Kiss Me That Way: A Cottonbloom Novel

Laura Trentham

May 2016 · St. Martin's Paperbacks

About this ebook

A river divides Cottonbloom in two: the upscale enclave on the Mississippi side and the rundown, rough and tumble side in Louisiana. They’re worlds apart—but nothing can build a bridge like love...

Cade Fournette never had it easy Cottonbloom. He stuck around long enough to raise his orphaned siblings and then hightailed it out West—and never looked back. Even though he’s made a success of himself in Seattle, Cade never lost the toughness and the angry edge that helped him survive down South. His only weak spot: the girl he left behind...

Monroe Kirby came from the wealthy side of town, but that didn’t protect her from her mother’s drinking—or her mother’s boyfriend. It was Cade who did that, on a long-ago hot September night, before he disappeared...along with a piece of her heart. Now Monroe is a physical therapist who can fight for herself, and it’s Cade who could use some conditioning when he makes an unexpected return back home. Will he and Monroe pick up where they left off and finally explore their mutual passion—or will the scars and secrets of the past divide them once more?

Ratings and reviews

Monroe shared things in her life with Cade, which she has never told anyone else. He was consistently there for her growing up just as he was there for his family without fail. Spending time with her was always a welcome respite from his burdens. She was from the rich side of the river. She had a nice house and money but lacked security and love. He was from the poor side. He had to quit school and work several jobs just to provide for his younger brother and sister. He had real love but lived in constant fear of not being able to take care of everyone. This has a little bit of the feel of a second chance at romance because Cade moved away and has come back, but it isn't. They were never lovers. Although, they do have a very close bond, and there is no denying the heat between them now. Kiss Me That Way is set mostly in a southern small town right on the Mississippi Louisiana border. Several quirky characters bring charm and humor to the story. It was a fun, easy read for me and made me smile often. If you're looking for sweet and sexy with a down to earth cast, check this one out.

***Warning: This book contains some heavy subject material including abuse and adult situations that may make some readers uncomfortable*** KISS ME THAT WAY is a cross between Romeo and Juliet and The Hatfields and The McCoys, sprinkled with comedic antics and a whole lotta love! When speaking of love, I’m not talking about the wooing of flowers, dining, sonnets of desire or declarations of affection. It’s not just defined as romantic. Love is doing whatever’s necessary to feed your younger siblings when your parents have died far too early. Love is finding friendship in an unlikely savior and discovering a kindred spirit. Love is taking care of a parent who can’t/won’t take care of themselves. Love is showing up to the same spot under the same tree every full moon for years in order to be what that person needs the most: a friend. Cade and Monroe’s story was heartfelt and beautiful. I loved that they had a history, unfortunately it wasn’t the best first meeting. The two had a unique friendship that they both needed, lasting several years. As fate (or the law) would have it, Cade leaves town unexpectedly, leaving a college-bound Monroe and Cade’s siblings behind. Thankfully, it’s that same fate that brings Cade back home to Cottonbloom. Cade’s siblings, Sawyer and Tally, were vital to the story. Sawyer’s feud with Regan (best friend of Monroe and town mayor of Cottonbloom, Mississippi) made for excellent comic relief. Not to mention the fact that they secretly dated in high school. Could they possibly get a second chance at love??? Tally also had some sparks of her own when her best friend Nash moved back into town recently. I believe their story will be told in the next book! This was my first read by Ms. Trentham and I really enjoyed it. I thought it was brilliantly written and exceptional. I’m looking forward to Tally’s story and I hope, hope HOPE that Sawyer and Regan can find that second chance at love they both so desperately deserve! ***I was gifted an eBook copy from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. All conclusions reached are my own***

Loved this book!! A wonderful start to a new series from this author. It's a small town second chance story that takes place in a small town split between Mississippi and Louisiana. One side affluent one side poor. An interesting relationship develops between Cade Fournette and Monroe Kirby. A relationship that they had to keep secret since the town would never approve. Then suddenly one day Cade is gone. Now Cade is back recovering from recent injuries and he's nothing like the young boy he was before. He's been able to accomplish great things since he left but the one thing he's never been able to do is forget Monroe. Cade needs to work with a physical therapist and Monroe is the best one around. Getting to know each other again may turn out to be the worst thing ever. Or maybe..... I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next in the series. I highly recommend this one!

About the author

Laura Trentham is an award-winning author of contemporary and historical romance, including Caught Up in the Touch, Kiss Me That Way, and others. She is a member of RWA, and has finaled multiple times in the Golden Heart competition. A chemical engineer by training and a lover of books by nature, she lives in South Carolina.