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. As for teasing Siena in the meantime? That's just standard procedure for me.
Because everything is totally normal here. Nothing to see, folks.
3.5⭐ Genre ~ romantic comedy Series ~ Sheppards in Love #1 Setting ~ California & France Publication date ~ April 6, 2023 Page Count ~ 288 (35 chapters +e) Audio length ~ 8 hours 12 minutes Narrators ~ Ariel Royce, Christopher Rourke POV ~ dual 1st, present tense Featuring ~ wedding planning, best friend's brother, sister's best friend, no steamage
Siena & Jack had a smooch 7 years ago at a college party, but afterwards found out that her new roommate/friend was his sister, so they put a kibosh on any feelings they had towards each other. Flash forward and they are planning Madi's wedding together in France.
Siena was a bit much with her narcotic wedding planning. Something she's doing for her best friend, not because it's her job. She just enjoys planning stuff with handy dandy excel spreadsheets. I'm a fan of spreadsheets myself and had one for my wedding. Jack was a great helping hand.
This was cute. I enjoyed their banter. I mostly liked it a lot, but I could have went without the whole 'I don't want to give us a try because of Madi' business, which wastes 7 years of a life together, but all works out well, of course. I loved what Jack did in the epilogue, it was super cute.
I didn't realize that the wedding couple, Madi and Remy, already had a book together Host for the Holidays, so that makes me a little mad that I didn't read that one first. It's not part of this series, so how was I supposed to know? I wouldn't mind reading more of this series that will following Siena's siblings that we've briefly met here.
Narration notes: I thought they both did a fine job, except their opposite sex voices.
Do you like great chemistry and banter all wrapped up in an off limits romance set in France?
you obviously do, so READ THIS BOOK.
Kissing for Keeps has a fabulous meet cute, 7 years of what ifs, I can't because your my sisters best friend, undeniable chemistry, authenticity and much more.
Martha has been an auto read author for me for a long time. She's most recently stepped out of historical fiction to try some contemporary and I think she's found her voice and place within this genre! This book was sweet and flirtatious with deeper moments of vulnerability and heart.
The setting was absolutely wonderful and I loved how the relationship felt like it wasn't far fetched but grounded into reality. There were so many really cute and funny moments, but also great moments of development for each of the main characters.
I loved that this was a spin off from Martha's Christmas book which I also really enjoyed so I was happy to see those two tie the knots in Jack and Siena's story.
I love Martha in historical but now she's proved that she can genre hop with the best of them. I can't wait to see what she will do next.
Again, so cuteee☺️ I loved how Jack and Siena were both kind of growing up and realizing how much they needed each other! I loved how Jack truly wanted to be a part of Madi’s life, but felt like he couldn’t. I loved how it connected to the other two books in the series (duh, ig) but it made it really fun to read and see what the other characters were doing!! I liked it a little bit less than Selling Out, but it was still five stars!!
Pages: 288 Language: 🫢 TW⚠️: some content Genre: Romance Format I read: Kindle unlimited Would I recommend to others: Yes!
3.5 stars With Siena's job ending abruptly and her best friend's wedding on the horizon, she changes plans and flies to France to take over wedding planner duties. Unfortunately, the bride's brother, Jack, is underfoot at every possible moment. They have a brief (but impactful) past and the need to maintain emotional distance is paramount. The beginning is diverting and sweet. I love when the meet-cute is problematic for whatever reason. It immediately lent an air of tension and chemistry to keep me hooked. The ending was solid and satisfying, especially the epilogue. My rating though is reflective of the middle. I wanted more angst and less blaming Madi for their unwillingness to connect. I felt like there connection were a handful of bi-passed opportunities to get Siena and Jack into a predicament that could make or break them, which I thought Martha did really well in Host for the Holidays. My favorite scenes were scattered across the French countryside. I loved the setting and way Martha shared her travels through the eyes of Jack and Siena. Traveling is equally amazing as it can be frustrating and I found myself reminiscing on some of my own experiences. Thank you to the author for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
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: - Contemporary Romance - Language: none - Romance: kisses - Violence: low - Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a father (past, mentioned)
Kissing for Keeps by Martha Keyes is a delightful, clean contemporary romance about Siena Sheppard, a woman determined to prove herself after a professional setback by planning her best friend Madi’s gorgeous wedding in France, and Jack, Madi’s flirt‑but‑secretly‑charming brother who shows up to help despite past awkwardness and unresolved attraction between them. Their story blends second‑chance feelings, witty banter and that best friend’s sibling trope in a way that feels both warm and playful across sun‑dappled French chateau settings and small‑town charm.
From the moment I settled into this book, I felt swept up in the buzzy tension between Siena and Jack: they once kissed years ago (before they knew how connected their worlds were), and now, surrounded by wedding chaos and old feelings, they find themselves testing whether that spark can survive responsibility, pride and old misunderstandings. Their banter is lively and hilarious, and I especially loved how Jack’s teasing cracked open Siena’s guarded heart just enough that you feel the warmth building between them without overwhelming the story. The gorgeous French backdrop makes the romance feel even more vibrant, and watching these two navigate shared history, family dynamics and growing mutual respect gave this rom‑com real emotional depth beyond laughs.
Thinking back, what stayed with me most was how fun and comforting the story felt, like curling up with a sweet movie‑style romance that still has personality and heart. Yes, some plot beats lean into classic tropes (long‑suppressed feelings, “it’s complicated because of best friend loyalties”) and occasionally those make you roll your eyes a little, but the chemistry between Siena and Jack, their honest growth and the heartfelt epilogue made it all feel worth it. The connection feels earned, not rushed, and the way the story balances humor with genuine affection made me close the book smiling.
I give Kissing for Keeps 4 out of 5 stars. It made me feel cozy and uplifted, with that satisfying mix of romantic tension, witty dialogue and emotional pay‑off that leaves you ready for dessert and another chapter. If you adore light, feel‑good rom‑coms with sweet chemistry, family dynamics and a touch of travel‑worthy setting flair, this one is a joyful escape.
Absolutely loved Kissing for Keeps! I’ve enjoyed reading Martha Keyes’ historical romances, but haven’t read any of her contemporary until now. Wow! She can definitely write amazing contemporary romances. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and this book delivers a funny, romantic, second chance romance sizzling with delicious tension and witty banter.
After a disastrous political election, Siena’s looking to redeem herself after believing her mistakes as a campaign manager led to her boss’ defeat. She’s hoping by managing her best friend’s dreamy French wedding, she can prove her capabilities. But, organizing a wedding in France by herself is a huge undertaking. It’s going to take all her ingenuity to pull it all off especially when Madi’s flirt of a brother shows up. She’s never forgotten what happened between them all those years ago, but nothing like that can happen again, especially on the heels of Madi’s wedding.
Filling his dad’s shoes after his death seemed impossible, so Jack hasn’t really tried, afraid of disappointing everyone. Now with Madi getting married, he wants his sister to have the most beautiful day possible. It doesn’t hurt that he gets to see Siena again. But, his history with Madi’s friends has led to a lot of hurt feelings when things don’t work out and they drop Madi as a friend. Despite the attraction between them, Jack’s got to keep things strictly platonic even though they’re staying at a gorgeous chateau in the most romantic city in the world.
I loved Siena and Jack, Just Jack. Jack is just the cutest, flirtiest guy! He’s determined to play the playboy even though he’s really got a big, loyal heart. I loved the banter between him and Siena. It’s clear they’re totally attracted to each other, but both try to fight it big time. I love how she calls him variations of Jack and he calls her by her last name. I loved all the sights they visit trying to find the perfect wedding favors. The truffle scene had me laughing out loud! I also enjoyed how the author periodically shares incidents from the past so we have a clear understanding of what happened between them.
This is definitely one swoony, funny, romantic, clean romcom you need to add to your TBR list! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. I received an advanced complimentary copy from NetGalley but also purchased a copy from Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.
I usually love all of Martha’s books, but this was just okay for me. I really loved the MMC, Jack’s charm, sense of humor and overall character development. But it fell flat for me in some plot areas. I wasn’t buying the “can’t follow our hearts cause the sister/best friend” troupe. These were grown adults and the sister/best friend is getting married and going to live in a different country to boot. She is literally going to have no role in these people’s day to day lives and yet they can’t fall in love because of her?? Just was too implausible for me.
Also the whole best friend being the de facto unpaid wedding coordinator/planner/grunt worker really bugged me. Everyone in that situation should have realized how majorly she was being taken advantage of. I mean they’re having the wedding at a French chateau and they can’t be bothered or afford? to hire people but think it’s okay for the best friend to slave away for months/weeks doing even the most menial tasks, and not even giving her the money to do it but expecting her to put it on her credit card??? And she’s some kind of control freak/martyr for taking this on with no boundaries. It just did not sit well with me the whole time.
And another thing I’ll mention that made no sense and wasn’t explained is why did they have a civil ceremony before the walk down the aisle one?? I didn’t get that at all. Seemed pretty anticlimactic.
So other than the MMC this was a miss for me. Sorry 😞
Adorable!!! And funny!!! And yes, it's a sweet and clean romance so there were lots of great scenes full of chemistry and cuteness and swoony moments.
Siena is a bit stressed out! Enter Jack. And no, that didn't calm her stress levels down. It only increased them. ;-)
These two are just adorably cute together. They had me giggling and shaking my head at some of their moments together. Especially driving a minivan in Paris. And trying to park said minivan. *grimaces* But Siena had me giggling during that scene. Poor girl! But Jack saved the day and didn't make her feel bad about it at all. Such a gentleman.
If you're ready for a bookcation to Paris, this one will have you experiencing all of the charm of being in Paris without actually being there. And low stress since you aren't the one planning and putting on a wedding. Just Siena is for her bestie Madi. And Madi's brother Jack is going to be the best brother ever in helping out too. But there are a few small snags in their plans. It'll all be alright though, true love will save the day.
Dive in for a fun read and swoony moments between the bride and groom as well as the main characters, Siena and Jack! Oh la la!!!
Content: Clean. Some kisses but nothing further. The main couple have to share a cottage together but have separate sleeping areas.
I received a copy from the publisher, Paradigm Press, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
This book was honestly so good. I did not expect to love this as much as I did. It had me laughing so hard with certain parts and was exactly the sort of romcom book I had been needing.
I can't seem to get enough of Martha Keyes' books... historical, contemporary...I WANT (and really need) them all!
If you read the Christmas Escape series then you've had a tiny sneak peek into our main character, Siena; and heard a little bit about Jack...if you haven't read Host of the Holidays- don't worry you can start right up with this one and love every minute of it...but for reals, go back and read Host for the Holidays because it is also PERFECTION!
Back to Siena and Jack.
I loved the flashbacks to the first time our characters meet. Every flashback is perfectly timed and intertwined into the story. I've read a lot of books with flashbacks and this one does it right!!!
'Whatever other things he may be, Jack is not a dull boy.'
Oh, Siena...she's been crushing hard over Jack for YEARS, but this is a relationship that will ruin her friendship with her BFF, Madi. You're going to get forbidden romance, second chance, enemies to more, forced proximity, and unrequited love all mashed up in the best hours of reading!!
Jack is so much fun. He's confident without being self-absorbed, he knows how to push all of Siena's buttons, he's charming, charismatic and you're going to get to see a side of him that you didn't think you'd see if you remember him from Host for the Holidays.
'I've always assumed the way Siena reacts toward me is the way she'd react toward any guy who flirts with her, but this tour is giving me some stuff to chew on--like the possibility that I really do just bug her.'
...
'Siena shakes her head as she puts the van into gear, but there's a smile on her face. "If one of these angry people shows up at the chateau tonight, threatening my life, I'm going to blame you." "They'll have to take both of us, then. We've trauma-bonded now, Sheppard. There's no separating us." She rolls her eyes, and we're on our way.'
HERE FOR IT!
This book will be available April 6th! It is all of the stars, all of the thumbs, all of the positive things! Clear your schedules, because this one is a keeper!
Thanks to the author for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Content/Trigger: a couple references to alcohol, small amounts of innuendo, kissing.
In this story, Sienna and Jack have a past “history”, as in seven years ago, (I’m just going do a slight spoiler here) they kissed once. However, things ended before they began because he is her best friend’s brother and he has dated too many of his sisters friends and his sister was not happy. So nothing has happened since that night and Jack’s sister doesn’t know anything about it. 7 years later Jacks sister is getting married and Sienna is the maid of honor/wedding coordinator. Jack decides to help Sienna with wedding which Sienna doesn’t like but has no choice. Jack teases her a lot and she is annoyed but as they work together things change.
I really enjoyed this story! It is such fun! I love the teasing! It cracked me up! But not only is Jack funny, Sienna has some great comebacks! I love how their relationship develops. And that kiss scene!! Oh my! Wonderful chemistry! I also liked the growth that Jack had in taking on more responsibility. Sienna learns to let go and her and Jack are perfect together! This story has all the typical romcom stuff so if you love romcoms you will for sure love this! Overall a great read! Definitely recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
The two main characters spent the whole book worried their sister/best friend was going to find out they loved each other. They spent 7 years thinking about a kiss they had in college without acknowledging the feelings they had for each other. Once the sister finds out, she’s mad at them for 5 minutes and gives them their blessing.
Sienna also spends months planning her best friends wedding and stressing about everything, including wedding favors. Like one of the other reviews said, they could afford to get married in a chateau in France but they couldn’t afford a wedding planner?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I loved this adorable romance set in France. So much emotion as Siena and Jack get ready for Madi's wedding and find themselves at a crossroads. Do they give in to the feelings they've had for each other for seven years? Or protect Madi and their relationship with her? The author does a wonderful job creating a world that readers can get lost in. Can't wait to read the next one!
I shocked myself by reading half of this book in one evening. I was definitely not expecting to love it as much as I did considering I’ve owned it for over a year already and just now got around to reading it. I loved the storyline and all the wedding vibes! Having the setting be in France definitely didn’t hurt anything either. The perfect swoon worthy rom-com right here, folks!
Siena and Jack’s seven years of pining all because of their love for Madi was certainly commendable, to say the least. But trapping them in the same cottage for two weeks will drive any wannabe couple into each other’s arms—(or maybe it was the moonlight, strawberries, and the romance of the ruins they were trespassing on). Whatever it may have been, Siena and Jack were destined to be together and I loved how everything came together in the end. The epilogue certainly had me tearing up 🧀🍓🥤
Oh, and lest I forget, this was a rom-com and not just a “rom”. The “com” part of it lived up to all expectations of hilarity. From the street market, to the parking situation, all the mocking of the ever suave Phillipe, and so much more! All I can say is, go give this book a read! You won’t regret it! (But maybe first read Madi’s story in Host for the Holidays for some background and context)
Martha Keyes is fairly new to the contemporary romcom scene, but she definitely has a voice for it! I may or may not have squealed when I discovered Kissing for Keeps is a spin-off of sorts from her Christmas book, Host for the Holidays. Madi and Remy make some appearances, as it's their wedding that Siena and Madi's brother, Jack, are helping plan and pull off.
Siena and Jack had a night years ago that started a smoldering pit of attraction, but now, as they work together, it's a constant battle in the countryside of France.
"The point is, I've known plenty of guys like Jack. They're the peacocks of men, with fancy feathers to draw in femails and a pair of fast legs to carry them far away when the fun ends."
The banter is zingy and witty, the types of quips I could only come up with after two days of thinking, and the fiery darts of chemistry swirling around made me swoon. I couldn't get enough of the exhilarating interactions and honestly couldn't put this book down!
With solid characters, charm, romance, and jokes galore, this book totally hit the spot and left me longing for more. I'm very hopeful there will be more, as this is labeled as Book 1 in the Sheppards in Love series.
If you love: *forced proximity *second chance at love *secrets *love in France *hilarious banter *wedding planning *best friend's brother *dual points-of-view *SWOON This is the book you've been waiting for!
Content: mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*
Wedding planning, France, and a cute chateau?! Yes, please!
While this story does serve as a follow-up to “Host for the Holidays” (Madi & Remy’s story), it can be read as a stand-alone, if you don’t mind a few spoilers.
A best-friend’s-older-brother romance with legitimate reasons as to why they can’t be together.
Siena is super relatable as she struggles to delegate and ask for help even as she’s trying to prove herself to make up for a failure. Meanwhile, Jack has a reputation of being a player, but actually is something of hidden sweetheart. After losing his dad and feeling inadequate to step into his father’s shoes, Jack and his sister Madi drifted apart (his dating her friends & breaking their hearts didn’t help). Their reconciliation was lovely to see.
Beyond the adorable romance, hilarious banter, and delectable French culture, there’s so much character growth! Siena learns her worth isn’t based on her performances, and Jack, for all his flaws, steps up so much to help Siena and prove himself to Madi.
My second read through was via audiobook & it was perfect! Jack’s narration was my especial favourite, particularly the impersonation of Phillipe had me rolling. I was snickering ridiculously every time he entered the scene. As for how I feel about Phillipe, well, Bailey Pickett said it best, “You French are very persistent people.” (Suite Life fans, you get me.) 😂
And I LOVE the Sheppard sibs—there’s just something about reading a series about siblings finding love! 🥺 Can’t wait for their stories next!
Unrealistic, unless, of course, you are female between the ages of 12 and 14!
This story should NOT be rated as anything except YA! Any adult reading it would quickly realize it does NOT reflect 'real life' between adults falling in Love. Even as far back as the 1960s anyone old enough to have a driver's license would be treating others quite a bit differently than the two main characters in this story!
The vibes: - dual pov - best friend’s brother - Dual timeline (for some of the book) - Sweet rom com
My thoughts: This was a cute and quick romcom. Sienna was going 100 mph the entire book and stressed me out a little bit. She was trying to do everything; trying to do MORE than anyone would ever expect from her and it was a lot. While I was so frustrated with her-I did find myself relating a little bit.
I think this romance was fine and it was cute, but nothing really stood out to me to separate it from other romances that I have read.
That said- If you’re looking for a light and easy rom com with low stress (while Sienna is super stressed the whole time) and little conflict with a best friend’s brother trope set in Paris- give it a try.
I absolutely adore this book! I am a huge fan of the enemies to lovers trope and Martha Keyes just nailed it. The banter between Siena and Jack was just perfection.
I loved that this book had a great balance between laugh out loud moments and sweet and tender ones. I loved that Jack could totally push Siena's buttons but then make her smile and be her rock.
I also loved that Siena was such a capable intelligent girl and that Jack saw that in her and wanted to support her and encourage her. He didn't just want to show off and do things for her but instead just kept building her up.
This is truly just a fantastic book through and through.
Physical Intimacy: Lvl 2 Sweet Kissing/Non Descriptive making out Zero Swearing Dual POV
Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity Forbidden Love Best Friends Brother Second Chance
Сподобались жарти головних героїв, прекрасна атмосфера заміських садиб Франції, тема весілля когось із близьких головних героїв (все-таки люблю книги, де сюжет крутиться навколо весільних урочистостей)
Не сподобалась інколи надмірна тупість головних героїв, одержимість героїні організацією свята.
this wasn’t the most unique romance, but it was a fun quick read! jack and sienna had good chemistry together, and i enjoyed seeing their relationship blossom through all the hijinks. the story was well-paced, with just the right amount of flashbacks, and i appreciate how everything was resolved in the end. that said, i didn’t really swoon<\i> for the romance, and the writing/humor was just serviceable for me. i might check out other books by this author if i like the premise tho!
This book was such an adorable light read.♡ Jack and Siena had great chemistry and the funniest banter. Jack's one-liners and inner dialogue truly made me laugh. Highly recommend if you're looking something sweet, swoony, and playful!
man pathetically pining after a woman for several years? say less.
p.s. we as a society have progressed past the need for the she’s like a sister to me or he’s like a brother to me references in the best friends brother trope
This is a cute rom-com. However, I didn't really like the main characters sometimes because they were a little annoying. 😅 I probably will read the next one in the series to see what happens.
Loved! I have really come to enjoy a best friend’s brother trope and this one was so well done. The witty banter between Jack and Siena was so funny and I loved the meet cute. Jack’s care for Siena and his sister was so sweet. I loved that the big reveal wasn’t overly drama-filled and how it all resolves. Plus there are several swoony kisses and a beautiful French chateau setting.
Meet my new obsession! Thank you so much @authormarthakeyes for letting me read, squeal, and obsess over your book!
Here’s what I loved: • the best friend’s brother trope • an English chateau setting • all the hilarious banter • kisses that were 🥰🔥 • the second chance feels
I savored every second of this book. It was everything I love about romance! The pining, the banter, the tension, and the heart. Perfection.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5 Steam: kissing TW: past death of a parent