Kissing Adrien (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Mitchell pens a sparkling charmer. This delicious novel proves that she’s a new author to watch. -- Romantic Times Magazine

This is a delightful story that will make you laugh and want to plan your next vacation to Paris!!! -- Five Star Book Reviews and More by The Reading Mom

Product Description

In this fresh and humorous tale, 29-year-old Claire agrees to supervise the renovation of the Paris apartment her parents have inherited. Ignoring her romantic surroundings, Claire is all-business and in a hurry to return to her job, home, and an Â"almost datingÂ" relationship with Brian, an associate pastor.

When Adrien, a handsome and flirtatious friend of the family, agrees to help Claire, his spontaneity and joie de vie drives her crazy. But in time, even Claire cannot resist the City of LightsÂ’ offerings, including the Rodin museum where the sculpture The Kiss raises the questionsÂ…who will be the love of her life? And will she ever learn to enjoy the life God has placed right in front of her.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (July 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736916369
• ISBN-13: 978-0736916363
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #120,170 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars And God created joie de vivre, December 14, 2005

By	Margo Carmichael (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Claire travels back to the enchanting City of Light and discovers her inner and outer beauty with the help of her tres charmant childhood friend, Adrien.

In this delightful Pygmalionesque story, Adrien takes Claire under his wing like a French big brother. He persuades her occasionally to change into dressier clothes than her t-shirts, shorts and running shoes Parisians so look down on in their beautiful city, and he takes her shopping for chic frocks and stiletto heels.

Claire also begins shedding the complacency of her lackluster life in Seattle. She finds she has fallen in love with Paris, the apartment she has inherited, and the mysterious woman who had lived there--and the fabulous clothes the woman left behind.

Still, Claire clings to some rigid ways of dressing and thinking and relating to God, much the way she clings to her pink, green and orange backpack.

Adrien wines and dines Claire. With sweet Gallic charm and the patience of Job, he looks into her eyes and challenges her cherished stereotypes with his beautiful French accent and animated love of life.

Could it be that God Himself created joie de vivre?

Witty, handsome Adrien's joie de vivre is all the more reason Claire has always loved him. And how she longs to kiss him. But he could never return the love of a girl like her. So, she helps him deal with an unnamed woman he does love who doesn't seem to get it.

The reader gets it, though, and may want to give Claire a shake and Adrien a hug!

Having stayed in a small hotel on the Rue Cler and visited the Louvre and so many other sites that Siri Mitchell slips seamlessly into the story with colorful detail, I loved reading about them here. This is a darling story about awakening of heart and spirit in the beautiful city of Paris.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An American Girl in Paris, May 9, 2007

By	Deborah "Books, Movies and Chinese Food" (Reston, VA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Claire is an accountant who lives a life that is straightforward and without surprises. Then one day she is whisked away to Paris to set things straight about an inheritance given to her French born father. While she is there she is reunited with Adrien, her former crush, and soon is introduced into a world where the unexpected happens everyday. Claire soon learns to live her life to the fullest and enjoy her surroundings. And what would a story in Paris be without romance? As Adrien teaches Claire about this new life, she soon finds herself wishing he would take part in in it too.

I'm a huge chick lit fan and I've really enjoyed Siri Mitchell's books so I was very excited to pick up Kissing Adrien. The premise sounded really good and I love reading stories that take place in Europe. Paris is a city I really want to visit one day. What could be more chick lit than an American girl finding love in Paris? Well, unfortunately this book didn't meet all my expectations. I really did like the storyline about Claire going to Paris because she's inherited an apartment where the owner has her past shrouded in mystery. I loved reading about French culture and learning about the city and its inhabitants.

However I did not find the characters to my liking. The main thing that really bugged me was Adrien's insistence that Claire drink wine. She finally gave in to get him off her back. Now I do not drink, but I do not condemn those that drink socially. Why did Claire have to give in? If she did not want to drink, Adrien should have just dropped it. I did not like it that every time she would say no he would accuse her of being American and worrisome. I also didn't like how he threw away all her clothes. Yes he eventually apologized but I felt it was really rude. I also did not really like the attitude he had about her not really fitting into Paris because she was too American, didn't want to change, and was too close minded. The funny thing is I have met several European students who came here to study abroad and I found them constantly looking down on Americans and not trying to fit in at all while they were in college. So are Europeans just naturally snobby? Adrien just came off to be very much as a person who kept trying to change Claire to fit his ideals, and what's worse is that Claire allowed herself to change. I will admit some was for the better, but she didn't seem to have a backbone.

I am probably in the minority here about how I viewed the book. If you like chick lit I think you'd enjoy the book. And if you like reading about Paris and want to look like a local instead of a tourist, this book will definitely teach you how to be one.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding-loved it! A must read, September 16, 2006

By	Patricia Porter (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I enjoyed every minute of this book. It was passionate without being explicit and I didn't want to put it down. You will really enjoy the book. The best I've read in a long time. I'd give it 10 stars.