TILL I KISSED YOU is the culmination of a story building not only for the span of the two previous Cottonbloom books, but for the lifetime of these characters. While this can be read as a stand alone, I'll be honest and say I think you'll be missing a lot. If you like small town romances without saccharine, then I'd one-click this whole series immediately and lose yourself in the world Trentham has created here.

Since we met them, Sutton and Sawyer have been at each other's throats with a rivalry for the ages. Each love their Cottonblooms - a town in two states and divided by a river very significant to our characters - and will do whatever it takes for their town to win a contest. However, when troubling events move north of rivalry to sabotage, the two join forces to root out the culprit. What ensues is a story of two adults who have to put aside their pride and listen to their hearts.

I love Sutton as a heroine; her strength and fortitude hiding a vulnerability that's hard to craft. Sawyer, for his measure, is the last of his siblings to find that happily ever after and I'm so glad he was last. His particular character needed those other siblings settled before he could entertain the notion - he needed their stability and their example to understand what was possible for him.

The town in this series is a living entity, as much a character as the individuals we meet. I almost felt myself lazily slap a mosquito and reach for my sweet tea at Trentham's descriptions of the scenery. I was sad to say goodbye to these people and would imagine this is a series I'll be recommending far into the future.

Book Summary

It’s summertime in Cottonbloom, where two lovers find themselves at a crossroads just as things start to heat up. . .

Regan Lovell grew up on the wealthy Mississippi side of Cottonbloom—and now, as mayor, she’s determined to save it from the fate of so many small towns. Part of her plan to help the local economy is the Labor Day tomato festival. If only she wasn’t being undermined by Sawyer Fournette, who’s planning a crayfish-themed celebration on the Louisiana side of the river on the very same weekend. The pranks and sabotage are getting out of hand, and she’s had it with him—no matter how much she enjoyed those stolen hours in his truck bed, so many years ago…

Sawyer knows that Regan's never forgiven him for breaking her heart—but despite his reputation as a low-class swamp rat, he’d never hurt the woman who still secretly drives him crazy with desire. Someone in Cottonbloom has it out for her, though, and Sawyer intends to watch her back…and the rest of her too, if she can ever let go of her distrust. But will a common enemy be enough to unite them—and finally fulfill the promises they made one passionate night under the stars?