GRR Reviews Stolen Kisses (The Barrington Billionaires) by Ruth Cardello

Stolen Kisses started off initially as some rich people having first world problems, but then the characters started to get really sympathetic as they are both wounded souls, and before you know it, you have a friends-to-lovers story.

Dax Marshall is a business shark that cared not for emotions... except NOBODY ever tells him no. He had just purchased a resort to be flipped later when he spotted Kenzi Barrington, of the rich Barrington clan, on the beach of his new resort, drunk but attempting to get to the beach for a swim. He saw the sadness and despair in her eyes, and brought her back to her room and allowed her to sleep it off. That unlikely meeting created an interesting friendship, for Kenzi is indeed burning up inside, having kept a secret so long she had turned self-destructive, and nobody in the family is ready to listen. And she had to tell the one man she knew who is strong enough to stand the truth... Dax Marshall. And that shared secret will affect how they define life... and love.

I've always liked Ruth Cardello's novels more than her sister, Jeanette Winters. These characters seem to have a better depth to them without making them TOO wounded (unlike some authors who thought the more wounds the more defined the character). Kenzi's story seems to start with just plain brattiness, but you get a hint of tension underneath that brittle and brashy exterior, and soon realize there's a lot more to her than that. And the family is like the "avoid a crisis at any costs; just don't talk about it". Dax... was okay, but he's basically Richard Gere in Pretty Woman, starts as business shark, then wanted to turn companies around by the end of the book. A little cliche, I guess? Still a good read.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Unlikeliest of friends; a business shark and rich but wounded girl; becoming lovers... sad, poignant, and romantic

Tropes:

Overall Rating: 5/5