Just a Kiss Away

Never thought I would ever have to say this of a Barnett book, but it was a struggle to finish. While I don’t care much for self centered heroes, even less do I enjoy silly screaming stupid heroines. Enough said!

This is the most funny crazy matched couple in the book I have ever read.I laugh tell I cryed and read this in 2 days.It was so hard to put down.I never read anything by this author but if any of her other books are as good as this one I am in.This was one crazy read.Have fun and enjoy I did.

I loved this book! I can understand why some people didn't like the book and after reading the reviews I was thinking about not reading the book, but I glad I didn't listen. I enjoyed the character Lollie. She wasn't perfect, but she had a lot of heart and was just what Sam needed. Yes, he did say some things that I didn't like, but I feel that it just added to who he was and his individuality. Both characters saved each other and helped each other grow. I laughed while reading this book because of all the things Lollie got into. I love the characters that Jill Barnett makes up. She is one of my favorite authors and I have yet to read a book by her that I didn't like. I read all of her books, but two and can't wait for her to write more. Jill Barnett has the writer's gift!

There are some annoying things in this. Overall, it'll always be one of my favorites, partly because it was written by Jill Barnett who always writes wonderful love and laughter romances that are extremely passionate. Just a Kiss Away was no exception and it was wonderfully romantic, especially the part where title comes from. Even though, she (the heroine) was quite a ditz, she wasn't passed off as being perfect, like some other authors do. One example is in Cherry Adair's Hide and Seek where if the heroine did something stupid, her actions were supposedly "loyal" instead of ludicrious. In Just a Kiss Away, everyone knows the heroine is a ditz and the author doesn't deny it. Instead of excusing Lolly's ridiculous and often-times hilarious actions, Ms. Barnett emphasized her endearing qualities. How she wasn't really snob, even if she had money. How she couldn't sing but didn't let it stop her and how she was reasonably loyal. So, yeah, the heroine cooked REALLY badly and over-boiled shirts and ended up physically scarring the hero an awful lot, but she fit with hero. A hero who was romantic, really rough around the edges, and very scarred in many ways other than the physical. I loved this book even if the heroine was a bit ditzy. It was original and well-plotted out although if you know you're the serious type, you won't want to give this one a shot.

No, it's not a joke. The story takes place in the jungles of the Philippines during a violent revolution. Sam is a one-eyed mercenary soldier who runs across Eulalie Grace LaRue, a 19-year-old Southern belle who has come to meet the ambassador-father she hasn't seen for 17 years. She and Sam are forced to flee together for their lives through a dangerous jungle full of mud, bugs, precipices, and scantily-dressed natives. From the moment he meets her, ghetto-raised Sam despises Eulalie Grace LaRue, who had been protected from the realities of the cruel world by her older brothers. It isn't just her pampered princess upbringing that annoys him. . .there is also the shrill screaming that threatens his hearing, the constant complaining, the singing, the many disasters that she causes whenever he turns his back. Well, Lollie tells herself she doesn't care what he thinks because. . . well, no true gentleman would treat a lady in such a spiteful way.As their hair-raising adventures continue, however, both Sam and Lollie begin to see beneath the surface. Sam realizes that Lollie, in spite of her ladylike airs, suffers from a lack of self-confidence brought on by her father's abandonment and the overprotectiveness of her brothers. Lollie realizes that Sam's tough exterior is a defensive mechanism that he uses to keep people, emotions--and hurt--from getting too close.After reading this book--which I could hardly force myself to put down--I have to agree with Sam, who, when asked by Lollie why he loves her, replies:"Because God has a sense of humor."And so, obviously, does Jill Barnett. Nice job!

Sam and Lollie are two of the most mismatched characters I won't forget in a long time. They are the true definition of "opposites attract". This book made me laugh, cry, and sigh. The fast moving plot kept me up till the wee hours of the night, unable to put it down. Great job Jill!