Roses are red, violets are blue—someone in Rose has feelings for you…
Yeah, bad ones. Everly Davis didn’t leave her tight-knit hometown on the best terms. It’s been ten years, but you don’t forget heartbreak like that. Then again, the anonymous invite to the annual Kiss Lottery in Rose, Tennessee, gives Everly content for her podcast. And she has a bone to pick with that old heartbreak anyway.
Beckett Whitfield has never left Rose—and he’s never forgotten Everly. He even named the villain in his latest bestseller after her. Turns out she’s not happy about that. Nothing about their reunion is particularly happy, and after the way they left things, what did he expect?
When the Kiss Lottery pairs them together, Everly and Beckett will have to confront old feelings that never went away and the secrets they never shared. But finally telling each other everything might be exactly what they’ve needed all along.
| Title: | The Kiss Lottery |
| Author: | Ilsa Madden-Mills |
| Series: | n/a |
| Pages: | tbc |
| Genre(s): | Contemporary |
| Trope(s): | Second Chance Romance Small Town Romance Valentine Romance |
| Point of View: | First Person, Present Tense, Dual Viewpoint (H & h) |
| Location: | Rose, Tennessee, USA |
| HEA: | ✔ |
| Release Date: | 11th February, 2025 |
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Cute and quirky small town romance
I do so love Ilsa Madden-Mills and here she comes with a cute and quirky standalone novella just in time for (spits) Valentine’s Day. As far as I know, this isn’t linked to any other series – but I’m hoping we get to revisit Rose, Tennessee for more oddball shenanigans in the future.
Everly’s life is now in New York. But a longing for a place where she belongs – and a mystery invitation to Kiss Lottery in the small town she was born and raised in – is all it takes to get her back. And smack dab into the boy man that was her everything – until he broke her heart and sent her running.
Everly has a great life and has really done well for herself after leaving her small town after high school. But she’s lonely and just wants to find her place in the world. I felt for her – I really did. And once we hear the drama of her high school days, I felt for her even more. I hated high school and this just reminded me of why. I liked that Everly was sassy, feisty and yet still vulnerable. All the things I love in a heroine. And she named her kitten Murder. Perfect.
And speaking of perfect – let me introduce you to Beckett. Gah – a book nerd in a lumberjack’s body! Yes, please. And one that’s head over heels for his girl, and always had been. It did add a bit of angst to the story – but just a bit. Beckett was that wonderful blend of sweet and sexy – smouldering but adorable. Oh yes – I liked him a lot.
“Gah – a book nerd in a lumberjack’s body! Yes, please.”
We hear from both Everly and Becket’s viewpoints throughout the story and you really get a full picture of the angst and yearning on both sides. But they don’t divulge all their secrets to the reader – which helps keep the story going and the excitement building. It was just enough emotional that I felt it without being overcome.
The rest of the cast of characters in the story are just a delight. They don’t take over (although I am hankering for a Troy and Tabby book!) but just add so much fun and really gave me that small town vibe. And there’s a ghost, too. Okay, fine – there’s talk of a ghost but thankfully she never visits the pages.
To be honest, the Kiss Lottery is just a mechanism to have Everly come to town and really doesn’t have much of an impact in the story apart from that. But it’s still a cute little plot point that was fun and something a wee bit different.
This story is something a little bit different which still being a true and tested romance. I really enjoyed it and it left me with a smile on my face and little love hearts flitting around my head. It has Ms Madden-Mills’ signature wit and style and is a book I would happily recommend. 5 stars.
* I received this book in exchange for my honest review *
Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills is best known for her contemporary romances ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.
Seven of her ten novels have placed in the Amazon US Store Top Six Best-seller List: Dirty English hit #1; Fake Fiancée and I Dare You hit #2; I Bet You, Filthy English, and Very Bad Things all placed #6 in the Amazon US Store. The Last Guy, her collaboration with Tia Louise, hit #4.
A former high school English teacher, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.
She’s addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females. Feel free to stalk her online.
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