Well, it would be if I had a husband or, at the very least, a boyfriend. However, I have neither of those and after watching relationships and marriages around me fall apart, I’m not interested.
But that’s not going to stop me from going after what I want. I have a plan.
AJ
Not once did I imagine a night out with my business partner and best friend would change my life so drastically.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d end up volunteering to help a stranger get pregnant so I could spend more time with her. But here I am.
I’m not sorry. Not even a little bit.
She’s everything I’ve ever wanted. Now I need to work out a way to convince her to deviate from her plan and include me in that future she’s got mapped out.
This is the third book in the Kisses series, a spin-off from Stolen Kisses. While this is a stand-alone title, we first met Sarah in Stolen Kisses and Moonlit Kisses. For the best reading experience, it is recommended you read Stolen Kisses and Moonlit Kisses first; however, it’s not essential for the enjoyment of this story.
Steamy strangers-to-friends-to-lovers slow-burn planned pregnancy contemporary romance. 122K+ words. Stand alone. HEA. Recommended for 18+.
Debra St James is an author of spicy, slow-burn contemporary romance that features cinnamon roll heroes who listen to their women’s hearts and their words. She takes her time to weave a detailed tapestry of genuine characters, real-life struggles, love, and romance to create engaging stories that will have you so immersed in the story that you’ll never want to leave. Her stories are always guaranteed to take you on an emotional journey that ultimately ends with a HEA!
Debra loves to read romance. She can often be found with her nose stuck in her iPad, swooning over her latest book boyfriend. She writes part-time from her Perth home, which she shares with Mr. St James and their two sons, whose antics often make her roll her eyes and laugh in equal measure. Debra loves to eat cheese and chocolate (not together), and cheese and chocolate love Debra’s thighs so much, they never want to leave!
This book has it all! Make sure you are ready for an emotional ride!
I can't say enough about this book! Debra writes such amazing stories that will make you laugh out loud one minute and will break your heart the next.
Join Sarah on her journey to motherhood. She was the child who played with dolls because she always dreamed of being a mother. She is a single woman in her mid thirties so she feels like her only choice is to use a fertility clinic. Becoming a mother that way can be very expensive and after two failed attempts she will need to try again in a year after she saves up enough money. After such a big disappointment she needs a night out with her best friend Melanie.
Aj has his own reasons for wanting a night out on the town. He and his best friend/ business partner just landed a huge account and want to celebrate. It doesn't take long before Aj has Sarah in his sights. He follows the girls to a booth and ends up overhearing Sarah's problem. As soon as they are alone Aj can't help but offer to help her become a mother. Sarah can't wrap her head around how crazy of an idea this is. A complete stranger offering to help her become a mother? How can she accept his offer but how can she turn him down? What option does she have if she wants her dream of being a mother to become a reality?
Regular sex with a stranger to get pregnant? Why do that when you can use a collection condom? Talk about a misunderstanding! It has been so long since a book made me laugh so hard! Debra did a fantastic job of giving us some comic relief because we need some laughter to go along with the pain you can almost feel pouring out of the pages. Every month they are not successful is heartbreaking. Luckily Aj is falling for Sarah and is doing his best to be there for her even when she tries to push him away. The little things he does for her throughout the process would make anyone swoon!
Debra has created this wonderful world of characters who I was thrilled to see again! If you have read her previous books you will see several familiar faces. You get to spend more time with everyone in her family. And you will feel a sense of déjà vu while at the beach! If you haven't read them you will want to after seeing how protective Theo and Max are! She also mentions characters from her Summer twins series. Don't worry if you are new to her work! Debra does a great job of keeping you informed so it works as a standalone!
I have fallen in love with these stories and will always look forward to anything written by the wonderful Debra St. James!
I have come to expect great work from Debra St James, and I was not disappointed! Once again, she has written characters that are so relatable and down to earth. Sarah is so likable and easy to connect with, and her desire to have a child of her own is innate. Reading the way her heart broke every month when it didn’t happen was utterly heartbreaking. AJ is everything a girl could want in a man and so much more. Talk about book boyfriend material! And the beach scene with the coverup?! Haha! (IYKYK) I love AJ, especially when he understands and is there for her when he sees her fall apart. I adored watching them get to know each other and learn about each other. And that giant misunderstanding in the beginning? It had me giggling away in mortification and sympathy, mostly for poor AJ! It might take a while for these two to get down and dirty, but once that wall is broken, it’s sexy-times galore, and AJ definitely has a dirty side to him! As usual, this was another amazing book I was fortunate enough to recieve an advanced copy of, and I could NOT put down. I will wait not-so-patiently for the next one. Amazing work, Debra St James!
Read this book!! When I open one of Ms.St.James' books, I can always trust I will have an excellently written story with engaging characters in some kind of socially relevant situation. Every. Single. Time. Relevance without being condescendingly preachy.
This book captures Sarah Stanfield's struggle in her mid-30s with wanting to start a family on her own after her childhood crush abruptly moved out on her. She appeases part of her need to nurture as a baby-cuddler in the NICU; who knew they had such a thing!! Where can I go to volunteer for that?
When Sarah meets AJ and he volunteers to help her create a family, their chemistry is smoking hot! But AJ privides more than the seeds to grow a family. He is also a genuinely nice, kind and caring man who helps heal Sarah's broken heart and lacerated soul.
Ms.St.James also tackles the bias against women in leadership roles of small businesses. She does an excellent job of revealing the multiple ways the 'good old boys' executives quietly sideline and pass by talent to enable business growth in order to preserve their own comfortable status quo.
I received a Beta/ARC copy of this story directly from the author and voluntarily chose to share my review.
Wow what can I say about Unexpected Kisses? Another fantastic story by Debra.
This is the story of Sarah, Emma and Max's sister. She is desperate to have a child of her own and so decides to take matters into her own hands. After two failed rounds at the fertility clinic, Sarah is about to give up all hope, until whilst on a night out with her best friend she meets the handsome AJ who makes her an offer she can't refuse. Or can she? We are then taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as you watch their relationship grow. But will Sarah get the outcome she wants? And will AJ make Sarah see him for who he is, the man who has fallen in love with her?
What can I say about Sarah and AJ? Well, they will infuriate the hell out of you for a while. You will want to dive into the book and bash their heads together. Especially AJ for some of the things that he says whether they be intentional or not. But stick with it, because it is worth it in the end. Another amazing story in the Kisses series that I absolutely loved. Can't wait to see what Debra has in store for us next.
This was the first book that I have read from Debra St James an believe me when I say it went beyond my expectations. Sarah is a kind woman who's been wanting to have a baby but when nothing works in comes AJ. AJ was different than I expected he respected her decision whatever they were. He was like a god send for her. When they first met I was scared for her because she was awkward & skeptical at first when he offered to help her. I mean who wouldn't be. But after just the first meet you knew they were made for each other. They were both so compatible with each other like their missing piece was found. Seeing how their story progressed throughout the book was enjoyable to follow. Seeing how they grew together was amazing. I couldn't get enough of these two.
Thank you @debrastjames_books for giving me the chance to read your work I look forward to reading more.
🌌 For anyone looking for a slow burn, strangers-to-friends-to-lovers book to read this is the book for your.
If your hesitant at the moment just think about it you won't regret it.
*I received an advance review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Here I was thinking I could live in the Sarah/AJ bubble just a little longer with 52 minutes of reading left and then BOOM, epilogue 😭
Where do I start with this book? One: this is a new storyline that I haven’t seen before so it was intriguing and kept me on my toes. Deb was NOT joking when she said slow burn, but the slow burn wasn’t filled with miscommunication but realistic situations which kept me hooked. I have loved all of the Kisses books, but this book gets the top shelf treatment for me. The main characters have the perfect amount of depth without delving too far into irrelevant information, and they are realistic personalities that I am now attached to. I will definitely be reading the bonus epilogue!
Here we go! Another wonderful, FANTABULOUS read from Author Debra St James! Unexpected Kisses has all of the feels that we have come to love, woven together with characters that pull at the heartstrings. One of the things that really moved me was the issue of infertility problems and needing to use a sperm donor. Being such an intense and sensitive topic, the writing needs to support the emotions that come with it in a sensitive manner and Debra St James brings this in a beautiful and creative way. I truly loved this book and highly suggest it. I am anxious to read much more from this Author.
Debra has done it again with another great read! This is the third book in the series but can be read as a standalone. I love these characters so much! Debra makes you feel like you are in the middle of the story with them! Sarah is single but wants to be a Mom so bad. A.J. is more than willing to help her out! The chemistry between them can melt iron but they seem to fight it! I just wanted to yell at them! I love the sweetness of the story and they way they seem to always misunderstand each other's feelings. Great characters and a great story make this another must read of Debra's! She has become a 1-click author for me!
Debra St. James brings us love stories that we can relate to. Unexpected Kisses is no different. This is Sarah's story.
There is romance, love, family dynamics, infertility issues with sperm donor capabilities, trust issues, self esteem. Each is handled eloquently and with the utmost respect.
We get to see more into the life of the Stanfield family members that we have been introduced in other books as well Oliver Stone and his wife Kate Summer from "The Summer twins book 1"
I hope that you enjoy this installment of the Kisses series as much if not more than I have. I am looking forward to what Ms. St. James brings us next.
Although this is a stand-alone title, we first met Sarah in Stolen Kisses and Moonlit Kisses. For the best reading experience, it is recommended you read Stolen Kisses and Moonlit Kisses first; however, it’s not essential for the enjoyment of this story.
I've just finished reading Unexpected Kisses and I am currently sitting in a state if contented bliss.
As always, reading Debra St James books leaves me feeling all warm and fuzzy and as if I've just spent time with good friends.
Sarah is so determined and set on having a baby that she just doesn't see what a gift AJ. Can he break through hew walls and convince her that he's not going anywhere?
This story was so uniquely wonderful. I really enjoyed it.
I only had to read a few chapters to be transported back to the previous 2 stories within the series. This series has been absolutely fantastic. I have not read a book wrote about a topic like this before, which was so lovely.
I've got to be careful, as I don't wish to spoil it for everyone else, but it is definitely a recommended read from me.
Deb you have done it again. What an amazing story. I loved reading Sarah and Aj’s journey. Starting off as acquaintances, then friends to lovers. You will sucked in right away. I love the attention to detail to each character and character growth. Every situation was relatable and I felt every emotion that Sarah and Aj went through.
If you haven’t read any of Debra’s books you are missing out. If you romance, real life situations and heartthrob MC? Then definitely read this series. You will not be disappointed.
I loved this book. Debra's writing has a way of connecting to your emotions and making you feel your way through the story. This book had it all hope, despair, frustration, lust, romance,worry,and most of all love.
Wow what another great book from Debra. This book had all my emotions at some point. Loved both main characters, even though I wanted to shake some sense into them 😂
This is the third book in the Kisses series and, much like the first two, it was fantastic! I won't lie; in the beginning I wanted to smack Sarah for not understanding the interest that AJ clearly had in her. I loved the close family dynamic of both characters, and how easily both families seemed to integrate. They were definitely built for each other. 🙂 And did I mention that the steamy parts were off the charts? 🔥🥵 Loved this one!
I love Aj and Sarah’s story. These two sure took their time but oh is it worth it! Sarah was brave going after her dream even though she was single. Aj was just perfect. I really liked seeing the rest of Sarah’s family plus Oliver and Kate from The Summer Twins series. All of Debra’s books are amazing!!!!
Sarah and AJ story was awesome just as the 2 previous books before them. This is the type of series I don't want to end. I would have loved to see how Molly and Sarah unborn kids turned out. I always like family romances series' and this one didn't disappoint.
Debra St. James has always held a special place in my heart with her work. She always provides a raw and honest take on love that gives each reader something to connect with. From such simple things as a kiss to hard and unspoken topics of pregnancy and loss. Debra St. James connects with readers on all levels in such a beautiful way. Sarah is someone I could connect with on an emotional level. Loving easily and keeping her heart on her sleeve, leaving her open to heartbreak. Struggling to keep all emotions in check while holding steady to her hopes and dreams. We are privileged to watch Sarah’s emotional walls crumble and give in allowing love to fulfill her every desire. AJ is all the perfection we need in a book boyfriend. I fell in love with his tender assertiveness. The way he patiently tended to Sarah left me envious. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow from strangers to friends to lovers. A slow burn in all the right ways, Unexpected Kisses is a must-read book. Debra St. James always delivers. ***I received an advanced readers copy and I am leaving my honest review***
this was actually really, really good! the characters were enthralling and the plot was spectacular. there were points where i wanted to cry and there were points i was so scared for the characters and i didn't know what was going on. this book actually remined me a bit of long way down by becca and krista ritchie, which yall should know i absolutely loved. this wasn't quite as good as this, but they held some pretty similar ideas(pregnancy, 'infertility'- i say this semi-lightly, children, rock climbing, families etc). this book was filled with a bunch of unexpected plot twists, love bombs(the good type, not the bad type) and enough love that made me swoon. you have got to check this book out!
I have been a big fan of Ms. St.James for a long time and I love how she tells us stories that hit home and have you falling in love with her characters and her storylines. Unexpected Kisses is just one of these stories. The idea of helping out a stranger have a baby and not having a relationship or connection with them, that's not impossible. Or is it? When I started this one I was so intrigued with the MFC Sarah and how she painfully wanted to be a mother and nothing was going to stop her. Her character was one that I related to having difficulties with my pregnancies. The heartbreak she felt hit home and I just wanted to give her a high and tell her it will all work out in the end. Along comes a stranger at a bar, AJ, who offers to help her achieve he dreams of becoming a mother. Well, this is where the turn of events becomes very interesting. They both had very different ideas on how this was going to happen. I'm sure you can guess who thought what. Let's say Sarah was using a fertility clinic and is not looking for a relationship or a connection. The chemistry was there but they both were fighting it. Can they keep fighting what is right in front of them when the rest of the world sees it?
Yes, there were times I yelled at my device as they could hear me. I wanted to give them both a shake and tell them to wake up and see the person right in front of them. For me, this is an indication that a story is gripping and addictive. If I get that involved with a storyline and feel that much of a connection with the characters, the author has done an outstanding job. highly recommend picking up Unexpected Kisses and enjoy Sarah and AJ's story.
Debra St. James brings us love stories that we can relate to. Unexpected Kisses is no different. This is Sarah's story.
There is romance, love, family dynamics, infertility issues with sperm donor capabilities, trust issues, self esteem. Each is handled eloquently and with the utmost respect.
We get to see more into the life of the Stanfield family members that we have been introduced in other books as well Oliver Stone and his wife Kate Summer from "The Summer twins book 1"
I hope that you enjoy this installment of the Kisses series as much if not more than I have. I am looking forward to what Ms. St. James brings us next.
Although this is a stand-alone title, we first met Sarah in Stolen Kisses and Moonlit Kisses. For the best reading experience, it is recommended you read Stolen Kisses and Moonlit Kisses first; however, it’s not essential for the enjoyment of this story.
Debra writes great books and this was no exception, Sara and AJ are a couple that start out very differently but the way they grow and fit together is amazing. This is the 3rd book in the “kisses” series and you definitely need to read them all.
I felt that 500+ pages Plus an epilogue was far long for this story. It just made it drag on. The storyline had some potential, but the fml and the length of the book spoilt it for me. I couldn’t even finish the epilogue.
I loved this slow burn romance story from Debra who has become a go to author for me. Sarah is desperate for a baby and AJ is in the right place at the right time to offer his assistance. He falls first in this well written book. I loved the dynamic relationship between them.
I did not finish this book. I got to page 115 and gave up. He offered to donate his sperm to her after he heard her telling her friend in a club her previous attempts at the clinic failed. It was 8,000 so she needs to save before she can try again.
He shows up to the hotel room to donate, and is shocked she hands him a kit and tells him to go in the bathroom. He thought they would make a baby with sex.
So she waits awkwardly while he donates into a cup. Then he leaves while she inserts it.
I feel no chemistry between them at this point. I'm bored.