You can never go wrong with a Marina Adair novel! Liv, Ford, Paxton and Bullseye were amazing to read about! There is heartbreak, humor and heartwarming moments. From start to finish I loved every bit of this book! I can't wait for more books in this series!

A great example of small town romance at it's finest. I love how Marina Adair spins her tales with the perfect blend of romance and fun. I am thoroughly enjoying this Sequoia Lake series.

'Every Little Kiss' is cute, heart-warming, and a satisfying read. I won't give away too much of the plot, but I did have a few niggling issues which stopped this from being a 5 star review...

I didn't sense a lot of passion from the leads, even though there was meant to be. I have seen this idea from the man's POV before - he knows he should stay away and feels guilty for pursuing the romantic interest, but doesn't actively ever try to remedy the situation. In this instance it just felt forced instead of due to any uncontrollable urge. It makes an otherwise realistic story feel a little bit forced.

Despite this, the romance works well because the characters seem to be such a good fit. They bring out the good in one another and offer support in just the right areas. It feels more like a genuine, long-term relationship instead of some fleeting flight of fancy.

I felt that it was initially slow to start, but once the story gets rolling along it's a reasonably light read with a little bit of drama, and shows a nice little section of small-town life. I recommend this book.

I love Marina Adair’s contemporary romances. They are always well written and she always provides such happy endings.

In Every Little Kiss, we meet Liv who is a single mom and Ford who serves as head of a K-9 Search and Rescue Division. Liv just wants to move forward with her life after the death of her husband and provide a safe, stable life for her son. Enter Ford, who unbeknownst to Liv, was the one who rescued her son from the accident but was forced to leave her husband behind to die. These secrets should have been shared with Liv from the beginning, but in the end, I like the way that things developed between them.

Liv and Ford will capture your heart! This book can be read as a stand-alone and you will not feel lost at any point in the book.

Have you ever read a book with a character that you grumbled and yelled at? I'm pretty sure I spent 75% of Every Little Kiss shouting "tell her the truth!" For the love of all things good in the world Ford, tell Liv the truth! In fact, while I was reading Every Little Kiss, I discovered that I have five levels before I go completely batshit crazy when dealing with a less than honest character.

Budding friendship/relationship - I'm okay with you not spilling the beans because it's new and you're not sure where this connection is leading. While you should probably tell the truth, but there's still some time.

First kiss - You really need to tell her. You haven't slept together so you're not entirely in the doghouse, but you need to do it soon.

After 1st Sex - Damn it. TELL HER! You're only digging yourself a deeper grave.

After 2nd Sex - Girl code comes into play. If you don't tell her, I will.

Welcome to the doghouse - Don't come crying to me like a little bitch when she knees you in the balls because you didn't put on your big boy panties and told her the truth.

Now you're probably wondering two things. The first... Why do I have so much time on my hands to come up with such a list? The crazy things I think up while making coffee. And the second... If I yelled at Ford so much, why did I continue to read the book? One of the best elements of Marina Adair's books is that she makes you fall in love her characters, flaws and all. Yes, I wanted to bean Ford pretty much every other chapter, the fact is that I still loved him as a character and I wanted him to fess up so he could have his HEA with the one woman that completes him. Through thick and thin, they helped each other heal. I adored Liv, Paxton, and even Ford. All broke my heart and pieced it together as they grew closer. Bonus points for watching Ford finally grovel. He sure dug himself a deep hole. I loved the first two books in Adair's Sequoia Lake series, but I am super excited about the next book. I've got my fingers cross that it is the couple I'm hoping for.

This sweet, heartbreaking story about a mother and son learning to live a new life after the husband’s death, nearly went off the rails for me. You see, I'm starting to experience fatigue from romance books that spend a gratuitous amount of time talking about how hawt the hero is - his glistening abs, his hard, coiled muscles, abs that are drool worthy …. it's okay to make a mention about how good looking the guy is, but I'd rather have more details about plot and less description about pecs. But maybe that's just me?

Anyway, back to the actual story.

Olivia Preston and her son Paxton are a sweet duo, each coping with the huge loss in their own way. Paxton is a sweet little boy who experienced a major trauma, and Olivia just wants to do what’s best for him in a situation that doesn’t come with an instruction manual. In addition to the usual amount of mom-doubt, Olivia also has to deal with a borderline meddling mother-in-law. I found the struggles and reactions they worked through to be realistic and was pleased to see things weren't taken into the over-dramatic, super-angsty way that is common in today’s books.

When Ford Jamison runs into Liv in the store, he already knows who she is. And while he’s attracted to her, he knows he needs to stay away. That he’s leaving the town after a couple of months isn’t the main reason, either. But the more time he spends with Liv, and the more time he spends with Paxton, the harder it becomes for him to walk away. That’s the thing about a beautiful woman and small towns...

I’m usually a huge fan of small town stories. The quirky characters can give a small town extra charm, but too much quirk can get you into kitschy territory. Some of the antics of this town's old ladies bordered on over-the-top silly, but other times it had me laughing out loud.

For the most part, the plot of this story moved at a leisurely pace. Liv and Ford had a lot of internal dialogue about why they shouldn’t be together, which made the story drag for me. But it was fun to watch them flirt.

Things just start getting going between them when Liv discovers Ford hasn’t been transparent about who he is. The couple chapters that deal with the repercussions of Ford’s secrecy were actually very good. Unfortunately, that part of the story happened fairly close to the end, and then the book was over, leaving us with a happy-for-now ending. Which, after the super-slow build up to the relationship, left me wanting more - especially because as a reader, I personally always want the happily-ever-after. And after how long and drawn out the story was, I’m left feeling a little ambivalent about this book. Every Little Kiss is a sweet, solid romance story. Nothing in it rocked my world, but it was a pleasant way to spend several hours.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review

Liv Preston is a young widow just wanting to help her son become the happy young child he should be.
Ford Jamison is the head of the K9 Search and Rescue just trying to get his recertification, and, unknown to Liv, is the Search and Rescue officer that rescued her son but was unable to help her husband a couple years before.
Liv asks Ford for help planning the fair in town and he agrees. After struggling with needing to tell Liv the truth Ford does. Liv is hurt and upset but also feels let down, after all Ford had unknowingly helped her son start to become the happy boy she was trying to bring out.
Friends intervene and sense is talked into them both.

3.5 stars

Every Little Kiss was a sweet and heartwarming read.

I'm a big fan of Marina Adair's writing and once again she's managed to deliver a heartfelt read.
The writing is well done, the storyline entertaining all throughout the book.
The characters Liv and Ford were likable and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop.

Overall, Every Little Kiss is a lovely addition to the Sequoia Lake series.

*A big thank you to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts*

Olivia (Liv) Preston was introduced in the first book in the Sequoia Lake series as the widowed mother of a young son who moved to Sequoia Lake after the death of her husband. Her son Paxton survived the accident however the trauma caused him to develop selective mutism. He has difficulties speaking to anyone except for Liv and his beloved stuffed animal Superdog Stan.

Ford moves in next door and brings with him his search dog Bullseye, and immediately a friendship is born between Paxton and Bullseye. As it turns out, there is a reason why Ford has moved close and I don’t want to spoil anything, but that subplot is very important to the storyline and I thought it was very moving. Of course since this is a romance, Liv and Ford share an instant attraction though it takes time for her to be comfortable with the thought of dating again. She does come off as a little cold at times, but eventually their relationship moves forward until she finds out the secret Ford has been keeping from her.

I enjoyed this second outing, especially with the humorous aspects provided by Ford’s friend and boss Harris along with the crew of ‘blue haired biddies’! I’m hoping the third book will feature Harris…perhaps paired with a certain wine bar manager? I can’t wait to find out!

I couldn't finish reading the book, I just couldn't get into the story at all, which is a rarity for me. I really tried to like it, I really did. Felt like it dragged on, and I only managed to get to 30%.

I have chosen to DNF this title.

Thanks you,
Laura

This is the 2nd in a series but I don’t feel like I missed anything by not reading the first. This can definitely be read as a standalone novel.

I really enjoyed this contemporary romance. It’s the first book I’ve read by Marina Adair but I don’t think it will be the last. She has such a way of balancing the emotional wallop of the story with the quirkiness of the characters and the town. It never felt overdone or underdone. It was all just right. This romance centers around loss and its impact on a number of people.

I LOVE Bullseye (the hero’s canine partner) and what a fun part of the story he is for the characters. I thought the journey of healing for both Liv and her son was so well done. The relationship between Liv and her son’s grandmother also really resonated with me – it felt real and honest. All in all, I really enjoyed this story and how it all came together. The community in this novel (Sequoia Lake) is really sweet and I can’t wait to read more about the characters I’ve met in this novel. Definitely recommended!

This book is great on it's own, and I felt it was better than the first in the series! Emotions are all over the place in this book - a lot of highs, a few sad points, but so worth the time I invested in the characters. Ford is one of my favorites now. Marina Adair did a great job with this sequel. She always does a great job developing great characters and bringing small town romance to life.

This is not the first book I have read by Marina Adair, and it will not be the last. When I received an invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley, I eagerly accepted, and I am very glad I did.

I thoroughly enjoyed Every Little Kiss from beginning to end. The romance is sweet, the characters are delightful, and the plot is realistic. I’m so glad I had a chance to read this emotionally-charged story. The pacing is nice and steady. The ending is one of the best I have read in a while.

Liv is a great heroine. She is determined to move forward and leave her grief in the past. I truly loved the way she protects her son and tries to help him become more carefree. I also liked her willingness to open her heart again after such a tragic loss.

Ford is a hero after my own heart. He is determined to fulfill the promise he made to a dying man. He had to make a horrific decision and I can understand why he has a difficult time moving forward and putting it behind him.

There is one thing I would have enjoyed. I loved Paxton and Bullseye, and I would have liked a bit more interaction between the child and the faithful dog. I think it would have enriched this story ever more.

If you enjoy small-town USA novels with great characters and strong American values, then you will love Every Little Kiss as much as I did. This is a good series and does not need to be read in order. Happy reading!

Ford Jameson is an elite K-9 Search and Rescue agent. Years ago, he made a decision to save the son from a father and son car crash. It left its mark on both of them. Ford questions his judgment on everything from that point on and the little boy, Paxton, withdraws into himself, speaking rarely.

Liv Preston is determined to make a good life for her and her son. She does a great job of pulling herself up and setting a good example for her son. She took crap from her mother-in-law much longer than I would have, but finally stood up for herself.

I loved Bullseye, Ford’s K-9. He stole the show in my opinion.

I struggled with a few aspect of Ford’s character. He needed more background into his childhood and how it shaped him. For being a world renown, sought out K-9 SAR agent, his character was weak.

This is the second book in the series. It’s an okay read, but not as good as the first one. I hope Harris is next!!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

I really enjoyed the second book in Ms. Adair's Sequoia Lake series..Olivia and Ford had chemistry right away, but secrets, on his part, and feelings of guilt on her part keep them making decisions that might not be the best for their future What will happen when Ford's secret comes out? Will he tell Olivia or will she find out some other way? Why does she feel guilty?
Olivia is a who single mother of a child who is very reserved and doesn't talk.. His grandmother believes that Olivia needs to force him to talk. Olivia works a lot, but wants a better position so she can be home with her son more. Since her husband died in a tragic accident, and they were arguing about work at the time, she feels guilty that she finds Ford attractive safe when she is around him.
Ford knows that he should stay away from Olivia; he isn't planning on staying in town long and he has a secret. He was there the day her husband died and had to make a horrible decision. The only problem is, he is drawn to her and feels content and calm when around her.
They start working together on a project that will hopefully lead to her getting a new position at the hospital. She has never relied on anyone and is hesitant to let him in. When they both decide that they are 'all in', he still hasn't told her his secret. When it comes out, she loves him, but doesn't believe she can trust him anymore. Will Ford be able to find a way to prove that he loves her? Will she let him back in her life? Will Ford and Olivia get their HEA or will Every Little Kiss they shared be the end of their relationship?

Another author I had not read but thoroughly enjoyed. I already purchased the first book in the series, this being the second. I enjoyed the humorous little quips injected into the conversations and thoughts of the characters and dogs, making this author read differently than many of the other contemporary romance books these days. The pace was good, no reliance on cliches - a very nice surprise for NetGalley.

We were introduced to Liv in the first Sequoia Lake book, and I really enjoyed learning more about her and her son Paxton. Ford was a wonderful addition to the series, and I especially liked his friendship with the other guys on the rescue team.

I have read a few books by Marina Adair now, and each one has had alot of romance, humor, and strong characters. I was not disappointed here. Liv's trying to move on after losing her husband while being super mom for Paxton was handled so well. I think struggles and feelings felt very true to life.

Ford, while nowhere near perfect, had a big heart and I liked getting to see part of the story from his point of view. There was a lot of great moments with his trained rescue dog Bullseye, too.

I highly recommend this series!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my second Marina Adair book and unfortunately, I didn't connect with it at all. I struggled with the first book in this series but sometimes first books are difficult because there's a lot of exposition. This go round I felt like the storytelling was all over the place (I was less interested in the side stories and wanted more from the couple themselves) and on top of that I felt like I knew exactly how this was going to play out very early in the book and there was nothing compelling enough to make me want to stick around for it. I think this series might be a wash for me, but I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to read and review.