Kiss Me If You Can

by Cheryl Terra

There are three things you need to know about Nellie Belanger:

She hates apologizing.
She loves exploring her sensuality.
She absolutely does not want a serious relationship with anyone… extra emphasis on “one.”

Which is why no one can ever find out about that one sizzling afternoon she spent in JP Marchand—aka her best friend’s brother’s—bedroom three years ago.

After a chance encounter with her former professor, the semi-reserved and gorgeously attractive Ben, becomes unexpectedly steamy, Nellie thinks she’s in for the summer of a lifetime. But when she offends the wrong person with her joyfully promiscuous attitude, it looks like three years of irritatingly flirty attempts to get her to call him are going to pay off for JP.

At least, until an ill-advised promise backfires and leaves her at odds with the one person who could ruin everything: her increasingly demanding and image-obsessed father.

Kiss Me If You Can is a spicy new adult romance with both best friend’s brother and an age gap involving a teacher. It is part of the If You Can series. These spicy new adult romance novels follow Nellie Belanger, an unapologetically sensual college student, on her journey from bed to bed and features multiple love interests/spicy partners with no love triangles or cheating.

While recommended for maximum enjoyment, the prequel novella The Boy Next Door does not need to be read to enjoy this first book in the series.

Genres: Romance, Spicy, Contemporary, Ebooks

295 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 12, 2024

About the author

Cheryl Terra writes romantic and adult fiction with drama, sass, and a whole lot of... spice. Emotional and humorous, her books focus on contemporary relationships, inclusive characters, and happily ever afters. Living with her husband in northern Alberta, Canada, Cheryl relies on the heat between her quirky and memorable characters to help keep the gas bill down in the winter.

For more information and to get free books, visit Cheryl’s website at cherylterra.com

Reviews

[Jill (readinginpjs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally forgot I was reading - I don’t know if that makes sense.
But I guess I just felt like I was talking to a friend? This was so different than anything I’ve ever read, and I couldn’t put it down!

📖 Kiss Me If You Can
📝 Cheryl Terra
🗓️ 04/12/2024
💜 contemporary romance (unconventional)
📱 read on kindle (arc)
📚 book 1 - If You Can series

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶️🌶️🌶️

I really enjoyed this book. It’s hard to categorize - is it general fiction? Romance? It doesn’t quite fit in the romance genre, but also kinda does.

It’s really a story mostly about Nellie’s journey, and mostly shows her relationships with others.

Nellie is a 21-year old college student, and is unapologetically herself, especially when it comes to sex. She sleeps around and isn’t ashamed of it (nor should she be!). She’s completely upfront, and doesn’t intentionally hurt anyone.

Nellie doesn’t really have a type either, she’s open to connecting with someone that catches her eye (or multiple “someones”).

While there are multiple “love interests,” there is no love triangle or cheating involved.

Since I had read the prequel (The Boy Next Door: An If You Can Prequel Novella), I was definitely rooting for her to somewhat end up with JP, and I LIVED for the moments they were together. I love their history + banter!

tropes + topics:
🩵 best friend’s brother
🏡 childhood neighbor
🌀 curvy fmc
👨‍🏫 Professor/former student
🙃 Age gap
🇨🇦 Canadian author + setting
💖 single first person POV

Thank you to author Cheryl Terra for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

*Connect with Me*
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[Jen Zingaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am hooked on Nellie. It is so refreshing to see a well written story about a woman who enjoys sex with no societal rules. She is unapologetic about what she wants. The things she says… I literally laugh out loud. She is so smart and clever without even trying.
There is a bit of a love triangle developing by the end. I should say “sex” triangle. Nellie gets herself set up with some regular hookups for the summer.
Ben and JP are both very sexy in different ways and I can’t wait to see where this goes. The book brings the spice for damn sure.
Her relationship with her dad is interesting to me. I’m not sure how that will end up, but it makes me feel a lot of different ways but mainly sad for her.
This author tells such a good story and the banter is so perfect.

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the little novella that came before this, The Boy Next Door. It was my first introduction to this author, but I knew I was hooked from the beginning. And right away with this one, I was hooked again. I love how the character is open with her sexuality and how the author definitely calls out the slut shaming. But also the author doesn’t make it seem as if everyone is now okay with this type of sexuality, because no, most of the world isn’t, even when people say they are.

Nellie is a fun character, she’s enjoying life and honest about what she wants. Unfortunately she has to rely on her father who when he offered to pay for her school, only asked that she spend some time with him, go to a couple events. Her father is kind of a rich jerk. But soon she finds out that her father wants more from her to continue paying for her school and her living expenses. While Nellie wants to be a forensic investigator her father wants and almost expects that she will change her mind and become a lawyer.

However Nellie’s enemy/first partner, also her best friend’s brother JP, is one reason she does not want to do that. Not to mention that she knows herself and that she doesn’t think the way that lawyers think. Her mind is more analytical as the career she has chosen. When her carefully laid out plans to avoid her father’s demand that she take the LSAT fall through, she first tries to keep it from him. Of course that doesn’t work. And he wants her to study with JP for the test.

Of course she fights doing that as well, avoiding him as much as she can. When things come to a head, the book doesn’t end in a way I’d thought. I guess I’m so used to series where each book is a different couple. This series will be all Nellie’s story, because we’re left with her kind of in between what happened with JP and also what has happened with a “Hot professor”. That part isn’t for me, so I’m hoping/assuming at the end of the series she’ll end up with JP? But who knows! The next book is hopefully this summer so we’ll see where it goes.

It doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, more of a HFN. So be prepared!

Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.

[Zoey Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If romcoms had a baby with smut it would be this book. I absolutely LOVE Nellie so much. She is a riot and I love how confident she is in her sexuality. As a pansexual woman I loved the representation in Nellie. We need more unashamed sexual women!!! The tension between Nellie and JP is slow and burning in this book omg. I am so excited to read the next one to see how their story continues!

Also FUCK NELLIES DAD!!! He can suck a dick.

[Charlotte Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Star Review

This book is spicy! Very spicy. Not my usual style, but if I look past the spicy, Nellie is a character that is screaming for help! She does not want a relationship, the only relationship she has is with her best friend Ann-Marie and even then, she has secrets from her. Nellie is living life her own way; she just maybe needs to find that special person who understands her and does not expect her to do whatever they want for them just to be with her. It seems every choice she makes is for someone else.

I read the prequel novella, it was spicy also, and enjoyed getting to know Nellie’s history. I liked that I knew what her parents relationship was and how they related to Nellie. Neither relationship was entirely healthy but I do believe they wanted they best for Nellie, if only they would listen to what she wants.

If you are a spicy, erotic reader this is the perfect book for you. It was quick and easy to read.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the prequel, I could not wait to read this book. Right away the hilarious lines that Nellie was saying had me laughing. I had to stop reading every time I came across one to read them out loud to my husband.

It was great to see Anne-Marie again. She always keeps things entertaining. Although, there was a new friend in the mix of Syd. She and Nellie met while in college together. She is a bit more let loose than Anne-Marie. Yet, they balanced each other out when it came to Nellie.

Things between Nellie and Ben were steamy, but I could not fully embrace them as I was waiting for Nellie and JP. They did not disappoint. I need more of them and to see Anne-Marie's story as well.

[Michelle Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book, it’s definitely a cute little romance. First off, I loved that Nellie was a free spirit and knew what she did and didn’t want.. or at least what she tried to convince herself.. there were times where I did get a little frustrated with her, she’s supposed to be 21, but her emotional maturity at times was on the level of a high schooler.. but I guess if you don’t deal with things that happens. I loved her growth and determination throughout the book. I loved that there were many side characters and honestly I would love to read each of their stories. Absolutely loved Ben. His character was mysterious and alluring. JP, was also very intriguing. This book was a really cute romance and I look forward to the next one!

[Msmomo73 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this first full book on Nellie. She is such a fun and wonderful character and I love the growth that she made from the prequel of this book until now. She became a confident, charming, sex-positive woman and I am totally here for it. I love to read about women who know what they want and work to go and get it and be unapologetic in getting there.

I do wish I had gotten to see a little more of JP because I just loved him in The Boy Next Door. But alas, I can wait a little longer until the next book comes out to get more of my JP fix. I loved how he left the sticky notes. He was perfect in his response to Nellie and their chemistry on the page was fantastic.

Then there is Ben, whom I also loved. I am a sucker for a good professor/student trope and this did not disappoint. I am hoping we get to see more of him in the future too. He was sweet and funny and smart. A perfect combination.

I loved this one and can’t wait to read the next installment. This was a 5 star read for me!

[Shanel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a great follow up to the prequel The Boy Next Door. I would read prior to coming to this book for a better understanding of events. Following the adventures of Nellie the main character who’s having an awaking into discovering who she is. I loved the book. It was refreshing to see where she started -with the rumors didn’t affect her like she initially thought. I think there is a freedom on not being tied to any one relationship, but still finding out what you like. Like others have said there is no slut shaming in this book. She now has to navigate multiple spicy situation-ships. Fun book to read, laugh out loud moments that are relatable. Highly recommend!

[Karen Light · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kiss me, if you can… is about a young woman who grew up in a broken home and has daddy issues that have continued to spill over into her personal relationships. She has been in love with her best friends brother her whole life, but instead of doing anything about it, she just continues to act like she is happy having “friends with benefits”.

Typical college student going through life and not a lot to the story except her being in bed with quite a few people. And then her controlling dad making her life miserable… not much of an actual story going anywhere else

The spice level was a 4, but it dragged on for a whole chapter at times, was just spicy to be spicy, didn’t add to the story

[Inessa_Akin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mhm…I don’t know how to feel. I adored pj and Nellie…

but

Really annoyed I have to wait for another book, after that cliffhanger that came out of no where.

It says there’s no love triangle…but there’s a big love triangle vibe going on?

And we barely see pj and Nellie interact which is insane since this is supposed to be their story?

I’m pretty upset I spent so much time reading and excited to see them get their love story after that novella ending in a cliffhanger only to get smacked in the face with another one🫤

[Alana Lewis-Haynes (Smut Lover Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so much fun to read! Nellie was so fun and full of humor, and I enjoyed her so much! I loved how sex positive she was and how confident she was in herself! She really does go through with her parents, but seeing her continue to be fun and bubbly was great!

The chemistry Nellie had with both JP and Ben was so good! But now I'm left wanting more!!! I definitely have my favorite guy, and I'm excited to see more!

I had such a great time and could not put the book down! I read it pretty much in a day and had quite a few laugh out loud moments! I need the next book now!!!

[Joanna C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the prequel this one was so fun to read. Nellie is such a great character. I love how confident and sure of herself she is. I’m hoping her relationship with her dad improves. This book has the perfect amount of humor, tension, and spiciness! Overall, a very fun read and I hope many people are able to read it.

[TheBookworm_B · Rating 4 out of 5]

IM BACK READING AGAIN, and this was such a warm welcome ready to start off back. I can wait for more Nellie and JP!!! The chemistry was UNREAL.

[Michell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was a bit confused about where it was going for most of the book, and really disappointed that it was actually not a standalone!

[Rachel Skow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank goodness I have book 2. I need to know what happens next!

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this spicy romantic comedy and looked forward to the next installment

[Alice Bloomfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is an enjoyable read and fun story. It’s not super complex or ground breaking but it was a good novella setting up the characters and world ready for the first book.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyable read

A very entertaining read. Enjoyed the characters and the interaction between them. Look forward to reading the next book.
Glad I picked this book

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

read book 1 and liked it, was available on Kindle Unlimited.

I would read book 2 if it was on KU, but didnt like the series enough to buy the book.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

[Joanna Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the prequel, I was in love with Nellie and JP. Nellie such a fun character who deals with some pretty serious stuff with her dad, but still manages to have a sense of humor. There’s one character in particular I wanted to punch, but I can’t give it away in feat that it’ll be a spoiler! I wish we had more Nellie and JP steam and it wasn’t as much of a slow burn but this was still a really solid, fun read.

[Chantale Canadian Book Addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book pretty fast. It’s not long so it’s good for a quick read .
I enjoyed this one very much.