Kissing Charlie

Unexpected Love #1

by Elsa Winckler

One Kiss Will Change Their Lives Forever

Bowen therapist Charlie Wilson is not interested in men or relationships. Her only concern is making sure her sister Lindsay is safe.

But then billionaire Logan Johnson walks into her rooms and stirs powerful feelings inside of her. Logan’s perfectly knotted tie is a clear indication free-spirit Charlie should steer clear of him at all costs.

They are complete opposites, so why does he keep coming back to see her?

Genres: Contemporary, Romance

195 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 7, 2021

About the author

I have been reading love stories for as long as I can remember and when I ‘met’ the classic authors like Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, Henry James The Brontë sisters, etc. during my studies, I was hooked for life.
I married my college boyfriend and soul mate and we are fortunate to live in the picturesque little seaside village of Betty's Bay, South Africa with the ocean a block away and a beautiful mountain right behind us. And although life so far has not always been an easy ride, it has always been an exiting and interesting one!
I like the heroines in my stories to be beautiful, feisty, independent and headstrong. And the heroes must be strong but possess a generous amount of sensitivity. They are of course, also gorgeous! My stories typically incorporate the family background of the characters to better understand where they come from and who they are when we meet them in the story.

Reviews

[Eclectic Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started with an unconventional therapy session, a kiss, and an insult. Let the love begin.

Charlene "Charlie" Wilson is a nurse and an unconventional therapist who moved with her sister Lindsay from South Africa to Montana to get away from her sister's psycho ex-boyfriend.  The day the uptight and rude Logan Johnson walked into her clinic, she knew she was in for a battle with his insults about her career and her clothing choices. However, all that paled when she looked into his hungry eyes and he kissed her on her forehead before he left.

Logan is the CEO of a fund-management company in Seattle and he normally doesn't have time for another one of his mother's crazy ideas. But she swears the new therapist in his hometown of Alisson, Montana, can practically perform miracles and his back isn't getting any better after his hiking accident. When he sees Charlie Wilson who is actually a beautiful woman, she unexpectedly stirs his blood like no other woman and he finds it hard to forget her. He's not a relationship kind of guy and she's definitely not his type with her free spirit and unusual clothing style. 

Charlie is a strong woman who moved across the world to save her sister from an abusive and narcissistic asshole.  Charlie is a free spirit and is finally doing what makes her happy, so I was proud of her when she stood up to Logan after she declared her love and he didn't reciprocate it at first. Logan became a caretaker at an early age after his father died and his mother couldn't cope. It's this responsibility that created the structured and predictable man he is now. With the loving assistance of his conniving mother and sister of throwing Charlie and Logan together and his connecting the dots on why he misses Charlie so much that he can't eat or sleep, he finally confesses his feelings to Charlie.

In the meantime, there are some threats and attempts to hurt Lindsay and Charlie which are resolved fairly quickly. This includes some help from the new Dojo owner and man of mystery, Blake Davidson, who looks like a love interest with Lindsay who claims to hate him but methinks she protests too much. Logan also finds out that he needs to win over Charlie's brother, Gavin, who is very protective of his sister. And let's not forget Logan's damn interfering women in his life, his mother, Eleanor, and his sister, Brooke, only want Logan to be happy.

Overall, I enjoyed this love-at-first-sight, opposites attract romance filled with delightful characters and a little bit of suspense. I can't wait to read future books in this series.

Thank you to Ms. Winckler for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review. 

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book one in The Unexpected Love Series and it is Charlie and Logan's story and what a great start to a new series and definitely a must read. Charlie is a trained nurse and therapist helping people get better but when Logan comes in for a appointment Charlie couldn't believe her reaction to him even if he is a bit of a cynical man. Logan injured his back while out hiking so his mother set him up a appointment only for Logan to be shocked not only by the woman but also his reaction to her and he also didn't believe that the technique would help him. The chemistry between them were so strong and intense that it sizzles of the pages of this book but they not only live miles apart but they are also the total opposite of each other in every single way as Charlie is free and is her own person and lives her life how she wants to where as Logan is strict and in control at all times but will they be able to get over all there difficult situations and realise that they are so perfect for each other . This story took you on a roller coaster ride of emotions and it took you into the story right from the first page and I couldn't put it down as it was a real page turner and so addictive and I can't wait to read more books by Elsa Winckler who is a new author to me but I enjoyed reading this book so much that I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future. I definitely recommend you read this book as it was so well written with a totally engaging storyline with great characters and it is definitely worth reading.

I Voluntarily Reviewed a Copy of This Book.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kissing Charlie is an opposites-attract romance. I loved the characters and especially found Charlie's work interesting. I'd never heard of Bowen Therapy and googled it, then I wished I could go to a therapist myself. Charlie was such a refreshing character to read. The romance was sweet and steamy and ticked all the boxes. I know "love at first sight" is hard to believe, but I have personally experienced pretty much knowing you want to be with someone forever before you really know them that well because you intuitively know their character. :) So, it is possible. And even if it isn't, it was such a refreshing and gripping book to read - you just want to find out how they're going to get together. Elsa's books always tug on the heart strings.

I was offered a free copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Elmaret Fourie · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment the perfectly knotted, straight tie and suit-wearing Logan enters Charlene’s (Charlie’s) Bowen practice you know sparks are going to fly. Charlie with her pink, glittery top, lots of bangles, earrings that look like chandeliers and her Bohemian styled skirt doesn’t fit into his neatly arranged boxes but oh boy she is beautiful! His body can’t lie, unfortunately. This seems all to whoo-whoo for him...but all he wants to do is kiss the girl. Charlie has sworn off men after being dumped by an ex, but sexy Logan makes her body react. And where is the husky voice coming from? She wants to mess up his perfect hair while he doesn’t like her gipsy style. Kissing Charlie has drama, it has humour, romance and love BUT most of all...it has kissing in it...a whole lot of kissing.
😘

[Amy Vida · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of Kissing Charlie in exchange for an honest review. Overall, I enjoyed this fast paced and easy to read novella. One aspect of this book that I found deviated from any other book I've read is when Logan told Charlie she wasn't his type. That broke Charlie's heart, yet she came running back.

There were a few distractions along the way. There was a lot of filler family drama. I'd prefer to see more relationship dialogue and less family drama. I also have an aversion to rich billionaire's. I prefer more down to earth and realistic characters.

Even with these few hiccups I found this book was worth reading.

[BP34 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie and her sister were both nurses. After Charlie was harrassed by her stalker ex, they agreed to move from their native South Africa to a small town in Montana. Charlie's sworn off men but a client causes her to re-access her thoughts. Logan enters the picture and one kiss later both their lives changes. No shortage of drama or suspense. Chemistry abounds and a cute story evolves with a special happy ending. I read an advance free copy via Book Sirens and voluntarily chose to write a review.

[Sandy Gutting · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good storyline with several interesting characters!! I enjoyed how the plot and always love when there is a happy ever after marriage!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rachel The reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic style contemporary romance with a feel good factor.

There were a few emotional moments and a very obvious plot but overall a light and entertaining read for a couple of hours.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Beth (what.beth.reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kissing Charlie was an insta-love book that showed itself as an enemies to lovers novel. Everything moved very quickly in their relationship, despite them resisting the attraction. Some of the treatment Charlie gave didn’t seem realistic - for example, she used a crystal to identify his point of pain. It was a quick read and I liked the overall story, but wonder where this relationship will be in two years once the lust wears off. I would not recommend it to someone that struggles with infertility, as the book handled that in a way that may be difficult to read.
•
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkspell Publishing for the advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cindi Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opposites attract and sparks fly!

I loved the push and pull between Logan and Charlie. This is a must-read for anyone who loves small-town romance, with a side of quirky characters and family drama.

Logan and Charlie are polar opposites. She is long skirts, bangles and big earrings and he is dark suits and matching ties. Logan's well-intentioned (read endearingly interfering) mother and sister try and remedy his black and white life with colourful Charlie by setting the two singles up. But although their attraction is instant, both resist falling into a serious relationship, until they realise that there's more to their attraction.

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters are engaging and entertaining with lots of chemistry throughout the storyline. The flow of the storyline was great.

I received a copy and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie and Logan are opposites and neither are looking for a relationship (though for very different reasons). But when Logan's mother gets him an appointment with Charlie to help with his back pain there's an instant connection that neither can deny. Although it was a bit predictable this was still a fun, quick read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[TELA666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story of total opposites with a touch of added danger. He is a straight laced professional and she is an alternative practitioner. It is fairly easy to see what will happen but you aren't expecting a thriller. Enjoy a sweet small town HEA

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

[Marlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story, there were a few repetitious thoughts and dialogues that I found irritating, the instant attraction was fun but the drama never seemed to get resolved properly and there seemed to be more to the story that was not written.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a good, and enjoyably insta love small town romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry. The story is enemies to lovers romance quick read that has lots of drama humor.

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

[Mary Shearer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlene Wilson, aka Charlie, is a Bowen therapist who has had to endure a lot in her life. In a car accident that took the lives of her parents, also took the ability for her to have children. The man she had intended on marrying and having children with, dumped her because of the inability to give him children. Through this experience, Charlie has come to peace with this and has decided she will never marry. She learned the Bowen therapy technique which helped aid her in her recovery and wishes to use this to help others.

Logan Johnson has no desire for a long term relationship, much less marriage. He is all about working hard and keeping things in order. His family considers him to be boring due to every aspect of his life, including his dating life, is neat and tidy with no room for messiness.

When Charlie and Logan meet, sparks fly. However, no two people could possibly be more different than these two. Charlie is vibrant, full of life and color. Logan is dull and boring. Charlie enjoys her sparkling wardrobe and colorful cushions. All of which, Logan despises. But the draw these two feel for each other can not be denied.

The developing relationship between these two is raw and full of emotion. The chemistry between all of the characters really helped to bring the story to life and kept me hooked till the end. The ending is such a sweet and beautiful HEA.

I received an ARC and am leaving a voluntary review.

[MN Book Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book, but the inst-love arc and pregnancy both seemed a bit far-fetched.

Charlene, or Charlie as everyone knows her, is a trained nurse who practices a specialty form of pain massage. And Logan is sent by his mom to help with his back pain. And as much as he didn’t believe it would help, he couldn’t see himself falling for her either.

But all it takes is eight days and most of that spent apart for Charlie to know it was love. And another two weeks of not talking for Logan to know it too. But it takes Charlie getting hurt for Logan to say anything.

Logan and Charlie get their happy ending in this stand-alone book.

This was a super cute and quick read, I just didn’t find the love story that believable. Logan was constantly saying how she wasn’t his type and that he didn’t want long-term. But then turns around and has to kiss her? Talk about hot and cold. I also feel there was enough else going on that the accidental pregnancy wasn’t needed. Maybe a surprise from the honeymoon but Logan was already all in.

I do hope the author continues with stories for Charlie’s siblings as I suspect I know who they may get paired with, but I could be completely wrong.

I received an advanced review copy for free from Book Sirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jamie Hyde · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled with a few things in this book. The instant-love and a baby tropes were very far out there. I felt like when it started, it was going to be a enemies to lovers drawn out plot -- but the enemies lasted about 6 seconds and they just automatically became like best friends... it didn't seem right. Everything mean he said to her in the few few chapter/pages magically just went out the window and she completely forgot.

I also did not enjoy the formatting of this book. There was no clear indication of when the characters were switching besides a small page break. They could have been separate chapters, it was hard to keep track of the setting, I would think I was reading about Charlie and then I would see a "he" and have to go back and re-read to have it all make sense.

I really liked the addition of Lindsay's plot -- with the stalker ex-boyfriend. It added a little "something else" to this story. The sex scenes were well done, detailed without being "too much"

There were a lot of characters to remember in this one, and as stated previously -- due to the way the chapters were set up -- it was hard to remember who belonged to who.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read one of Ms. Winckler's Cavello Brothers books and liked it a lot. Very different from usual writings.

Was eager to read Kissing Charlie when it came up for AR.

An attraction at first sight and one MC quick to falling in love while the other takes a bit more to get there - trope.

Logan and Charlie were good - in spite of the story happening in a very short span and few minor nags.

We can definitely guess the MCs in the forthcoming books in the series as well. Looking forward to them.

[Jill Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a opposites attract, love at first sight feel good book. Charlie and Logan are so different but as soon as their eyes meet they can’t think about anything else but each other. They both try to fight the attraction but as we know with these stories that is useless. I liked that it was fast paced and they didn’t waste too much (only a little) trying to ignore their true feelings. Loved the other characters in the book and can’t wait to read Lyndsey’s story next.
I received a copy from Booksirens and leave my review voluntarily.

[Viktoria Hergovich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kissing Charlie is book #1 in the Unexpected Love series by Elsa Winckler.

The characters were so charming - I really enjoyed this book. It's an opposite attracts story about the bowen therapist Charlie and the billionaire Logan.
It's not a classic billionaire story where the heroine is the damsel in distress - I really liked that.

I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Maria (Miasbookadventures) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It held my attention up until the end. The writing flowed well, and captured a sense of real emotion. The characters were witty and cute, yet intriguing and reserved. I would definitely recommend this book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rach3l · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story. I enjoyed every moment of it. I’m looking forward to reading the next one in the series. Can’t wait to see what else happens with Lindsey and Blake.

Side note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review

[MammaDi3Gatti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gah, I don't much like writing negative reviews, but I did promise to write an honest opinion. This novel, the first in a series, wasn't terrible, but it wasn't good either. It follows Bowen Method therapist Charlie and megarich businessman Logan from the moment they meet in her clinic through to their HEA. In between was an uneven, largely rushed tale of two very different people who have very little chemistry.

The novel is short--more of a novella--and it's a fast read; I put it away in no more than a couple of hours. I partly finished it quickly due to skimming through some of the cringy parts, largely consisting of inappropriate sexy times in Charlie's office on top of the therapy bed. I mean, yay for attraction, but it's unprofessional on Charlie's part and disrespectful on Logan's to turn a scheduled therapy session into something, er, else. Don't get me wrong: I'm not prudish and I adore heat and creativity in a love scene, but this just crosses the line into tacky.

Logan is, I'm sorry to say, a total ass. He's saved from being irredeemable by both Charlie and him admitting to his asshattery. Charlie is supposed to be strong and sure of herself, but by accepting all of his criticisms about her profession, personality, and appearance, she instead comes off as a doormat.

The book could also use a heavy edit. I almost never comment on editorial issues in an ARC review, but having Logan's sister called Claire, Brooke, and Lindsay all in the span of a few minutes of reading was really distracting. (Pick door number 2, BTW.)

There's a tangential suspense thread relating to Lindsay, Charlie's sister, that I suspect will feature more prominently in book 2, Lindsay's story. If I did not already have that book waiting on my shelf, I might have given it a pass, but since it's there, I'll give the series a second chance.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks!

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

She’s not his type and they are polar opposites, so why can’t he stop thinking about kissing Charlie? Kissing Charlie is a sizzling romance I read in one day. Talk about an electric attraction that singed my fingertips while reading. The characters are real, so real they leap off the page and into your heart. With a fast-moving plot, snappy dialogue, emotional narration, Kissing Charlie will steal your heart.

Let’s start with the characters. From the moment Charlie and Logan meet, the heat is off the charts. They’re like magnets…the more they try to pull away, the need to be close to each other is ten times stronger. I connected with Charlie right away. She’s a free spirit who has a healing touch. She’s also 100% devoted to her family, especially her sister. She spars with Logan and that only feeds her emotions. Logan is as strait-laced as they come. He likes order while Charlie is wild and free. He can’t help kissing Charlie and falling for her. The rest of the characters are well-written and make this small town in Montana memorable. Seriously, I want to move there.

The narration is emotional and expertly described. Elsa Winckler takes her time in detailing every last detail and the result is a lush reading experience. It truly felt like I was experiencing everything Charlie and Logan went through.

The romance is brilliantly written with plenty of emotion and conflict. Every touch, sigh, kiss, and emotion are expressed. I kept rooting for these two to realize what a special thing they have.

If you love unputdownable romance, Kissing Charlie is your next read. This is only book one. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

My Rating: 5+ stars

Reviewed by: Nancy

This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some exciting, suspenseful moments in this book and good chemistry between the main characters. The secondary characters—like Logan’s mom—were the highlight of the story for me. Unfortunately, the main characters were disappointing. I hated how early Charlie admitted her feelings for Logan. She came across as kind of desperate at certain points. Logan, on the other hand, was incredibly indecisive, and I was exhausted by his repeated discussions of how Charlie wasn’t his type. It was insulting to her and hurt the development of the romance.

The writing was pretty solid without too many dull points throughout the story. However, the conclusion of the danger/stalker aspect was utterly disappointing. It was so quickly wrapped up with little explanation that it kind of ruined the climax of the novel. The romance was tied up nicely though, so that was satisfying.

Overall, this was a good romance, but not a great one. I’d recommend it to those who enjoy romances that focus more on passion than emotional depth.

*I received an ARC of this novel. This is my complete and honest review.*

[Carolien · Rating 4 out of 5]

It always feels like a special day when a pre-ordered Elsa Winckler book arrives on my Kindle app and this was no different. Charlie Wilson and her sister, both nurses, have moved to a small town in rural Montana to avoid Lindsay's stalking, threatening boyfriend. Charlie is not interested in relationships, but then Logan Johnson walks into her therapy rooms and she may just change her mind. They fall for each other immediately, but Logan is not so sure Charlie fits into his neat world. Loved the characters and looking forward to the next instalment in the series.

[Aria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

After reading another book by this author, I had high hopes for this book. Charlie, a boho character with an interesting career and then there's Logan. Throughout the whole book he comes off as a man-child, it felt like he was throwing a tantrum in every chapter. Everything moved so quickly that the pacing felt incredibly rushed and I could not connect with their love story. With how quickly everything wraps up, the sister's storyline is left in a cliffhanger. I normally don't mind the meddling mother storyline but this one was a bit too much.

[Nipa Shah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first book by the author.

The story line flowed through easily. Logan & Charlie’s chemistry was off the chart. I was so drawn to the story & didn’t realize the book has ended. I wish it was little longer. I can’t wait for Lindsay’s story.

So if i like the story why 3 stars…there were times the names got all mixed up. Where it should be Brooke, but Claire (don’t even know who that was) was written. Same with Lindsay’s names. The author needs to have a better proofreader. I had to read the sentences couple of times to make sure i didn’t miss anything.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Denise Morse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kissing Charlie is a fast paced, small town style romance with a great cast of side characters and family members and seems to set up quite a few future books. Charlie and Logan were sweet characters but their romance was so incredibly fast that i had a hard time believing it was love and not pure lust. The scenes were very steamy and enjoyable, and the ending was great but maybe a little too rushed. I do look forward to what I hope are books about Gavin and Lindsey.