Review: It's a wonder that he [Jax] didn't just give up totally on being with her [Jacey].
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 22, 2014
THE STORY:JELLYBEAN KISSES is the story of Jacey and Jax, and their first love for each other. This first book tells us Jacey's side of the story. How she denied herself the one thing she wanted most - meaning Jax - because every time they tried to be together something bad happened, and she felt it was a punishment. By the end of her ruminations, Jacey decides that it's time to let herself have what she's denied herself for years. She asks Jax if they can be together properly, now that she's made peace with the fact that none of the bad things that happened after they were together, happened because they were together.This book is actually the first part of a serial series, so it's pretty short. To be honest, that's the only thing that I didn't like about JELLYBEAN KISSES. It just felt like there wasn't enough to this first book to be fulfilling. I'm sure that if I read the entire story as one book, I would have enjoyed it more.My favorite part of the story was the "RED" chapter, where the jellybean kisses come in. This is probably the most emotional chapter is the entire book. I hope that there are more chapters like this one in future parts of this serial.THE CAST:The Guy: Jax has been Jacey's best friend since they were little kids and that turned into something more as they got older. Jacey makes him believe on numerous occasions that they are finally going to be together, but then something happens to make her push him away. But for years, he pretended to be her boyfriend to keep the gossips at bay. Even now that they are on their way to college, he's holding out hope that Jacey will give them a chance.The Girl: After Jacey's first kiss with Jax, she learns that her older sister is pregnant. This leads her to believe that kissing Jax caused this bad thing to happen. She soon gains the nickname "Ice Queen." She became very religious after that and is very strict in her beliefs about marriage and sex. It takes Jax helping her remove a goose from her car to kiss him after so long. But it's learning that her college plans have been delayed that leads her to thinking about her relationship with Jax and all the things that have happened between them.THE ROMANCE:Jacey and Jax's strange relationship started on the 4th of July, the summer before their Freshman year. They both notice how the other has matured - Jax has gained more muscle, while Jacey came into her curves. They shared their first kiss under the fishing pier, with the fireworks going off in the sky.It sounds like a beautiful moment, and it was until Jacey got home to learn that her sister was pregnant and being kick out of the house. These two events became connected in Jacey's mind, and to prevent the same thing from happening to her, she became an "Ice Queen," pushing Jax away.Each chapter of a past event between Jacey and Jax shows them taking a step toward a relationship, then something bad happening and Jacey pushing Jax away. It's a wonder that he didn't just give up totally on being with her. Although he did see someone for a short time during Homecoming their Senior year. Ironically, it takes something bad to happen for her to really think about her feelings for Jax and decide that maybe now is the time to just go for it with him.