A Kiss Doesn’t Lie by Robin Alexander is a delightful romantic adventure set in the Peruvian jungle.
Jodie Grant’s plans to interview for a new job followed by a date with a real woman are thwarted when she’s confronted, at gunpoint no less, at her father’s funeral. She’s whisked away to foreign lands and told she needs to decipher her deceased father’s letters or get a bullet in the head.
Dr. Blair Wittington went to Peru in search of ancient artifacts. She got more than she bargained for when she found out that she was embroiled in an illegal antiquities trade. Betrayed by Nicholas Grant, she’s forced to put her trust in his estranged daughter.
Trapped in Peru, Jodie and Blair play a game neither wanted to play, but leads them to discover the most ancient artifact of all…love.
Writing
Robin Alexander is known for hilarious tales yet with A Kiss Doesn’t Lie, she takes readers on an adventure through the Peruvian landscape. Don’t get me wrong, there are still plenty of chuckles but unlike her other works, this one has life-and-death elements that make it a bit more serious. The cryptic letters that Jodi’s father left for her are cryptic and had me trying to figure out along with the characters, what in the world Nicolas Grant was trying to convey. The wild environment teamed with action are perfectly detailed and the continuous danger the characters find themselves in holds a steady element of suspense throughout.
Narration
Abby Craden does a wonderful job narrating this entertaining adventure. Each character’s voice is consistent and perfectly fits their vibe. I was easily able to follow along as the characters made their way through their treacherous journey where I felt like I was right there with them.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
I absolutely adore everything about this book. I love the adventure and suspense combined with the budding romance between Jodie and Blair. Jodie’s relationship with her deceased father is complicated. He was an absentee parent whose death spurs her involvement in his nefarious acts. When she’s kidnapped at gunpoint by a killer for hire at her father’s funeral and whisked away to the Peruvian jungle she’s angry and lets everyone know it. Despite her best efforts to remain bitter, she sees that she needs to try to help decipher her letters. Throughout the novel, Jodie whose been pretty complacent in life, steps up, faces her fears, and becomes a total badass.
Blair’s angry with herself for allowing Nicholas Grant to get her roped up in his mess. When she finds herself in the Peruvian jungle looking for unknown treasure and surrounded by people wanting to kill her, she remains level-headed which really endeared her to me. Throughout all of the obstacles, Blair’s leadership never wavered which is a testament to her strength and resilience.
I love Blair and Jodie’s romance where they go from certain rivals to confidants, to lovers. The development happens sweetly with each stealing little glances, sharing slight touches, and prolonged eye contact. Despite their predicament, or perhaps because of, what they find themselves in, their feelings for one another deepen quickly in a believable way. Their dialogue and banter are funny and oftentimes dripping with sarcasm which kept me hooked.
Heads Up
None for me
The Conclusion
A Kiss Doesn’t Lie is an entertaining adventure with humorous elements intertwined with life and death experiences that kept me listening long into the night. The journey is fraught with danger, tension, suspense, and hidden enemies. No matter the difficulties the strong and irrepressible characters never give up. Their story is not only a physical journey but an emotional one of self-discovery, vulnerability, honesty, and trust. I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a romantic adventure that will make you giggle, smile, and swoon!
Excerpt from A Kiss Doesn’t Lie by Robin Alexander
My dearest,
I failed you as a father. I know my work was never important to you, and you see it as the thing that has kept us apart through the years. You’ll come to resent it more now. Your life depends on what you’re about to read. Don’t dismiss or take it lightly.
Look around you. Do you see unfamiliar faces standing off in the distance pretending to be interested in something else?
Jodi Grant looked up from the paper held tightly in her grasp. A man stood away from the small cache of mourners surrounding her father’s burial site. He averted his gaze when she caught his eye. Beyond him, a woman put flowers on a grave. She too glanced in Jodi’s direction and looked away quickly. Jodi tried to look casually to her left and noticed another man leaning against one of the large oaks of the cemetery. He exhaled a large puff of smoke and stubbed his cigarette out on the bark of the tree. He made no move to avert his gaze and met Jodi’s head-on.
I was close. Jodi, in my hand, I held artifacts that no man has touched in thousands of years. The final prize is still out there waiting to be discovered.
Jodi swallowed convulsively, hoping that he would not ask the unthinkable. She was not going to tramp through some jungle to finish what he started.
I want you to finish what I started. Actually, honey, you have no choice. The people surrounding you have no intention of letting you return to the life you knew. By now, your apartment has been ransacked. You can’t go back there. You can’t stay here. You must go. I’ve sent help. He’ll probably reveal himself by the time you finish this note.
Jodi inhaled sharply as she folded the letter.
“Ms. Grant, come with me, please.”
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Bits and Bobs
Publisher: Robin Alexander Romance
Audiobook Publisher: Tantor Audio
Narrator: Abby Craden
Audiobook length: 6 hours and 59 minutes
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