This was a great book. I fell in love with the characters. The way the author wrote some of the scenery of the wilderness around the lodge drew me in quickly. Avery and Ty were awesome together. Avery's spirit and desire to live life to the fullest. She had a major health scare that made her decide to change the way she living. She wants to live life loud even attempt some daring endeavours. She gets herself in a few pickles and scrapes. Ty comes home to help fix up the lodge since he heard it failed a major inspection. He runs into Avery who is caught red handed on the hood of his truck. Which leads to a kiss....and other mishaps. Ty is destined to get the lodge back in shape pulls a few tricks of his own. Can these two work toward a common goal of getting the lodge back in shape? Can two people get over past hurts and forge a future together? I look forward to reading other books in this series and other books written by this Author. ARC provided by Net galley for an honest review.

Enjoyed this book a lot.  Liked the addition of the Alzheimer's storyline.  My favourite Marina Adair book so far.

Marina is one of my favorite authors. A must go to for books. This one did not disappoint. Must read.

This is wonderful lyrical love story.  Avery and Ty have both had heartbreaking loses in their lives.  Avery has channeled her lose in to giving back.  Ty has closed himself off from his family.  This is touching love story.  Of how two broken hearts find their way to each other.  Very excited for the other books in this series.   I am major fan of Marina Adair's books love her writing style.

Wow! What a book! I have loved all of Marina Adair's books, but this one may be my favorite. Her books are fun reads, with quirky characters who usually say and do the unexpected. It Started With a Kiss was all that and more. This book has so much substance, its share of quirky characters and vivacity, and a depth that had me hooked from the beginning. I couldn't put it down, but I am sad to be finished reading it. The good news is that it is the start of a new series and I anxiously await book 2!

Just about 3 Stars
There is just something missing in this book. I wish I could say exactly what is missing that I can’t help. 
Avery Adams wants to live out loud after a kidney transplant she has a memory journal to grant wishes that others who were in her position never will have the chance to do. 
Climb Sierra Point just like her mother did. What she lacks in experience she makes up in with courage, stubbornness and a zest for life. 
While coming back from a client and Avery being stuck in the harness she sees that her only option is to borrow a screwdriver to get out of the harness. The screwdriver falls down the drain. What’s a girl to do? Well for starters writing on the windshield of the truck with lipstick that the screwdriver is gone but can only get to I owe you a SCREW... and the lipstick runs out. 
Ty Donovan doesn’t want to be back home, too many painful memories have kept him away but now it is time to face them especially when the family lodge is about to lose one of their biggest clients. But is day got better when he sees a blonde angel sitting on his truck thinking she’s offering a screw…
Avery and Ty’s encounter is hilarious and at the same time she manages to fulfill one of the memory journal wishes. For Bella kiss a stranger.
The chemistry is scorching between them but Ty doesn’t want to stay and well Avery doesn’t want to leave. Ty has to sort out what is going on with his family. His father his showing signs of dementia and it’s getting harder to make decisions. Avery is with him every step of the way.
I was missing some angst in this book. The author writes a sweet story that is equally heartbreaking at times and heartwarming at others. It is just so slow in some places that there were times that I just wanted to put it down and come back to it. This is the book for you if you like sweet, cute romance. I personally wish that I could have liked it more.

This is a great, heartbreaking and filled with emotions story that I couldn't put down. I loved following Ty and Avery as their life unfolds and reading about the heartbreak, love and fun they experience. This is the start to a new series called Sequoia Lake by Author Marina Adair. I really enjoyed this book and I am eagerly awaiting Book #2. I've only read one of her books before this one, but her books have me on the hook. I received an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley and Montlake Romance. 
This review contains My Own Honest Opinions of this book. I was not compensated in anyway for this review.

A truly heartwarming read ! 

Avery after her kidney transplant, has a new lease of life, and her motto is to live life loud. 
Her goal is to climb the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and to get training she gets a job with the Sequoia Lake Lodge. 
Tyson has made a life for himself away from his family lodge as a member of the Rescue team. But when he hears of the lodge struggling, he comes back home. 
A chance encounter between Avery and Ty lead to chemistry hot enough to spark a forest fire. This book has ups and downs that will make you laugh and cry. 
It started with a kiss is an intense, emotional and entertaining read. It's a beautiful start to the new series and I can't wait to read more.

Marina Adair is known for writing books with humor, heart, hot guys, and fun older characters, cheekily-named shops, and and a hard-earned happily ever after. It Started With A Kiss was exactly what I want from a Marina Adair book. I absolutely love a book that can make my eyes water on one page and have me laughing on the next. This one was a surprisingly emotional read, but it was laced with Marina's typical humor and heart which helped temper the tears I was on the verge of so many times.

From the start, I found myself taken with Avery. I loved her spirit and her heart. Her over-the-top determination made me squint a few times, wondering if she had any self-awareness at all, but what would have made me crazy with another character was oddly endearing on Avery. I absolutely loved the idea behind her 'wish book' and her determination to carry them out. I would have happily read even more scenes of her 'living loud' in honor of her friends. 

I liked Ty before he told the story of Garrett – he was charming and far more tolerant with Avery than most men would have been - but after learning about Garrett, I found myself just wanting to hug him. I also connected with his feelings regarding with Dale's health (being vague to avoid spoilers). Until you've watched a parent going through that situation, you can't begin to imagine how it feels or how helpless a child feels watching it happen. Beyond the serious stuff, I loved his interactions with Harris, his good-natured reactions to Avery's wish fulfillment needs, and his intense sexiness mixed with his vulnerability. He was exactly what I've come to hope for from a Marina Adair book Hero. 

This story left me wanting more Sequoia Lake. There was some foreshadowing with regards to Olivia and Paxton's story, and I am very much looking forward to reading the next book in this series – even though it feels like it is a ridiculously long way off.

I requested this book from NetGalley and was thrilled to be granted a copy. I was under no obligation to write a review of this book, I wrote this review and pre-ordered the book because I enjoyed it.

I've fallen in love with these new series from Marina Adair.  Ms. Adair's very descriptive writing painted a beautiful picture of the small Sierra Nevada town that is the setting for this book.  The characters of Tyson and Avery are both very intriguing.  Tyson is a very physical and dedicated member of a search and rescue team but has to put his career on hold while he returns home to help his family save their adventure lodge.  Avery is a young woman trying to live life to the fullest.  Her history shows that life can be too short to waste so she goes after what she wants.  Tyson is definitely on the list of wants but he's only here for a short time.  Can she take the risk and put her heart on the line knowing he is more than likely leaving.  Will he give them a try??

You don't want to miss this one.  I highly recommend it.

I love Marina Adair books  and when I heard  about  her new Sequoia Lake series I was so excited  . I started reading the arc  for this book as soon as I could and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It started with a kiss was such a good read.

 In this book we follow Tyson and Avery. These two where just wonderful together  I mean at first  things between them have a  interesting start and when you read the book you will understand exactly what I mean by that lol ,but as we get deeper  into the story  things change between them and the romance starts to brew . The romance in this book was perfect for  these two character I felt  that they both helped open each other open up to something new weather they realized it  or not. Watching these two fall in love  over the course of this  book was just wonderful . Marina Adair writes  such swoon worthy romance in everyone of her stories. I loved that in this book we got to explore what living a full life truly means,  it got  me to think about  how life is  so short and we all need to take that jump sometimes . I am a huge fan of small town romance so I just  loved the setting ,all of other characters added something different to this  story . I  have nothing but good this to say about this book  Marina Adair has created another  wonderful read with Its started with a kiss.

It started with a  kiss was sexy, sweet, fun .heartwarming contemporary romance  and I cannot wait to see what Marina Adair has in store for the next Sequoia lakes novel

I love Marina Adair's books and fell behind in her last series, so I decided to jump into her newest series. It Started With A Kiss is the first novel in the Sequoia Lake series and it had all the elements I love in a small-town series romance. Memorable characters, small-town charm, and a heartwarming romance await you in It Started With A Kiss.

Coffee Dates with It Started With A Kiss

First Date: I absolutely love the setup for how Tyson and Avery meet. Avery is such a unique, colorful character and I immediately wanted to be her friend. Adair transports us to a resort town in the Sequoia Lake area, and I loved the small-town and Adventure Lodge. Tyson is a member of the Sequoia Elite Mountain Rescue team but is home after hearing the lodge is in trouble. Right away I was pulled into their story from the surprises to the tension.

Second Date: I love small-town series and Adair introduces secondary characters and offers several threads in addition to the romance. All of them weaved together to create an addictive story the provided a little drama, some laughter, and even a few tears. Tyson has some family issues and guilt to tackle, but I liked him. Mr. Rugged is hot, passionate and natural protector.  I loved seeing his reactions to Avery. Avery has been through a lot, but she simply shines and makes others around her feel her warmth. I love the thread about her journal. The chemistry delivers some off the chart moments.

Third Date: Stir in a little angst, personal growth and leaps of faith into our last date. Break out the truffles and tissues. The last part of the book just pulled at my heartstrings. We see Tyson mend fences and let go of the past. A scene with his father felt so genuine and there were lots of tears. I could not set this story down. The couple faced obstacles and I began to worry about an HEA.  While truffles were needed I ended this date both emotional spent and delighted I picked up It Started With A Kiss. I cannot wait for the next book.

e relationship between Ty and Avery may have  started with a kiss but had this couple ending with so much more.    

It Started with Your Kiss was a close to perfect mainstream romance.  The met cute between Ty and Avery definitely had me laughing out loud.   The pair had an easy rapport in the beginning which Genghis couple in the tough times.    I loved watching these two working together.  The complimented each other perfectly.   

The book had some very touching, real moments but didn't leave a sadness around the characters.       I was hopeful that this couple could overcome their adversity and emotional baggage for a brighter days.  

The Ty and Avery also had the perfect amount of chemistry that didn't leave the reader wanting more.  There relationship worked in and outside the bedroom

I could not put this book down!  The story of Avery a woman with kidney disease and a fairly recent transplant is trying to live life to its fullest.  Her mother died of the same kidney disease before she could get a transplant.  Avery takes a job working in the office at a rugged sport,hiking etc resort.  But her goal is to become a guide on more extreme hikes and climbing.  The owner of the resort is an older couple and the man is starting to deal with dementia.  So his son Tyson comes home to help at the resort but him and his father have some issues due to a tragic event years earlier.  I love the way Avery and Tyson meet, she brings some humor to the book for sure!  Avery is so sweet and somewhat innocent but man she can manipulate in a cute way and hold her own with people.  Tyson doesn't want to be home and has some issues to deal with but him and Avery together was cute, funny, steam and just entertaining.  I loved the whole story line of this book and the characters were great!!! Can't wait to read more in this series.

OMG, what a fabulous introduction for me to this author. I had never read a book by Ms. Adair, and she now can count me as a fan forever.
The story centers around Avery, a young woman whose life’s experiences inspires  her to embrace life to the fullest. She sees a silver lining in everything, and considering her past, you will want to make her happy as well. Ty, is the son of the owners of the lodge where Avery currently works. He is a member of the Sequoia Elite Mountain Rescue team home on vacation  , to help his parents with the lodge.
Both characters are well developed. Avery is sweet, strong, loving and has a big heart. Ty, has been hurt by his Dad , but he too is a strong individual that even though he clashes with his Dad, all he wants to do is help and overcome his own guilt. 
It’s a story about life’s ups and downs, family dynamics, how parents actions affects their children even as adults. How guilt can prohibit us from reaching true happiness, even if that guilt is unfounded.  But through it all, understanding , love , support, hope, encouragement and embracing the present, can truly heal and open our hearts.
Thank you Ms Adair, for such a wonderful story. I am looking forward to more of your books.
I was gifted this book by Netgalley and Montalke. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

This is the first book that I've read by Marina Adair. I'm not totally for sure if I'm a fan or not ... something just missed the mark with me on this one and I can't quite put my finger on it. 

When you start reading, you're dropped into Avery's life after she's had this life-altering kidney transplant. It's made abundantly clear that Avery has a new lease on life. And that's great! This chick is learning to live in the moment and more power to her. But even knowing that ... her character didn't seem consistent. I imagine going through something like Avery has, it really changes your perspective on things and maybe you do start to honestly change. And maybe with that comes some wavering within a persons character. Even still, Avery didn't seem like a complete character. Something was just off about her and it lasted the entire novel for me. It does make me think that maybe it was intentional on the author's part for Avery to come across like that but it didn't sit well with me. 

The story itself was ... okay. For being an outdoorsy book with this hero leading male, I thought that he would have a personality that was larger than life to go along with it. And he did sometimes. But it wasn't consistent. While I liked most of the characters in the book, none of them really stood out as people I will remember in the coming months. I won't be reading my next book and then still thinking about the characters from this book. And that's okay, I just prefer to have characters that stick with me. I want to WANT to know more about them and miss them when I've moved onto something else. 

Unfortunately, I didn't think that the plot was any more engaging than the characters were. It was okay but it didn't grab my attention and refuse to let go. There were parts where I felt like I should have been empathizing with the characters or at least feeling some sort of sad emotions for what was going on but that didn't happen. I think that feeling emotional while reading this was the intention but apparently, my heart is made of stone. And then the ending ... for the love of all things fluffy. The ending was sugary sweet and it was a tad too much. The rest of the book hadn't been that way and it just felt odd and ill placed. 

While I didn't hate the story and/or author, I don't know if I will read another book by her. There are tons of awesomely high ratings for this book right now, so I apparently missed something. 

* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *

This is not one of Adair's strongest, but a weak Adair is still head and shoulders above so many others that I enjoyed it. I think it suffered from a lack of focus; I found myself losing track of what dynamic was happening when. 

However, this is easily one of the best treatments of a child dealing with parental dementia I've ever read. It is sensitive and passionate, not demonizing anyone or making anyone a saint. I hope the other books in the series let us check back in on this plot line. 

A fuller review will appear at Fresh Fiction. I requested this book from them and NG, so reviews are appearing at each.

I LOVED this story! It had all the feels that I crave in a romance novel.  It’s emotional, raw, funny and at times intense.  Avery Adams and Tyson Donovan are my favorite fictional couple so far this year!  They are just so cute together and the chemistry was off the charts.  Avery is the sweetest with her heart of gold and Ty is a seriously sexy man out to save the world.  I loved not only the characters but especially the small town in which the story takes place.  The details and descriptions of everything going on really brought the story to life and I felt as though I was right there in the story witnessing the most amazing love grow and family bonds that had grown weak get stronger.

It Started With a Kiss is an amazing start to Marina Adair’s new Sequoia Lake series and I can’t wait to dive into the next installment.  This was a seriously good read and one that I would recommend to anyone in search of an awesome romance story.  It started with a kiss, but ended with so much more!!!

I really loved this book! It is the first in the Sequoia Lake series, a new one from Marina Adair. Just like with her other series, of which I am a huge fan, she has created such wonderful characters that it makes you want to get to know all of them much better. Tyson (Ty) and Avery are definitely two such characters. This book pulled me in from the beginning and I became fully invested in the outcome. I really loved Avery. She is a such a strong person and incredibly sweet. She has been through so much and now wants nothing more than to help others and "live loud". Ty is an amazing man. He too has been through so much but in a different way than her and now spends his life rescuing others. In this case I think meeting Avery rescues him.
I just love them together! Neither is without some flaws but they are perfect for each other. 
One of my favorite lines from the book is when Ty says to Avery, "When love is real and true, it could never lead to regret."
This is an awesome start to a new series! I will definitely be reading it all!!

Beautiful!! That one word says it all about this story! Avery, is a young woman who has had some really difficult times to deal with but such a wonderful outlook on living, I learned some real life lessons myself from her to incorporate into my own life. Ty is an alpha with a HUGH heart but just doesn't know how to express it. He also carries a heavy guilt deep within him. Avery shows Ty what it means to be all in when it comes to living. The way their love unfolds throughout the book is overwhelming and sooo hearfelt, the only thing that came to mind is BEAUTIFUL!!