ARC Book Review: Kissing for Keeps (Sheppard’s in Love #1) by Martha Keyes

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Martha Keyes
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 6th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

History has a way of repeating itself…

SIENA
Coming on the heels of a big, fat failure at work, my best friend Madi’s glamorous French wedding is the perfect opportunity to prove I can do some things well—even if it kills me, which is looking like a distinct possibility. Maid of honor duties are no joke. And while I could honestly use an extra hand or ten, I have to refuse the offer of help from Madi’s flirt of a brother, Jack. Nothing would spoil the beautiful wedding festivities faster than her finding out about that thing that happened between Jack and me that one time…

Not that there’s any danger of it happening again. It was so long ago, I’ve forgotten everything about it, down to the brand of his cologne. Aqua Di Gio is so utterly predictable.

JACK
I admit, I haven’t been the best brother to Madi. Okay, slight understatement—a history of dating her friends and ruining those friendships has landed me squarely in her black books.

But my offer to help Siena isn’t some underhanded scheme to hurt Madi a third time. I genuinely want to be a better brother. And as for teasing Siena in the meantime? That’s just standard procedure for me.

Because everything is totally normal here. Nothing to see, folks.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

LOVED FROM START TO FINISH.

Oh this book was everything I needed!! I loved it so much and am so excited for Martha Keyes to be writing contemporary romances now too. I’ve always enjoyed her historicals, and now I can love on these sweet romances too.

I adored Jack. Oh my goodness, what a cinnamon roll who threw perfectly placed banter. Continually took care of Sienna and tried to make amends for his past. I love a character who can acknowledge mistakes and look towards change and growth. Sienna was lovely too. I FELT her need to make sure everything was perfect for Madi’s wedding and I liked how this pressure helped her reevaluate a lot in her life too. Jack and Sienna were clearly a match from the start and I looooved all of the forced proximity moments we got between them. Also, I need strawberries ASAP.

The setting was beautiful. In France at a château? SIGN ME UP. It was romantic and brought about a fantastic kissing scene, just the right amount of jealousy from Jack and plenty of time to explore the countryside and local town. I could not put this down and look forward to getting even more stories in this world!!

Overall audience notes: