Just Kiss Me (Harlequin Temptation) [Paperback]

Kathleen O'Reilly (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (August 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373259891
• ISBN-13: 978-0373259892
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,670,447 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

It's such a strange twist of fate that I ended up as a writer. I swore up and down that I would never write, but everyone always shook their head and said, "Kathleen, you're going to be a writer." As fate would have it, they were right, and I wasn't (don't you hate that?)

My favorite part of writing is creating my characters. I fall in love with everyone in each book, and it's pure magic when it all comes to life.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Funny, sexy and poignant story of an unlikely couple, May 10, 2003

By 

baltimore0502 "Hon!" (BALTIMORE, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just Kiss Me (Harlequin Temptation) (Paperback)

My first introduction to Ms O'Reilly's work was her (so far only) historical "Touched by Fire" which I absolutely adored! The author has a knack for creating likeable leads that you really care about and displays a lot of humour in her stories.

Dr Avery Barrington III simply takes it for granted that he and lawyer Amanda Sedgewick belong together and will marry someday - much to Amanda's consternation! Fond as she is of Avery, he's just not what she's looking for. Though they're both well-educated, successful professionals, she yearns to break out of her proper, dull world. And when all attempts to let Avery down easy fail (he just doesn't get it!) she resorts to deception. She ropes Avery's younger brother Joe into a "pretend" relationship - all the while hoping it will become all too real since Joe is really hot and a fling with him could be lots of fun!

Joseph Matthias Barrington has always felt like second-best next to Avery. He never got into the posh private schools or worked toward a professional career. Instead he's gone his own way and is now an airline mechanic. He always figured Amanda and Avery made the perfect couple, with so much in common. So when Amanda recruits him for her plan, he initially balks. Not until he is convinced that Amanda is sincere and Avery really is oblivious does he reluctantly agree to participate. The forced intimacy of pretending to date starts to awaken confused feelings and a strong sexual attraction between Joe and Amanda. But Joe feels Amanda is way out of his league - she's on the fast track to a partnership. He figures he'll never measure up, so why try? His feelings of inadequacy will touch your heart. But should Amanda feel guilty about being successful? Is there anyway for these two make it work?

An enjoyable, often funny and poignant story of a couple struggling with career, income and lifestyle issues that could tear any couple apart. I know Ms O'Reilly has more contemporaries on the way, which I welcome, but I also hope that there are also more historicals in her future - which seems awfully bright!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fiery, daring and often humorous -- Very highly recommended, August 6, 2002

By 

C. Penn "WordWeaving" (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Just Kiss Me (Harlequin Temptation) (Paperback)

Amanda Sedgewick enlists Joe Barrington's aid to dissuade his brother Avery. For twenty-one years Avery has assumed that he and Amanda will wind up together and refuses to believe her blatant discouragement. So Amanda hopes that involvement with younger brother Joe will send Avery packing, and perhaps lead to a bit of wild fun. After all, Amanda is not looking for a commitment, although a passionate affair with Joe would certainly fill her fantasies.

Amanda's cool looks have never caught Joe's eye. He likes his women hot and passionate. But her harebrained scheme regarding brother Avery replaces his misconceptions with expectations that exceed his wildest fantasies. Suddenly he finds himself swept away by her playful sensuality, inspired to become more than just Dr Avery Barrington's airline mechanic younger brother. Unfortunately, that inspiration can also lead to his downfall.

A message on a cocktail napkin transforms lives in Kathleen O'Reilly's newest romance JUST KISS ME. But don't let lively romantic romp fool you; O'Reilly understands the insecurities created by conflicting careers and lifestyles. The strength of this fabulous tale is its confrontation with contemporary challenges and values, and its ability to find a resolution without compromising the strengths of the characters. On one hand, Joe's determination to blaze his own path flags when he does not believe he is worthy of a wealthy lawyer on the fast track to partnership. On the other hand, Amanda treasures the spontaneity and freshness Joe brings to her life, loosening her inhibitions and allowing her to reevaluate priorities. Together their romance is fiery, daring and often humorous. Readers will be watching for a sequel as the proper brother Avery seeks his path to love. Very highly recommended.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Nice Read, October 24, 2004

By 

JADE (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just Kiss Me (Harlequin Temptation) (Paperback)

JUST KISS ME by Kathleen O'Reilly, Tempt #889

I enjoy the writing of the Temptations more and I tend to buy more of that series now in addition to my favorite Harlequin Presents. JUST KISS ME is bascially about opposites attract. A straight lace, neat freak, workaholic female lawyer who wants to walk on the wild side with a rough around the edges bad boy Airplane Mechanic. This story was more of a romantic comedy with some pretty funny lines. My most memberable moment, however, is this really hot steamy love scene during a New York City subway ride, in a crowded train in broad day light. It was hard to imagine nobody on the train not noticing the heroine enjoying her.........ahem ........moment when she wanted to scream on top of her lungs!