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A review by aleksandrareading
A Lifetime Kissing You by Riley Hart
4.0
4/5
Riley Hart knew what she was doing writing this books, because this story was utterly gorgeous. I knew I will love it since I met Charles and Brian in the second books from this series. Mainly because these two couldn’t be different from each other but somehow together created a beautiful relationship. I know my rating isn’t five stars. Don’t let yourself be fooled by it though. That’s just how I am. The book has to be perfect to gain five stars from me. Although, this one was extremely close. I loved this story but it strangely didn’t give me this five stars book feeling as I thought it will. I will write further why.
The books follows Brian and Charles. Two men who couldn’t be possibly more different. Brian is closed, really introverted, lives in a small town, works at a factory, has one close relative and he had never experienced true love except the unrequited and tragically ended one he felt for his dead brother's wife. Charles though is extraverted, confident, charming, works as a big lawyer in New York city, is close with his family, has a lot of money, friends and past love/ sexual partners. As you can see how could it be possible for these two to create a great relationship? Well. They did. An amazing one even. They started out as friends, thanks to Charles, but with each passing day they grew closer. Charles helped Brain open up to the world and more possibilities without being too pushy but instead giving him time and helping him through it. They both actually helped each other recover from the tragedies they experienced in life, as Charles was still grieving his dead brother.
The progress Brian made after a life of sadness and grief until he met Charles and he helped him open up was amazing.
The demisexuality representation here was probably made in the best possible way. I don't remember reading a book in which this was presented in a better and truer form. Brian, after living alone as a heterosexual man with only a few failed sexual encounters, struggles with his sexuality until he meets Charles and starts questioning a few things. The book perfectly described and portrayed his way of becoming more open with it, without magical making him "healed". The book turned out to be more spicy as I thought, but I liked it because each scene focused more on their connection and dynamic rather than just smut.
I love how patient and sweet they were with each other. The love for music brought them together and every scene they played in Charles’s house was wonderfully described. One of my favorite moments was when Charles bought Brian flowers almost every time he visited him at his house. It’s so simple but beautiful. It made me tear every time. Don't make me start with the things they said to each other because that made me tear even more. Or the fact that Charles called Brian 'sweetheart'.
The thing I adore the most about this book and series is that there is not third act break up. At least in the second and third book, because I didn’t finished the first one. The characters actually communicate and talk things out when the problems comes. Exactly how it should be when you are in a mature relationship that you care about and want it to last even when conflicts arise.
My rating, although I liked the book, is not five stars. So why exactly? First, the "I love you" confession was a bit too fast for my taste. If they had said those words even three or four chapters later, it would have been more believable to me. But that's just my opinion though. The next and last thing is the use of some words, which I hate when are mentioned in books. The sexual ones, like 'tight pucker' or 'prick', or when Charles was saying during the act that Brian’s you know what is 'ready to play'. I despise those words and phrases in smutty scenes. Unfortunately, they make me gag. I know it might not be a problem for everyone, but I just hate them.
I only read three books from Riley, but I would definitely recommend starting with this series. I’m not the biggest fan of the first book. I actually dnfed it, but the second and third one? Close to perfection. If you like opposites attracts, small town setting, Demi awakening, hurt/ comfort, mature MCs in their forties, strangers to friends to lovers and found family. You know what your next read will be. Do yourself a favor and add it to your tbr. Seriously.
Inevitable series
1.[b: Only for the Weekend|61426724|Only for the Weekend (Inevitable #1)|Riley Hart|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1657565575l/61426724._SX50_.jpg|96932298] tbr/dnf?
2.[b: A Million Little Moments|62775191|A Million Little Moments (Inevitable #2)|Riley Hart|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1668968537l/62775191._SX50_.jpg|98455950] 4.5 stars
3.[b: A Lifetime Kissing You|141699932|A Lifetime Kissing You (Inevitable #3)|Riley Hart|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1682587712l/141699932._SY75_.jpg|157453293] 4 stars
Riley Hart knew what she was doing writing this books, because this story was utterly gorgeous. I knew I will love it since I met Charles and Brian in the second books from this series. Mainly because these two couldn’t be different from each other but somehow together created a beautiful relationship. I know my rating isn’t five stars. Don’t let yourself be fooled by it though. That’s just how I am. The book has to be perfect to gain five stars from me. Although, this one was extremely close. I loved this story but it strangely didn’t give me this five stars book feeling as I thought it will. I will write further why.
The books follows Brian and Charles. Two men who couldn’t be possibly more different. Brian is closed, really introverted, lives in a small town, works at a factory, has one close relative and he had never experienced true love except the unrequited and tragically ended one he felt for his dead brother's wife. Charles though is extraverted, confident, charming, works as a big lawyer in New York city, is close with his family, has a lot of money, friends and past love/ sexual partners. As you can see how could it be possible for these two to create a great relationship? Well. They did. An amazing one even. They started out as friends, thanks to Charles, but with each passing day they grew closer. Charles helped Brain open up to the world and more possibilities without being too pushy but instead giving him time and helping him through it. They both actually helped each other recover from the tragedies they experienced in life, as Charles was still grieving his dead brother.
"Charles said, “You need to promise me you’ll always tell me how you’re feeling—whether it’s sex stuff, anxiety, or anything else. I don’t ever want to put more pressure on you, but I haven’t experienced this before and I’m gonna make mistakes.”
The progress Brian made after a life of sadness and grief until he met Charles and he helped him open up was amazing.
The demisexuality representation here was probably made in the best possible way. I don't remember reading a book in which this was presented in a better and truer form. Brian, after living alone as a heterosexual man with only a few failed sexual encounters, struggles with his sexuality until he meets Charles and starts questioning a few things. The book perfectly described and portrayed his way of becoming more open with it, without magical making him "healed". The book turned out to be more spicy as I thought, but I liked it because each scene focused more on their connection and dynamic rather than just smut.
"I stopped him, hand on his arm. “I like lookin’ at ya,” I admitted. “You’re so damn beautiful, it steals my breath.”
I love how patient and sweet they were with each other. The love for music brought them together and every scene they played in Charles’s house was wonderfully described. One of my favorite moments was when Charles bought Brian flowers almost every time he visited him at his house. It’s so simple but beautiful. It made me tear every time. Don't make me start with the things they said to each other because that made me tear even more. Or the fact that Charles called Brian 'sweetheart'.
"I can actually have you…and it’s deeper, like you’ve burrowed into my bones, like I don’t know if my heart would keep beatin’ if I didn’t have you."
The thing I adore the most about this book and series is that there is not third act break up. At least in the second and third book, because I didn’t finished the first one. The characters actually communicate and talk things out when the problems comes. Exactly how it should be when you are in a mature relationship that you care about and want it to last even when conflicts arise.
"I love you. It doesn’t matter if we’re different or if it doesn’t make sense to anyone else. Something about you gives me things I didn’t even know I needed. You said I make you feel like you’re living for the first time, and while I might have lived my life differently from you, somehow you still make me feel the same."
My rating, although I liked the book, is not five stars. So why exactly? First, the "I love you" confession was a bit too fast for my taste. If they had said those words even three or four chapters later, it would have been more believable to me. But that's just my opinion though. The next and last thing is the use of some words, which I hate when are mentioned in books. The sexual ones, like 'tight pucker' or 'prick', or when Charles was saying during the act that Brian’s you know what is 'ready to play'. I despise those words and phrases in smutty scenes. Unfortunately, they make me gag. I know it might not be a problem for everyone, but I just hate them.
I only read three books from Riley, but I would definitely recommend starting with this series. I’m not the biggest fan of the first book. I actually dnfed it, but the second and third one? Close to perfection. If you like opposites attracts, small town setting, Demi awakening, hurt/ comfort, mature MCs in their forties, strangers to friends to lovers and found family. You know what your next read will be. Do yourself a favor and add it to your tbr. Seriously.
Inevitable series
1.[b: Only for the Weekend|61426724|Only for the Weekend (Inevitable #1)|Riley Hart|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1657565575l/61426724._SX50_.jpg|96932298] tbr/dnf?
2.[b: A Million Little Moments|62775191|A Million Little Moments (Inevitable #2)|Riley Hart|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1668968537l/62775191._SX50_.jpg|98455950] 4.5 stars
3.[b: A Lifetime Kissing You|141699932|A Lifetime Kissing You (Inevitable #3)|Riley Hart|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1682587712l/141699932._SY75_.jpg|157453293] 4 stars