Friday, January 31, 2014

Book Review and Giveaway: It Felt Like a Kiss

By Becky Gulc

It Felt Like a Kiss is the first novel I've read by Sarra Manning, but I don't think it will be my last. This is a book that has great characters, characters to love, characters to despise and the essential character that makes you go a bit weak at the knees. But what's it all about?

Ellie Cohen is in her mid twenties and unlucky in love, or at least her friends think she is. We join Ellie as her best friends deliver a bit of an intervention over her latest boyfriend Richie, whom they feel is no good for her, just like her previous boyfriends. Whilst Ellie is a bit in denial, she soon learns they were right when a box of her most private possessions goes missing and her life is turned upside down when the Sunday papers out her as being the secret love child of the famous rock star Billy King, someone who has never wanted anything to do with Ellie. Ellie is mortified to say the least and the stories in the papers about her just keep getting worse as the days go on. With Ellie in hiding thanks to Billy's lawyer, David, attempting damage limitation, will she ever get the chance to show the public she isn't the gold digging floozy she is being made out to be? And will Ellie be able to control her feelings towards someone with whom it would be highly inconvenient to fall in love?

Whilst this felt like quite a long book, I see that as a positive. The pace was just right for me to get to know and like Ellie before she hits the headlines and this builds up our empathy and outrage that this could happen to such a lovely character. I loved the somewhat complex relationship between Ellie and David. David was someone who, as a reader, you change your mind about as a possible love interest for Ellie as the twists and turns unfold.

The book also switches between the Ellie's story in the present and her mother's story in the past, so it helped us to see what actually happened with Ellie's father and how we should feel about him. I was quite pleased that what I thought might happen at the end didn't in terms of this relationship, it felt real.

A particular positive for me with this novel is the truly rich description throughout, from describing places to people and feelings. Sometimes in novels it can feel like description is there for the sake of it but this was never the case here, I felt truly transported with clear images in my head of the characters and places. A definite recommended read from me!

Thanks to Madeline Toy Public Relations for the book in exchange for an honest review. She has FIVE copies for some lucky readers anywhere in the world!

How to win:
"Since the invention of the kiss there have been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind."--The Princess Bride

Tell us what your favorite on-screen kiss is (from TV or movies).

One entry per person.

Please include your e-mail address or another way to reach you if you win. Entries without contact information will NOT be counted.

Worldwide. Giveaway ends February 5th at midnight EST.

More by Sarra Manning:

24 comments:

Preet said...

Oh wow! I love Sarra Manning's books.

I'd have to say my favorite movie kiss is from Pretty Woman. The not kissing on the lips is meant to keep Vivian's heart safe from attachment.

When Vivian and Edward do kiss for the first time it's Vivian who initiates it and you can see the longing in her face and the way she slowly makes her way to Edward's lips. Their initial kiss on the lips is hesitant and sweet as they both know what it means before it turns into urgent passion.

That's some kiss and I know I wasn't able to it do it justice in trying to explain how wonderful it is.

kaur_chanpreet(at)hotmail(dot)com

Kim V said...

My favorite is still the classic beach kiss in From Here To Eternity.
k3kdpv@gmail.com

Jessica said...

The onscreen kiss between Jules and Grayson on Cougar Town a few seasons ago. It was so sweet and romantic. =]

Thanks!
-Jessica M
walkingcorpse11@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

My favorite on screen kiss is from a small movie called Lucky Seven.

opesopinions@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Hands down- The Notebook, where Noah tells Allie, "it wasn't over then, it's still not over!" Awwww...pure love bliss!

Booksintheburbs@gmail.com

Sheena said...

My favorite kiss is from Never Been Kissed. I just love the ending when Michael Vartan and Drew Barrymore finally get together and kiss.

wapneski@yahoo.com

Nova said...

My favorite is the kiss between Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze in the movie "Ghost"!
sparkle40175@hotmail.com

Janine said...

My all time movie favorite kiss is the one in the rain on the The Notebook.

kinini01@hotmail.com

fredamans said...

My favorite all-time kiss is Scarlett O'Hara & Rhett Butler. Classic!

freda.mans[at]gmail.com

Unknown said...

My favorite kiss is with Josie and Sam on the baseball diamond in Never Been Kissed.

Erin and Tim said...

Cheesy I know....but the "spaghetti kiss" in Lady and The Tramp.

erincpearson(at)gmail(dot)com

PoCoKat said...

The Notebook kiss

Littleone At shaw DoT ca

bn100 said...

the rain scene from the Notebook

bn100candg at hotmail dot com

Petra Rovere said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Petra Rovere said...

My favourite kiss is from the 'North&South' (story by Elisabeth Gaskel)from final scenes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1w3wiVPeZU

it starts at 2:33 :)

pierritzche@t-1.si

Unknown said...

My favorite movie kiss is the one between Noah and Alie in the rain scene in the Notebook

Bube said...

My favorite kiss is from Beauty and The Beast,the kiss after The Transformation - I love,love this movie :)

The child in the heart still lives :D

bubacka07@outlook.com

Thanks for this amazing opportunity! :)

Jennifer Huelsebusch said...

My favorite kiss is Liesel's first kiss by Rolf in The Sound of Music!'

Jhuelsebusch@sbcglobal.net

Mary Preston said...

There is a yummy kiss in the movie PRACTICAL MAGIC. Well 2 actually.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Anonymous said...

Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in the Notebook.

SuzyQ4PR(at)aol(dot)com

susieqlaw said...

The kiss in "When Harry Met Sally".

sendsusanmail at gmail dot com

Mary Jo Burke said...

Wesley and Buttercup at the end of Princess bride

Bonnie K. said...

The best movie is To Have and Have Not with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Great chemistry between the two. The kiss wasn't the main draw; it was the flirting between the two and her planting a kiss on him to see if she would like it.

bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com

Melissa said...

Thanks for participating and telling us your favorite screen kisses.
Mine is currently on one of my current favorite TV shows, but I don't want to spoil anything. If you read my most recent book review, you know what it is. ;)

Thanks to Madeline Toy PR for sharing the book with our winners.

Random.org chose FIVE winners from all entries with contact info (one entry per person).

Congrats to:
16-Bube
17-Jennifer Huelsebusch
19-SuzyQ4PR
21-Mary Jo Burke
22-Bonnie K