Title: Kiss & Ride
Author: Teodora Kostova
Genre: Gay Romance, Contemporary, Christmas/Holiday Romance
Synopsis
What happens when you meet the right guy at the wrong time?
When Vincent Alesi’s estranged father dies, he gets on the first plane from New York city to Rome to be at the memorial service. Even if he has to max out his credit card. Even if he hates the man for leaving him. Even if it’s a day before Christmas.
Everything that can go wrong does go wrong, and Vin ends up trusting a complete stranger with all his secrets, even the ones he didn’t know he had.
Luca Romano’s job as a flight attendant takes him all over the world. But a jet-setting lifestyle is not what he wants. His dream of opening his own restaurant is being placed on hold over circumstances beyond his control.
Timing is everything…
When Vin bursts into Luca’s life, both men fall fast and hard. But their lives, their dreams, even the cities they live in couldn’t be more different.
Their few days together in Rome are romantic, emotionally intense, and leave them both wanting more.
Can a fleeting love affair change their lives forever?
With really nowhere to go, Vin and Luca begin to talk to each other, and Vin admits as to why he is actually in Rome, to go to a memorial service for a father that he totally depises. When they finally emerge from the elevator, Luca has decided that he will take Vin to the service, as he can't bear to think of Vin going alone.
From this point on, the two stick together, and seemed to have formed a deep attachment to each other in only a small amount of time. It is also so close to Christmas, that this also seems to bring a special element into the mix. As Vin works through his confusing emotions about his father, and what he has learned since being in Rome, Luca stands by his side, his safe haven.
However, Luca's life is not without challenges, and finally Luca opens up to Vin about his life. The one thing that really stands out to them both, is no matter now deep their feelings are for each other - the timing of their meeting each other is all wrong, both have commitments they must see through first - Vin has a degree to finish back in New York, and Luca has a court battle with his parents to win, over his grandmothers house which was left to him, in Rome..... so how will they make things work?? They then make a decision together that if they both feel the same the following Christmas, that they will meet at the fountain.
This part of the story is heart wrenching at times, both Luca and Vin miss each other terribly, and it is a mixture of texts, calls, emails and even Skype, and the emotions of both just pour from the pages as you read. Both of them are missing each other, but will they both feel the same when it comes to Christmas??
I absolutely totally loved this story, and once I started reading I just could not put it down. As I have said already, I fell in love with both characters from the first page, and this continued all through the book, even to the extent of sitting here willing things to go right for them, so they could have the life they both wanted and so deserved. To me, this is a book that shows you that even though you may be miles away, that love can conquer all, and if your love is deep enough, then things will have a way of working out. If you want an awesome holiday read, then please read this book, you really won't regret it.
At the door, Maria asked him to keep in touch and Vin promised he would. They hugged for a long moment, Vin’s eyes shining with tears as he let go of his aunt.
“Did he know? About me? That I...” He faltered as if unsure how to phrase his question. “That I create things, too?”
Maria grinned, pulling him in for another hug. “He knew,” she said with conviction. “He knew from the moment you were born.”
Vin’s eyes filled with tears. “Really?”
“Yes. He called me the day you were born and said, ‘Maria, he’s beautiful.’” Maria wiped the tear that rolled down Vin’s cheek. “‘I’m going to call him Vincent, after Van Gogh. Because he’ll be one of the greats, I know it in my gut.’”
Vin hugged his aunt again and they stayed like that for a while, before she bid them goodbye and they walked down the stairs. In the lobby, Vin hesitated before pushing the front door open. Luca handed him a tissue, smiling as Vin wiped his tears, because this time they were happy tears.
Buy Links
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N054R33/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N054R33/
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01N054R33/
Book Trailer
Giveaway
Prizes
- Kindle Fire 7″ WiFi 8GB tablet
- 2 x 10$ Amazon gift cards
- 2 x Signed paperbacks of Snowed In
- 3 x Swag packs, including pens, bookmarks, bracelets, and van Gogh themed items from the National Gallery in London
- 2 x audio books, winners choice. (requires an account with Audible to claim prize)
About the author
Hi, my name is Teodora and I live in London with my husband and my son. I’ve been writing ever since I can remember, but it became my full time job a few years ago when I decided that everything else I’ve tried bores me to death and I have to do what I’ve always wanted to do, but never had the guts to fully embrace. I’ve been a journalist, an editor, a personal assistant and an interior designer among other things, but as soon as the novelty of the new, exciting job wears off, I always go back to writing. Being twitchy, impatient, loud and hasty are not qualities that help a writer, because I have to sit alone, preferably still, and write for most of the day, but I absolutely love it. It’s the only time that I’m truly at peace and the only thing I can do for more than ten minutes at a time – my son has a bigger attention span than me.
When I’m procrastinating, I like to go to the gym, cook Italian meals (and eat them), read, listen to rock music, watch indie movies and True Blood re-runs. Or, in the worst case scenario, get beaten at every Nintendo Wii game by a very inventive kid.
Don’t be shy and get in touch – I love connecting with my readers.
Blog: www.teodorakostova.blogspot.com
Twitter: @Teodora_Kostova
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teodorakostovaauthor
E-mail: [email protected]
Instagram: teodorika1