Stage Kiss

Mountain Creek Drive, Book 1

By: M.F. Lorson

Narrated by: Stephanie Quinn

Homecoming court nominee Erin Armstrong has it all, the best friends, the best boyfriend, and lead in the school play. But when she catches her bestie and her boyfriend holding hands behind the porta potty, her status as Rosemark High’s it-girl takes a nosedive.

Determined to win the crown and earn back her social status, Erin enlists the help of quirky theatre kid Peter Hunt. Together, the two craft a plan to ensure Erin’s victory. That is, if the two can keep their growing attraction from sabotaging the project.

A throwback to the early 2000s, Stage Kiss will have you longing for the days when being brave meant sending an AOL instant message to your crush. Back when Friday nights were made for football games and sleepovers with the friends you’d do anything for.

©2018 Jennifer Costley (P)2018 Jennifer Costley

a really great, enjoyable, and fun listen ;)

Stage Kiss by M.F. Lorson is a sweet YA reminiscing of HS in the early 2000s. I loved getting to know Erin Armstrong and her Care Bears backpack crew, as well as Nick and Peter Hunt. This is kind of a different YA for me, since, in a way, it made me miss HS (though I didn't attend mine during the same years as the characters in this book), as well as it didn't leave me the impression that the story relied heavily on drama (as in, a typical feud between h and archenemy since forever). I loved Erin's sense of friendship and personality, and I think the narrator did a good job of bringing her to life, as well as her group of friends. It may have cost me a few tries to get into this story, but once I did, it hooked me in and never let go.
All in all, a really great, enjoyable, and fun listen ;)

Content: language: less than a handful of d***it

Okay, entertaining read

This was an okay read, entertaining but the characters, especially the heroine just seemed really immature. It turned me off from the story some with the level of immaturity and just not as much character growth as I would have liked to have seen. This wasn’t a bad story, just didn’t hit to my tastes. The story is on a slower burn side with the romance between main characters. Story flowed well.
The narrator was okay, sounded very young which did fit the character in some ways. The narrator did a good job with the emotion in the voice.

Enjoyable YA Love Story

Stage Kiss took me back to my days in high school, the popular kids, the cliques, the striving to be noticed, falling in love, having your heart broken, etc. It was an enjoyable nostalgic trip as I listened to the main character, Erin Armstrong, do a lot of growing up through her journey to be Homecoming Queen, in the end realizing the things that really matter in life.

I very much enjoyed the love story that develops between Erin and Peter throughout the book, despite Erin looking everywhere except at Peter.

If you are looking for a sweet young adult love story, this is one to listen to.


I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for a fair and unbias review.

Stage Kiss

This is a cute YA story. The story flowed along nicely. The characters were perfect for high schoolers. The ending remind me of pretty in pink...a bit. Also an 80’s movie. This shows the love of family and how friends can stay friends forever.

I listened to this on audio. Stephanie Quinn did a good job narrating.

cute sweet and meaningful!

such a cute story with a meaningful punch. the narrators voice works with it perfectly and adds to the experience. highly recommend!

Fun book

I liked the story (other that the unnecessary swear words), but didn't love the narrator, especially her male character "voices."

Entertaining as well as touching YA story

The story grabs you right away and keeps you there all the way to its non-traditional end.

Initially, Erin is not the most likeable heroine. She's been dumped by her boyfriend for one of her best friends, and all she really seems to care about is her reputation & homecoming. Turns out the relationships are a little more complicated than they first appear, however. And Erin's self absorption isn't quite what it seems either.

That said, I have to agree with those who feel that Nick & Libby got off entirely too easily for what was inarguably a backstabbing move. I think it would have worked out better if they had come to Erin up front & talked to her about their attraction before they started sneaking around to hold hands etc. The story would have been able to follow pretty much the same path without making the two into the crappiest kind of friends.

Additionally, we needed more development of Peter and Erin's relationship between the point where he finally tells her the details of his crappy dance date and the one where he shows up on her doorstep to rescue her.

Why did he put Erin off years before & even just recently? Did he dislike her but then change his mind as he got to know her better? Or did he have a crush but figured she was just like Ashley & would probably hurt him?

It's a very happy happily-ever-after, but the romance felt not quite complete - like a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. So I really enjoyed it, I just felt it could have been even better.

*Clean romance level: sweet kisses
*Language: a couple of d*mmits & a few arguable uses of the Lord's Name in vain, though at least not with cursing

[The narrator has a youthful voice that works well for this story & does a great job keeping the characters' voices distinctive, though male voices are a little strained at times]

enjoyed it

Good book sweet story set in 2000's took me back to yonger days when i was still a teen myself

loved it

fun, sweet high school story. looking forward to more in this series! narration is great!

engaging entertaining teen romance

A beautiful well written teen romance story. This entertaining was told from a teenage girl point of view. It included hope, humor, friendship, family, dreams, competition, heartache,  love, and a few unexpected twists making for an enjoyable storyline.  The characters were loveable, interesting, and had an incredible supporting cast in this smooth flowing romance.  I voluntarily listened and reviewed this wonderfully narrated clean teen romance.