Life isn't fair -- people are always looking to have their dreams come true. The dream that all the main characters have in KISS ME is a loving family to belong to. There are all sorts of families and Susan Mallery in KISS ME does a great job comparing several varieties. As part of the Me -- Me -- Me series this book could have a second equally effective title Hug Me. Trust me (no pun intended) you'll get it after reading KISS ME. This book is number two and does reference albeit obtusely the first Hold Me but KISS ME is absolutely original. It is a story about gaining respect for yourself which is enormously important in order to begin to like yourself. This is the ongoing issue in MISS ME. Poor self-image equals lack of self-respect.

In some cases the characters becomes so very guarded that they fail to live life to the fullest. There is an ambivalent comparison between children in foster care and those that lost a parent when young and impressionable. Both cases leave scars some visible but neither child comes out unscathed.

Phoebe is remarkably well adjusted for a woman who aged out of the foster care system which means she spent many years waiting for a forever home that never happened. Phoebe is alone but doesn't seem to angst over being lonely. She has a job in which she interacts with all types of people and gives her the chance to do what is most important to her -- help people -- make a difference -- matter. But there is no denying that Phoebe is always on the periphery and her big heart has been bruised by opportunists.

Zane is a big tough guy -- a rancher who learned about life the hard way from a hard headed, strict, no nonsense father. Zane's mother had been a loving influence but with her death life changed quite dramatically. Essentially Zane is set aside by his father who never got over the death of his wife. Once his father passed Zane took over care of a younger half sibling a task that taxes his patience. Zane basically became the father figure and unfortunately seemed to take on many of the same attributes of his own father.

Zane didn't have an example of good parenting to follow. But meeting Phoebe is going to be a game changer.

KISS ME is an adventure. The growth of each character unfolds right before your eyes while this rag tag group takes on the challenge -- actually a vacation -- of a cattle drive. Great scenes thanks to the vivid imagination of Susan Mallery who takes the reader along for a joyous ranch experience -- if you like really roughing it. KISS ME is chock full of great characters who at the start truly grate on your nerves and then amazingly grow on you -- just as Mallery intended. KISS ME is full of people who basically say don't mess with me and then you realize they have the biggest hearts. KISS ME is about love. And you are definitely going to love it.