Review: Kissed by Kimberly Loth
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 07 15, 2014
When Naomi was eight, her father changed. They’d had a wonderfully close relationship, but now they belong to a very different church. Naomi now must keep herself covered, her hair long, and at sixteen, is forced into a marriage she doesn’t want. Her only friends are her roses, given to her by her deceased grandmother, and the only thing which brings her pleasure. Naomi meets Kai – he comes into her room and kisses her, along with leaving special roses for her when she wakes. Even though Kai promises to help her – Naomi must find a way to escape her father and her future husband even sooner. What Naomi learns over time about Guardians, Destroyers, and Shades will change her life forever. Will she be able to make the right choices when it comes to her heart and her future? KISSED has an interesting premise and I got caught up in the story, even staying up late to finish it. While I liked the story overall, there were certain aspects I loved more than others. The lore of the roses is amazing and each rose came to life like they were another character in the book. I wasn’t a fan of the love triangle between Naomi, Kai, and Puck – I’m just tired of love triangles. Naomi seemed to evolve quickly, much more so than I’d think a girl who had lived very sheltered for half of her life. I wasn’t very surprised by who the villain turned out to be, so I would have enjoyed more suspense or twists there. I did love the paranormal elements and I’d be interested in seeing where the author takes Naomi if there were a sequel. KISSED is a good debut novel from an author with definite talent.