Book Review: One Last Kiss by Jessica Ruddick

4.5⭐
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Series ~ Carolina Banks, #3
Others in the series ~ One Unexpected Kiss, One Perfect Kiss
Setting ~ North Carolina
Publication date ~ November 16, 2023
Page Count ~238 (18 chapters +e)
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ cafe owner, cop, baking competition, close knit family, brother’s best friends, best friends sister, best friends to lovers, fake dating, small town, minimal steamage

My review:

Carmen & Wes
It’s already tough crushing on your bff’s little sister, but add in that you’ve been a part of the family for over a decade and it adds a little extra weariness about getting involved. But why, Wes is clearly loved by every member of the family. Oh wait, did I mention that big brother Bennett is VERY overprotective, yikes. If you’ve read the others in the series then you just know he’s going to blow when he finds out and a blow he does. But ugh with it because they’re grown adults. And why not add in that you’re best friends and don’t want to rock that boat.

Gah with these two though! They did a little fake dating to put off a tool of a guy in town, and you can probably guess what’s going to come from that. I love me a best friends to lovers and they were so cute once they realized each other had the same feelings. 3rd act shenanigans I could have went without, but overall I loved it. The ending seemed abrupt, so I hope it’s tidied up in the next installment.

Series notes:
This is a series that follows siblings and all are heavily involved in each installment, so it’s recommended to read in order for full enjoyment.

*Thanks to Jessica Ruddick and Booksprout for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

Add to your never ending TBR  ~ goodreads

I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve read it.

Book blurb:

First rule of bro code—don’t date your best friend’s sister.

I owe everything to my best friend and his family. Thanks to them taking me in as a teenager, I stayed on the straight and narrow. They’re the reason I ended up a cop instead of behind bars like my old man. That’s why I would never make a move on Carmen Ramsey, no matter how smart and sexy she is.

I would always protect her from a womanizing jerk, though. That’s the only reason I open my big mouth and spout the lie that we’re together. Now I’m off to Raleigh with Carmen, posing as her boyfriend as she competes in The Great American Bake-off . Except faking it with her brings all the walls I’ve built between us crumbling down. Having only one bed leads to one hot night, and all of the boundaries between us disappear.

But being with Carmen risks the only family I’ve ever known, and I’m just not sure I’m a good enough man to be worthy of the future she sees for us.

Connect with Jessica ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Instagram ~ Twitter ~ Website

Thanks for stopping by!  Visit my bookish product page here 🥰📚
Connect with me ⬇