Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
This is the first book that I’ve read in this series, but I never felt that I was missing anything.

This is a story about two people who are still finding themselves.

Noah is now captain of a fishing boat and helps his family’s business by going out each day. He has a few older brothers who seem sure of their own paths, but Noah is a little unsure of his own. He feels that his family never really expected much from him and always expects him to up and fail.

Krista is a pediatric nurse with aspirations of becoming head nurse. She is also looking for someone to share her life with. Despite having grown up around Noah and his brothers, she has always had a platonic relationship. Seeing as how Krista knows what it’s like to spend time in the hospital as a child, she relates really well with her patients and their parents.

Krista and Noah decide to start a relationship and when things become heavy, it will be a choice that both characters have to make – will they stay and fight for their relationship or run and allow what could have been dwindle to friendship again?

I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.


Jordan – ☆☆☆☆
Stolen Kisses by Annie Rains is book #2 in the Blushing Bay series, but I read it as a standalone book and had no issues following the story. Although I definitely wouldn't be opposed to reading book#1, Forbidden Kisses, because I was thoroughly charmed by Noah and Krista's story!

Krista loves her job as pediatric nurse, but sometimes it can be rather stressful and demanding. Luckily, she has her Wednesday night happy hours with her childhood best friend, Noah Sawyer, to look forward to every week. Noah has been a constant in her life that she hopes will never change, but Krista can't help wondering what it would be like to kiss him. Noah is tired of dating a bunch of superficial women and has decided to focus on his family's fishing business. It's not like Noah hasn't ever thought about kissing Krista, but he can't stand the thought of ruining their friendship. Although, if he doesn't take the risk he may lose her.

I really liked Noah and Krista's characters, they just seemed so genuine and their chemistry read so perfectly on the pages! Stolen Kisses definitely snagged my attention and I look forward to seeing what happens next with the Sawyer brothers. This one was definitely a lovely read I'll be on the lookout for the rest of Annie Rains’ Blushing Bay series and any future books she writes. A solid 4-star read!


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
I think at some point, we’ve all had a relationship like this. We have that friend who we’ve friend-zoned and can’t help but secretly want more. Normally we don’t risk the friendship for the sake of a ‘what-if’ but that could change, particularly if the guy is being even more of dunce than normal and that’s what happens in this story. Thankfully, Krista has the patience of Job and the heart of a steel magnolia.

Krista has been in love with Noah for years, but he’s always kept her firmly in friend territory. She’s been okay with that, until recently. The icing on the cake is when he brings a date to their weekly Wednesday night at the pub. Seeking to distance herself from seeing him date, she begins to avoid him and situations where he may be.

That doesn’t last long. Noah knows that Krista is upset with him because he brought that girl to their Wednesday night time and she’s resisting any attempts to make it up to her. Being the black sheep of the Sawyer clan, he’s used to being in the dog house, the underachiever.

He wants more with Krista and prays that she wants more with him. If only they can put the past behind them and focus on the future.

First, THANK YOU Random House Publishing - Loveswept for the gifted ARC copy of Stolen Kisses by Annie Rains. I loved every word!
This was phenomenal heavy but lighthearted, emotional read. LOTS of romance, and hot in the steam department.
I fell in love with the characters Krista and Noah from the very beginning, and kept falling until the very last page. Then, I was upset!! Why? Because the book was over and I had no more of this fabulous book to read.
I love a book when the strong, capable hero is unsure of those qualities in himself. The Noah and Krista had to work for the relationship to build. The feelings where Krista were concerned, were there for many years, however, Noah, he almost needed a skillet to hit him in the head to realize he loved Krista. I may have wanted to be the one to hit him with it.
Stolen Kisses is the second book in the Blushing Bay series, however, I have not read the first, Forbidden Kisses yet. I plan to remedy that real soon.
Ms. Rains’ writing takes the reader into the book really fast, in my opinion. I did not want it to end, the characters are just that engaging.
In my opinion, you cannot go wrong choosing this fabulous book if you like romance novels with a happy ending.
Thank you for reading my review.

Cute story and typical friends to lovers read. I struggled at the beginning to really feel the connection between Krista and Noah. She seemed more into him even though he did have feelings for her. Things definitely pick up though and the connection between the two becomes very apparent. The writing style as far a sex scenes in this book were a first for me and I really liked it. Some scenes the sex was implied, others you got a little bit and still others you got it from beginning to end. It kind of read like a movie in that sometimes you see what they're doing and sometimes you don't. For me it added to the tension between Krista and Noah and made me want to read more. Overall, this is a sweet book with the typical fall out and reconciliation for a HEA.

I really enjoyed Stolen Kisses! The story moved along at a great pace. I enjoyed reading about how much Krista enjoyed her job working with the children. Adam did steal my heart and the story! It was awesome to see Noah open his eyes to the life he wants! I would highly recommend this book!

“I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.”

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the sweetness of this story! It was an easy read that took you through all kinds of emotions. This is definitely an author that I will need to check into more of her books!

What happens when a guy and gal who have been best friends all their lives find themselves feeling and wanting more but don’t want to risk destroying their lifelong friendship? Noah is a fisherman for his family’s seafood company and Krista is a pediatric nurse, and they’ve had a Wednesday Wings tradition for years. They always have a great time together until Noah brings one of his dates with him one Wednesday night. The secret and far beyond friendly feelings Krista has for Noah make for an uncomfortable evening that she quickly cuts short. But she tries to ignore her feelings because she wants the whole shebang, complete with picket fence and kids, and Noah has made it clear that’s not in his wheelhouse.

The advance copy I read of this book is my first by this author, and she made me fall in love with everything about this fictional town in this endearing, charming, small-town romance. The coastal Carolina small town and the cabin tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains are settings with which I’m very familiar, so I had no problem picturing these vivid, welcoming settings which felt like coming home. It’s almost like your favorite sweater, your softest blanket, and a warm, crackling fire all rolled into one. With an understated display of literary talent, the author has created a captivating, engaging, heartwarming experience with the backdrop and larger-than-life characters of Blushing Bay. Fans of Mariah Stewart, Susan Mallery, Brenda Novak or Jodi Thomas will love this 1-Click-worthy read!

Awesome contemporary small fishing town romance. Noah is the youngest of his siblings. His mother died birthing him which has always effected him. When he went off to start college an incident drove him home to the family fishing business. Most of his life Krista has always been there for him. They are best friends and her do anything to keep her there including not dating her. Suddenly their relationship changes but Noah doubts himself causing others to doubt him. Krista is a living and big hearted pediatric nurse who becomes attached to her young patients but the horizon has many changes ahead as well as bumps in this Blushing Bay story. The author kept the story moving so the reader kept pushing ahead to see where the community were headed. I received a complementary copy of this book via Net Galley and chose to write a review. I look forward to reading future books by Ms. Rains.

Annie Rains has created a warm, small town community in her Blushing Bay series. I love the relatable characters, the gorgeous waterfront setting and the small town feel in each of the novels. Stolen Kisses is well -paced friends to lovers romance which features Krista Nelson and Noah Sawyer.
Loved the characters in this novel! Krista Nelson is at a crossroads- both personally and professionally. Although she enjoys her job as a pediatric nurse, there may be an opportunity for advancement for her at the hospital. Will Krista decide to remain as a floor nurse or choose to pursue the head nurse position? Krista wants it all; her nursing career, a husband, home and children. She’s settled into a comfortable routine; she meets her friend Grace for coffee before work, her friend Noah for drinks on Wednesday and her girlfriends for dinner on Thursdays. Krista’s routine is shaken up when Noah brings a date to their weekly ‘Wednesday Wings’ night. Noah ignores Krista and focusses on his date. This event is a wakeup call for Krista. She loves Noah but realizes that he considers her as ‘one of the guys” and accepts a date with a doctor.
Noah Sawyer is one of my favorite characters in the series. He’s a good brother, great friend and loves his job as captain of the family fishing boat. Noah isn’t one for commitments; he dates lots of woman and lives in a tiny, run down houseboat. I loved that he valued his friendship with Krista and acknowledged his feelings for her were changing. I loved the symbolism in the fish hook charm that he gave Krista and heart shape fin on Misty, the elusive tuna.
Noah and Krista volunteer to prepare the Sawyer family cabin for Grace and Jack Sawyer’s honeymoon. Loved that the trip started off with a stop at a store called Sugar and Spicy to buy a few gifts for the honeymooners. The scene which describe Krista’s embarrassment and annoyance at Noah as he implied to the clerk that the items for their pleasure was well crafted and so funny. Krista’s reaction to Noah’s teasing her was spot on!
The author does a fabulous job with the scenes which describe the buildup to the couple’s first kiss; as both Krista and Noah give into their desire. Ms. Rains doesn’t make it easy for this couple though—the scene with Krista and the spider is hilarious! Loved how Krista and Noah transitioned from friends to lovers—it was perfectly paced—and contained several sweet scenes.
The couple’s relationship suffers a setback when Krista overhears part of a conversation between Noah and his older brother Sam at Grace and Jack’s wedding reception. Sam brings up something from Noah’s past that he has not shared with Krista which leaves her shell shocked. The last few chapters of the book were wonderfully written with several standout emotional scenes and honest, poignant conversations.
Stolen Kisses has all the feels—a heartwarming, poignant friends to lovers story, witty banter between the characters (especially between the Sawyer brothers!), a beautiful setting and and superb epilogue which was perfect for this couple!
Annie Rains -I am patiently waiting for the next book!

I didn’t think that I could enjoy another series as much as I did Heroes Welcome by Annie Rains but I have found the Blushing Bay Series to be just as fabulous. Stolen Kisses is book two in this new series. The setting of NC is genuine with vivid descriptions, making me long to go to the coast. The family of Sawyers brothers are likable and irresistible. I wondered how Krista had managed all these years not to go after Noah before she did.

This friends-to-lovers trope is one of my favorite, with Ms. Rains doing it right. It is not necessary to have read the first book in the series to enjoy this one. However, one you meet this hard-working, good-natured community, you will want to get to all that live there. This is small-town romance is a place I would love to live.

I like Krista and Noah and I love a good friends to lovers story. But while they have been friends for years and seemingly know everything about the other, they don't seem to talk, or listen to, each other all that much.
All it took was Noah seeing Krista out with another guy for his feelings to come to the surface...but she's dated before. What made this guy different? The realization that he had feelings for her seemed a little more forced than her for him...if you read book one in the series, you knew how Krista felt about Noah then.
Still, it was a good read that I didn't want to put down. I will say, I have very high hopes for Sam and Abby's story, so I'll be waiting (im)ptiently for that one!

I received an ARC from Netgalley and the publishers for an honest review. All thought are my own.

This is a good book. I love the best friends to lovers trope and this one definitely falls into that category. Both the characters in this book look forward to their best friend time every week. But when one or both start to think about what it might be like to kiss, it is going to change everything.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

If you are in the mood for a nicely written story about best friends that end up as lovers, then Stolen Kisses by Annie Rains is for you. This is the second book from the author's Blushing Bay series and it can be enjoyed as a standalone. However, you may want to read Forbidden Kisses, book one in this wonderful series, because it adds some background to the present happenings.

Krista Nelson and Noah Sawyer have been best friends since childhood. In addition to Krista's family, it was Noah who sat by her bedside when she received a kidney transplant at the tender age of ten. They share a special bond that neither wants to ruin with a sexual relationship. Krista's time in the hospital led her to become a very kind pediatric nurse. Noah is a commercial fisherman, following in the footsteps of his brothers, father and grandfather. He recently became captain of his own boat, the Summerly.

Krista has always been in love with Noah, yet she never felt comfortable doing anything about it for fear of losing their friendship. Noah is finally at a place in his life where dating random women is no longer appealing. He begins to notice Krista in a more romantic way, when she kisses him after indulging in a libation or two. A weekend together brings their feelings to the forefront, which spills over into their everyday lives. Luckily, true love prevails in the midst of some unexpected snags.

This story is all about how Krista and Noah evolve their platonic friendship into a loving and forever relationship. I was able to connect with both characters easily and their romantic chemistry is off the charts. The secondary characters are fun and interesting, and I am hopeful that a couple of them will get their own book soon. Overall, this is an exciting and slightly emotional read that twists and turns in all the right places.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

i had never read this author before and was pleasantly surprised. very well written

3.5 - "It's always been you..." Stars!

We return to Blushing Bay, North Carolina for the second book in the series; Stolen Kisses. Youngest Sawyer brother Nate is next up in this best-friends-to-lovers romance.

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"I know what makes you tick."

Nate and Krista have been best friends since childhood, he has been her protector, confidante and all round good guy, while she has secretly lusted after him, and sat back and watched while he has dated and moved through a bevy of the Bay’s beauties, being known as the jokester the youngest Sawyer has always been seen as a little flaky when it comes to commitment, except for one, and that is his friendship with Krista.

She was tired off shrugging off her feelings… Tired of being in love with a man who viewed her a just one of the guys…

As you would expect the emotions and feelings that these two have been hiding from each other through the years, go off like a rocket when they both finally admit to each other their attraction, a skillfully planned throwing together at the Sawyer family cabin turns from a weekend of supposed cleaning and preparation into a weekend of sexy-times and revelations.

He’d gotten a taste of that forbidden apple he’d been circling for years-and he wanted more.”

I’ll be honest and say I started this book with some trepidation, having almost DNF’d the first in the series due to really not getting on with the characters or story-line, I was really hoping that this book would make me fall in love with the authors writing again, for the most part it was enjoyable, but I did struggle with Krista’s actions and reactions towards the end of the book, thankfully it was a very short portion of the story so it didn’t massively detract from the overall read.

"If you weren’t my best friend…"

"And if you were the couple sort."

I also found the whole, vying for Chief-Nurse part of the story totally erroneous because of the way things played out in the latter stages as well, it felt more like a way to fill page space than add any real value to the overall story, I liked Krista with her patients, and would have liked to have seen more of that.

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I would also have liked to have seen more interaction between her and Noah out of the bedroom, because once they had admitted their feelings, they didn’t really do much else as a couple apart from sleep together, the timeline was pushed along at a quick pace due to the lack of meaningful time they spent together.

All in all a relatively easy-going, quick read. I still don’t think this series is quite hitting the quality levels of the authors previous A Hero’s Welcome series, there is a lack of depth and emotional development in everything, something that series had in spades.

I really enjoyed the friendship between Noah and Krista. I remember them from the first book in the series and glad they got their own story. The heartbreak Krista felt when Noah brought another woman to their Wednesday Wings night was palpable.

Their relationship takes a turn when they go to Noah's family cabin to help setup for his brother's honeymoon. it is a little out of left field how it starts up but it burns hot and doesn't burn out.

I can't wait for book three to come out and hope it is Sam and Abby's story!

Stolen Kisses is one of the books I have been waiting all summer to come on the top of the TBR list. I adore the author's voice, the compelling characters she creates that I want to spend time with, and the heartfelt moments as they fall helplessly in love. Krista and Noah intrigued my mind in the first book of the series, and I was anxious to read their story, to learn more about them and the relationship that has built over their lifetimes.
I loved the imagery the author created around her home state of North Caroline. From the beaches to the mountains all the scenes open up in my mind's eyes, it was easy to see the events unfold.
I loved Noah, he was easy to like and his attitude towards life was wholesome. As the youngest brother in a family, he is used to being hassled. Some of the doubting thoughts are lingering in his mind about not finding his way, not being responsible enough, not measuring compared to his brothers, just in general people finding him lacking in character. His best friend Krista has always been on his side, and to keep that status quo, it is important for him to hide and bury any thoughts of attraction towards her.
Krista had loved her best friend Noah nearly all her life. Through thick and thin they always stood side by side, being there to support each other. Krista wants to get married and build a family but is convinced Noah is not ready or mature enough for that kind of commitment and goes on a date with a co-worker.
I had a little hard time liking Krista, even though I tried so hard to see the positive side of her, and there are many positives: she is a caretaker, she is kind, a good friend, and loves to laugh, etc.. It seems like she does not trust Noah completely, and thus her attitude toward him is a little patronizing at times. She also jumps into conclusions based on her doubts about Noah's character, and instead of communicating and talking about the doubts and concerns she acts upon them.
I wish they would have learned to communicate better with each other, on a deeper level. It might be that my expectations of them were high because of the close relationship they had for so long.
The chemistry is amazing, and the connection they have is tangible, the conflict between them isn't a major deal, and the angst isn't high. The physical aspect of their relationship was filled with steaming hot scenes that faded away leaving something for the imagination, as well. I loved all that, as well as the close-knit relationship the group of friends and family have with each other.
Despite my momentary doubts about Krista and her actions, the author pulls all the strings back together into a very satisfying ending that left me once again highly anticipating the next novel in the series.
A delightful and luscious romance story of the best friends fumbling in love. A story with a dash of tender feelings and gentle growth of the characters, as they find their places in life, engaged my emotions, and had me smiling and sighing oh so deeply at the end... Excellent entertaining!
~ Four Spoons

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
When I first saw the blurb for this book I rolled my eyes and groaned. Oh no, not another stepbrother romance. As someone who grew up with a blended family I was pretty grossed out. Until very early on when the relationship between Jack and Grace was clarified. Once that pesky thing was out of the way, for me, Forbidden Kisses really gets going.
Grace’s mom Tammy did a horrible, horrible thing that from the perspective of the Sawyer men was unforgivable. Her behavior cost Grace the only real family she’s ever had, which makes life more than a little tricky when she gets a job working for her former family. And former crush.
Once Jack and Grace started spending time together I feel like I had this big smile on my face the whole time. They were funny, steamy and full of chemistry it jumped off the virtual page.

Stolen Kisses is the second book in the Blushing Bay series from this author. Each book is easily read standalone but I think you will enjoy them more if read in order. The characters are all intertwined in the stories. This is Krista and Noah's story and its a wonderful friends to lovers story. They've been best friends their entire lives although Krista has secretly been in love with Noah the whole time. When she finally decides to give up and try and find someone else suddenly Noah starts looking at her differently. Will they risk their friendship to explore what could be something amazing or will they continue to let it hold them back?

A very well done story that you don't want to miss. I highly recommend it.

3.5
I’d like to thank Netgalley and Loveswept for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This is the second book in this series and although I did not read this first it was pretty easy to follow. I kind of wish I read the first book though because I feel like I am missing out on some of the other Sawyers.

This is a friend to lover’s romance that has you rooting for Krista and Noah from the beginning. I feel like there was something missing in this book. I’m not even sure what it was but I had a hard time getting into this book. Maybe I just wanted things to progress with them more since they have known each other their whole lives. Also, that being said that they grew up together Noah didn’t seem to know her family very well. So, just little things like that kind of bothered me.

I did like how all the brothers and the girls got along. The dynamic between the friends was the best and I can’t wait for Sam and Abby’s story. This was low on angst, likeable characters, cute story with some heat.

Noah and Krista have been friends all their lives. He swore he'd be her protector. Only Krista has grown up and has real feelings for Noah. She has tried to move on but they all fall short. Noah on the other hand is the youngest. He feels like he hasn't lived up to the family. He needs to keep his feelings in check. He values Krista's friendship more. Until she starts dating. All bets are off. How to make her believe she's the one. I love how her brother gives him the talk about hurting her. I even love how her Dad gave him the talk. I just laughed. The author must have had brothers, she got it right.