Sometimes, stepping beyond your comfort zone means embracing the unknown—picking up new skills, exploring uncharted territory, and stumbling into love in the most unlikely places.

Lucille Carmichael had always been a perennial loser in life’s lottery, so the email announcing her win—a lavish, all-inclusive getaway to Kansas—felt like a cosmic joke. She zipped up her suitcase and headed straight for Dodge City, her pulse racing at the thought of rugged cowboys thundering through barrel races, and craving some wide-open breathing room after a messy split.

But when flames erupt at her hotel, Lucille collides with the smoldering gaze of Samuel Lyons, a chiseled firefighter who’s anything but a cowboy—yet he sets her heart ablaze just the same.

Samuel can’t shake the image of the stunning stranger with killer legs peeking from beneath her baggy sweater, lost and disheveled in the post-fire chaos of the parking lot. Once the blaze is out and she’s safely back in her room, he assumes that’s the end of it. Imagine his surprise when fate throws them together again: no smoke, no sirens—just an electric pull urging them to chase whatever this could become.

Can Lucille and Samuel fan their budding passion into a lasting inferno, even across miles of heartache, or will distance douse their spark to embers?

My Review

This book begins at the end of the school year, so summer. Yes, I’m reading it in autumn. 😂 Lucy won a vacation to Kansas and, as a teacher who is off for the summer, she’s ready for an adventure. She has some compulsive behaviors and anxiety, and her first night is definitely eventful. The small-town and summer vibes are everywhere, and I’m loving the banter.

Sappy, instalove, and arguments right off the bat. I don’t know the characters’ ages, but they move quickly. There is definitely no slow burn here. They go from a quick fling to a long-distance relationship, and they seem to be younger, or at least Lucy doesn’t have a ton of experience when it comes to romance or putting her own needs ahead of everything else.

She is very needy and unsure about just about everything, while he is constantly having to reassure and encourage her. The relationship feels pretty one-sided at times, and I can already see some big arguments coming for them in the future.

This story is the perfect quick-read example of first comes the fling, then dating, then love, marriage, and the baby. 😂 I’m thrilled for the couple, but it is clean and moves quickly, which thankfully works for me since I’m mostly reading it to check off the state.

It does end cute, although I didn’t really feel connected to the characters. Still, it was the perfect fast read and would make a great palate cleanser.

If you would like to read Kansas Kissed by Debbie White, you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn on qualifying purchases.

If you like this book you may also enjoy books with these tags and categories: Summer, Small Town and Instalove.