Review: The Day He Kissed Her by Juliana Stone

Title: The Day He Kissed Her by Juliana Stone
Bad Boys of Crystal Lake Book Three
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

He can’t wait to leave

Mac Draper finally has everything he’s always wanted: An amazing career. A New York City apartment. He’s this close to being free of his past forever. But a mind-blowing encounter with the sexy yet tough-as-nails Lily St. Clare has him delaying his plans to put Crystal Lake in his rearview mirror for good.

She’s finally found a place to stay

For Lily St. Clare the charming small town of Crystal Lake is her haven—a place she can hide from her famous, back-stabbing family. It’s as close to happy as she’s ever been. Until an unforgettable night with tall, dark and tortured Mac Draper gives her a glimpse of what true happiness feels like.

Lily can’t help but melt a little under the sizzling heat of Mac’s touch. But Mac’s scars run deep, and Lily’s afraid she may be falling for the one man who can never return her feelings…

The Review:

The Day He Kissed Her is the third installment of the Juliana Stone’s captivating Bad Boys of Crystal Lake series. In this outing, the last of the bad boys finds love and in the process, he finally makes peace with his turbulent and dysfunctional past.

There is absolutely nothing that can bring Mac Draper back to Crystal Lake for more than a fleeting visit. Or so he thinks until a scorching one night stand with Lily St. Clare. Months after their anonymous New Year’s Eve hook up, Mac and Lily are reunited but with Mac’s feet firmly planted in New York and Lily entrenched in Crystal Lake, is there any future for this emotionally damaged couple?

Lily and Mac are both carrying some heavy emotional baggage but Mac is, by far, the one with the most serious issues. Mac left Crystal Lake and his troubled childhood behind years earlier but the scars from his past certainly influence his present. He has a successful career and although he shies away long term commitments, he has a very active social life. Mac is confused (and dismayed) by his all consuming desire for Lily, who is NOTHING like the women he usually dates.

Lily’s family is wealthy but that has not shielded her from the pain of loss and betrayal. With the her friend Jake’s help, she has finally recovered from the death of her brother and she has distanced herself from her troubled family. Lily loves the tranquility she has found in Crystal Lake and in fact, she is on the verge of making her stay permanent when she unexpectedly runs into Mac.

Mac is almost relentless in his pursuit of Lily and while she is determined to resist him, their attraction is too powerful to ignore. They agree to a no strings summer fling and they are soon involved in a blistering hot and delectably steamy love affair. It does not take long for their relationship to become quite messy with emotions that neither one expected but it is Mac’s unanticipated encounter with his past that threatens their future.

The Day He Kissed Her is an emotional and passionate novel that is fast-paced and compelling. Mac and Lily are vibrant and richly developed protagonists with believable flaws and imperfections. Juliana Stone does not gloss over Mac’s demons and the resolution of his part of the storyline is realistic. Another enchanting installment in the Bad Boys of Crystal Lake series that old and new fans are sure to love.

Please click HERE to read my reviews of the other novels in the Bad Boys of Crystal Lake series.