One Little Kiss

Smart Cupid #3

by Maggie Kelley

Love blogger Kate Bell is finished with men— especially the hot ones . Of course her only chance to save her career requires snagging an interview with the man who literally wrote the book on love, reclusive and super-sexy relationship expert Jake Wright. Who happens to be her boss’s brother. The last thing Jake Wright wants is to be dragged back into the spotlight as a bachelor for his sister’s dating website. But when a sweet and sexy blogger crashes onto his island in the middle of a storm worse than his love life, keeping his hands off proves to be a challenge—especially when they’re stuck sharing the same bungalow. Each book in the Smart Cupid series is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order.
Series
Book #1 Breaking the Bachelor
Book #2 Unexpectedly His
Book #3 One Little Kiss

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 8, 2017

About the author

After ten years of survival, aka working, in Hollywood, this former actress and current author of sexy contemporary romance is living happily-ever-after in Pittsburgh with her longtime sweetie and their two punky kids. When not carpooling to birthday parties or testing her gourmet cooking skills by throwing a frozen pizza into the oven, Maggie daydreams about sneaking off to the Vegas or Napa, or even just the movies. A love of red wine, Italian food, and music round out her list of life's greatest joys. Oh, and Tuesday night karaoke, totally underrated fun.

Reviews

[CatherineAA · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you need a cute, sweet romantic confection to entertain you, ONE LITTLE KISS fits the bill completely. The author perfectly captures the romance of New York City, from walks in the park to the pleasures of Coney Island and everything in between.

Kate Bell is an optimistic small town girl seeking romance and a career in the big city and it doesn't matter that things haven't exactly worked out like she planned. She's in love with love and her job as a blogger is the perfect stepping stone to her dream job at Cosmo, but a blunder may have jeopardized that opportunity unless she can fix it by undertaking to cajole an interview out of a reclusive bachelor.

Jake Wright has enjoyed the fame and bright lights of the celebrity lifestyle but crashed and burned spectacularly and is now jaded by it all. His island paradise has been the perfect place to get away from everything and he's not willing to entertain some spoiled city diva for a minute but thanks to his sister's machinations, he has to ride out the coming storm with a stranger. But Kate is very far from what he was expecting and very much his kind of woman, if he was looking. And with the sizzling chemistry between them what's wrong with enjoying each other for the one night she'll be on the island? Well, Cupid definitely has a lot to say about that.

Will Kate's cheerful and optimistic take on life and love be the thing that Jake needs energize him or will Jake's bleak view of relationship and romance take the air out of Kate's bubble? And what does Cupid have in store for these two?

I really enjoyed both characters, especially Jake. I like that even though he took a break from relationships in the wake of his divorce, he was willing to get back in the game for the right woman and the right reasons. Kate was a little too fresh off the farm for my tastes but she somehow grew on me (maybe it was the power drill and knowing her way around a construction site). This was a very enjoyable and quick read, perfect for a lazy day.


Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely mine.



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[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE LITTLE KISS (SMART CUPID) BY MAGGIE KELLEY  
 
 
ONE LITTLE KISS (SMART CUPID) BY MAGGIE KELLEY
 
One Little Kiss by Maggie KelleyMy rating: 5 of 5 starsOne Little Kiss has romantic comedy written all over it. Move over My Best Friend's Wedding, because Maggie Kelley is gunning for you. Full of precious moments of humor and heart. This story screamed winner right from the very start. Kate's red hot love life is singing the blues. Jake has all the answers while doling out relationship advice, but clueless is his middle name when it comes to his own love life. A deserted island, a freak storm and lots of sexual tension could end up putting this clueless duo in a perfectly awkward position. Perfect movie material.View all my reviews

[Paris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a really cute, fun read. I liked Kate and Jake a lot. I loved how different they were from each other, yet similar in many ways. I loved Kate’s determination. She knew what she wanted out of life and she was going to do whatever it took to get it. She wasn’t going to let Jake get in her way.

There were some great laugh out loud moments in this book, like when Jake and Kate first meet. The chemistry between them is great, but the banter is even better…especially since Kate is a bit tipsy upon their initial meeting. Watching these two go back and forth and the finally give in was a ton of fun. And they are super sexy together.

I also really enjoyed the secondary characters in this book. It makes me really want to go back and read the first two books in this series. This book is the third, but it stands alone perfectly. I did not feel like I was lost at any point while reading this. I highly recommend this book.

Arc provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book, this is the third book in the Smart Cupid series written by Maggie Kelley. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - This is a feel good story about how love finds you when you aren't expecting it. Both characters are done with love & relationships. They've both been hurt in the past & are determined not to open themselves up for it again. Kate Bell was in a relationship when her boyfriend emptied out his side of the closet & left her stuck with the lease & a box of donuts. She has to get a job that pays better so she can afford 100% of the lease or give up & move back to Ohio. Jake Wright was a successful married author when his wife decided she wanted his agent instead. He moved to Paradise Island & out of the public eye after the divorce. His sister owns a matchmaking site & is Kate's best friend/employer. She sends Kate down to interview Jake in the middle of a hurricane/tropical storm & things take off from there.

I enjoyed the character development & interactions between them all. Kate talked a good game but still believed in love. Jake is completely disillusioned but has gotten to the point of acknowledging he ignored some danger signals. This was a nice sweet read.

[Hilda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

This is a feel good romance. It starts out as both the lead characters skeptical of love for different reasons. What this book developed into was a great story of two people fighting the feeling.

Kate was scorned by her previous live in boyfriend but still believes in love. Jack was humiliated by his ex-wife and she destroyed his thoughts on love. Throw in her boss who happens to be his sister and you get an explosive physical relationship that could be more but won't because they are both not looking for it.

Kate and Jake bring each other out of their shells and by exploring a friends with benefits/no strings relationship. Yet having a no strings relationship with a sexpert can be amazing and concerning at the same time.

Will they each face their pasts to have a future or will they be two passing ships?

Maggie Kelley brought a feel good novel, that is sexy, funny, and sassy. With twists that will make you scream, a meddling cupid that knows no bounds, and a couple that have amazing chemistry, meaningful conversations, and begin to break the walls around their hearts. I loved the epilogue...

I received this book via NetGalley.com

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate and Jake have strange communication issues at times, “you’re goddarn right you shouldn’t have. Who do you think you are?” She looked at him with the intensity of an atomic bomb about to go off. She was either going to kill him or… She grabbed him and kissed him. Deeply. Completely. And he kissed her right back." I found this to be a cute and fun read.

[Book Bound · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review**
This was such a cute book. I really liked the characters in the book and I finished it in one setting. I would give it a higher star rating, but it didn't blow my mind or leave me shocked. I loved how cute and flirty it was and I knew it would have a happily ever after and that's why I wanted to read it. I've been reading a lot of heavy stuff lately and sometimes it's nice to take a break and read a light love story. I would want to be friends with Kate! She was so nice, down to earth, and never gave up on love. Jake is a hottie and a really nice guy. He is always prepared, looking after others, and can be pretty funny. I was so happy when he started to warm up to Kate and show her the other side of him, the side he thought had been broken. They make an adorable couple and the chemistry felt real between them. Even though this is book #3 in the series, it can be a standalone. I haven't read the first book yet, but I didn't feel like I missed anything important. I actually plan to read the first book in the series soon since I did enjoy this book so much. I would recommend this book to someone who is looking for a cute light romance story!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this sweet book! It was what I needed after reading some doozies lately!! This was a pick me up that made me happy when reading it!

Kate is a blogger set on assignment to interview writer, and recluse, Jake Wright. Jake write a "how to" book on love and relationships, and when his own marriage fell apart, he didn't want to face the world knowing he was wrong about the advice he dished out to millions of readers. Now, he lives on an island and keeps to himself.

Kate is nothing what he expected. She challenges him and makes him laugh, heck she makes him feel things he hasn't felt in years! But. since they don't live near each other, neither expects anything more than what they have the few days Kate is on the island.


I thought this story was cute and funny. I really enjoyed it!! I must read the rest of this series ASAP!

[Torre Che · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, flirty, sexy story about two people who've been deeply hurt but still manage to find ways to let love find them anyway. Lots of humor and romance, plus some hot, sexy times. Cute island setting that wraps up back in New York, my favorite of the series so far!

[Linda Quick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - it has probably the best first kiss scene I've ever read....sweet, sexy, and oh, so very hot at the same time. It was perfect and the book earned five stars for that scene alone.

This is a feel good, fun romance, with just enough angst to make it feel more real. I immediately fell in love with the characters - from the clutsy Kate who lands way out of her comfort zone, to the sexy Jake, a best selling author hiding from the world. The author made me care about their story and feel invested in it.

If you are looking for a fun romance, this is a great choice. While it is book three in a series, it is a stand alone novel.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Technical stuff: I love this cover. It is sweet and colorful and fits well with the other books in this series. This book has both cursing and on-screen sex. If those things aren't your jam, you should give this one a skip rather than leave a bad review. This is technically book 3 of the “Smart Cupid” series but you do not have to read the first two books to enjoy this one. It comes to a lovely, swoon-worthy conclusion and DOES NOT end on a cliffhanger.

HAPPY SIGH. This book. This book is EXACTLY what I wanted and have come to expect from a Maggie Kelley book. It made me laugh, it made me groan in frustration at a character's obliviousness, and it curled my toes more than once because oh my gosh can this author write a smoldering and sexy kiss!

I have very much enjoyed this series, and I am so sad to see it ending. I thought that Nick and M.A. (whose story I love and have re-read multiple times) were my favorite couple in this series but Jake and Kate might possibly have dethroned them...they at the very least pulled up neck-and-neck with them. I loved Kate's ridiculousness caused by her inability to hold a drink, and Jake's inability to resist Hurricane Kate from the very moment she blew into his life. My only “complaint” about their relationship is that I would have loved more background on Kate and her life/family. But that is really just me being nit-picky and wanting MORE of this book, it did not affect my enjoyment of this book one bit. I just wanted more of these two!

If you like characters that have sizzling hot chemistry and who will make you laugh from start to finish even when you're wanting to shake them, I HIGHLY recommend this book.

I requested and was so generously granted an ARC of this book. I was under absolutely no obligation to write this review or to pre-order the book, I did both of those things because I LOVED this book.

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you get when you combine one sweet, looking for The One, love blogger and one disgruntled, cynical ex sexpert? You get a cute, sexy rom com called One Little Kiss. Kate is a love blogger who, due to one little slip because of her ex dumping her, has one last chance with her boss and best friend, before she might have to move back to Ohio with her career in the toilet. So off to Paradise Cay she goes, with the goal of interviewing Jake, her boss's brother and set to be Mr. July for Smart Cupid. But, when she lands in Paradise Cay, slightly inebriated after having downed too many martinis, she finds Jake is unwilling to be interviewed and is only going to allow her to stay on the island until the on its way hurricane has gone.

But, the chemistry between the two can't be ignored, and soon they're indulging themselves a paradise fling, but one that has an expiration date. 6 weeks after their little fling, Kate's still in New York, but Jake's back, to turn in his newest, last, book for his ex-agent (the one Jake's ex-fiancée cheated on him with) when he sees Kate again, and it's as if no time has passed, and they're steaming up the sheets again. But, once again, it has an expiration date, because Jake's only in town for 3 days. But, can Kate convince Jake that he's her One, even if she's not looking for The One any longer? Or will he break her heart again, because he's still so afraid of commitment, of opening up his cold heart?

One Little Kiss is perfect for when you have a couple hours to escape into something sweet and sexy. It's not heavy or deep, but it is good reading with a heart. Jake and Kate are both likable characters with tons of chemistry. If you like your romance with a healthy dash of sexy thrown in with the sweet, One Little Kiss is just the thing.

I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

[Gata Leitora / Cat reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll start by saying that I really loved the cover and the title, both combined perfectly with the relaxed mood of the book. The story is the typical lightweight and entertaining romantic comedy plot that likes to prove that two opposites attract.
Kate is a Smart Cupid blogger and has a column in the company's magazine, but her position is threatened and she will need all the strength she has to write great stories.
She is totally disillusioned with love, none of the boys she fell in love with were able to take good care of her heart. Following the tip of her friend and boss, Jane (the protagonist of Book 1), she defies her fear of height and flies to the quiet island where, Jane’s brother , Jake lives in order to make an interview with him.
Jake does not want to know about love or flirt anymore, broken after a loving disappointment, he's determined to send Kate back to New York without the interview she needs so much to boost her career. But the arrival of a hurricane on the island changes their plans, and their proximity in this dark, rainy night will change the course of their lives.
With several hot scenes in fetish settings and several ultra-romantic scenes in New York sighing scenes, I was falling in love with the confused and vulnerable couple and dying to get into the book to shake them both.
The book has lots of cute and funny moments at the beginning, then it gets a bit repetitive that Jake thinks that he was not born for love and that Kate thinks that the love needs to find her,it is kind of reflected in the end and where the writer could have better developed the resolution of the conflict between the two of them. Anyway it's a nice read and recommended for anyone who likes the genre.
4/5 stars.

[April Symes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet romance that is a quick read that is great for light and sweet read. This author paints the romance and backdrop of NRW YORK CITY perfectly.
Kate Bell is an optimistic small town girl seeking romance and also a career in the big city. Now things haven’t been working out for her but she doesn’t let that get her down, she just keeps pushing forward. She loves her job as a blogger and her job is going to get her into bigger and better things at Cosmo but she possibly screwed things up unless she fixes things by interviewing a reclusive bachelor., more like doing everything she can to get this interview off the ground with this bachelor since a} Kate is a bit tipsy upon their initial meeting and b} Jake Wright is recovering from a bad divorce and wasn’t ready for Katie.
These two smoldered when they meet and they sizzled. Kate and Jake bring each other out of their shells when neither expected this would happen when they would meet. The hurricane and their proximity during the dark, rainy night will change the course of their lives. Will they open up to love or will they let it fall away? Only way to find out is to read this sweet, delightful romance.

My Rating: 4.4 stars *****
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

[Caro · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

This was a fun read all in all.

This time we have Jake and Kate. Kate is a journalist who needs a great story in order to even try to get her dream job, and that’s when her boss assigns her an impossible interview: to get Jack to tell all after he disappeared from the spotlight years ago.

There were some great interactions between these two, with Kate trying to convince him to talk to her for the interview; and Jake completely refusing, lol.

I liked these two overall, but I did think things were a bit rushed between them. It was barely a few days and they were falling? I don’t know. Still, there were some pretty fun moments for these two and I did like them to end up together. :-)

*Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion*

[Pelusa Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received an ARC for my fair review for netgalley. This was a cute book. You have Kate who is a blogger for a matchmaker, however her love life is horrible. Her boss allows her to convince her brother Jake to be the July's bachelor, and he is very opposed, since his disastrous divorce, where his exwife had cheated on him with his agent, and Jake was supposedly a relationship expert. Jake is dead set against interview, but very much attracted to Kate, and they have an explosive one night stand, something she normally never does. They end up going there separate ways, and he ends up writing a new book, so he comes to New York, and Kate decides to interview him, they again go there separate way, and are heartbroken, but luckily he wises up in time.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet and spicy little book. Who knew an almost recluse could be so alpha sexy?!? Jake had that in spades. He was a vulnerable man not wanting to open himself up again, but Kate brought out his desire to live again. She is the sweetest female character who is determined to makeover herself, be a little patient to find The One. I loved their banter and tongue in cheeks repertoire. The two of them together have to be the absolute cutest. And the ending and epilogue were beyond swoon worthy.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher through Netgalley.

[Bette Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for story that is deep and intense this isn't the book for you but if you are looking for a story the is fun, sexy, and romantic - look no further! Kate and Jake will have you smiling in no time and by the end you'll be cheering for their HEA. These two are great characters and their chemistry jumps from the pages. This can be read in one sitting and it's perfect for a lazy rainy day or a day of basking in the sun. Definitely a book I recommend.

[Samanthe Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of this series and couldn't wait for the Smart Cupid to put another couple in her sights! Kate & Jake's story did not disappoint. Take one fish-out-of-her-NYC-water, throw her onto a tropical island with a growly guy who'd really rather not be noticing her big blue eyes and killer curves, throw in a tropical storm, and boom! Magic, as only Maggie Kelley can deliver!

You can read this series in any order. No matter where you start, you will end up with a smile on your face.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick Summary: One Little Kiss was a super cute modern day romance with a twist. It was quite funny and seriously sweet. (FYI: I loved the Pretty Woman nod.)
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: Adult
Status: Contemporary, Mature
Chemistry/Intensity: Yes
Conflict/Drama: Yes
Family Dysfunction: +/-
Humor/Wit: Yes
HEA: Yes
Source: NetGalley

[Karla Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a good summer read. Quick beach book. Kate needed to land an interview with her bosses brother to save her career. And zach just wanted to be left allow. After his fiancé was found cheating on him, he lost all faith in his work. His books were on love. Kate needs to smack him in the heart, I mean head. Loved it!!!

[RateTheRomance · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Little Kiss is a sweet story with lots of heat. This is fun if you're looking for a flirty beach read. Not too much depth, but a quick read.

The chemistry between the main characters felt very rushed at the beginning, but hot much better as the book progressed.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

[Robin Bielman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie Kelley always delivers an adorable story with characters I want to spend thousands of pages with, rather than hundreds. I loved Jake and Kate! Loved this book. It's sweet, funny, romantic, and had me smiling the whole way through!

[etoile1996 · Rating 3 out of 5]

kate bell has been dumped spectacularly for the last time. it's time to figure out a new way to find the one. but first she needs to make up for her ill-timed blog post for the dating service she works for. especially if she wants to solidify her shot to work for cosmopolitan--writing features for the magazine is her dream job. one little kiss is about her journey to get that dream job and the dream guy.

and all she has to do is convince her boss's reclusive brother, a published self-help romance guru, to grant her an interview. but first she has to hunt him down at his island retreat. and the last thing jake wright is interested in is granting this sexy blogger a story. he's been done with all the celebrity and media attention since it failed him the last time he was in the public eye. after being left by his wife for his literary agent he's decided that living out the dream in anonymity is the way to go.

but from the moment kate falls into his arms, jake can't help but feel compelled by her. the chemistry between them is so hot that jake wonders if no strings attached should be his dating philosophy and the possible topic of his next book. but when he keeps coming back to kate he knows that his ideas are just a work in progress. convincing kate of that fact will prove harder, but it not an insurmountable task. all jake needs to do is admit that maybe the chemistry is something more, something deeper.

**one little kiss will publish on may 8, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (lovestruck) in exchange for my honest review.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads Amazon

Love blogger Kate is done with love. She’s been burned by far too many good-looking men to give anybody a chance, so she’s not expecting much more than a good story when her boss sends her off on an island vacation. (Not to mention that the guy she’s interviewing is her boss’s brother, so she has to be well-behaved.)

Relationship expert Jake is also done with love. He wrote his book. He made his fortune. None of it mattered to his ex-wife. If he couldn’t even stay married, what business does he have giving love advice to the masses? That’s why he repeatedly denies his sister’s offer of a feature on her website. But when Kate comes crashing into his life, he’s not sure how long he’ll be able to stay away.

I could summarize this book in two words: It’s cute. It’s exactly what I was hoping it would be, a light-hearted but sexy romance between two people who are obviously meant to be together. Kate and Jake had chemistry from their first interaction, and the rest of the book was spent rooting for them to figure it out and make a decision to get together for the long haul.

This is the third book in the Smart Cupid series, but no prior knowledge of the characters is necessary to enjoy this story. I’ve never read anything by Maggie Kelley before, but now I know that she’s an author to watch.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute quick read, not much depth but stil enjoyable.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ACR, I voluntarily read and reviewed.

[Judith Miguel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Not as much as the previous two, but a great reading nevertheless.

[Rae Latte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another witty, passionate book about love with the right amount of comedic relief and spice as we discover what happens to a man convinced he's not in it for love. Every book by Maggie Kelley is a must read! I have been waiting years for this book and could not put it down.

Take a journey to a tropical island and discover what happens when you stop planning and let things just evolve organically. Could you just let it go for a chance to find love?

Well done Maggie!


I received an ARC from the publisher for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Stacie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though it's #3 in a series, this can definitely be read as a standalone. Cute, fluffy but I never connected with Kate or Jake or any of the secondary characters. I do want to go to an island even more than I did before but that's beside the point. A quick, light romance.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.