The Kissing Contract

Amy Andrews

Jul 2019 · Sold by Entangled: Amara

About this ebook

Marshall Dyson wants one thing and one thing only: to raze his grandfather’s island to the ground. Everything is ready to go...except for all the freakin’ bunnies. The island is covered in hundreds of the furry critters, hopping about and multiplying before his eyes. And to add to the annoyingly cute, fluffy misery, Marshall has to contend with the American Bunny League taking him to court to save them. Including one distractingly beautiful veterinarian...

Dr. Augusta “Gus” North can’t believe the infuriating and annoyingly hot builder cares more about leveling some cabin than the lives of hundreds of sweet bunnies. But when the judge orders Marshall to stay on the island and help Gus rehome the rabbits—for an entire month—it’s time to lay some ground rules. Starting with absolutely no kissing.

But with all the fighting and getting under each other’s skin, keeping their hands off each other is harder than herding bunnies...

Ratings and reviews

With such an outrageous premise, I wouldn't have touched this book if it hadn't been written by Amy Andrews. I know I can trust her intelligence and that she will not fall prey to the pitfalls of the genre. In the hands of a lesser writer, this romcom could have devolved into a ridiculous and preposterous farce. It doesn't take a genius to figure out how it will go, but it's how we get there that makes all the difference, and this is where Ms.Andrews' skills shine. THE KISSING CONTRACT is original and clever, and much of the first third is truly side-splitting. Trust Amy Andrews to write a charming, sexy, and sweet story based on wrangling bunnies! Even more surprising, where I'm concerned, is that the segments with the bunnies were wildly entertaining, and that they were essential in advancing the plot. The writing is effortless and smooth, as the author navigates calm seas and tempestuous waters with the same ease: snarky banter and emotional exchanges are equally compelling and genuine. Gus and Marshall are technically enemies, but in fact they get along well; the banter is lighthearted teasing rather than hurtful barbs. I also appreciated that their voices are as distinctive as their personalities, even if the book is written in third person POV. There were a few typos, which I hope will be caught before the final version is published, particularly this one: "Accept clearly not", which had me scratching my head for a moment; it should be "Except clearly not". THE KISSING CONTRACT is a slow burn, maybe a little too slow. With all the buildup, I felt the "big moment" was anticlimactic and not the romantic scene I expected. Gus' concerns were legitimate, Marshall needed to deal with his issues, and I was somewhat disappointed that this was handled mostly off-page. In the end, especially with regard to an element in the epilogue, I wasn't convinced that Marshall, as adorable as he was, was a sure thing for the long haul, judging from what I saw, not what I was told.

4 stars — There were parts of this book that were like 5+ stars incredible. So much great humour at times, and in general I found Marshall to be super swoony. Plus, bunnies. Unfortunately, Gus frustrated me on *many* occasions, lowering my final rating. I know it was probably a bad idea to read a book so heavily featuring rabbits, but I just couldn’t help myself. And in general it felt like the author got a lot right, and actually depicted them as rabbits, instead of like cats and dogs (which I have seen before). I mean, they were picked up a lot more than many like to be, but I’ll give some grace. In general they were just ridiculously adorable, and as expected just made me long for another bunny of my own…. Marshall was actually pretty hilarious — his humour surprised me on many occasions, and I kind of loved how laid back he was, but also how in touch with wanting to grow and learn. That’s hella sexy. The funny thing is my very first impression of him in the courtroom was meh, but he just got better and better with time. I loved the way he teased Gus, I loved the way he really got into the bunny rescue and made connections with some of the bunnyguard. And obviously I loved that he connected with Thumper too… I appreciated that there was a lot going on inside him, and that his past had shaped him dramatically. And I really loved that when taken to task about his decisions in the past, he took the time and put in the effort to try to figure himself out. Gus, on the other hand, was a mixed bag for me. I loved how passionate and dedicated she was about her job, and the bits of her personality we got to see through there. It was the way she dealt with her past heartbreak and with Marshall that left me wanting. For all that she talked about being haughty, she truly was a prissy heroine. I never quite connected with her heartbreak over Rick, it’s like I didn’t see it but was merely told it. As such, I truly didn’t understand her reactions to her attraction to Marshall. I just didn’t get her. I hated the way she pushed him away, and tried to minimize things. I hated the way she put so much of it on Marshall (which, he had his problems too), instead of owning up to her own problems. I hate that somehow she got over her heartbreak, but it just sort of happened without the reader seeing it — it was super unsatisfying to not get to see her learn and grow. *sigh* The two together had pretty good chemistry, when Gus could get out of her own way. I mostly enjoyed their comradery though. *shrugs* I loved seeing Marshall’s relationship with his brother Jeremy, and how close they were. I also really enjoyed some of the characters in the bunnyguard, particularly Ray. All in all, Marshall and the bunnies made this book. It easily could have been a book I gushed over if Gus had gotten the same depth and leeway that Marshall did. Ah well, I will still look back at my highlights and laugh!

A private island, an unwanted inheritance, a benevolent gift and a whole load of fertile bunnies! Marshall Dyson wants to open his grandfather's private island to single parent families to obliterate the memories of his past and his grandfather's inhumanity to the ground. Unfortunately a population of wild rabbits has grown on the island and the American Bunny League opposes his plans to eliminate them. Instead, a court orders Marshall to cooperate with the American Bunny League to humanely trap all of the rabbits and put them up for adoption. Much as he loathes the court's decision Marshall can't help his attraction to the American Bunny League's spokesperson, veterinarian Dr Augusta North. Now Marshall and Augusta are spending four weeks trapped on a small island, surrounded by horny bunny volunteers and lots and lots of rabbits. This is a zany romantic comedy between a dedicated bunny scientist and a successful construction company CEO, full of sexual tension, smokin' hot smexy times and some of the cutest bunnies you could ever imagine. Loved it. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

About the author

Amy Andrews is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling, double RITA®–nominated Aussie author who has written eighty-plus contemporary romances in both the traditional and digital markets. She’s been translated into more than a dozen different languages as well as manga. Her books bring all the feels from sass, quirk, and laughter to emotional grit to panty-melting heat. She loves frequent travel, good books, and great booze—although she’ll take mediocre booze if there’s nothing else. For many, many years she was a registered nurse. Which means she knows things. Anatomical things. And she’s not afraid to use them! She lives in a sleepy seaside town with her husband of thirty years. Visit her online at amyandrews.com.au.