Books & Spoons Review: KISS ME by Susan Mallery

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery creates the small-town destination for romance in charming Fool's Gold, California—where a loner cowboy finds the one woman who can capture his heart...

After Phoebe Kitzke's kind heart gets her suspended from her job in LA, she swears off doing favors—until her best friend begs for help on the family ranch in Fool's Gold. Unfortunately, sexy cowboy Zane Nicholson isn't exactly thrilled by the city girl's arrival.

Thanks to his brother's latest scheme, Zane has been roped into taking tourists on a cattle drive. What Phoebe knows about ranching wouldn't fill his hat, but her laughter is so captivating that even his animals fall for her. One slip of his legendary control leads to a passionate kiss, but she's exactly the kind of woman a single-minded loner needs to avoid.

In his arms, Phoebe discovers she's a country girl at heart. Yet no matter how much the small town feels like home, she can't stay unless Zane loves her, too…but is this cowboy interested in forever?

---

---

Goodness, sorry if I'm gushing a bit, but this story, it rocked my mind!
There was just so much that I loved, I try to get it down in coherent thoughts.
The characters, they are deep, complex, charming, charismatic, flawed humans, who have so much to give, learn, and endow.
Phoebe has the biggest heart, goofy mind, she is smart, capable, and caring. All she ever wanted was to belong, be a part of something, and to matter. But growing up in the foster system didn't give her many chances of that.
Zane, grouchy he might come across, as well as a loner. But he carries the responsibility of so much, he cares, wants to give his brother the best possible beginning in life, and to be loved.
Phoebe and Zane have an instant connection, and form a friendship of a short, while the attraction is running hot in their veins.
The group of people who take on the cattle drive, will get so much more out of the trip, than just a fun vacation. They all take a trip into themselves as well, there's lessons about letting go, acceptance, love, healing and perception, as they take on the trip and face the beauty and the danger of the nature.
There were moments of laughter, smiles, and sighs, tears of joy and sorrow, and occasion of pure terror and danger, as the countryside shows its less attractive and safe side. A  journey with life lessons, sizzling yet tender romance, and moments of pure victory, a truly memorable, entertaining tale with amazing scenery the author painted in the reader's mind
~ Five Spoons!

---