Licks Paperback – March 22, 2018

4.5*With Licks, Kelly Siskind has combined two of my favorite tropes- childhood friends-to-lovers and second chance romance, to give us an exhilarating, heartwarming, and emotional story that hit me right in the feels. August and Gwen were the best of friends growing up, but, due to a series of really unfortunate events and choices, became estranged 9 years ago. The death of Gwen’s mother brings August back into her life, and for the next 36 hours, as August assists Gwen as she seeks to find her father, all the pain, hurt, and love they’ve experienced is laid bare.Before Sunrise is one of my favorite movies, and I kept thinking about it while I was reading Licks. Unlike Jesse and Celine though, Gwen and August have a lot of history, but like their movie counterparts they’re really just getting to know each other as adults. And just as it was for Jesse and Celine, it's a race against the clock for Gwen and August, with lots to uncover, before time runs out on them.I really loved the journey Ms. Siskind takes Gwen on. It’s so much more than just a story of a girl trying to find her father. It ends up being a journey of discovery, as she uncovers things about not just her father, but of herself and her mother- things that cause her to rethink everything she thought she knew. And all the while, she and August are getting to know each other all over again, opening old wounds, and healing themselves in the process.Gwen, strong, vulnerable, kick-butt Gwen. What a tough, crazy, overwhelming 36 hour whirlwind she survived! She holds things so close to the vest, I’m glad she has friends like Rachel and Ainsley to open up to. And let’s not forget Jimmy and Owen! Even though August was their friend first, I loved how they had her back.And gosh how I loved August. Even with the secret that he was keeping I couldn’t help but fall for him! He and Gwen were made to be together, from the moment she stuffed grass in his shirt.Licks was such an entertaining, heartfelt, engaging read. I’m pretty sure I said this about the Over the Top series, but I’m sad to see this one come to an end. I’ve so enjoyed getting to know Rachel and Jimmy, Ainsley and Owen, and Gwen and August, I feel like I’m saying good-bye to friends!

I enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and it had twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. I rated it 4 stars because I felt that it was a bit long and repetitious in parts, but overall I enjoyed their story.

This was actually my favorite of the three books. The first was cute, the second was good but personally I would have like a little more closure with issues with Ex. This one had a lot of substance and was the best in my opinion. Read in order as the friendships are important to the stories.

This was one of the mist intriguing stories that I have read!! It is a must read. You WILK live it!!!!

Is this book terrible? No, not at all. But at the point where I realize my snarky notes are taking up more time than the reading, it's time to stop. I gave it three stars because 2.5 isn't an option, but that would be a more accurate indicator of my feelings about this book.The basics: I didn't relate to the characters. At first, I thought it was because they were young (27) and sporty, but I've read other things with young sporty protagonists that I ended up liking.There were just so many things that didn't really work for me, and made me stop reading (I have a pile of other books to read right now, so I'm being picky about my time.)1. Gwen's dead mother (who would be three years younger than me [ouch!]) worked as a receptionist but OWNED a house in San Francisco. The amount of time spent traveling from her mom's house to the Tenderloin to her apartment indicates actual SF/Oakland locations, not the suburbs an hour's drive out of the city, which are still really expensive. Suspension of disbelief for this sort of stuff is tough for me. I can do it for vampires, but not housing costs in major cities. I have my limits.2. August is supposed to be a singer-songwriter of note, but every time he's "thinking of lyrics," it's just a bunch of clichés. So, he's a BAD songwriter? That kills the romance for me.3. There's a bit of sexist stuff from time to time, just attitudes expressed that seem...just old-fashioned and sexist. It didn't thrill me.4. The characters seem to think and talk in clichés from time to time. Like they exist in a soap opera, or a Hallmark Channel movie. For example, on page 114, Gwen tells August about her job:“I work at an adoption agency, placing babies in homes.”“Wow.” He jolted slightly, his voice low and heavy. “That’s amazing. Do you love it?” Even talking about it had me grinning.“I never expected to find a career that fulfilled me like this, but it’s so rewarding. As painful as those student loans and school headaches were, it was worth it. I found my purpose.” To give kids loving families and the childhood I never had.It's not painfully bad, but there's nothing here that sounds original.5. Bad, unsexy, condomless sex scene (this is probably what made me give up on this book—if the sex ain't sexy, the rest has to be really good to make this worth my while, and it is merely OK.)6. Oh, and have you heard jokes about how people who do CrossFit insist on talking about CrossFit? It's mentioned eight times in this book. EIGHT TIMES.So, my advice is that if you are into the premise—if you love stories with musicians or guitarists, you'll probably not focus on this book's shortcomings and enjoy it. It am not, and I did not.

If you’ve read the first two books in the One Wild Wish series, do not deny yourself August and Gwen’s story. It encompasses true depth of loss and grief and rejection and how that builds character. Also how the kids of true, unconditional friendship can bring healing and joy.Another page turner I couldn’t put down.

Feel the passion burn in this one! Two childhood friends who feel more than that - I got swept away, wondering, how the heck do you get past *that* kind of betrayal? Fortunately, I thought it made sense. A definite good read.

I couldn't put it down. Kelly Siskind books are always the perfect blend of funny and sexy. I love the spark between the two main characters and the back and forth perspectives. I did not see the ending coming! Which is super rare in books these days! Loved it!

So glad i bought this book i just couldnt put it down, mant a late night was had

Kelly Siskind is a great author and tells the best romances. This is just another of her masterpieces and I highly recommend it.

This is, without a single doubt, the best book I’ve ever read. I can’t gush about it enough. Gwen is the most honest character I have ever come across and I absolutely adore her. She’s more than aware of her flaws, she owns her shortcomings (if you can call them that) and she’s definitely the most relatable character ever to grace my Kindle.August is perfection personified. His forgiveness and kindness, his ability to just know how to be with Gwen… I can’t even. My husband should be jealous because if August existed in the real world, I’d be stalking him by now.This book is so much more than a romance. Its honesty floored me and moved me to tears—real tears—and I can count on one hand how many books have done that. I just cannot express enough how amazing this book is. From the first word until the last, it had me hooked and I didn’t want it to end. I now have to build myself a pillow fort which I shall only emerge from once Siskind has written another book for me to fall in love with. This author just became my number one bestest greatest author everest.

I read this to see how the series ended.I must admit, I skipped and skimmed my way until the last two chapters.I wasn’t invested in the story all that much, but the conclusion to the story was really good.