ARC Review: Blind Kiss by Renee Carlino

I love Renee Carlino’s writing style and her stories are always so captivating. I couldn’t wait for Blind Kiss, and she definitely didn’t disappoint! With each new book from her, she just seems to get better and she always exceeds my expectations, delivering solid and unique stories that you can’t help but feel emotionally invested in. Blind Kiss is one of those books that will hook you from the start, and stay with you long after you have turned the last page . 

Penny is a housewife that spends her time dreading her son leaving for college and sitting outside a sandwich shop that used to be her dance studio. Her marriage is failing and she can’t help but remember a time when things were different. When she was in college she was asked to undergo an experiment where she was blindfolded and asked to make small talk and kiss a stranger to see what natural chemistry was like without seeing or knowing the other person. It was intense and something that never was far from her mind, especially since it introduced her to Gavin. But what could have been so much more between them was made to be only friendship after Penny made a decision that changed everything. After 14 years though, it will be Gavin’s turn to decide what happens next as both of their lives are about to drastically change yet again. 

I will admit that these characters had me experiencing all the emotions. While I loved them and felt for them, there were times that they pissed me off and frustrated me. The one thing I can say for sure though is that I couldn’t get enough! I couldn’t put the book down and I felt everything so strongly! I was invested in them and really felt as though I was having my heart broken at the same times they were. I never stopped hoping that they would figure things out, and I will say that there was a lot of angst and push and pull here. While that usually gets on my nerves, it was different here. Renee Carlino writes like no one else, and she always has a way with words that is different from anyone else. 

Overall, this book was fantastic. While I know some readers will have some issues with the characters and story, to me it was one of Carlino’s very best! It was everything I have come to know and love from her, and impossible for me to put down. I never wanted it to be over and I was lost in this world the entire time I was reading it. I can’t recommend it or any of her books enough! To me, this is a must read!

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

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ARC Review: Wish You Were Here by Renee Carlino

Renee Carlino has a way with words unlike any author I have ever read before. She writes absolutely beautiful stories, and Wish You Were Here was no different. She is an auto-buy for me and I recommend checking her books out if you haven't already. 

Charlotte is in her twenties and is a bit lost. While she has a job and lives with her best friend, she flits from job to job and guy to guy. But when she meets Adam, she finds a connection unlike any she has felt before, even if it is just for a night. But after the night is over and Adam is gone, Charlotte tries to move on with her life once again. Months later, Adam is still on her mind and Charlotte sets out to discover what happened and why he left after their night together. 

I loved these characters. I will admit that it was a bit slow starting for me and I wasn't sure how I would feel. I am so glad that I stuck with it though as this was more than I expected. Adam and Charlotte were great, and I loved the connection between them. Their story was beautiful and such an emotional one. I felt so connected to these characters and like I was right there with them through all the ups and downs. 

Overall, I can't go into much of the story itself but what I can say is that this is one that will stick with me. The characters were easy to fall for and I really felt like they were special and different. This story is full of so much emotion and depth, and it definitely brought all the feels. It was full of love and hope, even when it was sad and heartbreaking. No one writes like Renee Carlino, and I can't wait for more from her. This is one I think a lot of readers will love, just keep the tissues close!

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

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Feature: Wish You Were Here by Renée Carlino

You know when you’re looking at someone and you can’t help but smile at how oblivious they are to their own charm? That’s what was happening to me, and it was making me feel…happy. Euphoric. Something indescribable. It was like we already knew each other, like we had met in a previous life. Memories that didn’t exist began exploding in my mind like fireworks.

Charlotte has spent her twenties adrift, searching for a spark to jump-start her life and give her a sense of purpose. She’s had as many jobs as she’s had bad relationships, and now she’s feeling especially lost in her less-than-glamorous gig at a pie-and-fry joint in Los Angeles, where the uniforms are bad and the tips are even worse.

Then she collides—literally—with Adam, an intriguing, handsome, and mysterious painter. Their serendipitous meeting on the street turns into a whirlwind one-night stand that has Charlotte feeling enchanted by Adam’s spontaneity and joy for life. There’s promise in both his words and actions, but in the harsh light of morning, Adam’s tune changes, leaving Charlotte to wonder if her notorious bad luck with men is really just her own bad judgment.

Months later, a new relationship with Seth, a charming baseball player, is turning into something more meaningful, but Charlotte’s still having trouble moving past her one enthralling night with Adam. Why? When she searches for answers, she finds the situation with Adam is far more complicated than she ever imagined. Faced with the decision to write a new story with Seth or finish the one started with Adam, Charlotte embarks on a life-altering journey, one that takes her across the world and back again, bringing a lifetime’s worth of pain, joy, and wisdom.

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