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Geek Ink #3
Just a Kiss
Geeky friends to tattooed lovers
I have a secret: I’m in love with my best friend.
Rafael is a brilliant artist and a lovable weirdo.
I’ve been pining for him for years, but when he starts an apprenticeship as a tattoo artist, my longing spikes.
My best friend finds a new side to himself, more confidence, and it makes me fall in love all over again.
The problem is Rafael doesn’t do relationships.
And me? I don’t do casual.
Yet somehow, we still end up in bed one day, after he proposes a “sexperiment.”
We’ll be friends with benefits, nothing more.
We might start with just a kiss, but a kiss can still change everything.
Just a Kiss is a steamy, low-angst M/M romance with tattooed geeks and friends-to-lovers fun. It features a sweetheart librarian, an artist coming into his own, and the satisfaction of finally requited pining. The third book in Geek Ink, it can be read as a standalone or as part of the series. Enjoy!
I have a secret: I’m in love with my best friend.
Rafael is a brilliant artist and a lovable weirdo.
I’ve been pining for him for years, but when he starts an apprenticeship as a tattoo artist, my longing spikes.
My best friend finds a new side to himself, more confidence, and it makes me fall in love all over again.
The problem is Rafael doesn’t do relationships.
And me? I don’t do casual.
Yet somehow, we still end up in bed one day, after he proposes a “sexperiment.”
We’ll be friends with benefits, nothing more.
We might start with just a kiss, but a kiss can still change everything.
Just a Kiss is a steamy, low-angst M/M romance with tattooed geeks and friends-to-lovers fun. It features a sweetheart librarian, an artist coming into his own, and the satisfaction of finally requited pining. The third book in Geek Ink, it can be read as a standalone or as part of the series. Enjoy!
191 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 16, 2021
60 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
R. Cayden
38 books309 followersR. Cayden writes steamy M/M romance and sweet, easy reads.
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You can also send along an email. I love hearing from readers, and knowing what you think of the stories!
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Thanks for reading!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
June 13, 2021
A kiss can be contagious and spread throughout.
But it is a good starting point for forever live.
Rafael is an artist. Extraordinaire in ability and unusual in his comic history style.
Alexander is a library archive historian who specializes in gay and lesbian references and photography.
They live together and have for years since college but claim to just be close friends without a relationship. But they have history of caring for each other.
As often happens in real life or fiction, they live more in fear of loosing each other than being worried about revealing their deep love for each other. But as things change in their lives and with the help of friends and Alex's gay dad's, their world starts to change rapidly.
Tattoos are the basis for this series of friends sharing and attaching as the group builds to include more, but love cannot be tattooed to bring people together. Only by linking thoughts, emotions, and various body parts and toys does love stitch together two friends into one big mess.
So be careful who you kiss or let give you a tattoo. Unless it is a small heart one that is just below their initials on your shoulder that you bump together with your initials on their shoulder frequently. Then it is a legend not a history of love. Just ask the tattooed boyfriends in your friend group. They know how it works.
But it is a good starting point for forever live.
Rafael is an artist. Extraordinaire in ability and unusual in his comic history style.
Alexander is a library archive historian who specializes in gay and lesbian references and photography.
They live together and have for years since college but claim to just be close friends without a relationship. But they have history of caring for each other.
As often happens in real life or fiction, they live more in fear of loosing each other than being worried about revealing their deep love for each other. But as things change in their lives and with the help of friends and Alex's gay dad's, their world starts to change rapidly.
Tattoos are the basis for this series of friends sharing and attaching as the group builds to include more, but love cannot be tattooed to bring people together. Only by linking thoughts, emotions, and various body parts and toys does love stitch together two friends into one big mess.
So be careful who you kiss or let give you a tattoo. Unless it is a small heart one that is just below their initials on your shoulder that you bump together with your initials on their shoulder frequently. Then it is a legend not a history of love. Just ask the tattooed boyfriends in your friend group. They know how it works.
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April 22, 2021Meh. Both main characters were kind of wishy washy and I had a hard time caring about either of them or the story. I generally like this author's work but this was a miss for me.
August 7, 2022
In this episode of geeks who love tattoo artists, we have a best friends to lovers trope. Alexander and Rafael have been best friends for years. They live together, sleep together, take care of each other, kiss each other (cause that's what just friends do, right?) and basically do everything together but have sex.
Rafael is an artist and totally not able to live on his own. He has trouble remembering things, he is always late, cannot sell his art, and has no money. And I am going to be honest, I did not like him all that much. He declared years ago that he would never be in a relationship again, but was practically married to Alexander and still hooked up with other men constantly for sex. It hurt Alexander very much and Rafael never noticed. Rafael decides to become a tattoo artist because Matty told him it would be a great thing to do. I had many doubts because this man was always late, did not pay attention to details, and I would not want him to actually be near a needle.
Alexander was a librarian who specialized in gay and lesbian history. He loved doing stuff for other people, especially Rafael. This man did everything for him and literally only got dinner cooked for him. That is about it. He kept saying that Raphael was his best friend and they loved each other, but I just didn't see it. Alexander had very limited sexual experience because he has loved Raphael for years and years. He had a love interest show up and tells Rafael that he can't go out with him cause of this, so Rafael decides to help him practice sex stuff and their path to romance has begun.
(I have no idea what any of these people look like other than occasionally a dark skin mention will pop up. Does that mean that they are POC? Does it mean that they have tans due to it being summer? Who knows)
Sexytimes begin and wouldn't you know it, Alexander is not bad at sex at all once he relaxes. But of course he is love with Rafael so all this is great in his mind. Rafael on the other hand, is starting to have feelings for the first time for Alexander. And you might have noticed that I am typing out full names and that is because no one ever uses a nickname. Even the parents and friends. It's always this way.
So Alexander meets up with the guy who was interested in him just to tell him that he couldn't see him and Rafael has a breakdown. This causes Alexander to tell him that he loves him and Rafael admits the same. Then is shocked that Alexander has loved him this whole time.
After the confession, they decide to have a get together with all the friends to announce their relationship. That day Rafael forgot to bring his notebooks to show the boss of the tattoo shop and is all pissy with Alexander. Then when he is told that Alexander took care of getting his pictures stored from the art gallery that he had been forgetting about, he blows up on Alexander.
This was near the end and I was so hoping that Alexander would just walk away but no, he does what he always does, calms and makes sure that Rafael is ok no matter how he is being treated. This interaction with the boss was enough to make Rafael change, which I found funny because nothing Alexander did helped, and Rafael starts to get better at life.
The scent of the tattooist is in this one as well, it was spicy and oaky which is way better than the dirt and ink, incense and campfire smells of the previous books.
Rafael is an artist and totally not able to live on his own. He has trouble remembering things, he is always late, cannot sell his art, and has no money. And I am going to be honest, I did not like him all that much. He declared years ago that he would never be in a relationship again, but was practically married to Alexander and still hooked up with other men constantly for sex. It hurt Alexander very much and Rafael never noticed. Rafael decides to become a tattoo artist because Matty told him it would be a great thing to do. I had many doubts because this man was always late, did not pay attention to details, and I would not want him to actually be near a needle.
Alexander was a librarian who specialized in gay and lesbian history. He loved doing stuff for other people, especially Rafael. This man did everything for him and literally only got dinner cooked for him. That is about it. He kept saying that Raphael was his best friend and they loved each other, but I just didn't see it. Alexander had very limited sexual experience because he has loved Raphael for years and years. He had a love interest show up and tells Rafael that he can't go out with him cause of this, so Rafael decides to help him practice sex stuff and their path to romance has begun.
(I have no idea what any of these people look like other than occasionally a dark skin mention will pop up. Does that mean that they are POC? Does it mean that they have tans due to it being summer? Who knows)
Sexytimes begin and wouldn't you know it, Alexander is not bad at sex at all once he relaxes. But of course he is love with Rafael so all this is great in his mind. Rafael on the other hand, is starting to have feelings for the first time for Alexander. And you might have noticed that I am typing out full names and that is because no one ever uses a nickname. Even the parents and friends. It's always this way.
So Alexander meets up with the guy who was interested in him just to tell him that he couldn't see him and Rafael has a breakdown. This causes Alexander to tell him that he loves him and Rafael admits the same. Then is shocked that Alexander has loved him this whole time.
After the confession, they decide to have a get together with all the friends to announce their relationship. That day Rafael forgot to bring his notebooks to show the boss of the tattoo shop and is all pissy with Alexander. Then when he is told that Alexander took care of getting his pictures stored from the art gallery that he had been forgetting about, he blows up on Alexander.
This was near the end and I was so hoping that Alexander would just walk away but no, he does what he always does, calms and makes sure that Rafael is ok no matter how he is being treated. This interaction with the boss was enough to make Rafael change, which I found funny because nothing Alexander did helped, and Rafael starts to get better at life.
The scent of the tattooist is in this one as well, it was spicy and oaky which is way better than the dirt and ink, incense and campfire smells of the previous books.
April 18, 2021
I received an ARC of Just a Kiss by R. Cayden from Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest review.
This is the story of Alexander and Rafael. They are BFFs. They smooch and share a bed and still the little dumb dumbs don’t know they’re in love. Silly little bb’s. Alexander actually knows he’s in love; he’s pining, but Rafael swore off relationships so A’s not going to make a move to change their dynamic. In comes the sex pact. “We’ll just have sex to get Alexander some more experience, yeah, that will not turn into love or anything.” Oh, you sweet little dummies.
This was a solidly sweet and entertaining book. Little to no angst. Rafael wasn’t all “oh, I can’t love”. He was just like, “I don’t do relationships,” but he realized pretty quickly that adding a physical element to his friendship with Alexander opened his eyes to his real feelings and a relationship between them wouldn’t be like anything he’d ever experienced.
I also enjoyed Rafael’s growth from totally flaky artist to a tattoo artist who sets three alarms so he’s not late, but probably still leaves his wallet behind twice a week. Not that everyone has to monetize their art, but he wanted to do tattoos and he was able to make a living from it. Also, Alexander’s dads were the cutest and I want to read their origin story.
I give this book 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. The characters were really likable and it was a sweet, quick read with plenty of steam.
This is the story of Alexander and Rafael. They are BFFs. They smooch and share a bed and still the little dumb dumbs don’t know they’re in love. Silly little bb’s. Alexander actually knows he’s in love; he’s pining, but Rafael swore off relationships so A’s not going to make a move to change their dynamic. In comes the sex pact. “We’ll just have sex to get Alexander some more experience, yeah, that will not turn into love or anything.” Oh, you sweet little dummies.
This was a solidly sweet and entertaining book. Little to no angst. Rafael wasn’t all “oh, I can’t love”. He was just like, “I don’t do relationships,” but he realized pretty quickly that adding a physical element to his friendship with Alexander opened his eyes to his real feelings and a relationship between them wouldn’t be like anything he’d ever experienced.
I also enjoyed Rafael’s growth from totally flaky artist to a tattoo artist who sets three alarms so he’s not late, but probably still leaves his wallet behind twice a week. Not that everyone has to monetize their art, but he wanted to do tattoos and he was able to make a living from it. Also, Alexander’s dads were the cutest and I want to read their origin story.
I give this book 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. The characters were really likable and it was a sweet, quick read with plenty of steam.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2021
In a genre where almost all main characters are white, Rafael is a welcome breath of fresh air. The fact that we have a person of color as a main in this book - I squealed. This doesn't come into play in any of the actual plot, but just reading about his darker skin? We need more POC rep in this genre and I'm thankful that Cayden provided some.
Now, onto the actual book itself.
This is a pretty standard friends to lovers - focusing on Rafael and Alexander. Alexander is a bookish boy who works in the archives and doesn't hook up often. He likes relationships. He likes commitment. He has a hard time finding either. Rafael is his opposite. He's a slightly mercurial artist who swore off relationships at age twenty-one and never looked back. He gets all the emotional fulfillment he needs through his friendship with Alexander and has no need to change this. Alexander, on the other hand, wants to change this, because he's been in love with Rafael for years and wants to be able to move past that.
The catalyst for this book is Alexander's ex-boyfriend coming back. Alexander is nervous about going on dates with him, worried he'll be bad due to inexperience, and so Rafael proposes a solution. They hook up. They set a few ground rules - including a length of time.
One thing this book does incredibly well with their friends with benefits situation is the different forms of sex. Their hookups are not all penetrative, but they are all considered sex. The variation was a great deviance from other books in the same genre and they were no less intense.
Another great thing is the relationship between the two men. The ease of friendship shows how long they have been best friends. The acceptance, the way they move around one another, it shows two people who have known one another for the better parts of their lives and I'll admit - friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes so seeing it so well done? I was very happy with how it was done.
The angst level is the right amount. The characters are well written and I never had any trouble figuring out which character I was reading, which can sometimes happen in alternating POV books. I love the entire premise of this book and I hope to read more from Cayden in future.
** ADVANCED READER COPY PROVIDED BY GAY ROMANCE REVIEWS IN EXCHANGE FOR FAIR AND HONEST REVIEW. **
Now, onto the actual book itself.
This is a pretty standard friends to lovers - focusing on Rafael and Alexander. Alexander is a bookish boy who works in the archives and doesn't hook up often. He likes relationships. He likes commitment. He has a hard time finding either. Rafael is his opposite. He's a slightly mercurial artist who swore off relationships at age twenty-one and never looked back. He gets all the emotional fulfillment he needs through his friendship with Alexander and has no need to change this. Alexander, on the other hand, wants to change this, because he's been in love with Rafael for years and wants to be able to move past that.
The catalyst for this book is Alexander's ex-boyfriend coming back. Alexander is nervous about going on dates with him, worried he'll be bad due to inexperience, and so Rafael proposes a solution. They hook up. They set a few ground rules - including a length of time.
One thing this book does incredibly well with their friends with benefits situation is the different forms of sex. Their hookups are not all penetrative, but they are all considered sex. The variation was a great deviance from other books in the same genre and they were no less intense.
Another great thing is the relationship between the two men. The ease of friendship shows how long they have been best friends. The acceptance, the way they move around one another, it shows two people who have known one another for the better parts of their lives and I'll admit - friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes so seeing it so well done? I was very happy with how it was done.
The angst level is the right amount. The characters are well written and I never had any trouble figuring out which character I was reading, which can sometimes happen in alternating POV books. I love the entire premise of this book and I hope to read more from Cayden in future.
** ADVANCED READER COPY PROVIDED BY GAY ROMANCE REVIEWS IN EXCHANGE FOR FAIR AND HONEST REVIEW. **
August 1, 2021
Meh, this book was just ok. I read it in one sitting, but I only finished this because I needed it for a challenge I was participating in that I needed to feature a book that had a bearded cover model. We get Alexander, a librarian and Raphael, starving artist who have been roommates for many years. Alexander has been in love with Raphael for forever, but Raphael hasn’t figured it out yet. Here’s the deal: I just couldn’t buy into some of this set up. I work in a library. There’s no way I could support someone who can’t support himself on a library salary in a major city like Chicago.I wanted so much to like this book because it had a library nerd. But these two were way too hopeless. Sorry.
April 28, 2021
Best friends make the best lovers
I love this series. It is so different from what you expect when you think tattooed men falling in love. In this book, we have two friends who are a bit geeky and different. Rafael and Alexander have been best friends forever. Rafael is a bit of a playboy and doesn’t believe in relationships and Alexander is a inexperienced shy guy who doesn’t feel like he has much to give a relationship. In hopes of proving him wrong, Rafael decides to help Alexander out by offering his services to mentor his friend in the ways of love. The only problem, Alexander has secretly been in love with Rafael for years.
I love this series. It is so different from what you expect when you think tattooed men falling in love. In this book, we have two friends who are a bit geeky and different. Rafael and Alexander have been best friends forever. Rafael is a bit of a playboy and doesn’t believe in relationships and Alexander is a inexperienced shy guy who doesn’t feel like he has much to give a relationship. In hopes of proving him wrong, Rafael decides to help Alexander out by offering his services to mentor his friend in the ways of love. The only problem, Alexander has secretly been in love with Rafael for years.
April 22, 2021
5 Stars
What do you do when you're in love with your best friend? Well Alexander has that problem in Just a Kiss. Rafael has sworn off relationships, but soon finds himself in love with Alexander as well. What do they both do when they want to tell each other they are in love with each other?
Just a Kiss, by R. Cayden, is a hot friends-to-lovers book. Their friendship is so special, but the love they have for each other is so sweet.
I could definitely find myself being friends with both characters. The writing style will blow you away just like it did me. I got so lost in this book, I read it within two days; finishing it at work. Both Alexander and Rafael have their own POV shown in this book.
All the characters were likable. I loved how their friends were there for them. The story couldn't be developed any better. It was perfect.
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement. ***
On Mon, Apr 19, 2021 at 10:14 AM mistletoes96 wrote:
5 Stars
What do you do when your in love with your Best Friend? Well Alexander has that problem in Just a Kiss. Rafael has sworn off Relationships, but soon finds himself in love with Alexander as well. What do they both do when they want to tell each other they are in love with each other?
Just a Kiss by R. Cayden is a hot Friends to Lovers book. Their friendship is so special, but the love they have for each other is so sweet.
I could definitely find myself being friends with bother characters. The writing style will blow you away just like it did me. I so lost in this book, I read it within two days. Finishing it at work. Each Alexander and Rafael has their own POV.
All the Characters were likable, I loved how their friends were there for them. The story couldn't be well developed any better.
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement. ***
What do you do when you're in love with your best friend? Well Alexander has that problem in Just a Kiss. Rafael has sworn off relationships, but soon finds himself in love with Alexander as well. What do they both do when they want to tell each other they are in love with each other?
Just a Kiss, by R. Cayden, is a hot friends-to-lovers book. Their friendship is so special, but the love they have for each other is so sweet.
I could definitely find myself being friends with both characters. The writing style will blow you away just like it did me. I got so lost in this book, I read it within two days; finishing it at work. Both Alexander and Rafael have their own POV shown in this book.
All the characters were likable. I loved how their friends were there for them. The story couldn't be developed any better. It was perfect.
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement. ***
On Mon, Apr 19, 2021 at 10:14 AM mistletoes96 wrote:
5 Stars
What do you do when your in love with your Best Friend? Well Alexander has that problem in Just a Kiss. Rafael has sworn off Relationships, but soon finds himself in love with Alexander as well. What do they both do when they want to tell each other they are in love with each other?
Just a Kiss by R. Cayden is a hot Friends to Lovers book. Their friendship is so special, but the love they have for each other is so sweet.
I could definitely find myself being friends with bother characters. The writing style will blow you away just like it did me. I so lost in this book, I read it within two days. Finishing it at work. Each Alexander and Rafael has their own POV.
All the Characters were likable, I loved how their friends were there for them. The story couldn't be well developed any better.
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement. ***
August 17, 2022
Expected to love this like the others in the series but I didn't
I'm not keen on friends to lovers as a trope because it usually means that one of them has been in love with the other for years whilst the oblivious one swans through life trampling on their friend's heart all the while. That hurts me when I read about it, and this story is up there at the top of my 'How To Kill off Your Best Friend's Spirit One Agonising Day At A Time' list.
Alexander has loved Rafael for years and has struggled to have relationships because of that. Rafael had a couple of bad relationships where his boyfriends tried to change him (gasp!) so he swore off relationships forever. They live together and are as close as two men can be without having sex, and Alexander does everything for Rafael because he is such a scatterbrain who would forget to breathe unless Alexander reminded him.
When a former boyfriend of Alexander's returns to town and is definitely interested in Alexander, after they split amicably when Davis moved away years before, events are set in motion that finally makes Rafael see what has been in front of him all along.
What really killed me is that they were in a committed relationship without ever calling it that, practically married to all intents and purposes except that Rafael had hookups, and he was too self-centred and self-absorbed to realise exactly how good he had it with Alexander. It's the old 'I don't know what I'd do without you but I'm not going to do anything with you'that makes me want to smack some sense into them.
I just wanted Alexander to wake up (at the same time Rafael realises he loves him) and walk off into the sunset with Davis, who admits he has thought a lot about Alexander over the years and obviously values him far more than Rafael did. This is why I was so disappointed with this book, because I love the other three and expected better.
I'm not keen on friends to lovers as a trope because it usually means that one of them has been in love with the other for years whilst the oblivious one swans through life trampling on their friend's heart all the while. That hurts me when I read about it, and this story is up there at the top of my 'How To Kill off Your Best Friend's Spirit One Agonising Day At A Time' list.
Alexander has loved Rafael for years and has struggled to have relationships because of that. Rafael had a couple of bad relationships where his boyfriends tried to change him (gasp!) so he swore off relationships forever. They live together and are as close as two men can be without having sex, and Alexander does everything for Rafael because he is such a scatterbrain who would forget to breathe unless Alexander reminded him.
When a former boyfriend of Alexander's returns to town and is definitely interested in Alexander, after they split amicably when Davis moved away years before, events are set in motion that finally makes Rafael see what has been in front of him all along.
What really killed me is that they were in a committed relationship without ever calling it that, practically married to all intents and purposes except that Rafael had hookups, and he was too self-centred and self-absorbed to realise exactly how good he had it with Alexander. It's the old 'I don't know what I'd do without you but I'm not going to do anything with you'that makes me want to smack some sense into them.
I just wanted Alexander to wake up (at the same time Rafael realises he loves him) and walk off into the sunset with Davis, who admits he has thought a lot about Alexander over the years and obviously values him far more than Rafael did. This is why I was so disappointed with this book, because I love the other three and expected better.
June 1, 2024
old post reposted
Like I said before....here we are, checking out (aka binge-reading) the Geek Ink series (by R. Cayden). The third book is titled "Just A Kiss."
["Geeky friends to tattooed lovers
I have a secret: I’m in love with my best friend.
Rafael is a brilliant artist and a lovable weirdo.
I’ve been pining for him for years, but when he starts an apprenticeship as a tattoo artist, my longing spikes.
My best friend finds a new side to himself, more confidence, and it makes me fall in love all over again.
The problem is Rafael doesn’t do relationships.
And me? I don’t do casual.
Yet somehow, we still end up in bed one day, after he proposes a “sexperiment.”
We’ll be friends with benefits, nothing more.
We might start with just a kiss, but a kiss can still change everything."]
THIS was the book that got me wanting to read the series. I saw the title and the cover art and I just want all heart-eyes. Then I read the blurb (because why the hell not), and you all know my weakness is tropes (especially friends-to-lovers). So I made the mature decision to start at the beginning of the series and FUCK YES.
I know its a book and its part of the trope but why? Why would a friends with benefits ever work out? The I'm-in-love-with-my-best-friend guy will get crushed if it ends or if he confesses his feelings and its not returned. And the other guy (the what's-better-than-my-best-friend? nothing + what's-better-than-sex? nothing = what's-better-than-sex-with-my-best-friend) just kind of looks like a dumb accidental-ass?
BUT these guys (spoiler alert, almost, sort of, not really) eventually communicate and figure it out... after crying and pining and angst and... Well, just read the thing, kay?
#geektattoo #craveme #justakiss #grufftouch #geekink #geekinkseries #rcayden #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
Like I said before....here we are, checking out (aka binge-reading) the Geek Ink series (by R. Cayden). The third book is titled "Just A Kiss."
["Geeky friends to tattooed lovers
I have a secret: I’m in love with my best friend.
Rafael is a brilliant artist and a lovable weirdo.
I’ve been pining for him for years, but when he starts an apprenticeship as a tattoo artist, my longing spikes.
My best friend finds a new side to himself, more confidence, and it makes me fall in love all over again.
The problem is Rafael doesn’t do relationships.
And me? I don’t do casual.
Yet somehow, we still end up in bed one day, after he proposes a “sexperiment.”
We’ll be friends with benefits, nothing more.
We might start with just a kiss, but a kiss can still change everything."]
THIS was the book that got me wanting to read the series. I saw the title and the cover art and I just want all heart-eyes. Then I read the blurb (because why the hell not), and you all know my weakness is tropes (especially friends-to-lovers). So I made the mature decision to start at the beginning of the series and FUCK YES.
I know its a book and its part of the trope but why? Why would a friends with benefits ever work out? The I'm-in-love-with-my-best-friend guy will get crushed if it ends or if he confesses his feelings and its not returned. And the other guy (the what's-better-than-my-best-friend? nothing + what's-better-than-sex? nothing = what's-better-than-sex-with-my-best-friend) just kind of looks like a dumb accidental-ass?
BUT these guys (spoiler alert, almost, sort of, not really) eventually communicate and figure it out... after crying and pining and angst and... Well, just read the thing, kay?
#geektattoo #craveme #justakiss #grufftouch #geekink #geekinkseries #rcayden #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
May 7, 2021
I love tattoos and stories about tattoo artists is one of my guilty pleasures. This was a nice feel-good story about two guys who have been friends for a long time and are basically in a relationship without realizing it. They live together, they do everything together, yet one of them is helplessly in love with the other, while the other is absolutely ignorant.
Rafael is an amazing artist. However, like all artists, he is struggling with getting the recognition and sustaining himself with his art alone. A tattoo artist apprenticeship is just the thing for him to keep developing his art and share it with others. He is excited and terrified about this opportunity, but Alexander is there is for him, like always. While Rafael struggles with accepting his new situation, Alexander struggles with his emotions and his uncertainty about dating. He is not confident enough to date someone and he is not sure he can get over his love for Rafael enough to actually try. And that is how their sexperiment comes into being - it is Rafael's idea of helping Alexander develop enough confident to start dating someone (not him of course). And that is when the real fun begins.
They are adorable together, so messy and exasperating, but also really funny in their own way. It was a very cute story with a lot of angst and personal drama. Definitely a feel-good short read to lift the mood and make you chuckle at their antics :)
**I was provided an ARC of this book from the author for an honest review**
April 22, 2021
It didn't take long for me to fall in love with Alexander and Rafael's quirks, and it was adorable to watch these two best friends discover the hidden depths of their relationship. Though Alexander was aware of his less-than-platonic feelings for Rafael before this story started, it took a series of "sexperiments" for Rafael to come around to the fact that he was just as head over heels for Alexander. I had so much fun watching these men interact with each other, from spending casual nights at home to supporting each other's passions in whatever way they could. Alexander and Rafael were so comfortable around each other, so in-tune that they could easily pick up on each other's nonverbal signals and say just the right thing to cheer each other up. Rafael had to make some big career decisions in this story and deal with his own internalized feelings of incompetence, and it was lovely to see Alexander's love and support for any decision Rafael made. To some extent, these men already felt like a couple before they even considered falling into bed together, and of course their emotional connection made their bedtime activities even more explosive. Though I'm not completely sure I buy how out-of-the-blue Rafael's realization about his deeper feelings was, I can't argue with the adorably awkward outcome. It's hard to imagine any future where these men did't end up together, and those little glimpses at the life they built together were a wonderful way to wrap up their story.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
April 18, 2021
This is a relatively low-angst friends to lovers romance, and both Alexander and Rafael make being in love adorable, albeit in vastly different ways. Meticulously organized Alexander has been secretly in love with Rafael for half a decade, but somehow his steadfast devotion and resignation to the idea that they’ll never be more feels more heartwarming than pathetic. Rafael is wrapped up in artistic visions, moving through reality but never really considering its implications— he thinks he doesn’t want a relationship because he doesn’t quite realize that for all intents and purposes he’s already in one. They’re deeply sweet and right together and clearly compatible emotionally, so when they introduce a physical dimension to their relationship (for some truly flimsy pretext) it’s not surprising that the veil starts to lift for both of them, and their progression from bffs to boyfriends is pretty conflict free. The real sources of stress in the novel actually come mostly from Rafael trying to balance the art he loves with a need to make his own way, rather than relying on Alexander’s quiet but thorough organization and support, but, of course, they work it out, and there’s a more than satisfactory HEA, complete with epilogue, to celebrate their success.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 28, 2021
Title - Just A Kiss (Geek Ink #3)
Author - R Cayden
Genre - MM Romance
Published - April 2021
Pages - 191 Pages
Summary - Alexander has been in love with his best friend Rafael for as long as he can remember, the only problem is Rafael doesn't do relationships, Alexander is too scared to lose their friendship by admitting he's in love with Rafael. One day when Rafael suggests they have sex to help boost Alexander's confidence, Alexander doesn't know If he's in heaven or hell, being able to be with Rafael but not being able to have him. The longer this sexperiment goes on the more in love Alexander falls, the question is does Rafael feel the same?
What I thought about this book - I really enjoyed this book, In fact, I loved this whole series. I love how we see characters from previous books too. Rafael and Alexander are wonderful characters and make a perfect couple you spend the whole book rooting for their HEA. The character development especially Rafael's throughout the book is brilliant. The plot is interesting and easy to follow, flows well and is overall really well written. It was a really enjoyable read.
Would I Recommend - Yes
Would I Read Again/Continue The Series - Yes/Yes
Rating - 5*
Reviewed by LucyLui
Author - R Cayden
Genre - MM Romance
Published - April 2021
Pages - 191 Pages
Summary - Alexander has been in love with his best friend Rafael for as long as he can remember, the only problem is Rafael doesn't do relationships, Alexander is too scared to lose their friendship by admitting he's in love with Rafael. One day when Rafael suggests they have sex to help boost Alexander's confidence, Alexander doesn't know If he's in heaven or hell, being able to be with Rafael but not being able to have him. The longer this sexperiment goes on the more in love Alexander falls, the question is does Rafael feel the same?
What I thought about this book - I really enjoyed this book, In fact, I loved this whole series. I love how we see characters from previous books too. Rafael and Alexander are wonderful characters and make a perfect couple you spend the whole book rooting for their HEA. The character development especially Rafael's throughout the book is brilliant. The plot is interesting and easy to follow, flows well and is overall really well written. It was a really enjoyable read.
Would I Recommend - Yes
Would I Read Again/Continue The Series - Yes/Yes
Rating - 5*
Reviewed by LucyLui
April 28, 2021
Alex and Rafael have lived together for the past five years, they are best friends and they have a very supportive and loving, you could say intimate relationship with one another. They share little kisses, they sometimes sleep in the same bed, they take care of one another in lots of ways. But as the story begins Alex is pining that he is and has been in love with Rafael for years and that after a bad relationship Rafael swore there would be no more boyfriends. Alex does not make his feelings known because Rafael has only hooked up since but not more. But in actual fact he hasn't had to seek more, they already have it. They are in the habit of acting in a lot of ways like a couple but not acknowledging it. Then they add in friends with benefits , which finally helps to wake Rafael up and since their relationship already works...Anyway, this was a really easy to read friends to lovers story. I found myself wanting to shake them both at times but was so glad they landed openly together - not one pining and them acting out what they were not acknowledging. A sweet, friendship that leads to love requited.
I received an ARC from GRR for an honest review.
I received an ARC from GRR for an honest review.
April 20, 2021
This is a sweet, low angst, but somewhat slow-paced story about two best friends who finally figure things out. Alexander has been in love with his best friend Rafael for almost as long as the two have been friends, but Rafael has no interest in long-term relationships until he realizes that he also has feelings for Alexander. Overall, the story wasn’t bad, but it does seem like Rafael should have realized much sooner that Alexander was the perfect partner for him. They had been living together for years and Alexander basically supported him emotionally and sometimes financially the entire time. How does Rafael not realize what a catch Alexander is for so long? Fortunately, Rafael gets it together before he loses Alexander and the two finally get their HEA. This is the third book in the Geek Ink series and while characters from the first two books are mentioned, this book can be read as a standalone.
May 29, 2021
**2.5 stars
This one...didn’t work for me. I enjoyed the first two in the series and want to hurry over to Caesar’s story, but this one was almost a DNF multiple times. We get a friends to lovers where Alexander had been in love with Rafe for years. Their relationship is basically a co-dependent relationship without the sex. It was really hard for me to believe no one knew how Alexander felt.
I had a hard time with both Rafe and Alexander as characters. It all felt juvenile and the constant calling each other weirdos and the laughing and giggling really threw me off. Then the sudden idea to help Alexander with his sexual confidence after being friends for so long like it’s no big deal and Rafe’s sudden realization that he’s in love with Alexander all get out of sync.
This just seemed so sloppily put together and lacked a cohesiveness that would have made it enjoyable for me. I’m hoping Caesar’s story is better put together.
This one...didn’t work for me. I enjoyed the first two in the series and want to hurry over to Caesar’s story, but this one was almost a DNF multiple times. We get a friends to lovers where Alexander had been in love with Rafe for years. Their relationship is basically a co-dependent relationship without the sex. It was really hard for me to believe no one knew how Alexander felt.
I had a hard time with both Rafe and Alexander as characters. It all felt juvenile and the constant calling each other weirdos and the laughing and giggling really threw me off. Then the sudden idea to help Alexander with his sexual confidence after being friends for so long like it’s no big deal and Rafe’s sudden realization that he’s in love with Alexander all get out of sync.
This just seemed so sloppily put together and lacked a cohesiveness that would have made it enjoyable for me. I’m hoping Caesar’s story is better put together.
April 28, 2021
Is a very sweet (almost too) tale of best friends falling in love. Alexander, a calm soul that loves working in a library, doing early morning, beach clean up, and his best friend Rafael. Alexander longs for Rafael to notice his affections. Rafael loves his art, being free, and Alexander. Rafael wants to keep his relationships casual and feels that all he relationship needs are fulfilled by Alexander, they are roommates that do everything except having sex.
I found this book a bit hard to get through. The concept reminded me of Dawson’s Creek, which was fine because I loved the series. The voices of Alexander and Rafael were repetitive; by the third chapter I was annoyed that kept referring to each other as my best friend or my friend. However, this was a low angst HEA which are my favourite to read. Best enjoyed on a lazy day.
I was given an ARC from GRR for my honest review.
I found this book a bit hard to get through. The concept reminded me of Dawson’s Creek, which was fine because I loved the series. The voices of Alexander and Rafael were repetitive; by the third chapter I was annoyed that kept referring to each other as my best friend or my friend. However, this was a low angst HEA which are my favourite to read. Best enjoyed on a lazy day.
I was given an ARC from GRR for my honest review.
April 29, 2021
4.5 Stars. Oh, brilliant, geeky artists can be so oblivious can’t they? Everyone could see how Alexander felt about Rafael except Rafael. Thank God he opened eyes and saw what was right in front of him the whole time! It was refreshingly wonderful to see them work and talk through problems once they got together instead running away and/or breaking things off. You don’t see that enough in books, but hey! A story’s got to have conflict, eh? The sex scenes are hot and lengthy, sometimes I would have trouble picturing it the right way. Like, I would think I had it right picturing them, then something would be mentioned and I would think “welp, he wouldn’t be able to do that from the position I’m picturing!” Overall, great story, great friends to lovers and my favorite in the series so far. I think(hope) Caesar will get a book and I cannot wait for that!
April 28, 2021
This was a really cute read. I enjoy this series and Just a Kiss fits in well with the previous two. It is a pretty standard friends to lovers. Alexander has been in love with Rafael for years but Alexander doesn’t like casual and he knows Rafael only does hook ups. What starts as an agreement to help Alexander feel more comfortable with sex starts to turn into something more than either one thought it would be.
There isn’t anything about this book that I would say was bad, it was an easy read with good chemistry but for me it didn’t really stand out as something super unique. If you like friends to lovers then you will enjoy this book for sure. Also if you’ve enjoyed the previous two books in this series then I highly suggest you read this one as well.
There isn’t anything about this book that I would say was bad, it was an easy read with good chemistry but for me it didn’t really stand out as something super unique. If you like friends to lovers then you will enjoy this book for sure. Also if you’ve enjoyed the previous two books in this series then I highly suggest you read this one as well.
April 16, 2021
Just A Kiss is a really sweet story about two best friends falling in love. Nerdy and detail-obsessed Alexander has been in love with his flighty and artistic best friend and roommate, Rafael, for years. Rafael doesn’t do relationships, so Alexander keeps his feelings hidden in order to maintain their relationship. After Alexander decides to finally date someone else, Rafael offers to hook up with him in order to help him get comfortable with physical intimacy. Alexander is the best! He’s so sweet and caring towards Rafael. I didn’t feel as attached to Rafael. Overall, the story is really cute, has great chemistry between Alexander and Rafael, and has little angst.
April 18, 2021
Alexander and Rafael have the perfect friendship but Alexander has always wanted more. Unfortunately, Rafael doesn't do relationships. After finally getting the message that Rafael will probably never change his mind, Alexander decides to go on a date but is terrified that his lack of experience will not lead to a second date. Rafael, being the excellent friend that he is, offers to "critique" any skills that Alexander is concerned about....which leads to a kiss that has Rafael wondering why they've never done this before! I really loved how these characters were so supportive of each other and truly cared about their happiness. Their story was sweet and passionate.
April 28, 2021
Best friends to lovers ❤️
I love this book series, another solid read from R Cayden. Alexander and Rafael are best friends who decide to hook up to give Alexander the confidence he's looking for to hop into the dating game...the only problem is, he's been in love with his best friend Rafael for as long as he can remember..... Rafael has sworn off relationships and is content with random hookups until he gets one taste of his best friend..... let the sparks fly💥 could this be what he's been to blind to see all along??? This is a sweet sexy story of best friends to lovers with a guaranteed HEA ❤️
*I received and ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review*
I love this book series, another solid read from R Cayden. Alexander and Rafael are best friends who decide to hook up to give Alexander the confidence he's looking for to hop into the dating game...the only problem is, he's been in love with his best friend Rafael for as long as he can remember..... Rafael has sworn off relationships and is content with random hookups until he gets one taste of his best friend..... let the sparks fly💥 could this be what he's been to blind to see all along??? This is a sweet sexy story of best friends to lovers with a guaranteed HEA ❤️
*I received and ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review*
April 29, 2021
Hang in there! Alexander is in love with Rafael. Has been for years. He is attracted to his quirks. As Rafael grows, Alex falls more in love. This story is very expansive in that both characters grow individually and personally. Will they grow in the relative same direction? Will they start more intimate conversations? Will they ask each other the hard questions? They are faced with hard choices affecting the rest of their lives. Will the choices be the right ones? Lots of growth, maturing and romance in thsi story. The characters are delicious and fun. Well done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 17, 2021
Oh my heart.. Adore Alexander and his love for his best friend Rafael. It took me a second to connect to Rafael because he should have Instantly Snatched up Alexander for himself fully year ago!! LOL.. ah but then we would not get the KISS! all of the Kisses!!.. these two are so awkwardly adorable! The story is told from both of their POV so you get to feel their relationship grow. It is a very visually descriptive book. I got a very good feel for both of them! I received an ARC of this book and I love all of these Geek Ink Guys!! So Yes read the series!!
April 21, 2021
Such a great book. Loved it from start to finish. The main characters are lovable. Two best friends who live together. One has been in love with the other for a long time. The other is into one night stands with no strings attached. One has little experience while the other does. The experienced one wants to give the other some confidence and experience. They enter into a friends with benefits arrangement. It starts with just a kiss but soon becomes more. A sweet, fluffy love story. Very entertaining. I highly recommend.
April 29, 2021
It all started with a kiss that turned into something so much more! Alex & Rafael are best friends and have been for more than five years now.
Their story was so sweet & full of love and the support from their friends and family was so amazing to see! Their happy ending was so beautiful & sweet, they got the happiness they deserve!
R. Cayden is a wonderful author & I absolutely enjoy his work and I'm looking forward to reading the next book. 😀❤️
*I received a copy of this book from GRR, and this is my honest review*
Their story was so sweet & full of love and the support from their friends and family was so amazing to see! Their happy ending was so beautiful & sweet, they got the happiness they deserve!
R. Cayden is a wonderful author & I absolutely enjoy his work and I'm looking forward to reading the next book. 😀❤️
*I received a copy of this book from GRR, and this is my honest review*
August 18, 2022
As far as Alexander and Rafael’s relationship goes, they’re perfect for one another.
This book, in particular, had a bit of a different impact. Im not sure if it’s because I’ve found myself in that very situation, of oblivious best friends in love, and it didn’t work out, but of the three novels in this series I’ve read so far, this one felt most real.
You can tell that Alexander and Rafael have a very long and detailed history, and their characters have been very well written. Overall, a cute read.
This book, in particular, had a bit of a different impact. Im not sure if it’s because I’ve found myself in that very situation, of oblivious best friends in love, and it didn’t work out, but of the three novels in this series I’ve read so far, this one felt most real.
You can tell that Alexander and Rafael have a very long and detailed history, and their characters have been very well written. Overall, a cute read.
April 17, 2021
I always love a good best friends to lovers story and this one doesn’t disappoint. The nerdy duo of Alexander and Raphael. They have been best friends for years and Alexander has been hopelessly in love with his best friend for all those years. And it takes a kiss to change it all. These two sweet sweet men find a love that neither thought they could ever have. This book is angst free and so sweet it will give you a tooth ache! Loved it!
April 20, 2021
This was such a wonderful story! Alexander and Rafael are just too sweet! They’ve been friends forever but Alexander has secretly been in love with Raphael and Rafael don’t do relationships. It takes them a long time but finally a kiss starts turning things around. It’s nice to see their relationship evolve. They’re both so adorable and this is a very sweet friends to lovers story that I highly recommend! Received arc and am voluntarily leaving an honest review
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