Kiss My Putt

Summersweet Island #1

by Tara Sivec

"Palmer 'Pal' Campbell has epic breakdown on the 18th hole of the Bermuda Open! Video at 11." After spending my entire pro golfing career being known as the quiet, controlled, no-nonsense golfer on the tour, there's nothing more humiliating than throwing all of that down the drain—or into a water hazard—on national television. Needing some place to hide, to lick my wounds and figure out what I even want to do with my life once this blows over, I can only think of one place I need to be. Summersweet Island, where everyone treats me like one of their own, and they'll all be happy to have me home again. Well, except maybe one person. It's been two years since I last set foot on Summersweet Island or spoke to anyone there. But I'm sure Birdie Bennett, my best friend since I was 15 and the clubhouse manager of my favorite golf course, has had plenty of time to forgive me for that tiny little misunderstanding where I blocked her on social media and blocked her in my phone. Oh, and I guess I kind of, sort of accused her of being a stalker. It's fine! Once my sexy, spunky, former best friend gets over the shock of seeing me again and stops trying to drive a 9-iron into my skull, I can finally let her know I've also kind of, sort of always been in love with her...

Genres: Romance, Sports, Friends To Lovers, Sports Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

293 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 24, 2020

About the author

Tara Sivec is a USA Today best-selling author, wife, mother, chauffeur, maid, short-order cook, baby-sitter, and sarcasm expert. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two children and looks forward to the day when all three of them become adults and move out.

After working in the brokerage business for fourteen years, Tara decided to pick up a pen and write instead of shoving it in her eye out of boredom. She writes in a wide range of genres including Romantic Comedy, Romantic Comedy/Mystery, Romantic Suspense, New Adult Drama, Contemporary Romance and Psychological Thriller. Her novel Seduction and Snacks won first place in the Indie Romance Convention Reader's Choice Awards 2013 for Best Indie First Book and she was voted Best Indie Author in the Indie Romance Convention Reader's Choice Awards 2014.

In her spare time, Tara loves to dream about all of the baking she'll do and naps she'll take when she ever gets spare time.

Reviews

[Astrid - The Bookish Sweet Tooth · Rating 3 out of 5]

TITLE: KISS MY PUTT
AUTHOR: Tara Sivec
SERIES: Summersweet Island #1
RELEASE DATE: July 24, 2020
GENRE: RomCom
THEMES & TROPES: Enemies to lovers, Golf
RATING:3.5 Stars
CLIFFHANGER: No

READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG





It's always hard to review books you had issues with yet still enjoyed. It's challenging to find the balance between explaining the good stuff and the things that bothered me and still make the reader of my review believe they'll have a good time anyway. But let me try anyway.

I love Tara Sivec's brand of rom-com. They are funny as hell and always have pretty awesome characters. In KISS MY PUTT we meet Birdie, who manages the local golf club on tiny Summersweet Island, off the coast of Virginia, where everyone sticks their nose in everybody's business. Birdie's peace of mind is disrupted when her former best friend, now enemy returned to the island after having shot his reputation as one of the most balanced and polite golf players on the international scene all the way to hell. And she is tasked with fixing his reputation.

Palmer's public explosion comes with one big bonus - he can retreat to the place he loved most until two years ago, when he stopped all communication with Birdie. Now he wants to go back and fix what he broke and win Birdie's heart while he's at it. Not an easy task seeing how she hates his guts.

This story was based on the miscommunication and often total lack of communication between two people. This is one of my pet peeves in books and while I wasn't a big fan of both Birdie and Palmer being incapable of talking about their past, thoughts, issues and feelings without a lot of prodding they were still endearing characters. Birdie was a tough woman with a gooey core and I lived for the sisterhood she had with her best friend Tess and her sister Wren. What frustrated me was that she knew exactly that she was being obstinate and instead of speaking up about the things she wanted she let things eat her up inside. This is a strong, independent woman who was complaining about her incapability to communicate. She also didn't really like to listen unless she was forced to. Yet I really liked her.

“I just don’t get why you haven’t admitted you’re in love with him. Now, and always. I mean, for fuck’s sake, Birdie, this is why the two of you spent fifteen years being miserable. Because you didn’t communicate and say how you felt.”
“Stop telling me something I already know and beat myself up about every damn day!”

Palmer was a dreamboat. A huge horndog, because no page passed without him mentioning the hard-on he had for Birdie, but a dreamboat nonetheless. He was so openly in love with Birdie, but he too had issues to say important things. Like how the fall-out of his public display of rage against his dad affected him. Or why he stopped taking to her. He just blocked her and turned his back on their friendship. Yet, I really liked him.

“I wanted to hold your hand down Summersweet Lane, I wanted to kiss you in front of the arcade, and I wanted to have you in my arms while we ordered ice cream, because I finally can. I want to give you the world, Birdie. Everything you’ve ever wanted. But for tonight, I just wanted to kiss my girl in front of the arcade without worrying about her kicking me in the balls.”

Total paradox.

The supporting cast of KISS MY PUTT is so well fleshed out, they were almost a second set of main characters. Palmer's best friend Bodhi was hilarious, as was Tess, who was the kind of loyal friend who's bring the shovel if there was a body to hide.

I was really curious about this story - golf is an unsexy kind of sports to me and I was confident that I'd want to swing a club after being done with the first in Tara Sivec's new series. And let me tell you, I was not wrong. The author adds a lot of steam and sexual tension to the mix and the end result is a roaring-laughter-inducing slow-burn small-town romance that entertains for hours.

“After dinner, you wanna sneak a couple of beers, get drunk behind the saltwater taffy place, and then let me touch your boobs?” Palmer asks, wagging his eyebrows up and down, and making me laugh at how ridiculous he is and how I was a complete fool for thinking all the times he left this island before hurt like a bitch.

[Tara]

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⛳️🏌️‍♂️⛳️🏌️‍♂️⛳️🏌️‍♂️⛳️🏌️‍♂️⛳️🏌️‍♂️⛳️🏌️‍♂️⛳️🏌️‍♂️⛳️





Birdie and Palmer.

They've been best friends since they were 15. She was the local girl and he was the golf prodigy training on the island's golf club.

But something happened almost three years ago and now Birdie hates Pal.

And now poor Pal is back on the island to figure out his professional future after losing his famous cool during his last game. On live television.

Let the fun times begin ... ☺

══════════════════




LOL! ADORABLE!

I loved this!

I'm not really a fan of golf. I never tried playing it and I never really watched it on TV.

But I really loved Pal and Birdie and the whole island vibe, the friends, family. It was just so adorable and funny and islandy and golfy and super sparky and bantery!

Great rom-com! I really enjoyed reading this. Can't wait for more stories from the island. I just adored Bodhi and Tess! I hope they'll get their own book. Next we'll get Birdie's sister Wren and the island's new baseball coach!

KiSS MY PUTT was an adorable & funny Island-Golf-Second-Chancey-ish-Rom-Com! I loved it! Hurry to your nearest book dealer for your own Palmer ... this one is MINE! Plus also - I need Bodhi's story asap!

A tiny little thing that bothered me a bit. But just me - don't worry. I'm weird.
I don't like it when chapters end with a little cliffy and then the next chapter does NOT start where it should, but at a later time. I want to know what happened in that moment, not fast forward and just get told about it in a few lines :(
And also the expressions to book it, hoof it, hightail it out of there - I just don't like those. They belong in some kind of silly 70/80's NY detective comedy or something?! It just sounds weird. I might hear Starsky & Hutch saying that. Or maybe even Stephanie Plum by Janet Evanovich. LOL!


💜 💜

[Heroesinbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Palmer and Birdie Stars
This is a gorgeous, funny and sexy second chance romance. I was looking forward to it so much and it did not disappoint.

Golf isn't a sport that strikes me as sexy (although I have read one other great book with a very attractive golfing hero The Perfect Stroke ) but Ms Sivec writes books that I love so I was really excited to see if Palmer Campbell was going to capture my kindle heart.... and he did.

Palmer and Birdie have been best friends since they were teenagers and Palmer spent time on Summersweet Island. As they get older they fall for each other but neither acts on it. Then, Palmer has to leave and join the Golfing Circuit and he advances his rocketing career but things happen and their connection is destroyed. Time passes and Palmer is at an all time low. He needs to be somewhere where he feels he belongs to weather the media storm after his epic meltdown in front of the world's media. And what a meltdown it was.

He's my best friend and he's my everything and he broke me in half and then walked away.


I loved that this book had so many things that I love in romance
- Childhood friends to lovers, slow burn (and wow - what a simmering heat it was).
-A Hero that needs to grovel a bit and does so very satisfyingly.
-A heroine that I adored - Birdie is a kickass and so endearing .
-Small town America setting. This is my kindle catnip. I love all the secondary characters and am so hopeful that we will get some other Summersweet Island residents stories...especially Wren's and also Tess's.
-Sports romance. Yep, golf is a new favourite of mine.
-Perfect mixture of humour , angst (just a dash of angst) , romance, sexy , friendships and hilarious secondary characters that bring a richness to the story.

I am catching the next ferry over because Summersweet Island is a place I would love to be.

Nothing else matters in my life but her and what she thinks of me and that I'm so goddamn in love with her I can't think straight.

HEA? Yes
Cheating? No

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Making golf sexy...

I didn't think it was possible but somehow Tara Sivec manages to make swinging a golf club seem sexy. Now, don't get me wrong, I still have some issues with golf being sexy (my 70+-year-old Dad plays) but I never really thought about the fitness levels needed. Obviously, any sport is played better when you are mentally and physically fit for it, but golf just seems so casual and relaxing. Turns out golf is very stressful, needs stamina and endurance to play, and muscly arms swinging golf clubs, makes very good eye-candy ... or so I'm to believe.

I really enjoyed reading Kiss My Putt and even though I was frustrated with the characters for taking too long to come together, I still enjoyed the journey. I think it was because I could relate to it a little bit. Hubby will kill me for sharing this but when we first started going out, I had to ask him if he was going to kiss me. He came over to watch TV with me and was getting ready to leave, and just stood there looking at me. After a wee while, I got impatient, and just blurted ... "are you going to kiss me?". I still love teasing him about that. So, I kind of understood the hero and his nervousness in risking friendship for love. He can appear all confident and secure in his abilities BUT when it comes to matters of the heart, it's hard to make the first move. 15 years is a bloody long time to take, though.

I liked this story so much that I've already bought the second book in the series. This has a wee bit to do with where it was set and a lot to do with all of the additional characters. I couldn't help but want to know more about them all.

I had a good laugh reading Kiss My Putt but I kind of expect that when reading a Tara Sivec story. While it did take me longer to read this story, it wasn't a real reflection of my enjoyment. I'm at the beach and swimming, long walks at sunset, and drinks with friends are taking priority at the moment.

[Blythe D · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 out of 5 stars!

A best-friends to lovers romance (With a generous sprinkle of hate to love in between). Given that this is one of my favorite tropes, I was scared this was not gonna meet my up-there expectations and end up feeling off and a failed attempt to honor the category. But nooope, with the p lip-smack sound. This was a gem and I laughed and swooned and laughed again!

The characters are hilarious. The chapter titles are creative! Very pun-ny.
I particularly liked the characters' inner ramblings.

"Stop staring at her like a piece of juicy steak you want to take a bite out of and remember what you're supposed to be doing here tonight—hanging out and getting her to be comfortable with you again, you horny dipshit."

I learned a lot about golf, and all its terminologies. Like 9-iron being that shaft you use to hit the golf ball. (Yes, I was today years old when I learned that. Excuse me.)
The plot was pretty solid given the amount of comedy the story circles in.
There was not much heavy drama, just a lot of room for lol-worthy moments, angst, and a more than a dozen servings of cookies. *wink wink

Read this if you want a good laugh and a swoony, angsty best-friends to lovers romance filled with golf puns. :)

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh! This story is so. very. high school! Which is a problem when the protagonists are in (or near?) their thirties. Seriously, one good conversation and this story is over. Well, assuming it isn't the half a conversation we get at around 40% where they only discuss the facts and leave out how very much in love both already are.

And I'll say up front, that I'm not a fan of romances that skip the falling in love part. Like this one. They start the story in love with each other. So literally all that's left is them figuring themselves out. Say, by having an honest conversation? And let me just tell you that Pal (stupid name) is a smug git who gets his way far, far more than he should. His scheming to get back Birdie (stupider name) was as manipulative as it was silly. "I'm going to annoy her and bribe her with doughnuts in turns until she can't keep her hands off me." Wow. Great idea, genius, how about you pull her ponytail and drop a frog down her shirt while you're at it. Classics are classic for a reason!

Just ugh! One star. Obviously.

[Antonella · Rating 2 out of 5]

not what I expect from Tara Sivec comedy..
lots of mutual pinning and no one admitting their feelings for a long time
anyway, I really don't have much to say...




I was close to dnfing so there is that..

[Malene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kiss My Putt is the first book of a new series from Tara Sivec. It’s a slow burn friends to lovers romantic comedy.
I had so much fun while reading it. This group of characters make Kiss My Putt work and shine. I adored Pal, Birdie, Tess, Bodhi and Wren. The other side characters added something to the story as well.

Yes, there’s a lot of golf in the book but there had to be since it’s a passion of Pal and Birdie’s. It worked so well and also because there’s a lot of humor added to the game thanks to some awesome personalities of every character.
Pal and Birdie. These two were amazing together and the chemistry was sizzling. The bantering only made their chemistry burst into flames. It’s a delicious slow burn where I couldn’t wait for them to jump each other’s bones.
These two spending time with their close friends Bodhi and Tess separately and together as a group was hilarious.

Kiss My Putt is such a wonderful feel good book. I can’t get enough of these characters and I’m very excited about the next book. I don’t want to leave Summersweet Island.

4 Sweet Cheeks Stars


*I received an arc*

[Elisa ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

tropes: friends to lovers, second chance, mutual pinning

Birdie and Palmer haven't talked to each other for 2 years, and now that they have to see each other every day they can't escape their feelings anymore.

I'm not a fan of friends to lovers, because usually is boring or one of them has been pining, and one day the other is like ''wow, my friend is hot'', but I'm a sucker for mutual pining.

this was funny and sexy (the male audio narrator 😏). if you want something fun and fast, read this.

[Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

This was a slow burning romance between Birdie and Putz centered around friends to enemies to lovers.

Even though this didn't turn out to be one of my favorite type of Ms Sivec's books, I still enjoyed the story.

[Celeste · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars flat.

If you’re not into romances that are birthed from the lack of communication between two idiots, then maybe pass on this one.

I didn’t love the characters, both leads were kinda annoying, and I actually asked the general universe exasperatedly why I was reading this about 65% of the way through.

So there’s that.

[Anas Attic Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kiss My Putt by Tara Sivec
Romantic Comedy. 1st standalone in a related series.
4.5 Stars

Anyone who knows me even a little knows that Tara Sivec is my hands-down favorite romantic comedy author. I was so excited for Kiss My Putt ! Just imagining all of the golf puns with shafts and balls and holes made me giggle before I even picked it up. And yes, the over-the-top fun that I love about Tara was there. But my favorite thing about her writing isn’t the snarky ridiculous humor, it's the characters that I want to be best friends with. Let me tell you, Kiss My Putt was filled with characters to love.



Birdie and Palmer have been best friends since they were 15. Palmer was a young golf prodigy who would train on Summersweet Island, and Birdie was the local girl who worked at the clubhouse. But three years ago something happened and Palmer cut her out of his life. Meanwhile, Palmer was killing it on the professional golf tours until the golden boy has a very public meltdown and decided to return back to Summersweet Island.

“Well hey there, Putz, you absolute piece of dog shit. Long time no see.”

Birdie and Palmer have been holding a torch for each other for 15 long years, but neither had any idea that the other felt that way. Her best friend and sister sure knew from their awesome “sip and bitch” sessions, but at the same time, Birdie was still holding a massive grudge against him for blocking her. That didn’t stop her from fantasizing about more.

“She set her vagina on fire masturbating last night.”

The real horndog is Palmer though. He was such a guy, thinking with his dick all the time. But he was simple and sweet and so obvious—to everyone except Birdie.

"She…. Birdie…. Holy shit, she touched herself thinking about me? I can’t…. Nope. Think of something else. Think of something else! 16 x 97 is… I don’t fucking know. Fuck this fucking shit. Math is hard, and so is my dick!"

Once again, Tara made me laugh, swoon, tear up, and want to jump in and be BFFs with her characters. And the golf puns? OUTSTANDING.


Likes:

•As over-the-top as Tara’s humor can be sometimes, her characters are so real.
•I have a total crush on Bodhi and I can’t wait for his book!
•I loved all the secondary characters.
•A great start to a series.
•Tara’s signature humor with maybe a little more heart.
•Palmer was just so in love it was adorable.
•I laughed, teared up, and swooned. Kiss My Putt brought out all emotions.

Dislikes:

•Their lack of communication was just a little too much. I wanted to scream at both of them!

The Down & Dirty:
Everything I love about Tara’s writing is here in Kiss My Putt. It’s funny, sexy, silly, and hella hot. I have been having a really hard time reading lately but Kiss My Putt by Tara Sivec kept me involved and laughing. The great cast of characters with their snarky banter made this book so much fun and I can’t wait for the next two books. I will tell you now though, I already know that Tess and Bodhi’s book will be my favorite.

I never thought a golfer could be sexy, but let me tell you, Tara changed my mind on that! I can’t wait to revisit all the characters on Summersweet Island via audible (coming soon) and in the next two books in the series.

Rating: 4.5 Stars, 4.5 Heat 


Purchase Kiss My Putt (Summersweet Island Book 1) by Tara Sivec

(affiliate)

[Anne OK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that was a funtastic rom-com romance! What a delightful read full of some LOL banter, too. I'm not a big fan of golf, but I kinda liked being in the clubhouse, out on the course and I'm a sucker for a ride in a golf cart! And I'm fond of a summer at the putt-putt park. Also, I loved both characters, although they pulled some really stupid moves over 15 years of friendship (hiding their true feelings). The backup crew certainly put forth their best efforts as well. All around an amusing and light-hearted book.

Looking forward to Wren and Shep's story when Tara Sivec sends us back to Summersweet Island in the second installment of her new series!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS!

This book was filled with sexual tension, super cute and funny moments and I loved every second reading it.

I basically ate this book up because I didn't have a choice, really. I loved the characters in this book and I love the banter between Palmer and Birdie.

FULL REVIEW HERE

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Putz and Birdie … what a pair they were! Tara Sivic had me in stiches reading this hysterical story. I had no idea Golf could be this much fun!

I guess you could possibly call Kiss My Putt a second chance romance romcom but, they never told each other how they felt in all the years they knew each other. They both thought that they were friend-zoned when they had the same feelings. Communication is the word here my friends and these two didn’t do it very well.

Now, Palmer is back on the island, looking for his “friend” to be his “more-than friend”. Until he can figure out how to do that, he’ll have to show her the side of him that she never saw before … the snarky, fun and irresistible one. Too bad Birdie has other ideas about their friendship and she just my show him with a 9 Iron. How dare he just show up and think that things would go back to the way they used to be. He cut her out of his life and now he thinks he can bring his sexy ass back and pick up where things left off? He’ll have to work really hard for that to happen, if it ever happens.

Palmer has been in love with Birdie from the day they met. Birdie has been in love with Palmer since the day they met. Neither one of them want to admit the truth. Neither one of them is willing to risk the friendship they found again. Neither one of them want to address the elephant in the room. But, they do, in a raging storm and things will never be the same. Now, to deal with the past and look forward to the future. But, is it a future of loving and waiting for him to return or one where Palmer is there for good?

I seriously laughed-out-loud through a lot of this book. It’s the perfect read to bring you out of a funk. Mr. Murphy was the classic curmudgeonly old man who brought cookies. Tess is the friend that you need in your life to get arrested with and just tell you like it is but also be there through thick and thin. Bodhi was wonderful. There is no way to explain the hippie, golf-hating caddie that calls Palmer “Pal” Campbell his best friend except that he’s the one that will get you high, get you in trouble and then laugh about it in the morning. But a truer friend will never be found.

Kiss My Putt was true Tara Sivic. Quick-witted humor, wall banging sex, fun characters that you love from the minute you read about them, lighthearted and fun! You also can’t help but laugh at her golf humor throughout the story .. “It takes a lot of balls to golf the way I do.” … “Want to join our threesome?” … “The extra length is really helping me get it in the hole.” … “After 18 holes I can barely walk.” … then, of course … “Kiss My Putt”. Go, enjoy a round of golf, Tara Sivic style.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.

[Jeeves Reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS is why I read rom coms; for those books that are smile-inducing, lighthearted, and just so much fun. I laughed, I smiled, and that slow burn just about killed me (in the best way). Kiss My Putt is exactly what you'd want from a book of that title, featuring my favorite kind of enemies to lovers romance. You know that underneath all of that bickering and hurt is the kind of deep love that lasts a lifetime. These two have been a part of each other's lives for fifteen years so one (pretty big) bump in the road isn't going to end their relationship. Though there's plenty of tension - mostly of the sexual variety - it's a low angst read that will keep you turning the pages.

The story follows Palmer, a professional golfer who has always been known as a reserved and steady guy - until he has a meltdown on national television. Sidelined from the sport he's devoted his life to, Palmer returns to the town and woman that's always been his safe space. But that relationship fell to pieces after insecurities and misunderstandings got in the way. Now Palmer is ready to win back his best friend - any way that she will have him.

We've got to talk about this slow burn, because... WOW. Sivec does an incredible job building the tension until it crackles and reaches its breaking point. This is a slow burn to SCORCHING read, with the kind of payoff any reader would want after such a great emotional build. I loved that the focus is wholly on the emotional connection, and that even when these two feud, there's so much love underneath it all. It's just the kind of friends to lovers/enemies to lovers romance that I love to read, and I loved every minute of it. Sit back and enjoy this one - it's guaranteed to brighten up your day. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review of this slow burn romance.

[Rachael*Caribbean*girl*bibliophile · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead

Miscommunication as a plot device grinds my mother fluffin gears!!! And this book is based entirely on that .....two grown ass adults who've secretly loved each other for years but nobody says anything and the H cuts her out of his life after she made it IG official with her boyfriend 2 years previously 🙄 I was annoyed and bored and so fed up just waiting for the grand reveal!!!!

Open y'all flappers and COMMUNICATE for fucks sake grrrrrrrrrrr

[buket · Rating 4 out of 5]

mutual pining? angry love confessions in the middle of storm?? throw her over the shoulder while fighting????? SMALL ISLAND TOWN WITH FUNNY CHARACTERS??

i'm so glad i found this series!! each book has the best tropes <3

i'm only giving 4 stars because golf is so boring and i didn't understand anything they said about it so i have to skip that parts 💅🏽

[Keriann Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to make a bold claim here, so listen up. This is my favorite romantic comedy from Tara Sivec since Seduction and Snacks. If you know how much I love all of Tara's books, you'll understand the amazingness that is Kiss my Putt. Birdie and her spunkiness mixed with Palmer and his new found confidence is utter perfection. I feel like I could gush for hours about all the awesomeness that is Kiss my Putt. Who knew I would like golf after all?

[Raine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

Palmer is a golf pro and Birdie works for a golf club on a small island. They were best friends since they were fifteen years old, until Palmer unfriends Birdie on social media and tells her she was being a bit stalkerish. Palmer comes back to the island after some bad publicity to lay low. The story was ok, but there were definitely parts that I skimmed over just to finish the book.

[Reem Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kiss my putt:

⭐⭐/🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
"I wanted to hold your hand down Summersweet lane, I wanted to kiss you infront of the arcade, and I wanted to have you in my arms while we ordered ice-cream because I finally can."
I picked this book randomly because the cover was cute plus synopsis sounded good too but unfortunately I didn't enjoy it as much as I anticipated.
This story is about Palmer Campbell who takes a break after a pretty embarrassing incident in his golf career. He decides to mend his relationship with Birdie Bennett, who he hasn't spoke to since two years.
The writing style was ok, I didn't have any problem with it. The main thing I'd say I liked was the friendship among characters and the side characters of this book. And it was a slow burn, which I like, a lot. And I liked the humor too.
My main problem with this book was the lust aspect of it. And this is totally my opinion. So if you had a different experience with this book or this kind of books, you do you. But for me, there was too much desire for each other's bodies involved between both of the characters. And I'm not saying that it is a bad thing. But the thing is that these two people have been each other's friends for 15 years! That's a long time. So you'd expect the main characters to talk more about the character and nature of each other and also talk about how each impacted the other one's life. But I didn't see it that much. I'm not saying that there wasn't any talk about other person's behavioral characteristics but there wasn't as much as I would have appreciated it.
Again there was so much dialogue about what the main characters wanted to do with each other's bodies that it totally overshadowed the good aspects of this book for me. Every chapter, I would wait for the characters to talk about something else, anything, they could talk about weather and that would interest me more at that point. But they started talking about how their best friend's body made them feel like. It was a repetition to the point where it got on my nerves.
Secondly, for people who've been each other's bestfriends for more than a decade, you would expect them to be more open to each other and have less space for misunderstandings but they had quite a lot of communication issues. And I was like ? Aren't you supposed to know each other a bit better than that? When I read friends to lovers I expect these two friends to know each other in a better way than strangers to lovers. That leaves less room for miscommunication. If there isn't any big bombshell then these two people won't be separated from each other. But there wasn't much conflict here, the one that was created was because the main characters constantly assumed about what other person was thinking. It was a weird situation, I really don't know how to put it in words anymore.
Overall it wasn't too bad but it wasn't that good either. Many people have different opinions than me on this one so if the synopsis interests you give it a try maybe? I can't recommend as you can see from my ratings and my rant.
"He won't ask me to go and I won't ask him to stay."

[Bookgasms Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tara Sivec is becoming a go-to author for these light, smart, funny, feel-good romances. I was looking for something I could fall into effortlessly while it filled my heart with flutters and put a smile on my face, and Kiss My Putt delivered in spades.

This is one of the very few authors who can make me literally laugh out loud. The humor is so smart, sometimes unexpected, and often irresistibly charming. It pulls laughs from me in a sort of way that I find completely addicting. On top of that - the characters, the setting, and the storyline were all equally as charming. This is a sweet, sparky friends-to lovers romance. The burn is slow (and adorable) before flipping the switch to burning hot once it catches flame.

I loved the dynamic between Birdie and Palmer. I loved her spirited sass and his understated devotion. Their banter was on-point and they were - simply put - so much fun to read.

I so enjoyed my time on Summersweet Island and I am enchanted enough with the quirky and intriguing secondary characters to want to go back at first opportunity. I laughed, I swooned, and I smiled so hard. This was exactly the sort of feel-good I was looking for! ~ Shelly, 4 stars

[K.D. Robichaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when I think there’s no way Tara can top herself, she goes and does it again. And somehow, she did it with... golf? Come on. Easily the least sexy sport on the face of the planet.
Um... wrong. My husband says otherwise, if what happened proceeding my reading of the thunderstorm scene is anything to go by.
But this book is SO much more than sexy.
I laughed until it hurt. I cried until I couldn’t breathe. And my heart swelled for these fictional characters like they were my own best friends.
Do not walk. Do not run. Jump in the nearest souped-up golf cart and haul ass to get this book!

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this latest release, the author brings her zany humor and over the top character antics to the golf course.

Former BFFs, Palmer Campbell and Birdie Bennett, haven't spoken in two years. May 24, 2018 to be exact. Why? The reader doesn't know for some time, but I suspected that one or both of them made some assumptions about the other and took extreme measures.

Despite Birdie's resistance, the two are forced to work together when Palmer returns to Summersweet Island, licking his wounds from an epic meltdown at a golf tournament. From Birdie's POV, Palmer cannot be forgiven for blocking her from his calls and social media. I would be too. However, we get Palmer's POV too, so I know there had to be a reason behind it all. It is obvious that not only does he care for her, but there is a deep attraction to the woman he grew up with. I liked the banter between these characters and how they worked through their hostilities to something a whole lot sweeter.

There is no shortage of quirky characters in this story, starting with Bodhi Armbruster, Palmer's caddie who hates golf. Seriously. Despite his surfer/homeless appearance, Bodhi offers sage advice throughout as Palmer struggles to win back "his girl." Birdie's BFF, Tess, and her coworker, Murphy, also provide comic relief as Palmer and Birdie struggle to reconnect.

While it wasn't easy at first, it is clear Palmer and Birdie bring out the best in one another. When they finally put the past behind them, it's a hole in one. Literally, LOL.

This was a fun read and I'm looking forward to the next installment featuring Birdie's sister, Wren.

*An ARC was received for an honest review.

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[itsallaboutbooksandmacarons · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this captivating tale, the author masterfully intertwines themes of friendship, love, and the tranquil allure of the golf course. Set against the backdrop of lush fairways and rolling greens, the story follows the journey of two longtime friends who find themselves unable to conceal the blossoming attraction they've harbored for so long.

From the outset, the chemistry between the protagonists is undeniable, as their mutual love for golf provides the perfect setting for their burgeoning romance to unfold. What truly sets this narrative apart is the authenticity with which the characters' emotions are portrayed; their struggle to suppress their growing feelings is depicted with nuance and realism, making their eventual confession all the more gratifying for the reader.

But this story is not solely about romance—it's also a celebration of camaraderie and the bonds formed on the golf course. Through skillful storytelling, the author seamlessly integrates scenes of friendly competition and companionship, underscoring the importance of friendship in both love and life.

Furthermore, the golfing elements serve not only as a scenic backdrop but also as a metaphor for the characters' relationship. Whether they're navigating the challenges of the course or reveling in moments of quiet reflection, every scene is imbued with the serenity and beauty of the golfing world.

In sum, this enchanting narrative offers a compelling blend of romance, friendship, and the timeless appeal of the golf course. With its captivating characters, heartfelt storyline, and vivid setting, it's a captivating read that will resonate with anyone seeking a tale of love, friendship, and the courage to follow one's heart.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I received a digital arc from the author for an honest review]

I always know going into a Tara Sivec book that I am about to read a story that is lough out loud ridiculous and dirty in the best way. If you love a good romantic comedy then Kiss My Putt is a must-read !

"I'm trying to be professional at work and not bash your head in with a club."

Kiss My Putt is adorable, hilarious and filled with sexual tension that result in some off the charts sex. Palmer and Birdie are quite a couple. Whether they are giving each other a hard time, having fun as friends, or being totally blinded to each others feelings you can't help but be charmed by them. By the way, I wasn't kidding about the off-the charts sex, when things finally explode between them it is hot as hell!

"I feel shattered and put back together again with each swipe of his tongue through my mouth and each skim of his hands across my body."

Everyone on Summerweet Island is so full of snark and honesty that always entertained. I especially loved how Palmer and Birdie's best friend's didn't hesitate to tell them what idiots they were being. The story line is fun, fast-paced and filled with sarcasm, self infliction pining, miscommunication , and hot and heavy petting.

"Making me all tingly with his sarcasm and dimples."

I already know that the Summersweet Island series is going to be one of my all-time favorites by Tara Sivec. Who knew that gold could be such a sexy sport, I now see it in a totally new light 😂😍

[A.BookNerd.Bookseller&Bibliophile.Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tara Sivec is hands down the most hilarious rom-com writer in my opinion. Kiss my Putt gives you all the nostalgia of when you read the Seduction and Snacks series. Great leading characters, amazing secondary characters and just overall a great friends-to enemies-to lovers story.

Palmer and Birdie story is one that will have you not wanting to stop reading and devouring each page to see how the story will end. Tara made this one of THE MOST sexual charged book that will have you close to breaking because of all of the tension that builds between Palmer and Birdie.

Let's not forget their best friends Tess and Bodhi or Murphy...I love that Tara created these supporting characters that are so essential to the story and that make Kiss My Putt that much better. I am a greedy reader so of course I want more of the Summersweet Island gang and I am looking forward to the next installment.

~Glori💜

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean this book would totaly be a 3 but Bohdie is the absolute bomb.com - I love Tara Sivec's books, fan interaction, everything - but this book was VERY slow burn and for some reason this time that bothered me! But damn Tess... Bohdie .. for real.. the love I have is real

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deserves more than 5 stars! I won an ARC of Kiss my Putt from Tara and it couldn’t have been any more perfect! As all Tara books (the romcoms) I literally laughed out loud (not just saying LOL- Tara will know what this means), got teary-eyed, and smiled the entire book! It was so good and I’m so proud of her first golf/sport book! The story line was so fluid and amazing and just a great feel good story! So many funny one-liners and sarcasm that really relate to me. As always, love ya Tara! Thanks again for the ARC!