Kissing for Keeps by Martha Keyes

💫🎤 Book Spotlight: Kissing for Keeps by Martha Keyes

Genre: Contemporary Romance • Clean Romance • Romantic Comedy

☕ Book Details & Rating

Format: Audiobook

Series: #1 in Sheppards in Love

Year Published: 2023

Page Count: 290

Rating: ☕☕☕☕ (4 Coffees!)

🥤 Coffee Pairing: Vanilla Rose Café Crème

Romantic with a soft French flair, this pairing fits Kissing for Keeps beautifully. The smooth espresso and steamed milk keep it classic and comforting, while the vanilla and delicate hint of rose add that subtle, blush-worthy sweetness.

It feels effortless and charming, like lingering over coffee at a tiny café while pretending you’re not completely falling in love. Cozy, flirty, and just elevated enough to make it special. 💕☕

About the Book

Kissing for Keeps by Martha Keyes follows two characters whose history and unresolved tension refuse to stay in the past. When circumstances throw them back into each other’s orbit, what begins as reluctant proximity slowly shifts into something softer, sweeter, and far more complicated than either of them planned.

With witty banter, simmering attraction, and a steady build of emotional vulnerability, the story explores what happens when pride, past misunderstandings, and carefully guarded hearts collide. As walls start to come down, both characters are forced to decide whether holding onto old hurts is worth losing something that might be real.

Charming, clean, and quietly swoony, this romance leans into chemistry and character growth without relying on over-the-top drama.

My Thoughts

Jack and Siena have history. The kind of history built on almosts, miscommunication, and years of unresolved tension.

In Kissing for Keeps by Martha Keyes, we reunite with characters connected to Host for the Holidays. Siena is Madi’s best friend, and Jack is Madi’s brother. With Madi’s wedding approaching, the two are thrown back into each other’s orbit as they help plan the big day, whether they’re ready for it or not.

This book had so many tropes. Maybe not all of them, but close. Enemies(ish) to lovers, best friend’s brother, forbidden love, and forced proximity. The story flips between the present and the past, showing us when Siena and Jack first met and why there’s lingering tension between them. Back in college, Siena and Madi were roommates, and Jack met Siena at a party. They hit it off almost immediately. But once Jack realizes she’s Madi’s roommate, he backs off. He has a history of dating Madi’s friends and then dumping them, which ruins the friendship. Not wanting to hurt Madi again, he chooses not to pursue Siena. Unfortunately, he doesn’t explain any of that. So from Siena’s perspective, it just feels like rejection and confusion. That’s where the hostility begins.

Fast forward to the present, and Siena is planning Madi’s wedding alongside Rémy’s best man. We got a brief backstory on him in Host for the Holidays, including that his mom is very sick. When her health takes a turn and he has to step away from the wedding, all the planning falls on Siena’s shoulders.

Over the years, Jack has been somewhat absent when it comes to his relationship with Madi. After their dad’s death, Jack felt like everyone expected him to fill that role. Instead of stepping up, he pulled away because he didn’t think he could measure up. When he realizes Siena is now handling everything on her own, he decides to finally be the brother he should have been and step in to help. This is where his growth really begins. He stops being indifferent and starts intentionally repairing his relationship with Madi, one thoughtful act at a time. At the same time, his feelings for Siena never really went away. Planning the wedding together only makes those feelings stronger. And yes, he absolutely saves the day in a big way, but no spoilers.

For Siena, her growth comes from her career struggles. She recently failed as a campaign manager after missing a major deadline, which sent everything spiraling. She’s extremely type-A, so that failure hits hard. She blames herself and starts doubting her ability to succeed at anything. Even when her candidate handles the loss gracefully and recommends Siena for another opportunity, Siena still struggles with needing to prove herself. Jack plays a huge role in helping her rebuild her confidence and see her worth again.

“Some feelings don’t fade. They just wait for better timing.”— Kissing for Keeps, Martha Keyes

Final Thoughts

Kissing for Keeps by Martha Keyes is a trope-filled, character-driven romance that delivers growth, tension, and satisfying emotional payoff. I loved watching both Siena and Jack mature in different ways, especially as they learned to communicate and step up in the relationships that mattered most.

Martha Keyes keeps it clean as always. Even when Siena and Jack are forced to share a suite together, there are two bedrooms. I love that Keyes never gets close to crossing the line. There is no foul language, no spice, just chemistry, emotional depth, and a romance built on trust and encouragement.

If you enjoy best friend’s brother, second-chance tension, and clean romances that still bring the swoon, this one is an easy recommendation.