IT STARTED WITH A KISS (SEQUOIA LAKE #1)

With a kidney transplant behind her, Avery Adams is determined to channel her inner adventurer and explore everything life has to offer. Only problem is, the closest she’s ever come to a real-life adventure was sixth-grade science camp. So to seize the summer in her rustic Sierra Nevada town, she takes a job as a guide at the local adventure lodge. But Avery doesn’t realize her biggest challenge will register at six-plus feet of rugged good looks and alpha-male charm.

As a member of the Sequoia Elite Mountain Rescue team, Tyson Donovan has made a life out of cheating death and rescuing weekend warriors from the treacherous terrain. “The world is my home” is more than just a motto; it’s what scares off women who would otherwise try to tie him down. When his dad’s health lands the family’s adventure lodge in serious danger of going up in flames, he moves home—and quickly remembers why he left. Until he meets Avery, the irresistible new guide who makes him want to stay.

Tyson gives the inexperienced Avery a lesson in romance that her books could never teach her. And with her undeniable spirit for life, Avery shows Tyson the healing power of love. But with one misstep, everything comes crashing down, and they’ll both have to take the biggest leap of all—into the kind of adventure that lasts a lifetime.

Release Date: January 31, 2017

Montlake Romance

Sequoia Lake #1

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza’s Review:

It Started With a Kiss is the first book in the new Sequoia Lake series from Marina Adair and I felt like it was a great start to the new series.

Avery Adams was a completely refreshing heroine. Her goal following her kidney transplant is to live out loud and complete all the items in her memory journal in honor or in memory of the many friends and family she has known. I have to believe Avery has always been a strong woman, but following her kidney transplant, she is almost fearless now. I love that Avery had such a great attitude about life and wanted to live it to the fullest. So much so, that when she meets Ty, she totally lives in the moment and kisses him, completing the kiss a stranger page in her memory journal. 

Tyson Donovan didn't tell Avery she worked for his parents when they met and it made me chuckle just a bit that he kept that little tidbit from her. Ty and his dad haven't really been close since his brother died in an accident on the mountain while he was with Ty. Honestly, it broke my heart to see Ty and his dad together at times. I could tell Ty wanted to help his dad out, but the tension between them and the distance between them made it hard for them to even be in the same room without fighting. I found Avery understood them both and seemed to help the situation a bit when she was with them together to with each one separately. 

Even knowing Ty was only staying at the lodge long enough to get his dad through the inspection, he seemed to find it much easier to be there thanks to Avery. First of all, they had amazing chemistry and it only got stronger the more time they spent together. Ty seemed to get Avery and her need to stretch her wings in a way many others didn't. Yes he wanted to keep her safe and didn't want her to do anything to hurt herself, but he found a way to help her make each page of her memory book come true.  Ty also seemed to feel more at home the more time he spent with Avery. Although Ty and Avery were pretty different, I found myself totally falling for them as a couple.

It Started With a Kiss was a sweet, sexy romance filled with redemption, laughter, hope and forgiveness. I loved meeting Avery's and Ty's friends in It Started With a Kiss and can't wait to read more books from this series. I already have a few favorite secondary characters that I really hope get their own books in the future.

Rating: 4 Stars (B)