REVIEW: No Kissing Under the Boardwalk by Kate Angell

In No Kissing Under the Boardwalk (Barefoot William Beach #7) by Kate Angell, Zane Cates married Tori Rollins, and then up and deserted her when he was accepted into the Air Force Academy. Yet, now years later, he’s returned home and is back to stay. Too bad Tori wants nothing to do with him. Will Zane be able to convince Tori to give him a second chance or did he hurt her too much in the past for her to ever consider giving him another shot?

“We’ve discussed marriage, and you were all for it.”
She remembered their talk. “At the time of our discussion, we were planning on college and four years apart. Then a wedding. My life changed on prom night. Pratt is out of the picture for me.”

This is the second book I’ve read by Ms. Angell and I’ve got to say that even though I loved how this story started with the introduction of the main characters and how their relationship came about, I couldn’t get into it as much as I did the other book I read by this author. Really, for a novella, this story felt a little dragged out and — I thought — should have focused just on Zane and Tori instead of bringing another couple and their happy ever after into it.

As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories and everything this couple go through on their journey to happy ever after because the hero faces quite the challenge to win back the heroine. Certainly, she’s afraid to give him another chance after he broke her heart years ago to follow his dream, but I liked that he didn’t give up because they’re meant to be together. I also liked the hero’s confidence, his charm and how determined he was to win back the heroine because he still loves her and believes she still loves him too. Will the heroine give the hero another chance? While the heroine, she’s strong, brave, stubborn, hard-working, and I liked what she’s done for her grand-mother. Really, she’s a good grand-daughter with a heart of gold. However, there were moments where I got frustrated with the heroine because she’s so stubborn when it comes to the hero and him wanting her back.

“We need to hash things out, however painful.”
“Painful for who?”
“For both of us.”
“You too? Could’ve fooled me.” Sarcasm was her weapon, always had been.
How could she not know how much he cared? How gutted he felt whenever she pushed him away. “I miss us, more than you’ll ever know.”

Overall, Ms. Angell has delivered a read that I liked because of the hero and where the chemistry between this couple was enjoyable, especially the moment they met years ago because of the embarrassment the heroine felt when they came face-to-face for the first time; the romance was sweet and showed how good these two are together, no matter how much the heroine fights the pair being reunited; and the ending had me loving what these two go through in order to find their way back to each other. Certainly, the past needed to be hashed out, even if it was difficult for the heroine to give the hero another chance. I would recommend No Kissing Under the Boardwalk by Kate Angell, if you enjoy the second chance romance trope or books by authors Roxanne St Claire, Jill Shalvis, Susan Mallery and Jaci Burton.

Book Info:

Publication: September 25th, 2018 | Kensington Books | Barefoot William Beach #7

Will a first love get a second chance?

Zane Cates has fallen in love twice–once with flying, and once with Tori Rollins, the girl who stole his heart in high school. For a brief, shining moment, their future looked bright. Then the offer of a place at the Air Force Academy got between Zane and his beautiful young wife, and he found his marriage over as abruptly as a wave washing back to sea. After taking comfort in the wide open skies, he’s ready to return to the sunlit beach town of Barefoot William–and the woman he never wanted to leave behind. Starting over with Tori is the plan–if only his stubborn ex will have him . . .

A vagabond childhood left Tori shy and withdrawn, but after her family arrived in the pretty resort town, she made the first real friend she ever had–Zane. Opening up to him was a risk she didn’t regret taking, but she never looked back once she decided to end their brief marriage. Seeing him again now is a startling shock–and an irresistible temptation. Can she let him back into her life–and finally find joy in their love?