Blog Tour: Book Review: Blind Kiss by Renee Carlino

Title: Blind Kiss

Author: Renee Carlino
Publication Date: August 14, 2018
Publisher: Atria Books
Source: Publisher
Format: eARC
Age Group: New Adult (NA)
Genre: Contemporary Romance

       

"A powerful story of two people who spend years denying their scientifically-proven chemistry.

Penny spends her afternoons sitting outside a sandwich shop, surrounded by ghosts. Fourteen years ago, this shop was her childhood dance studio... Now she’s a suburban housewife, dreading the moment her son departs for MIT, leaving her with an impeccably decorated McMansion and a failing marriage. She had her chance at wild, stars-in-her-eyes happiness, but that was a lifetime ago. After The Kiss. Before The Decision.

The Kiss was soulful. Magical. Earth-shattering, And it was all for a free gift card. Asked to participate in a psych study that posed the question, “Can you have sexual chemistry without knowing what the other person looks like?” Penny agreed to be blindfolded, make polite conversation with a total stranger, and kiss him. She never expected The Kiss to change her life forever and introduce her to Gavin: tattooed, gorgeous, and spontaneous enough to ask her out seconds after the blindfolds came off.

For a year, they danced between friendship and romance—until Penny made The Decision that forced them to settle for friendship. Now, fourteen years later, both of their lives are about to radically change—and it’s his turn to decide what will become of their once-in-a-lifetime connection."

I have been a fan of Renee Carlino for a long time.  Ever since I read Sweet Thing, I fell in love with her writing and story telling.  She knows how to get to my heart and bring out all these emotions I didn't know I had. Yes, she's that good. So when I heard that she had another book releasing this year, I knew I had to get my hands on it.  I knew I was going to love it , but little did I know that it would become one of my favorites of hers. Swear on This Life is my number one of hers, and Blind Kiss is right there next to it.  I am s sucker for angsty books.  I love it when I read a book and I am cheering for the characters and praying that they finally get their happily ever after. And that's exactly what I got with Blind Kiss. 

Penny has always wanted to be a dancer with dreams of opening her own little dance studio and teaching others how to dance. She's in college now getting her degree in dance. She's focused on making her dreams come true and has put aside her social and dating life to make sure she does not get off track.  

 

That is until bad boy, Gavin comes into her life in the most unexpected way. LOL He is also determined to become Penny's best friend. 

This is how I pictured Gavin the while time I was reading Blind Kiss. His name is Stephen James Hendry. Hot right? 

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The story is told in past and future chapters. I loved it because it gave us a glimpse of how things were and kept us guessing why things were the way they were. It worked great with the story.  Also, I loved the chemistry between Gavin and Penny. They are such opposites, but yet, so much alike. Both are lonely and searching for comfort.  They are the true definition of best friends falling in love. And lucky for them that they have one another because sometimes life throws us curveballs and we need someone we love and who understands us by our side to ride out the storm.  Here is a quote from Blind Kiss that I love and I couldn't agree with it more. 

"Life will change and change again. You just have to find a port in this storm."  

I cannot recommend Blind Kiss enough. It's a tearjerker and it will hit you right in the feels. It will make you want a friendship like the one that Gavin and Penny have. Thank you, Renee.  I have fallen in love with yet another one of your books. 

Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of contemporary women's novels and new adult fiction. Her books have been featured in national publications, including USA TODAY, Huffington Post, Latina magazine, and Publisher's Weekly. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. When she's not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate.