Kissing Bandit

by Margaret Rose

A sensitive list-maker learns to love again while starting over at the lake and running a former professional baseball player's father's estate sale in this thoughtful, bright, and steamy slow-burn romantic comedy.

Do you believe in soulmates? Well… Do you?

Desperate to forget her ex, Francesca Bloomfield is escaping to the lake for the summer. She’s on her own with a flimsy business plan based on finding treasure in junk drawers and has a Volkswagen full of snacks. And she’s got one rule: no dating. Except, she really likes kissing, that part she’ll keep, and she starts a kissing list to prove it. Too bad she spends her last night in town dancing with a backward-hat-wearing wallflower looking for love.

Meanwhile, former professional baseball player, John Boggs, has a bad case of the Cinderellas. The woman who set his world on fire during a dirty dancing scene he had no idea his wrecked body was capable of is dominating his thoughts. His first attempt at something other than a one-night stand on the road completely backfired. He took things slow, he gave her his number— he dipped her —and she ran.

But fate has different plans. John is selling his father’s estate and Francesca magically appears on his doorstep with a brand new Frannie’s Finds estate sales business card. Their attraction is undeniable, though it’s clear they want different things. A road trip and a heroic rescue from Spirit Lake push them together at every turn and maybe, if they can sift through the clutter of a former life while unpacking their own hearts, they’ll realize they’re meant to be. One kiss at a time. If not, they risk forever holding onto the past instead of embracing their destiny.

Genres: Romance, Sports

372 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 6, 2024

About the author

Margaret Rose majored in English with an emphasis on creative writing, dabbled in philosophy, and has a concentration in theater. Before becoming an author, she worked as a personal stylist, secretly drafting novels and begging her friends to read them. Now, she enjoys wearing sweatpants just as much as sequins and watching her kids chase their dreams while she chases her own. You can find her online at Margaretrosebooks.Com.

Reviews

[Tae ♡⁷ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is my first arc review !! This was such an interesting and amazing story ! The character development was so intense and good that kept me captivated 🫣!

🌊🐚🥥🫧

I have another book boyfriend! John is recently retired from professional baseball, and trying to fix what he didn't break. Frannie is trying to make a name for herself after a breakup, and trying to find the thrill she was missing. Meeting at a bar for the first time, John is immediately smitten, but Frannie wasn't convinced. She had to stick to her list and focus on the thrill, not filling a space. The side characters were good too ! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

🌊🐚🥥🫧

Thank you @Sunnybabepr for sending me this ARC in exchange for my review.

[Hannah Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so lucky to get to alpha read this masterpiece! Margaret is an expert at lovable, charming, and hopeful stories that just make your toes curl. This will be the perfect read for when you’re wishing you’re away at the lake…or for when you actually are! Do yourself a favor and read it🤍

[Meghan | thebostonbibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

“If there are only pieces, if you’re still broken, I’ll hold those pieces in my hands until you’re ready.”

𝙒𝙃𝘼𝙏 𝙏𝙊 𝙀𝙓𝙋𝙀𝘾𝙏
↔️ age gap
⚓️ small lake town
⚾️ former professional athlete
🚫 sworn off dating/friendship pacts
👨‍👨‍👦‍👦 found family
🔮 fate/soulmates

𝙈𝙔 𝙏𝙃𝙊𝙐𝙂𝙃𝙏𝙎
𝘒𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵 was the most unexpectedly delightful surprise! It felt like a little piece of summer sun in the middle of January

Margaret Rose found a way to craft a rom-com with all the best features and none of the cringey side effects that we so often get. I mean an age gap romance without condescension?! Healthy communication?! *GASP* it can be done, folks! I think it stemmed from the fact that Frannie needed some introspection prior to making any major leaps, and John was content enough in himself to meet her where she was at. It👏🏻was👏🏻refreshing👏🏻 Factor that in with all the little micro-tropes sprinkled throughout, and the most fantastic guy gang and gal pals, and you can see why it was such a hit

My one major critique of 𝘒𝘉 is the Meg plot line. Frannie and John’s relationship evolved too conveniently removed from Meg’s view with how close the brother/sister were supposed to be. For having the FMC make a “no-dating my brother promise” in the opening chapters, the resolution was just glossed over and felt a little underwhelming

If you’re looking for a fun and healthy slow-burn age-gap romance, 𝘒𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵 is the perfect one!

Thank you so much to @margaretrosebooks and SunnyBabePR for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

✨: 4

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, thank you to Sunny Babe PR and Margaret Rose for an ARC copy of this outstanding book in exchange for my honest review!

Let me say. I LOVE THIS BOOK! I am obsessed with it. It may be my newest favorite romance book of all time, finding a perfect spot in my favorite of all times list along with: It Happened One Summer and My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey, Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood, Twisted Games by Ana Huang and The Fine Print by Lauren Asher.

If you love those books you, you will ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS ONE! John is the perfect, "I'm going to day dream about this guy" book boyfriend that you will subconsciously be holding your actual boyfriend to the standards of. He is sweet, thoughtful, sensitive, funny, charismatic, driven and passionate in all the right ways. His complete dedication and respect of Francesca is just swoon-worthy at every turn, from the first moment they meet under the disco ball to the ice cold plunge to the magical hot springs, the ballpark and happily ever after.

This book is beautifully written and completely binge-able. The truth is sometimes when I couldn't sleep I would read this because I couldn't stop thinking about it but then I definitely couldn't stop! I missed a few nights of sleep over this book but it was WORTH IT! I intended to include some quotes to help sell future readers, but I ended up with over 50 in my favorites list. It just felt like every line of description or dialogue was more enchanting than the next and the last! It was just too hard to pick so read it for yourself ;)

Okay, I don't usually love every single one of the characters this much but her sister, Cat, is SCREAMING to be the next sassy, fiery enemies-to-lovers interconnected standalone book, with her dark hair and sassy attitude and fearless outgoing personality and SIGN ME UP because I cannot wait to read her story! The same goes for Willow, we get less of read on her in this book but what we do have of her makes her sound like her story might become my new favourite with her "Marilyn Monroe sexy curves", strawberry blonde/red hair, loves Taylor Swift and has a wall of romance books? Yes to all of it. Onto her parents, which should be a very small part of this book and the review but as a married woman, I loved the addition of her parents longterm marriage and the different phases a true love relationship goes through. Their vow renewal was such a beautiful part of the book, and their speeches are literally relationship goals x1000. The dudes and Meg were all amazing characters too, so well thought out, so unique. Maybe my only complaint was Meg's character at the end, it felt a little rushed with the explanation phone call from John's POV but again a very very small thing in the chaos of the big ending!

The spicy scenes are giving Sweet Chili Heat vibes, they are sweet and romantic but SPICY as hell! They are really well written and pretty vanilla but in the best possible way - like the expensive Vanilla bean kind that you can't get enough of haha. I am a huge fan of the "can't wait a second longer to have you so I need to have you RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW" that can end up being semi-public. Loved the creativity for some of those spots too!

So I could gush about this book forever, but basically summed up, read it. Just do it and thank me later. I will be recommending this book over and over. Please give us an interconnected standalone series Margaret Rose! It is exactly what I need to look forward to in 2024!!

[࣪Mitch ౨ৎ˚⟡˖࣪ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙄’𝙙 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚. 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙄’𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙞𝙛 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧… 𝙄 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙄 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜.”

John and Frannie is so adorable! They are destined together 🩷 The feeling while reading this? Ahh it is just so good.. it was heartfelt, well written,
slow burn romance which I found myself loving this book (not really a fan of slow burn) but this is just perfect and find myself keep reading it without feeling bored at all and Margaret really did a good job about it. 👏🏻 the tension, mutual pining? It’s good, open door 🌶️ 🌶️
💋This story isn’t just about romance, it also talks about healing, finding yourself, finding something that makes you happy, gaining trust, family relationships. The setting of the story is also pretty makes me want to leave in a small town with lake 🤭
💋 John is the book boyfriend that anyone wish to have. Just the sweetest! Caring especially loving with the his family is a plus for me!

“Never let anyone make you feel small. You’re not small, Francesca.”

💋 Frannie our sunshine ☀️ who is a happy go lucky, guarding her heart and trying to stand up after a heartbreak, I love her character as she learn to heal and learn to love again.

i just loooove this book! I also highlight a lots of beautiful quotes/lines. The ending? *chef kiss* especially finding out what behind the title? So good!!

Tropes and other Things
🫧 small town
🫧 age gap
🫧 lake setting
🫧 one bed
🫧 cinnamon roll MMC
🫧 slow burn romance
🫧 retired professional baseball player
🫧 FMC happy go lucky-risk taker

Thank you sunnybabepr and Margaret for giving me this arc! ☺️

[Ada’s Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ I received this book as an ARC for my honest review✨

History mysteriously repeats itself with Fran and John. It seemed the lucky number for this happy couple is five. Their story starts off being the right person, but at the wrong time, and I was so invested in their progress to navigate each other’s feelings.

Fran has just gotten out of a serious relationship, while John is looking for one. To protect herself from feeling too much and getting too emotional, Fran started on a personal mission, kissing guys with no emotional attachment. To protect himself, John was not getting into a relationship that led nowhere.

I loved Fran’s character, and the fact that she was not made out to be made as someone needy or asked for too much, made me appreciate her more. As a fellow overly sensitive person I understood where she was coming from.

John is a walking green flag. He is emotionally available, is not afraid to cry, and talks about his feelings. What more can you ask for with a guy? he proves to Fran that she isn’t asking for too much, it’s just that she has not met someone who could handle her. John proves that she hasn’t asked for too much.

I am dying to read Winters and Cats story🫣🫶🏼😭

🏷️TROPES:
Age Gap / Slow Burn / Small Town / Healing / Only One Bed / Soulmates

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four days into 2024 and I have another book boyfriend! John is recently retired from professional baseball, and trying to fix what he didn’t break. Frannie is trying to make a name for herself after a breakup, and trying to find the thrill she was missing. Meeting at a bar for the first time, John is immediately smitten, but Frannie wasn’t convinced. She had to stick to her list and focus on the thrill, not filling a space.

I’m not huge on insta-love, but John was so thoughtful and genuinely believed they were destined to be. I kind of went back and forth between thinking Frannie was quirky and cute, to just being silly and getting in her own way. The way she felt comfortable enough to go to a party and dive in the lake after knowing Meg for an hour was strange. The side characters had great personalities too, and I loved getting a little bit of Cat’s spicy attitude and kind of think Willow might be an undercover freak. I can tell this will be a series I’ll really enjoy, and I can’t wait to see who ends up together!

I received a copy of this book for free through Book Sirens, and this is my voluntary honest review 🖤

[Samantha Douglass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thank you to @sunnybabepr + @margaretrosebooks for allowing me to ARC review this adorable book! I loved reading it and got so hooked on the characters. 🫠

Quick Summary:
When Frannie gets out of a loveless relationship, she is determined to keep things light and fun— kissing only random people and living in the moment. John, on the other hand, has had his time keeping things light and fun while playing in the MLB and is ready to settle down. When these two meet briefly at a bar, the chemistry is there but Fran decides he’s too good to be just a number on her kissing list. Too serious. Too many real feelings too quick. No way would it just be a kiss. Call it fate, magic, or destiny, but they find themselves thrown back together when Fran is hired by John’s sister to run an estate sale for their family in a small lake town..

This book is filled with so many swoon-worthy moments, cute banter, fun character dynamics, and steamy scenes. 🥵

A MUST READ for those who love:
🫧 Sunshine girl x Cinnamon Roll Hero
🫧 Small Town
🫧 Only one bed
🫧 Age Gap
🫧 Soulmates / Destiny
🫧 Slow burn
🫧 Retired MLB player ⚾️
🫧 Roadtrip

[Marrissa Horton · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️ This is such a cute, fun read. Thank you so much to Sunnybabepr for sending me a copy of the eARC! Our FMC Fran has just been broken up with, and is a little sensitive to the fact that some people in her life call her out on being, well, sensitive. So she is ready to start over with a new business in estate sales. She heads to two small towns that share a part of the CA/NV border, to oversee a sale for a retired MLB star and his father. And it turns out that not just the towns are small, it’s a small world too, as she runs into a familiar face upon arrival.
If you love:
🫧 Fated Mates
🩵 Age Gap
🫧 Small Town
🩵 He Falls First
🫧 Forced Proximity
🩵 One Bed
🫧 Friends With Benefits
🩵 Stars Hollow Vibes
🫧 Sunshine FMC
🩵 Cinnamon Roll Hero
🫧 Spice
Then you should definitely check this one out! I loved John and Fran, their chemistry, how they helped and healed each other, and the character development. I thought this was a well written and creative story, that kept my interest all the way through. The secondary characters also added to the fun and entertainment. I can’t wait to read the next book in the 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙠𝙚 series 🥰

[McKayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to read a beautiful story that focuses primarily on characters while still having a good base plot, this book is for you. It focuses on the intricacies of growing a relationship amidst doubts, and letting go of control when love is in the mix. You fall in love with the characters and will find yourself rooting for their love as though they are your best friends. Curl up with a cozy blanket and your favourite drink, and I promise you will not be disappointed when you open up this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sunshine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just wanted to give a huge thanks to @sunnybabepr and author @margaretrosebooks for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review, and I have to say, I’m feeling pretty lucky that my first ever ARC read was such a great experience! 🤩

If you’re feeling a bit low and need a little boost, then this is the perfect book for you. It’s a wonderful read that’s packed with all sorts of fun, cute, and heartwarming moments that are sure to lift your spirits and put a smile on your face. One of the things that makes this book so special is the depth and complexity of its characters. I loved John’s character so much—he is the perfect book boyfriend. 🫶🏻 Even though I’m usually not into love-at-first-sight stories, this book had me hooked. John is a remarkable MMC, one that is sure to capture your heart. He is a gentleman through and through, and his love, respect, and dedication towards Frannie are evident throughout the book. I mean our man here was smitten! 🥹 His sweet, charming, and funny personality is incredibly endearing, and his thoughtfulness towards Frannie is simply heartwarming. Frannie, the charming and strong-willed FMC, is equally captivating despite having gone through a break-up that has left her feeling lost and unfulfilled. She is trying to fill the void of excitement and adventure that is missing in her life, and is trying hard to make a name for herself. I loved the way she approached life, and I loved her Kissing List—it’s a delightful touch to the story. Her character development and growth throughout the book are impressive, and her chemistry with John is simply electric. 😩💖

Even the side characters are incredibly well-written and fleshed out, with their own unique personalities and quirks that make them feel like someone you would befriend in real life. Overall, this book is an absolute delight and I can’t recommend it enough! It’s one of those rare reads that will stick with you long after you’ve finished it! 🤭

[Haley has moved to Fable · Rating 4 out of 5]

arc review 🌿

such a cute story - i love a small town romance and a cinnamon roll mmc. this one was a slow burn which isn’t my favorite trope, but there was lots of little romance nuggets spread throughout this story to keep me going. the ending was super cutesy. i can’t wait to see how willow’s story unfolds now too

this book is available now on kindle unlimited as well 💖

thank you @sunnybabepr for sending me this arc in exchange for my honest review

themes :
- slow burn
- he falls first ( and harder )
- she wears his jersey
- small town
- sunshine roll fmc x cinnamon roll mmc

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

I am so thrilled I had the chance to read Margaret Rose's "Kissing Bandit." What a wonderful story full of heartwarming happiness, mutual pining, awesome secondary characters, and refreshing differences! I truly loved this one!

After a bad break-up, Francesca has sworn off dating. She is trying to give herself the space and time she needs to launch her new estate sale business. Luckily, she has just received her first customer, and it just so happens to be for an estate at the lake she and her family used to go to when she was younger. It turns out, the estate sale is for John's father, a former baseball player. Francesca and John, who is also a former baseball player, aren't strangers: they had an instant connection at a club a short while back after she approached him and danced with him in a hot and heavy daze that left them both breathless but unkissed. Francesca is a habitual listmaker, and she initially wants John to be her fifth first kiss. John, on the other hand, wants to be Francesca's last first kiss EVER. When Francesca turns up at the bar John is renovating, he sees it as fate or destiny attempting to intervene, thrusting them together against all odds.

I absolutely adored Francesca and John and their chemistry with one another. Talk about SWOON-WORTHY! The tension is palpable, the pull between them is undeniable! I *loved* them together. Margaret Rose may have just written one of my favorite couples! John is a sweet, burly, sensitive soul who immediately became my new book boyfriend. I adored his cinnamon roll demeanor. John's dedication to his sister, to his small, close-knit town, to his best friend circle, and eventually, to Francesca, is admirable and hot as heck. I appreciate how smitten he was with Francesca and lets her know it every step of the way. And speaking of Frannie, she is also a wonderful character in her own right. Her initial response to her break-up is something I feel like I don't see happen a lot in romance novels. She is hurt, but she takes the time she needs to start fresh for herself. She makes a calm, rational, healthy decision and has a level-headed response to being wounded and burned. She feels her feelings and eventually lets John know it, too. And then, he tries his best to convince her that it will be different with him. Other standout features of this book: He calls her sunshine (*good god, more swooning*). She wears his jersey. He saves her from drowning. THE BAR. She lets him grieve in his own way. Only one bed. Age-gap romance without condescension. Hot springs tension. Tight-knit male friend group shenanigans. Tight-knit female friend group bonding. Baseball! A "no kissing" rule that is BEGGING to be broken. Destiny? Magic? Fate? A little bit of all of the above? I loved this book, and I know you're going to love it, too!

Thank you to Margaret Rose for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you sunny babe pr and maragret rose for a copy of this arc for an exchange of my honest review!!

this book follows francesa or frannie as her friends call her and she had just gotten out of a relationship that didn't end well and has now sworn off men until she's 50. she makes a kissing list to help keep the fun of kissing but not having the risk of getting hurt. she meets this dreamboat named john at a bar and instantly has a connection with him but doesn't kiss him. a couple weeks later she goes up to this lake town to start her estate sale business with her very first client. imagine her surprise when she realizes that john is her very first client.

this book was honestly such a ball of sunshine. frannie and john were so cute and i loved all of the side characters. I'm such a sucker for a small town/lake town romcom and this one did it for me. it was a perfect pallet cleanser in between fantasy reads. i was kicking and giggling my feet over john honestly.

read if you like:
💕 friendship pact
💕 sunshine girl x cinnamon roll hero
💕 small town romances
💕 soulmates

kissing bandit by maragret rose comes out february 6th on amazon and will be available on KU!

[Isabel Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart, I adored everything about this book! Charming, perfectly imperfect characters and low drama made this this most delightful rom-com! I loved the setting, the swoon, and the fun side characters. If you are looking for a heartwarming, feel-good, HOT romance that provides the most peaceful escape, John and Frannie’s story is PERFECT for you! Can’t wait for the next book on this series!

[Joanna- LifeWithPrinceMan · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ PRINCE MAN REVIEW ✨

📝 Francesca knows it's time to give up on love the second she's pushed out of her boyfriend's bed after an intimate encounter! Trying to 'toughen up,' she decides to create a list to help her become more emotionally detached from dating. But John has other plans the second he meets her in the club for a bachelor party. Fate brings these two back together when Franny's estate sale company brings her to John's small, lake town to sell off his estranged father's belongings.

What I 🤍:
💞 Age Gap Romance-11 years
👚 Heart on Her Sleeve
📏 Tall FMC Rep
📋 List Maker
🚫 She Doesn't Want Commitment
⚾️ Retired Baseball Player
💧 Small, Lake Town
🛌 One Bed
2️⃣ Duel POV
🌲 Outdoor Spice!
🥊 Emotional Punch
🔥 Slow Burn
🪩 Clubbing Meet Cute

This was THE PERFECT summer read! Right away, I was sucked into their adorable meet cute! Who wouldn't love having an instant connection with someone at a club! I loved Franny, and I really felt for her. Oftentimes, people would say she was sensitive-as if that was a weakness. In reality, I felt that was her biggest strength, and made her easy to connect with. John was the epitome of a cinnamon roll MCC. He was patient, respectful and caring. It would honestly be hard for anyone not to fall in love with him. I also adored his besties called 'The Dudes.' Their friendship really felt like family, and provided such warmth to the story.

Prince's Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice: 🔥🔥(Some Outdoor Encounters)
📍 California
Read 📅: Summertime! ☀️
Read if ➡️: You love sweet romances that have mild spice, and an emotional punch besides just the MCs getting together.
CW ⚠️: Death of Parent (Off-Page), Emotional Breakup, Estranged Parent Relationships, Parents Fighting

I'll be honest. When I saw the cover of this book, I thought it would just be a sweet, traditionally romance. But, this book has it all, and I was pleasantly surprised. One of the most heartwarming things about this book were characters, and the growth they made throughout the story. It was so much more than a romance. It's also about finding your way in life, choosing happiness, and healing. One part of this book that I wish we had more resolution on was Meg, John's little sister. She REALLY did not want these two to date, and it was almost stressful at times when she didn't know about their relationship. I hope that we get more of her in the series moving forward. This was my first read by Margaret Rose, and it won't be my last! I am now anxiously anticipating Royal Hearts (Winter & Cat) which comes out this winter.

[Jennifer Riis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I, in the year of our lord 2024, have finally found an age gap trope that I love.

Why do I love it? Because their banter was never around their age; their age didn’t matter, but their attraction to another and how they can help another heal did. I appreciated it so much that it wasn’t a constant “old man” “when I was your age” “wow you’re so young you don’t remember…”

Please raise your hand if you have ever been strung along by a partner and believed things were heading towards an engagement and they dump you on your ass - literally. Francesca is raising her hand real high. Immediately gives me 90s rom com feels.

Fran has the healthiest response to her breakup, and focused on when she was last truly happy and her authentic self. My gf always says “growth happens in the transitions” and Fran is all about growth and focusing on herself. She pinpointed it, pivoted, and set out on a path with her walls high. Her sister, Cat, and best friend, Willow, are her biggest cheerleaders.

Nothing was more relatable than when Fran said: “It’s possible my subconscious has been begging for this change, this escape, but the rest of me wasn’t ready to take the plunge.”

When John called her sunshine the first time? Done. DONE. I swooned every time he said it.

I love the friendship that John has with his group of friends from home/the lake. There is 0 toxic masculinity, and instead they allow another to care for another while pushing another to be better.

My major hang up here is: How did they hide everything from Meg (John’s sister) and John’s friends?

Cannot wait for Cat and Winter’s book. I mean hello… a Prince, a castle, and Lake Tahoe vibes?

My first Book Sirens eARC! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[agggt_reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was honestly such a fun read that would be great for the summertime!! 🌷

- quick synopsis -
after being broken up with, francesca starts her own business running estate sales, with her first customer unknowingly being john, the man who she dirty danced with and who almost ended up being number 5 on her list of meaningless kisses. to go through with the sale (and to forget her ex), for the summer she moves near the fateful lake.
even though they're each looking for something different right now, their attraction doesn't help them stay away from each other..
- - ~

the way john described francesca in his pov, basically from the moment they met, through out the whole story melted my heart.. and the way he wasn't afraid to show his emotions in front of her.. he was perfect😍 and he remembered her seafood allergy?🍤 a dreamm

frannie was chaotic in the best way possible😂 especially her "introduction" to town when she jumped into the cold water🌊 and her very romantic stunt at the end.. also her obsession with making lists and buying lottery tickets

their relationship had such good chemistry and i just loved their behaviour and love not only towards each other but to their individual friend groups as well! (i need a winter x cat enemies to lovers book next please!)⭐

the communication in this book!!!! CHEF'S KISS!!!! i LOVED how they didn't get mad at each other and just talked about things and explained everything - no third act breakup!💗

the roadtrip chapters were probably my favourite, so many things happened (the hot spring🤭)

the ending was straight out of a romcom😂 so dramatic but it was honestly everything🌸

overall i'd rate this book 4,5/5⭐
spice would be 2 - 2,5/5🌶

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Thank you @sunnybabepr & Margaret Rose for the ARC!*

The Kissing Bandit is a cozy romantic read that will give you all the feels. Frannie is newly single and trying to pave a new path in life.

She is a list maker so here's her first of many lists:

1. Forget her ex and the way he made her feel
2. Start a new career
3. Do NOT under any circumstances get into another relationship!

Now, the list seems easy enough to follow right? It wouldn't be a romance novel if it was that easy!

John Boggs is a retired baseball player also trying to carve his new path in life. When he meets the lovable & beautiful Frannie, all bets are off and he is smitten! John is at the point in his life where he is done with flings & wants something more...Frannie wants the opposite, will this work? Both are strong-willed and go after what they want.

Read to find out what happens and why the book is called the Kissing Bandit...I promise that reason alone is enough to make you SWOON!

[Samantha Mistretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhhh! I wanna fangirl over this book; it was so amazingly heartfelt and deep and well-written and just ah! First 5-star read of the year, no doubt. I'm so giddy after reading this - my thoughts 5 minutes after finishing Kissing Bandit.

As I attempt to write this review, my thoughts on everything I want to say are running rampant. Praise here, compliments there, swooning north, giddy south, it's hard to focus, but this is one of my favorite feelings after a great read.

Kissing Bandit by Margaret Rose is a heartfelt slow-burn romance focused on regaining trust, exploring new career choices, and letting your destiny win out. With a super protective, openly emotional, caregiving MMC and a risk-taking, happy-go-lucky FMC, you can't go wrong. I instantly became obsessed with Francesca and John's relationship.

If you like age gaps, small-town settings, road trips, only one bed, a cinnamon bun hero, and a slow burn, this book is for you. And let me tell you, Margaret Rose KNOWS how to write a slow burn. I was on the edge of my seat, being taunted over and over, until presto, magic. Everything about it had me in a chokehold.

I LOVE it when you go into a read hopeful, and it turns out to be everything you want and more. Kissing Bandit by Margaret Rose makes me want to hug my family, go antiquing, and ferociously make out with my boyfriend. A variety of emotions were evoked from me throughout the story. I even had goosebumps toward the end. It was so great!

Without spoiling any of this read's beauty, I can confidently say that this was expertly written. It is a product of love and commitment to the craft that tackled important issues including but not limited to verbal abuse, family trauma, and relationship boundaries, which, among other reasons, is why I am rating this story 5 out of 5 stars and a 3.5 for spice. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

As always, thanks for reading! 💜

You can read more of my reviews at www.samanthasstories.org

[thorne ⋆⭒˚｡⋆ ( taylor’s version ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

frannie & john 𓇼🐚☾☼🦪

[ arc review : kissing bandit ]

★★★★☆

thank you @sunnybabepr & @margaretrosebooks for sending me an arc!

broken hearted frannie decides she needs to find herself by returning to the one place she was happy, the lake. one last night in town she goes to the bar with her sister and best friend determined to fill the number five slot on her kissing list, only to flee after a steamy dirty dancing moment on the dance floor.
frannie sets off with her new business and a loose plan for the lake for her first gig in the estate sale world, only for the client to be the man she thought she’d never see again!
what follows next? you’ll have to read to find out!

i really enjoyed this book! my brain hasnt been too kind this month and it provided a nice little escape from everything.

i cannot wait to see more of cat and winter!!

tropes
age gap
one bed
soulmates
healing together
small town
slow burn

[Bryanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

I HAVE NO WORDS. ZERO WORDS. (let me find some)

first things first, john? i love you. i love you i love you i love you. i'm obsessed with you. marry me and let ME have your babies, please and thank you.

now that that's out of the way...

this book had me feeling so many feelings. i was blushing and laughing and crying and running around my house telling everything to my husband to the point that he told me to shut up (more than once, i may add) i loved E V E R Y T H I N G about this book and i'm so glad that i really took my time to read it and got the full experience. hell, it was like i was in a long distance relationship with this story!!!!! ugh god i loved it so much.

margaret rose, you surely know how to write and i can not wait for the next book in this series!!!!!

thank you so much to margaret and sunny babe pr for the arc of this book 🫶🏻

[Shanna - Cozy Grey Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Kissing Bandit" is such a delightful read! Francesca's determination to start fresh at the lake for the summer, armed with snacks and a quirky business plan, instantly drew me in. And her "no dating" rule, except for kissing, added a fun twist to her adventures.

John Boggs, the former baseball player with a heart of gold, was the perfect cinnamon roll hero. I loved the slow burn romance between him and Francesca, even though it's not my usual favorite trope. The little romantic moments scattered throughout the story kept me eagerly turning the pages.

The small-town setting added so much charm to the story, and I enjoyed every moment of Francesca and John's road trip and unexpected encounters. The ending was incredibly sweet, leaving me eagerly anticipating Winter's story next. Overall, a heartwarming read that left me with a big smile on my face!

[Riley Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a small town, “we definitely shouldn’t date, let’s just be friends”, former pro baseball player MMC, house flipping, estate sale loving FMC then this is most definitely the book for you!!! The vibes from this small town situated on a picturesque lake will give you all the warm weather vibes and you will be ready for spring and summer while reading this! Frannie started out a bit timid, and I loved seeing how she really gained confidence in herself throughout the story. And John was just a cinnamon roll the entire time! This was such a sugary sweet romance that is perfect for all of the happily ever after lovers out there 💚🐟

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been one of my favourite arc reads in a while!! This turnt out to be such an interesting and well developing read! The character development was so deep and intense which kept me intrigued throughout! 🖤

John has recently retired from baseball and he is trying to fix something that he did not break. Frannie is someone who is trying to make a name for herself after everything she has been through due to a recent breakup. She is trying to fill the void of the thrill and excitement that she is missing in her life. After meeting at a bar for the first time, John is immediately smitten with Frannie but she is just not convinced! She had to focus on her list and focus on the thrill of living and not filling the void she is missing.

As I said, I loved this book! Even the side characters were amazing☺️ I loved the development throughout of both the characters and the story. A lot of it did feel relatable for me which is why I think I also connected to this story! It is an enjoyable fast paced read with a lot of action to keep you engaged througout the story! I
recommend this story to anyone wanting a fast paced read that’s sweet
and full of action that’ll keep you reading! 🖤

[Brontidexus]

arc review

my rating: 4.5 ⭐️

I really enjoyed reading this book! John and Frannie are literally so cute. I loved the buildup of the romance which was slowborn (which I loveeeee btw). The story was absolutely beautiful and the book is set in a small town (!!!) like it has all the perfect tropes!!
Tropes:
- he falls first ( and harder )
- Small town
- Slowburn
- Age gap
- Only one bed
It’s perfect when you need something cute and fun read! Highly recommend!

thank you to @sunnybabepr and the author for sending me the arc copy!

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this story from the moment I started reading it. John and Francesca’s chemistry was perfect as was all the emotions they faced, honestly John was the perfect book boyfriend. I adored both their friendship groups and I can see future stories with them. I would highly recommend the Kissing Bandit.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

This was such a cute romcom!! A beautiful romance story, but so much more to the plot than just their romance.

I was obsessed with Frannie and John’s relationship and chemistry! Swoon-worthy! And hello new book boyfriend to add to my list!😍

You will love all of the characters! And I can’t wait for the future books in the series about some of the others!

A quick and fun read! This one is perfect for you if you are a fan of soulmates, small town romance, and one bed tropes!

Recommend checking this one out when it releases on 2/6!💙

[Callie Almand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this cute romance! Frannie is trying to find herself after a breakup and John is a retired baseball player figuring out his life. When they meet for the first time, there is a connection like no other. They both have a close group of friends and I can’t wait to see how all of them get tangled up! Thank you Sunny Babe PR and Margaret Rose for the ARC!

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

SunnyBabePR arc ☀️🐚

I loved this small town, slow burn romance! If you like either of those tropes, this is a great book for you. I loved her character building and writing style! Looking forward to reading more of her work in the future.