Slip of the Tongue by Jessica Hawkins
February 25, 2016
Amazon | Audible

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

 

REVIEW

So here is what I love about Jessica Hawkins… she is not afraid to tackle those hard topics that readers claim to “not like” such as cheating and love triangles.

Now, do I personally love these topics? Do I love a story with cheating or a really complicated love triangle in it? Eh.. not so much. I’m really more comfortable when there’s just one hero and one heroine in a story. However, you know what I also love and what gets me excited to dive right into a book? When I read the synopsis for a story that takes me out of my comfort zone and
has me completely intrigued guessing on what could happen.

Maybe that’s contradicting myself, but while I do love a nice heartwarming romance and don’t feel very comfortable with those hard topics… if the story is unique and good enough and has amazing writing I am happy to walk right out of my comfort zone for it.

Slip of the Tongue is worth getting uncomfortable for. There is a love triangle and this story does involve cheating so be warned. There will be times when you’re rooting for one guy and then you’re rooting for the other but Jessica Hawkin’s writing is so real that the story just pulls you right in.

EXCERPT

In his dimly-lit kitchen, Finn lays a comforting hand on my shoulder. “I have to tell you something.”

My hairline prickles. I can sense whatever he says will be heavy, and I’m not sure I want to hear it. I force a crooked smile that probably looks as awkward as I feel. Since I just fed Ginger, I joke, “What? I smell like dog food?”

“I want to kiss you,” he says without missing a beat. “I won’t, but I just thought you should know.”

My stomach drops as if I’m in free fall. I bite my lip involuntarily, then release it, afraid it’ll look like an invitation. Can he really come out and say that? Without prompting, without wavering? You can want to kiss someone and not say it. Should I be angry he confessed that? I’m not. I’m curious. Stirred, even. And because we’re being honest, I ask what I want to ask. “Why?”

“Why do I want to kiss you? Or why did I tell you?”

My heart rate picks up. I lose my nerve. “The second one. That’s not the kind of thing you just come out and say to a stranger. A married stranger.”

“I like you.” He absentmindedly caresses the nape of my neck with his fingertip. “So I want to be honest.”

I put my hand over his wrist, and he stops. Now, and for the last hour, it’s as if we’re the only two people on the planet. The Bad Wife and the Stranger. If I let him kiss me, nobody would ever know. After all, Nathan might be kissing someone else too. Why else would he have lipstick on his tie? Finn doesn’t wear lipstick. Neither do I. It would be our secret.

“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” he asks.

Am I? I have to. I don’t trust myself to stay, and I don’t trust myself to speak, so I nod. I don’t have to pull his hand away. He takes it back willingly. And he walks me to his door.