Name: Candyce Kirk's review of Blind Kiss by Renée Carlino
Item: Blind Kiss
Rating: 4
Author: Candyce Kirk

Renée Carlino

From the national bestselling author of Before We Were Strangers, Swear on this Life, and Wish You Were Here comes 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—and she was a dancer on the rise. 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.

A Novel

Blind Kiss

Heather

Candyce Kirk

4.5 stars

Blind Kiss is a book I can't compare anything to. I fell in love with these characters, was extremely frustrated with them, cried for them and loved them again in the end. If that isn't an emotional rollercoaster, I don't know what it. This author wrote all of their emotions so well, you can't help but feel them too.

We meet Penny when she's a senior in college. Dancing is her passion and she works as hard as she can. Nothing is going to stop her dream, not even a man. No relationships for her. Things get complicated when she meets Gavin during a Blind Kiss experiment. Is it possible to connect with someone after a kiss when blindfolded?

Gavin is a very charismatic man and you can't help but smile as you read about him. They have an instant connection and my hopes were high for them to be together. Penny sticks to her word though. The are only friends.

This is where Blind Kiss gets frustrating and angsty at times! It's a back and forth of them being close and ultimately hurting each other, because their timing sucks, haha. Timing really is everything. Things happen in both their lives that change them and bring them on different paths. Blind Kiss is told in different times, 14 years ago and then so many months before the first chapter.

I loved having a mix of past and almost present. This made it possible to really understand their relationship. All their highs and lows really influenced their relationship. At a certain point Penny was disappointing to me. I get why she did certain things in her situation, but she kind of just gave up in my eyes. While I do understand her, I just wanted to scream at her to go to Gavin.

In the end it all comes down to, do they get their happily ever after? I'd say you have to read and find out! I do have to say I struggled on how to rate this book. I was so frustrated with the characters at time, but it's such a beautiful book! This author knows how to write a story!

Melea Mullican

I received a copy of this book from Simon & Schuster for review. They are not influencing my opinion in any way. 

This was my first Renee Carlino book, and I was so pleased with it! I had a few minor nit-picks, but overall, I was captivated by Penny and Gavin's story. I went into BLIND KISS pretty (you guessed it) blind! I knew that there was a psychology experiment and a blind kiss and that was it, so I was very surprised by the twist Carlino put on this already unique premise. 

Gavin and Penny have had many tests to their friendship and even more to their love. Every time it seems like the perfect time to give in and be together, something else comes up. I like that, for the most part, BLIND KISS doesn't take the easy way out. Things don't just magically fix themselves to make the characters able to be together. However, this leads me to one of my nit-picks. Things do just kind of magically get better at one point, but she skirts around it with a time jump. Do I wish it hadn't happen? No. Hence the "nit-pick."

I also felt like the story wrapped up really quickly. I felt like there needed to be more. Perhaps this could have been done with a different take on the epilogue or extending the story some. I

I listened to Rebkkca Ross and Sebastian York bring Penny and Gavin to life. They both did an excellent job. I felt like it enhanced the story. I have listened to each of these read several books, and I would definitely recommend audiobooks they read to others. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to others, and I would also read a book by Renee Carlino again.

Tiffany Engler

I’m just gonna bring up the fact that I really kind of hate the cover to this book. It’s kind of creepy…

I don’t think I’ve read a Renee Carlino book and didn’t like it. This one is no exception! I was addicted to this story. I love Penny and Gavin’s story, as it is a long one. I love how this book panned out. It’s a love story years in the making. I know most people would hate this book for the cheating aspect, but I’m a person that as long as it doesn’t happen in real life, it won’t bother me.

My only gripe about this book is their romance starts in like the last chapter of this book. I need more Penny and Gavin in love with each other!

Read my full review here.

Heather &
Blind Kiss by Renée Carlino

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