The First 100 Kisses: Practice Makes Perfect

by Danielle Bannister

“I have a huge favor to ask. I need to practice kissing."

Chloe Clark's smoking hot neighbor and best friend, Liam, needed her help…of the physical sort. Chloe knew it wasn't a joke. Liam was socially awkward, on the spectrum, and single at 33.

Yeah, he was odd, but he was her bestie. Besides, she had her issues too. Like always falling for the wrong guys. But that’s what made them work. They accepted each other for who they were. No pretending. No games. Perfectly platonic.

So, when Liam asked Chloe for help to get him ready for a second chance date with his high school sweetheart she could hardly say no. After all, Liam was woefully inexperienced—like virgin-level pure. It was downright criminal for someone that sexy to be so untouched.

What choice did she have? She couldn't leave her bestie to make a fool of himself with the woman he’d loved since he was a teenager. He just needed a few kisses under his belt, and he’d be fine for his date.

The bumped heads and smooshed noses Chloe expected. What she hadn't counted on, was liking Liam’s kisses. A lot.

When the practice sessions become a major turn-on for Chloe, how will she keep her pesky libido in check? And worse, how was she supposed to hand him over to another woman now?

Find out how a neurodivergent hero and a bad-at-love heroine turn from friends-to-lovers in this sexy contemporary romance!

Genres: Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

171 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 29, 2019

About the author

Danielle Bannister, a.k.a. Dani Bannister is a best-selling author who lives with her two children in Midcoast Maine along with her precious peppermint mocha creamer. She holds a BA in Theatre from the University of Southern Maine and her Masters in Literary Education from the University of Orono. When she's not on the stage, or on the page, you'll find her binge-watching Marvel Movies. As one does.

You can also join her newsletter at:

http://https://bookhip.com/BZHAHJM

or

You can visit her website at:

http://daniellebannister.com/

Reviews

[Serena Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

'De alguna manera, nos habíamos convertido en una historia de "amigos para los amantes".'




•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers

•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen




The First 100 Kisses: Practice Makes Perfect de Danielle Bannister


Argumento:

“Tengo un gran favor que pedirte. Necesito practicar besos ".

El vecino y mejor amigo de Chloe Clark, Liam, necesitaba su ayuda ... de tipo físico. Chloe sabía que no era una broma. Liam era socialmente incómodo, en el espectro y soltero a los 33.

Sí, era extraño, pero era su mejor amigo. Además, ella también tenía sus problemas. Como siempre enamorarme de los chicos equivocados. Pero eso es lo que los hizo funcionar. Se aceptaron el uno al otro por lo que eran. Sin fingir.

No juegos. Perfectamente platónico.

Entonces, cuando Liam le pidió ayuda a Chloe para prepararlo para una cita de segunda oportunidad con su novia de la escuela secundaria, ella difícilmente pudo decir que no. Después de todo, Liam era lamentablemente inexperto, como puro al nivel de una virgen. Era francamente criminal para alguien tan sexy estar tan intacto.

¿Qué opción tenía ella? No podía dejar que su mejor amiga se hiciera el ridículo con la mujer que había amado desde que era adolescente. Solo necesitaba unos besos en su haber, y estaría bien para su cita.

Chloe esperaba las cabezas golpeadas y las narices aplastadas. Con lo que no había contado era con que le gustaran los besos de Liam. Mucho.

Cuando las sesiones de práctica se conviertan en algo muy excitante para Chloe, ¿cómo podrá controlar su molesta libido? Y lo que es peor, ¿cómo se suponía que iba a entregarlo a otra mujer ahora?





Mí humilde opinión:

Una comedia romántica que me dejó con ganas de leer el siguiente libro!

Adoré a Chloe, ella era atrevida y real en su forma de ser y Liam era tímido, a veces demasiado exasperante y con cero experiencia con mujeres, también con una forma de ser muy particular. Sentí que había más de ellos por contar.

Esta pareja me conquistó por completo, disfruté mucho su romance de amigos a amantes. Eran de verdad diferentes, ella salvaje y no cree en el amor, él virgen y cree en esperar a su alma gemela, los dos tenían una conexión innegable, sus bromas y su amistad entrañable me dejó apoyándolos hasta el final. Me reí con las prácticas de los besos y si bien no hubo escenas de sexo, hubo quemadura lenta bastante picante!

Fue muy conmovedora y dulce la escena en la cocina donde aclaran sus sentimientos.

No vi venir un final feliz a medias!!! Eso me molestó obviamente, se sintió que el comienzo del noviazgo de Chloe y Liam es frágil y puede pasar algo malo en cualquier momento!!!

Muy mala la autora por dejarme sufriendo por los suelos!

[Canan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitabın sonunda ufak bir şok yaşadım. Annem seriymiş ya bu😂Gr de bilgisine denk gelmeyince ufak bir şaşkınlık anı yaşadım 🙈
Neyse... Benzeri temada işlenmiş bir iki hikaye okumuştum sanırım. Seks konusunda tecrübesiz karakterimiz geleceğinde olmasını istediği biri için, daha bilgili ve deneyimli başka birinden yardım ister. Buraya kadar normal. Ama bu işin deneyimsiz kısmında bir erkeğin olduğu bir hikaye okumamıştım sanırım. Ve Liam... Allah'ım çok tatlıydı ya... Tepkileri😍 Kitabın kapağını ve konusunu görünce dedim haliyle ilk bir iki bölüm pratikle geçer sonrası yataktan çıkmazlar. Ama kitap bitti ama bizim Liam hâlâ bir alem 🤭
Liam ve Chole aynı binada yaşayan komşular ve yakın arkadaşlar. Chole ne kadar dışa dönük biriyse Liam da tam tersi. Biraz çekimser, daha çok kendi dünyasında ve sanırım asosyal diyemem ama çok düz mantık birisi... Yıllar önce lise döneminde çıktığı eski sevgilisinden mesaj alır. Arayı kapatalım, buluşalım diye. Tam bir panik moduna geçer. Kadınlarla deneyimim yok, ne yapacağım? En iyisi arkadaşım Chole'den yardım istemek diyerek kapısını çalar. Bu da işleri pratik yapmaya ve 100 öpücük temasına getirir. Liam her şeyi sorguluyor 🤭Komik tatlıydı.😍
Bir yandan Liam'ın eski sevgilisi Angel için pratikler sürerken bir yandan da bu yakın temaslar arkadaşlık sınırlarını geçiyor. Duygular değişiyor işler biraz ileri gidiyor. Dedim ki bu sevimli haller ikinci yarıda ateşli sahnelere sebep olabilir. Ama ne yaşanırsa yaşansın duygusal olarak Liam hâlâ bir bebek 🤭☺️ Ben okurken eğlendim. Bakalım devamında bizi ne bekliyor.

[Elliot A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC from Red Coat Publishing and the authors in exchange for an honest review.
I had been a bit behind in my reading and schoolwork and made a little schedule that would allow me to read and do homework yesterday to give me the illusion to at least feel a tiny bit accomplished and less stressed out.

I had it all planned out: go to the coffee shop, get myself a cappuccino, read for an hour, go home, have lunch and then start on my homework. It was a good plan, which I intended on following, until I opened my Kindle and started reading. Before I knew it, I was at home on my couch, inhaling my lunch while reading.

I thought I will read for a bit longer as a sort of after lunch break and before I realized what had happened it was 4:30 in the afternoon. I was so sucked into the story, I lost all track of time and I was glad of it, too.

The protagonist was refreshingly real and very relatable. I enjoyed her blunt and sometimes brash sense of humour and manner of expressing herself. I appreciated reading about a woman, who was in her mid-30’s, struggling and completely non-conventional.

I also noticed some gender reversal between the protagonist and her male friend, which I found very entertaining.

The plot was straight forward and fun to follow. The more I think about it, the more I could see this story as a play; very few scene changes, only two major characters and only three minor characters throughout the entire story makes for a very focused and concentrated character study.

The writing was clean, engaging and hooked me from the first page. I highlighted two quotes I found very interesting and found myself laughing out loud more than a few times.

There are a few explicit scenes described throughout the story, but nothing that isn’t too raunchy or pornographic.

Overall, this story was just what I needed yesterday and I’m not even sorry for having skipped my homework in order to finish it.

As I said before, it was fun, refreshing and surprisingly real as I could see myself in the protagonist more than once. I would definitely recommend this story to anyone, looking for a modern adult contemporary story with a bit of heat, addressing the subject of sexuality and gender roles.

ElliotScribbles

[Sandra Shipman ~ Two Book Pushers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The First 100 Kisses is Danielle Bannister’s next standalone. When I found out she was releasing her next book I was so excited. I have been following her since her first book Pulled was released and I will never forget it made me cry for the first time in public while reading it. I haven’t read every book but I have read most. She has fantasy ones that I haven’t dove into yet since it wasn’t one of my go-to genres but it’s one that I found to enjoy recently. Anyway, back to The First 100 Kisses...

Liam needed help. His high school sweetheart was back in town after fifteen years and asked him to dinner. He was not a ladies’ man. He didn’t have relationships. He didn’t have one night stands. He was an awkward but good looking man who wasn’t into the whole dating scene. But, for Angel, he wanted to show her that he was not that awkward teen she once knew. So he asks his best friend and neighbor for help. In the kissing department. In the how to know the cues department. How to not look like a total idiot in front of a woman department.

Chloe was in shock. Sure, she hadn’t seen him bring dozens of women home over the last seven years but there were a few. And he was good looking guy. She even tried to hit that at one point but friend zoned that very day. And now, he was just a guy she watched tv with, talked to, and annoyed. So, she said yes. She would help him get the girl. Except, she didn’t realize how much she would enjoy it. His kisses lit her up. His nervousness turned her on. She knew she was playing with fire but she couldn’t stop it. Was it worth losing their friendship? That was what he came down to. He wasn’t doing this for her. He was doing this for Angel. The woman of his dreams.

I fell hard for this book in the very beginning. Chloe is hilarious, daring, and snarky. Liam. Poor, poor Liam. He is clueless in the sweetest of ways. I loved him. I thought it was so refreshing that he was the one that needed the lessons. The lessons in seduction. It’s usually the other way around so that was so fun! To see the guy lost. Will he get the girl?

Overall... I loved every minute of it! The characters are a great match. Complete opposites. The lessons went from sweet to sinful. It says it’s a novella but it feels more like a full-length book to me. It’s not short but not too long either. It was perfect.

Quotes:

“Take your hands out of your pocket and come closer, moron. I can’t kiss you way over there.” His eyes grew wide.
“Now? You want to do it now? Don’t we need to talk about the techniques first? A flip chart maybe? Or perhaps a drawing to illustrate movements?”

Remember. He’s a Ken doll. And Angel is his Barbie. I was Skipper, the homely, lonely doll no one played with.

I had a feeling this was going to be both the best and the worst decision I would ever make.

[Andrea Vickers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t my usual read, however I couldn’t be happier I read it. The writing draws you in as do the characters! It’s a really heart felt story with a bit of raunchiness for flavour! I wanted to follow these characters all the way to the end, and it was really hard to put down!

[Theeeonlylimit · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Molly Embry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down. The things people do for their best friends. Definitely will be rereading.

[Victoria Stolte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I Floved this one! I couldn’t put it down and could have finished in one sitting if it weren’t for having to adult as well. 😑 ugh. Chloe and Liam are my two new favorite characters. I loved her boldness mixed with his nervousness. Worked really well together and I think that’s sort of what he needs. I can’t go in to too much detail without giving things away so I won’t spoil anything for you but what can go wrong with one friend helping another out right? Ha! You will have to read it and see.

[Valerie Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted an ARC of this book and went in blind. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the author took a foray into more adult content with this one. The humor and humanism that is my favorite part of the authors writing is still present and I loved this story!

[Stephanie Burch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chloe you skanky girl. Liam asked her for a favor, something that he needed a best friend's help with. Chloe let it go to far and involve her heart.
Every kiss was HOT. Liam never knew what hit him. This is the perfect place to use: practice makes perfect.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first 100 kisses by Danielle Bannister.
This was a fantastic read with great characters. Loved Chloe and Liam. I didn't like Damon. I love the chemistry between chloe and Liam. Brilliant. 5*.

[Patti K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

What happens when friends cross an invisible line? Usually, it's either a dream or a disaster. But The First 100 Kisses asks how the intent might impact the result. Chloe is a serial dater and a complete mess, but she has the one thing that her bestie, Liam, lacks - experience with relationships, especially kissing. Liam is a great guy - solid, kind, decent, stable. He also happens to be quite attractive, and it's baffling to Chloe that he doesn't have a girlfriend let alone that he's a total novice at absolutely everything. He needs help learning some moves. Turns out, he's saving himself for the girl of his dreams, but will she be the one who got away? Or will she be the girl next door? You'll have to read to find out.

I loved the dynamic between Chole and Liam. Their banter, their camaraderie, their genuine caring for the other person all made this a fun and easy read. I'd give this more than 4 stars but less than 5 just for the fact that Liam is clearly a character on the Autism Spectrum, and yet, he is 100% presented as fully capable of having a life of his own. As someone with people she loves on the Spectrum, that warms my heart and adds value.

Most of my issues preventing the 5-star rating were nitpicky, and they never truly detracted from the narrative for me (a few editing items landed on the list, but it was mostly that I could NOT place where they were in Portland, and as someone who lived and worked there, that was something I noticed. For anyone unfamiliar with Portland, Maine, it won't matter). Overall, this was an enjoyable, quick read, and I was thrilled to have the follow-up story ready and waiting. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good friends-to-lovers tale, but be sure you're ready for some heat - it's steamy.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me begin by saying this author is new to me and I was given the chance to read this book and give my honest opinion on it. And that is what you will find in this review. The one thing you won't find is me giving away the contents.

First, what I can tell you is this a friends to lover story where the roles are reversed in this story.
Chloe is the more outgoing with one fantastic sense of humor. And Liam is the sweet and somewhat awkward yet sexy friend. As the blurb says he asks his best friend, Chloe for help to prepare for a date with an old love. Being the awesome person she is she is more than willing to help her best friend. That is a two way street because he is there for her when needed also. The journey of the first 100 kisses offers had me laughing, swooning, cringing and more.


I rated it four out of five stars because there is one part that I would have liked a bit more to happen and it didn't but over all I found this book to be thoroughly enjoyable. The characters had great chemistry from friendship to more. The author definitely has a way with words and making the characters come to life. I full heartedly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from her.

[Helen Main · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay. I have to explain the rating.

I loved the idea, but the book itself was filled with red flags.

1. If you are writing about someone on the spectrum, make sure not to throw every cliche at the character. This book did not feel #ownvoice. Instead it read like the author had downloaded a list of autistic traits and made sure to tick them off like a to-do list.

2. Church talk. I get that Church can be a huge part of someone's life, but this needs to be signposted in the blurb. I avoid books adjacent or in the Inspirational category. I'm not the only one. Suddenly having Church introduced as a topic was a real WHAT moment.

3. The biggest red flag is how the Main Female Character talks about other women: skanks, wh*res, and bimbos. She even describes one co-worker as obsessed with sex and "probably riddled with STDs." Meanwhile the Main Female Character has no problems accepting money from the Main Male Character for making out with him.

There's a real lack of internal consistency to any of the characters & I wouldn't want to hang out with any of them.

Honestly, I cannot remember the last time when I read a book and thought "this author needs a sensitivity reader" - but here we are.

[Kat Doran · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The First 100 Kisses, a contemporary romantic novella by Danielle Bannister, we meet Chloe Clark and Liam McGeary. Best of friends for the past several years, the two of them “get” each other—all the warts, flaws, and quirks. They trust each other like no one else, never crossing the lines, never asking for more than the other will give. Sigh.
Until…Liam admits a former girlfriend—maybe the one who got away—plans to make a grand return to his life. He begs for help from Chloe, the woman who knows everything about. . . sex and stuff. Because, like he’s a virgin and never done the deed and since she has—many times over—who else does a guy turn to?

Our Review: Get ready for the ride of your life with this steamy friends-to-lovers romance as Chloe teaches her Best Friend how to win a woman’s heart, mind and body. The fact that Chloe has a secret crush for the nerdy Liam puts a wrench in this particular monkey works. Watching the two come together—literally if not figuratively—is an adventure.

On a scale of 1-5, The First 100 Kisses deserves a 4.

Kat Henry Doran, Two Wild Women Reviews

[Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would you ask your best friend to make out with you? I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book, but I had to read it after loving Danielle's Pulled series.


You know what? It wasn't that bad! At first I was kinda ehh I mean it's a bit of an odd request and well Chloe did laugh at Liam, she just though/expected that he already had kissed women and so on. So she agrees to his favor.

So they practice everything you can think of to make sure Liam is ready for his date. Poor guy is so nervous that when the date gets moved up even sooner he is a mess. But does he still want this date? As he continues practicing with Chloe, I think he realized they have gone past friendship at this point. Well, friendship is pretty much gone to him....

So when he goes on his date and Angel isn't he ever after and brings her home for a drink and Chloe is drunk... well lets just say it was interesting but Liam finally admitted his feelings to Chloe and now she doesn't have to stop herself from thinking and wanting him. Their friendship has changed into something more and it was great to finally see them end up where they belong. I can't wait for the next book!

[Amazeballs Book Addicts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun read. I loved Chloe and Liam. They are best friends and neighbors. Chloe is a little wild but seems like a super fun girl and I would totally be her friend. Liam is the opposite of Chloe. He's a virgin and doesn't have much experience with girls. Chloe and Liam have great banter and I loved them as friends and so hoped for more. Liam's high school sweetheart, Angel, is back in town and they have a date set up. I didn't like Angel from the beginning. Liam needs help with learning how to kiss and not be awkward with Ange so he asks Chloe to help. With each kiss and the more time they spent together, I got more and more attached to the idea of Chloe and Liam as a couple. I loved the ending of this one.

[Giofab21 · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Liam nervously asks his friend Chloe for her help with his unique problem and she accepts, you know we're in for some awkwardly funny and sexually confusing times. Lines start to blur for poor Chloe as she helps prepare him for someone else while suddenly catching feelings for her bestie. This will end well, right? Liam's nervous discomfort with the situation is surprisingly refreshing (even though my jaded self needed some time to buy it), but did get a bit frustrated that he was doing this all for an ex that didn't deserve him or a second chance. Excited to find out there's a continuation of this story so will be curious to dive in to see what's next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author brings Rom-Com to the story as the two besties Chloe and Liam fumble their way to their true love. Liam's inexperienced and Chloe's there to give him sexucational lessons for the girl he's pined over since being dumped in high school. What could go wrong? They realize their kissing and then some lessons become so much more after a little oral play. The characters are relatable with their odd quirks. This is one of those stories where readers are actually rooting for the bestie to steal the guy from the love interest. I highly recommend this story, as it heartwarming, funny, and medium burn steam.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ashley Hedden · Rating 5 out of 5]

The First 100 Kisses was another great book by Danielle Bannister. Chloe and Liam have been best friends for the last seven years. Everything has always stayed platonic for them until Liam asks her for help on kissing. Liam is a virgin and the only woman he ever loved has come back into his life, and wants to go on a date with him. Chloe agrees and figures that after 100 kisses he will be all set for Angel. Neither one expected to fall for the other. I have always loved reading all of Danielle Bannister's books but I absolutely fell in love with Chloe and Liam's characters. This was a great book that is a must read for everyone. I can't wait to read more books by Danielle Bannister.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chloe and Liam had quite the friendship...one that allowed them to ask for just about anything from the other....so Liam did.
The one girl he loved, when he was young, dumped him and moved on with her life... but now Angel is back and she wants to see him to "catch up and reconnect" over dinner, of which, he accepts. Now he turns to his best friend to help him with a little problem...at first Chloe thought he was kidding but soon came to realize he wasn't.
This is a cute book about all the ways to kiss.... and the misadventures that go with it.

[Kelly Mccurdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing about reading books from authors that you have read before and you think you know their style of writing, and then BAM!!! They go and write something that is completely off the wall for them, you end up loving that author just a little bit more. The First 100 Kisses is a beautiful story. Something that is done on a daily basis, you don’t realize how special those kisses are. Danielle has written a beautiful book that counts each and every kiss. Of course there is a bit of a twisty plot, but it is still amazing. Give this book a try!!

[Roxanne Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Compared to other steamy books I've read this was a nice change of story and believe me when I say I've never read a story about a man in his 30's that's still a virgin lol
So Chloe and Liam are best friends and a love interest of liams comes back on the scene and wants to meet up with him so he asks Chloe to help him prepare for this. I'll not say anymore as don't wanna spoil it. But Chloe helps Liam while satisfying her own needs 😉 and the story is full of funny moments that most of us can probably relate to lol I know I can haha

[Petrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story about best friends that fall in love accidentally. Liam is adorable and well written as some on the spectrum. Chloe has some real self esteem issues that we don’t really a backstory to, but suffice it to say that she doesn’t know her worth. What started out as a friend helping another friend turned in to both heated and heartbreaking moments. It was an enjoyable read (not too long and not too short) and I couldn’t put down.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cathy Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The First 100 Kisses by Danielle Bannister is an entertaining book to read. As I did so, I hoped for the ending I wanted and was not disappointed. Ms. Bannister did an excellent job in introducing me to Chloe and Liam. I felt their best friendship was real and liked how they interacted with one another. They trusted and felt safe enough to try what Liam wanted. Again, the ending of the story was spot-on. I really liked this book. Great job, Ms. Bannister.

[Melissa B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chloe and Liam are best friends and neighbors, she's a serial dater and somewhat of a mess. He's sweet, awkward, and needs to learn how to wow an ex.
A friends to lovers story that was sweet, steamy and fun.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mojo_Mama]

My 20 yo Aspie despises the term “neuro-divergent,” he feels no one asked him what he wants to be called and it certainly isn’t that. He happily calls himself an Autist...he knows the UD def as do his other spectrum friends, but they think it’s hysterical and embrace it as a joke as they truly require no labels other than human.

[Elizabeth McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun and exciting romance between two best friends, Liam and Chloe. When Liam asked his best friend to help him out, they never conceived their unimaginable ending. Good, sweet read with sensitive issues thrown in.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emma Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and steamy all in one. I read it in one sitting! (My start finish dates may say 19th and 20th, but only because I finished it at 12:05 am. Who needs sleep when you can have “it’s just kissing practice, we totally won’t catch feels…”?) It’s the first friends to lovers book I’ve actually read and I can officially say I’m a major fan of the trope.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick, fun and sexy read! The story flowed well for a novella and the characters were developed nicely. It left with me with a nice little book-hangover for a day or two. 10/10 definitely recommend.