Review + Giveaway: Kiss Me Like This (The Morrisons #1) by Bella Andre

Series: The Morrisons #1

Genre: Contemp Romance

Publisher: Self-Published

Publication Date: 6/11/4

Format: eARC

Pages: 300

Source: Author

Rating: 4 stars

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From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Bella Andre, comes a New Adult contemporary series about The Morrisons!

Sean Morrison, one of six siblings and the top college baseball player in the country, is reeling from a heartbreakingly painful loss. Nothing seems to matter anymore...until the night Serena Britten unexpectedly ends up in his arms.

Serena is a world-famous model who has only ever wanted to be normal, even though her mother has always pushed her to become a superstar. Though it isn't easy to try to leave everyone and everything she knows behind, Serena is determined to enroll in college. More than anything, she wants to turn her love for books into a new career that she actually loves. Only, she never expected to meet someone like Sean on campus—or to be instantly consumed by their incredible chemistry and connection.

But when the pressures of her high-profile modeling career only get bigger and more demanding, will it make living a normal life as a college student—and falling in love with the hottest guy on campus—impossible?

Note for Sullivan fans: Serena made an appearance in Just To Be With You (Ian's story) and Smith Sullivan from Come A Little Bit Closer makes an appearance in KISS ME LIKE THIS, too! KISS ME LIKE THIS is a full-length, standalone emotional and sexy New Adult contemporary romance novel of 400+ pages/90,000 words and is intended for readers 18+.

Like millions of readers, I am a fan of Bella Andre's. Her books, particularly The Sullivans series, inspire a certain sense of devotion, and we always want more, yes? So when I got the opportunity to read Kiss Me Like This, I...well, I squealed like my six-year old daughter. I was so ready and I jumped in right away.

Whether a book is Adult or New Adult honestly doesn't matter to me, as long as I'm interested in the story. But I will admit to curiosity in regards to how Andre would write New Adult. My answer? She did it so very well. Kiss Me Like This still felt like a Bella Andre book, simply revolving around a younger set of characters. We still get strong and endearing main characters who must overcome struggles in their lives, a sweet, beautiful love story that'll leave you swooning, and yes, the steam. Bonus, the story never felt like it was trying too hard, wasn't overly angsty.

Kiss Me Like This me like this is the story of two Serena and Sean, trying to find their way. Serena, a former model/actress, is determined to live a normal life as a college student. Her domineering, shallow mother has other plans. Serena's world has revolved around her body, selling a look. Higher learning has been her dream, to spend her days studying, hide away in the library while she binges on the works she obsesses over. At Stanford, Serena does not want to be known as a body or a face, simply a student.

Sean Morrison is numb, or at least he strives to be. The tight-knit Morrison family's world was destroyed when mom Lisa lost her battle with cancer three months prior. Lost, feeling angry and grief-striken, Sean doesn't want to feel anything. When he sees the most beautiful woman dancing at a party, Sean makes a bold, bold move. A move that nearly costs him a chance to know Serena Britten. While every other guy around wants Serena the sex symbol, Sean sees someone with beautiful heart, full of kindness and compassion. She brings him peace.

The connection between Sean and Serena was powerful. I never had a moment's hesitation as to their...rightness. Serena doesn't trust anyone easily, has been coached by her mom that all men are after one thing. But Sean, he was such a great guy, nearly perfect. He was so careful with Serena's heart and her body, never pushing, always reassuring. Sean's big hindrance from fully moving forward is coming to terms with his mom's death, and how that loss affected his love of photography. Through Serena's gentle nature and willingness to be patient while he finds his way, and his words, Sean begins to heal and find a way to the path he wants to take ahead.

Kiss Me Like This just really melted my heart. I know that's not the hardest task for a book, but Andre has a way of grabbing my heart with every book. The love story was thoughtful and endearing. The secondary characters, particularly Serena's roommate Abi and the Morrison siblings all enhanced the story. And ohhhhhh! We get some juicy, enticing sequel bait with older brother Drew Morrison, a rock star!

Whether you're a long time fan of Bella Andre's or a reader looking for a good New Adult story to dig into, Kiss Me Like This is a story a recommend without reservation.

Favorite Quotes

  For a few perfect moments, they were equal partners in passion. He wasn't leading and she wasn't following. They were both simply taking and giving to each other exactly what they needed.

  A break from the cold.

  A reminder of what it was to feel alive, completely alive.

  And a chance to forget what they each needed to forget.

  "And you're right. Because even knowing you need to go slow, I want to push you fast. So damned fast." He lowered his gaze to her lips and she shivered with need. "I want to kiss you for hours and hours, nowhere but that sweet mouth of yours, until you're begging me for more. Pleading with me to kiss you anywhere I want. Everywhere you want."
  Her breathing grew ragged from nothing more than just listening to him.

  "So even though I hate having to wait a whole week to see you again, I'm not going to ask you to change your mind. And I won't text or call or come by or get in your way while you're studying this 
week, because something tells me that would be just as bad a distraction for both of us, and I could never forgive myself if your grades slipped because of me. But if you need me for any reason, I want you to know that I'll drop everything for you."

Bella is giving one lucky reader a signed copy of Kiss Me Like This. Must be 18+ years of age, open to US.

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About Bella Andre

New York Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author of "The Sullivans" series.

Having sold more than 3 million books, Bella Andre’s novels have been #1 bestsellers around the world. After signing a groundbreaking 7-figure print-only deal with Harlequin MIRA, Bella’s Sullivan series is being released in paperback in the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia.

Known for “sensual, empowered stories enveloped in heady romance” (Publishers Weekly), her books have been Cosmopolitan Magazine “Red Hot Reads” twice and have been translated into nine languages, and her Sullivan books are already Top 20 sellers in Brazil. Winner of the Award of Excellence, The Washington Post has called her “One of the top digital writers in America” and she has been featured by NPR, USA Today, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and most recently in TIME Magazine. She has given keynote speeches at publishing conferences from Copenhagen to Berlin to San Francisco.

If not behind her computer, you can find her reading her favorite authors, hiking, swimming or laughing. Married with two children, Bella splits her time between the Northern California wine country and a 100-year-old log cabin in the Adirondacks. 

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