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The Laws of Love #3

A Kiss for Carter

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One kiss… one crazy week… is Carter Wells’ luck about to change?

He’s six-foot-six of soft heart, bad hair days, and dating disasters. But now Carter (Carts to all his friends) has met his dream woman, and he’s determined to make it work.

Judith has always settled for sub-par love, played peacemaker between her mum and sister, and baked brownies to keep everyone happy. But now she’s falling for Carts and she’s determined to put her own needs first.

But when their first date turns into a disaster of gargantuan proportions and major family dramas erupt around them, it will take more than one magical kiss to save their budding relationship.

Are Carts and Judith destined to be apart forever? Or will the universe take pity on them and intervene?

Find out in this heart-warming third novel in The Laws of Love series.

217 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 23, 2021

16 people are currently reading
317 people want to read

About the author

Davina Stone

15 books104 followers
Davina Stone writes romances about flawed but lovable characters who tend to get it horribly wrong before they finally get it right. They also kiss a fair bit on the way to happily ever after. She counts herself as an Anglo-Aussie, having lived exactly half her life in both countries.

When not writing she spends her time chasing kangaroos off her veggie patch, dodging snakes and staring down the odd crocodile. But despite her wild adventures, in her heart she still believes that a nice cup of tea will fix most problems and that true love conquers all.

Davina has been published in five Romance Writers of Australia short story anthologies. Her first novel, The Alice Equation, the first in the Laws of Love series is published in January 2021.


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5 stars
53 (22%)
4 stars
84 (35%)
3 stars
78 (32%)
2 stars
19 (7%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Michelle.
1,857 reviews59 followers
August 23, 2021
This is a sweet and sexy romance with characters that deserve a happy ending.

I’m am so so happy that Carter got this book and his HEA. Judith and Carts are very sympathetic characters from previous books and I totally have a soft spot for them both. And If ever there was a side character deserving of some love and attention, it is Carts.

There is so much good to appreciate in this book:
- The awkward, fumbling love interests who talk about problems instead of run away from them.
- Main characters who recognize their shortfalls and work to improve.
- Inclusivity, respect and consent woven into a still very sexy story!

I can whole heartedly recommend this one!

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author and these are my honest opinions.
Profile Image for Joy.
332 reviews27 followers
November 3, 2021
Ahhh, A Kiss for Carter was so different from the two previous books in this series (you can read my review for book 1 and book 2 on my blog or here on Goodreads). It was so different, yet I loved it just as much again. I can definitely say that A Kiss for Carter was a bit less steamy than the previous two books and that there was less tension between the characters. However, this was such a sweet and fluffy story. Both Carter and Judith have their own insecurities which are shown very clearly throughout the story, but together they try to work their way through it, which I found to be adorable.

At this point I'm not entirely sure if a Davina Stone book could ever disappoint me.
Profile Image for Livelyreads.
286 reviews37 followers
August 6, 2021
Absolutely loved and adored reading this amazing book!! ♥️
We always get to read about couple or maybe one of them who are confident when it comes to dating and flirting but we rarely get to read where both the hero and heroine are awkward and conscious about thier dating life.
This book was absolutely refreshing, cute and adorable with swoony hero and quirky heroine who overcome thier dating hurdles and issues and end up having a great happily after. The book also includes some family drama and of course a dose of epic romantic comedy that you can't get enough of ❤️
317 reviews49 followers
June 2, 2025
this was such a normal book??? like this could actually happen irl. wonderful.
Profile Image for Emily.
125 reviews4 followers
August 19, 2021
First up- Thank you Davina for giving me the opportunity to read your book before it is published. I am so very appreciative, and cannot wait to gift this book to people and continue raving on about the Laws Of Love characters!

OKAY. Review time!

Don’t you love when a book continuously puts a smile on your face? This is the third book in Davina Stone’s Laws Of Love series, and boy was it a beauty!

The story follows Carts, who we’ve met previously, and his adventure in love and navigating his way through learning he deserves the kindness and vulnerability he has shared previously. Judith is recently out of a rubbish relationship, and slowly gaining confidence thanks to her new friend Polly.

This story was so fun, and I feel so attached to all of these characters. This series really is a story of found family, and having a supportive group of people in your life. I love all of these characters so much; Carter, Judith, Dan, Pippa, Shaz, Avery, Alice, Aaron, Polly, Solo… they’re such a comfort to read about! I can’t wait for more!

You don’t have to have read The Alice Equation or The Polly Principle to be able to enjoy this book, but gosh they’re great reads!
Profile Image for Rachel.
Author 9 books38 followers
August 27, 2021
This book was a real winner. Even though you get a hint of Carter and Judith in the previous book The Polly Principle, this one still stands well on it's own.

Carter and Judith shared an amazing kiss last week and are about to go on their first date. Both are nervous. Carter hasn't dated in over a year and Judith has just got out of a long term relationship. Dating isn't easy for either of them. And even though they fumble through it, both Judith and Carter get there in the end to find a very satisfying happily ever after. Meanwhile, they each help stitch the tension in their families back together with sibling and parental drama, all of which adds wonderfully to the story.

I enjoyed The Alice Equation and loved The Polly Principle, but this one takes the cake! Davina just gets better :)

Can't wait for The Felicity Theory!
Author 8 books3 followers
August 19, 2021
Another five-star read from Davina Stone! Having eagerly awaited Carts’s story, I was not disappointed. Carts and Judith were such loveable characters. This book was tender, funny, awkward and emotional and oh so romantic. As always, there was a wonderful supporting cast, and the family dramas were touching and sensitively written. There was consent, respect and inclusivity. And eighties music! I loved this book and am eagerly awaiting the next instalment in the Laws of Love series.
I received an ARC from the author and am leaving a voluntary review.

Profile Image for Claire Louisa.
2,126 reviews123 followers
September 6, 2021
I loved A Kiss for Carter, it had all the feels needed to make it a wonderfully enjoyable read.

Carter is adorable, shy and insecure about himself, he struggles with his attraction to Judith because he is afraid of embarrassing himself with his attraction to her. I felt for Carter, he wasn;t sure how to broach his feelings or his 'problem' with Judith and gives off mixed signals to her because of this.

I liked Judith a lot and loved how much she liked Carter. Her ex was a waste of space and I'm glad she stood up to him.

Once both of these characters start communicating, it becomes a really wonderful romance and their feelings blossom quickly when you know you know.

They both have some family issues to sort through and these highlighted some relevant social issues, LGBTQI+ and the issue of teens feeling the need to fit in and behave in ways that go against who they are. I really liked the ways things around these issues were handled, and I loved the ending that highlighted these issues for good.

A really lovely and enjoyable romance, I hope there is more to come in this series.
Profile Image for Tanya Nellestein.
Author 47 books86 followers
August 24, 2021
A delight

“No, don’t you dare take it back!” My favourite line in this utterly delightful story. I adore this series and couldn’t wait to get my hands on Book 3. Davina Stone does not disappoint, beautifully interlocking the characters and stories from the first two instalments. Carts and Judith are the perfect hero and heroine who deserve love and happiness and all the good stuff. I savoured every morsel of this book.
Profile Image for Melanie Pickering.
Author 8 books36 followers
November 28, 2021
Refreshing to see a contemporary romance that doesn't need to rely on a plot-devised black moment, or a blown-out-of-proportion-misunderstanding that could've been resolved with an actual *gasp* conversation. Sometimes life simply gets in the way, and I loved how Carter and Judith dealt with the upheavals in theirs. The world needs more Carters. Just saying.
Profile Image for Nicole Eby.
Author 19 books45 followers
Read
December 2, 2021
This was such a fun read. One of my favourite parts was that Carter wasn't a cookie-cutter romance hero with perfectly chiselled abs and smoldering sex appeal. Don't get me wrong, I found him very sexy. Who wouldn't want a man that makes you feel like you are the most important thing in the world? He was sweet, sexy, and totally doable! And Judith is such a sweetheart that you can't help but cheer for her. As a pair, they are awkward and amazing!
41 reviews
August 10, 2025
3rd book from the random free iBooks I found. I had a nice time, no complaints. I mean the guy was 6’9 like…. Yea I had a time.
Profile Image for Susannah.
Author 2 books17 followers
October 28, 2021
This is the third in Davina Stone’s ‘The Laws of Love’ series and I loved it just as much as the previous two. What a wonderful character is Carts – as is Judith – and their journey to finding true love is sweet, funny and excellent reading. Davina writes with great humour, which I very much enjoy. After these three delightful books, I look forward to whatever comes next, as I know this writer will deliver – and tick all my rom com HEA boxes. Thoroughly recommended!
Profile Image for Davina Stone.
Author 15 books104 followers
Read
August 4, 2021
This was the book that wasn't going to happen. And then, dear reader, you asked for Carts' story. Somehow, this unlikely hero made his way into quite a few hearts, and so his time has finally come to shine. Mind you, he has to jump through a few hoops first. And yes this is yet again, a steamy, sweet romance in The Laws of Love series, but it's also about little sisters who drive you crazy and parents who get it wrong, and a dozen red roses and eighties music... and friendships that mean everything. Anyway, you get the gist. So why not take a twirl with Carts and Judith during one crazy week of mishaps, and find out if love conquers all in the end.
Profile Image for Victoria Brown.
Author 9 books7 followers
October 15, 2021
Davina has again written a believable, amusing, serious, warm and wonderful romance. I love the way her characters grew and how they affected those around them. Thank you Davina. You are such a clever author. I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Lola & Puki.
301 reviews36 followers
Read
August 23, 2021
A KISS FOR CARTER was so darn adorkable and gave me a much needed dose of the warm fuzzies! 🥰 ⁣

Carts and Judith are loveable, slightly awkward and relatable main characters that you want to hug tight and really get behind. Their search for love & respect was so sweet and authentic and it was so refreshing to have two main characters on equal footing, both trying to overcome their confidence issues through open communication. ⁣

It's always a pleasure picking up a @davinastone_ book Davina's writing is humorous, engaging and so addictive. I love that there is a strong focus on mental health in her books to go with all the feels of a swoonworthy romance, family drama and heartwarming friendships. ⁣

In #AKissForCarter Davina Stone also touches on themes of consent, inclusivity and toxic relationships. There's less steam (still open door) in this book compared to The Alice Equation and The Polly Principle, but fantastic chemistry is still ever present between Judith & Carts. There's an 80s music playlist to also enjoy and friendships you wish you were a part of.

⁣There's an aspect of Judith's story that I would've preferred to have seen a satisfying resolution to, but perhaps it's something to look forward to seeing more of later in the series.

⁣#AKissForCarter can be read as a standalone and is another wonderful addition to Davina Stone's The Laws of Love books - a sweet, steamy and humorous series about relatable characters overcoming bumps along the way in their search for a happily ever after. ⁣

If you're looking for a comfort read to escape with, pick up a copy of A Kiss For Carter or books in The Laws Of Love Series - it's one of my favourite romance series - you won't be disappointed!⁣

Huge thanks @davinastone_⁣
for providing an eARC for review. A KISS FOR CARTER is out now.⁣







Profile Image for Fictionlove_alwaysforever .
148 reviews20 followers
August 18, 2022
Why should you read this book?🤔
👇🏻
It has that “perfect equation” 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

👍🏻Author Davina has done an amazing job with the background of the story, plot and seamlessly blended characters🤩 The book has yumm-licious characters! Swooon...😍😋
👍🏻 Carter is a six-foot-six of soft heart, bad hair days and dating disasters. A forever kind of love and commitment seems like a tall order for him, but then love gods sends his way Judith.

Judith has always settled for sub-par love, played peace-maker between her mum and sister and baked brownies to keep everyone happy. 12 years into a meaningless relationship but she hasn't lost hope.

With their clumsy fumbles and major family dramas, will one magical kiss be enough to save their budding relationship?

Carts and Judith destined to be apart forever? Or will the universe take pity on them and intervene?

👍🏻 This book is a perfect blend of friendship, banter, 2 tall people made for each other, bad jokes, finding love and that happily-ever-after 🔥
👍🏻The story is well written, fun, crazy, and definitely worth the read 🖤
👍🏻My recommendation: Sometimes Love is a Tall Story and so is this book❤

#fromauthorstoreaders #customizeurcover #fictionlove_alwaysforever
Profile Image for Donna.
1,446 reviews13 followers
September 23, 2022
The story
Carter has been single since his last disastrous relationship with Lucy ended. Judith is single after her gamer-obsessed boyfriend Mark left her (and stole from her). When the two meet through their mutual friend Polly, both are super keen on each other but reluctant to show it. They both have issues to deal with, but the relationship that develops between this two super-tall couple is really gorgeous.

My thoughts
I am catching up on the books in this series that I haven’t read, before I read the eARC of the latest story. Set in Perth, Australia, the stories follow a group of late twenty-somethings, friends and siblings who are there for each other, their families and who are figuring out adulting. I enjoyed how Judith and Carter deal so honestly with each other, even their challenges in the bedroom. It’s a sweet, enjoyable and entertaining read 📚

Read on Kindle
My rating 4/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Profile Image for Kims.reading.nook.
466 reviews17 followers
July 30, 2023
What a lovely book to snuggle up on the couch and read. Carter and Judith are both kind, compassionate and giving people and really are a match made in heaven! Reading their love story felt like watching people you really care about falling for each other and knowing that they're exactly where they should be. Yes there is 🔥 scenes, but their journey to love is a sweet one!

One of the things I've loved about this series is the Author's inclusion of characters and scenarios that lead to wider discussions on mental and physical health. In this story, there are scenes referencing bullying, an abusive ex partner and a particular scene involving a minor at a party (no harm) to be mindful of.

Meeting both Judith and Carter in previous books, this was the perfect segway into a slightly new direction for the series and I can't wait to keep reading!
Profile Image for Regina.
1,102 reviews
February 17, 2022
This story felt like the best hug! Sweet, cozy, with a little bit of steam thrown in - it was just an all-around lovely read. It made me swoon and smile (and even laugh out loud a couple of times), and it was so, so easy to root for Judith and Carts!
Low angst, low drama with realistic hangups, lovable characters - both Judith and Carts as well as (most of ;) ) the supporting cast.

This is the first (full-length) book of the series I have read, and it works well as a standalone, though I already have Alice's and Polly's stories on my TBR and I'm looking forward to read more about this group of friends!

4.5/5 dang-these-two-are-adorable stars
Profile Image for K.E. Turner.
Author 10 books44 followers
September 10, 2021
A delightful read

With real and relatable characters the author beautifully explores the awkwardness and the eagerness of those first steps in a new relationship. I love that Carter and Judith aren't perfect, and we see this through a natural extension of the character's personalities rather than as a point being made by the author as some writers seem to do. Set against the backdrop of family dramas, work demands, friends and ex partners this is a delightful read. I'm looking forward to reading other books from this Davina Stone.
Profile Image for Lisa Bolin.
22 reviews2 followers
December 12, 2021
A fun frolic!
What a fun read! A Kiss For Carter takes you through the highs and lows of starting a relationship when love hasn’t come easily. Add a dash of tricky family relationships, being tall with unruly hair and a bully boss and you have the ingredients of a great story. Stone really captures the Aussie spirit in this third book, with a music playlist to listen to that really sets the tune! A great holiday read.
Profile Image for Frances Dall'Alba.
Author 42 books31 followers
January 19, 2022
Oh, for every girl to meet someone like Carter. It's great to read a story where eventually everything goes right for two people who haven't always had great luck in the love department. It's funny, quirky and perfectly steamy in some parts. It's a hard book to put down until the very end, so good job Davina Stone. I also love her book titles (all of them in the Laws of Love) and her covers are superb. Looking forward to the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Susan Mackie.
Author 19 books112 followers
June 16, 2022
Can't get enough of Davina Stone's books.
Well-written and laugh-out-loud funny. But also warm and real.
A quick read, was finishing after dinner last night and may have snorted a bit of sav blanc out my nose at Carter's internal monologue regarding his sexual prowess. It's a great in-betweenie (I'm buddy reading Dirt Town and needed something to stop me reading ahead). Shades of Bridget Jones. Well written and well edited, a pleasure to read.
Profile Image for Bonnie.
270 reviews12 followers
April 17, 2023
i bought the whole series before reading any of them because the 6th book sounded interesting, but they keep getting worse and more superficial and there's some really ish in some of the jokes and comments made and I'm tapping out here, I don't think they're going to get better.

oh, and in book 1, Oliver's fiance's name is Leonie, but here, in book 3, it's now Naomi. I checked, and in book 4 (Oliver's book) it's back to Leonie.
Profile Image for Kelly.
159 reviews7 followers
February 2, 2022
This book was so good!!! After being introduced to Carter in Davina's previous books I was so excited when I heard he would be getting his own novel.. Carter is like a golden retriever puppy - a bit of a goofball but you can't NOT love him. This book is the perfect mix of an all round lovely story, with some funny and spicy parts thrown into the mix - highly recommend
Profile Image for Jennifer Betanzo.
25 reviews4 followers
March 29, 2022
Wowza! I just love how vulnerable and relatable these characters are. I absolutely adored Carts and was waiting for his story after meeting him in Alice and Aaron's book. I just couldn't put this story down. 10 out of 10!!
381 reviews1 follower
November 14, 2022
Carter and Judith deserved better than this plot.
They had potential to be better but Judith's ex was such a toad she looked a bit of a doormat who should have woken up earlier.
But thank God she found Carter and neither of them needed others to tell them they had something special.
But novel wise lacking.
Profile Image for Vidya.
42 reviews1 follower
March 14, 2024
This was such a cute romance with the main leads already liking eachother from the start.
It was fast paced, short, sweet and a healthy relationship between the characters.
A great book to just relax to and enjoy their journey.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews

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