Title: Only A Kiss
Author: Ines Bautista-Yao
Publisher: Chamber Shell Publishing
Date of Publication: November 29, 2014
Genre: contemporary romance
When she was nine-years-old, Katie knew she wanted Chris to give her her first kiss. It wasn’t because she was in love with him (no way, he was her best friend! Besides, she was in love with his fourteen-year-old big brother), it was because she could make him do anything she wanted.
Besides, it didn't really mean anything. It was only a kiss after all.
But then things started to change. They grew up. They parted ways and went to different high schools. And other girls and boys—well, just one particular boy—came into the picture, throwing their lives upside down.
Told from the alternating points of view of Katie and Chris, this love story between two best friends will tug at your heartstrings and leave you thinking how the simplest things can mean so much.
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23705867-only-a-kiss
Only A Kiss is on sale for ONLY $0.99 until February 14! And for PH residents, Only A Kiss paperback is now available in National Book Store and Fully Booked!
Book Excerpt:
But a few weeks later, while he was
doing some groceries for his mom after school, something he actually
enjoyed because he found it relaxing when there weren’t too many
people, someone tapped him on the shoulder. “Haven’t been seeing
you around.” He turned to see Iris, looking absolutely adorable in
a blue tank top, skinny jeans, and orange Chucks. She had a faded
yellow headband on and somehow, it made her entire face light up. He
didn’t know how or why, he just noticed that it did. And right
then, he knew he was powerless against her. “If I didn’t know any
better, I’d think you were avoiding me.” She tilted her head to
the side and looked up at him prettily. She knew she was cute, he
realized. She knew he liked her. And he didn’t care. She was
talking to him, wasn’t she? Did that mean she liked him too?
Book Review:
Rating: 3 of 5 stars
I am a big romantic at heart so when I read the blurb of Only A Kiss I immediately jumped on the opportunity to read it. This is my first time to read a book by the author so I wasn't sure what to expect but I'm glad I gave this book a shot because I ended up really liking it.
Katie is a likable protagonist. She was kinda bossy when she was a kid but she's just as passionate and I really liked that about her. She feels things strongly and she goes after whatever she wants. I admire her strength and her stubbornness to not give up easily. I found it odd though that her nine year old self is thinking about who she's going to marry someday. I mean she's nine! When I was that age the only thing on my mind was cartoons and video games and when asked what I wanted to be when I grow up I answered back "I want to be a nurse." (Turns out I'm terrified of blood so there goes that dream) But anyway, I still liked her. I am a big fan of happily ever afters so I can relate with Katie's fascination with marriage. There is something magical in knowing that you've found the one person you would want to spend the rest of your life with.
Chris on the other hand is the opposite of Katie. He's gentle and soft-spoken. He's far on my list of top fictional boyfriends but I must admit I admire his protective and understanding personality.
I love reading about Katie and Chris' adventures, fallouts, romantic encounters and mishaps. They grew up together and did almost everything together. They tell each other everything. They are each other's firsts. They're bestfriends in every sense of the word.
The book is divided into chapters alternating between both of the main characters' POVs starting from when they were nine until they turned to adults. I think this fits perfectly with the story. It makes you understand the how and the why of things. It clearly showed what kind of history and relationship Katie and Chris have and the reason why they act the way they do. It gave their relationship depth and made it more real.
Only A Kiss is a typical story of two bestfriends who, in the end, realized that the one person they would love like nothing else has been in front of them all along. I am rarely a fan of bestfriends turned lovers story but this book, surprisingly, I really enjoyed. The plot isn't exactly unique but the execution was amazingly done. The characters were well-developed, there was no insta-love (NO to insta-love) and the story was believable.
Only A Kiss is sweet, fun and a wonderful story of two people who found love where they least expected it.
I received an e-arc to read and review.
I am a big romantic at heart so when I read the blurb of Only A Kiss I immediately jumped on the opportunity to read it. This is my first time to read a book by the author so I wasn't sure what to expect but I'm glad I gave this book a shot because I ended up really liking it.
Katie is a likable protagonist. She was kinda bossy when she was a kid but she's just as passionate and I really liked that about her. She feels things strongly and she goes after whatever she wants. I admire her strength and her stubbornness to not give up easily. I found it odd though that her nine year old self is thinking about who she's going to marry someday. I mean she's nine! When I was that age the only thing on my mind was cartoons and video games and when asked what I wanted to be when I grow up I answered back "I want to be a nurse." (Turns out I'm terrified of blood so there goes that dream) But anyway, I still liked her. I am a big fan of happily ever afters so I can relate with Katie's fascination with marriage. There is something magical in knowing that you've found the one person you would want to spend the rest of your life with.
Chris on the other hand is the opposite of Katie. He's gentle and soft-spoken. He's far on my list of top fictional boyfriends but I must admit I admire his protective and understanding personality.
I love reading about Katie and Chris' adventures, fallouts, romantic encounters and mishaps. They grew up together and did almost everything together. They tell each other everything. They are each other's firsts. They're bestfriends in every sense of the word.
The book is divided into chapters alternating between both of the main characters' POVs starting from when they were nine until they turned to adults. I think this fits perfectly with the story. It makes you understand the how and the why of things. It clearly showed what kind of history and relationship Katie and Chris have and the reason why they act the way they do. It gave their relationship depth and made it more real.
Only A Kiss is a typical story of two bestfriends who, in the end, realized that the one person they would love like nothing else has been in front of them all along. I am rarely a fan of bestfriends turned lovers story but this book, surprisingly, I really enjoyed. The plot isn't exactly unique but the execution was amazingly done. The characters were well-developed, there was no insta-love (NO to insta-love) and the story was believable.
Only A Kiss is sweet, fun and a wonderful story of two people who found love where they least expected it.
I received an e-arc to read and review.
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About the Author:
Ines Bautista-Yao is the author of One Crazy Summer, What’s in your Heart, and Only a Kiss. She has also written two short stories, “Flashbacks and Echoes,” which is part of a compilation called All This Wanting and “A Captured Dream,” one of the four short stories in Sola Musica: Love Notes from a Festival.
She is the former editor-in-chief of Candy and K-Zone magazines and a former high school and college English and Literature teacher. She is also a wife and mom and blogs about the many challenges and joys of motherhood at theeverydayprojectblog.com. She has recently launched The Author Project, a section in her current blog devoted to the stories in her head: http://theeverydayprojectblog.com/inesbyao-author-project/
She posts on Instagram and tweets @inesbyao and her author page is facebook.com/inesbautistayao.
Twitter - https://twitter.com/inesbyao
Instagram - http://instagram.com/inesbyao
Facebook - http://facebook.com/inesbautistayao
Giveaway:
For PH residents only:
One (1) winner will get a signed paperback of ONLY A KISS, a gift card from FILA, and a back issue of CAST comic book
Two (2) winners will each get a signed paperback of ONLY A KISS, light up laces, and back issue of CAST comic book
For INT:
FIve (5) winners will each get an ebook of ONLY A KISS
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