Review: Last First Kiss by Lia Riley
Last First Kiss (Brightwater #1)
by: Lia Riley
Publication Date: June 23, 2015
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 249 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars
A kiss is only the beginning...
Pinterest Perfect. Or so Annie Carson’s life appears on her popular blog. Reality is... messier. Especially when it lands her back in one-cow town, Brightwater, California, and back in the path of the gorgeous six-foot-four reason she left. Sawyer Kane may fill out those wranglers, but she won’t be distracted from her task. Annie just needs the summer to spruce up and sell her family’s farm so she and her young son can start a new life in the big city. Simple, easy, perfect.
Sawyer has always regretted letting the first girl he loved slip away. He won’t make the same mistake twice, but can he convince beautiful, wary Annie to trust her heart again when she’s been given every reason not to? And as a single kiss turns to so much more, can Annie give up her idea of perfect for a forever that’s blissfully real.
Pinterest Perfect. Or so Annie Carson’s life appears on her popular blog. Reality is... messier. Especially when it lands her back in one-cow town, Brightwater, California, and back in the path of the gorgeous six-foot-four reason she left. Sawyer Kane may fill out those wranglers, but she won’t be distracted from her task. Annie just needs the summer to spruce up and sell her family’s farm so she and her young son can start a new life in the big city. Simple, easy, perfect.
Sawyer has always regretted letting the first girl he loved slip away. He won’t make the same mistake twice, but can he convince beautiful, wary Annie to trust her heart again when she’s been given every reason not to? And as a single kiss turns to so much more, can Annie give up her idea of perfect for a forever that’s blissfully real.
I am ALWAYS game for a second chance romance set in a small Western town! I love the vibe of these novels and they just make me REALLY happy. Last First Kiss was no exception. I completely fell for these characters and the anticipation of Sawyer and Annie getting together nearly drove me mad! I loved those two together so much and I just wanted Annie to throw caution to the wind and jump into his arms like she did off the cliffs so long ago.
However, things aren't so easy for Annie. Having returned to Brightwater with her 5 year old son, Atticus after her divorce, Annie is only there temporarily to get her family's farm taken care of and sold off so she can move on to San Francisco and start fresh. She certainly didn't account for Sawyer Kane to saunter back into her life. Coming face to face with the boy turned ALLLL man who broke her heart and humiliated her when she was younger, is no easy task for Annie. Yet, the chemistry that once existed between them is definitely still there.
I do understand Annie's hesitancy. She's already undergone a huge life change and she has constructed a plan- a way to get back on track. Sawyer is making her feel things she hasn't felt in a long time and is making her question her decision to leave Brightwater. Having once fled the small town because of prejudices against her and her family, she is afraid to let the place that once hurt her heal her.
Not only did I love Annie's blossoming relationship with Sawyer, but I loved seeing the interactions between Sawyer and Atticus. There was one scene in particular that moved me and I definitely got a little teary-eyed! I loved little Atticus. He is so adorable and I love that he marches to the beat of his own drum. Even though Sawyer is a little awkward around kids, he has already proven he will be a great father figure to Atticus.
We briefly met Sawyer's younger brother, Archer, who is known as a playboy, and I am excited to get his book next! He has his sights set on Edie, a new-to-town coffee shop owner. She instantly befriends Annie and I liked seeing their friendship develop, especially since Annie needed a new friend who didn't know of her family's history. I also really liked Annie's older sister, Claire, and I have to admit I'd like to see her with Wilder, Sawyer's eldest brother. Even though I haven't met him yet, I'm already shipping those two!
All in all, I thought this was a cute romance and I loved rooting for Sawyer and Annie the entire time. Sawyer is a winner and one hell of a guy. I loved how Riley wrote his character- he wasn't afraid to be honest and open with his feelings, but he was still 100% man too. And good Lord can he kiss! Definitely pick this one up if you're in the mood for a feel good, sexy second chance romance!
17 comments
I thought this was a really sweet book too, Jess. I adored Sawyer and Annie together. And yes! I can't wait for Archer and Edie's book. I think it's going to be really good. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Jess!
I loved them too! They were PRESH. And yes! I am excited for Archer! And to find out more about Edie!
DeleteYay I am so happy to see you adored this one too!
ReplyDeleteYES! It was SO CUTE. I love cute books that make my heart happy.
DeleteCute! I saw that it is an Avon book and had to check it out. I'm glad you enjoyed the book! Do you think the author will write a book featuring Archer? ;D I like playboys lololol. Oh wait I see you said that. Awesomesauce! I might catch that one then. Excellent review, Jessica! :)
ReplyDeleteHave a great holiday weekend!
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
Haha. I am a fan of the playboy too! I think I like seeing them 'tamed'. ROFL.
DeleteI just ADORE the cover for this book. Is it not just the most adorable cover ever? I am so glad you loved this one. I definitely need to read it. I am so curious on how this town treated Annie when she was young, and what Sawyer did to her to break her heart. I do like second chance love stories too.
ReplyDeleteYES. I have such cover love for this one! I look at it all 'I want to be her'. Haha. If you do read this one, I hope you'll like it!
DeleteThis cover immediately caught my eye - it's so pretty! I will definitely be considering this one, Jess, especially because you loved it. I'm a huge fan of small town, second chances romances too. :) This one sounds adorable!
ReplyDeleteYes! I love the cover! It was a cute, sweet romance. I'm all about those second chances!
DeleteI wanted to read this one...but kids. No thanks! I'm glad you liked this one though :)
ReplyDeleteAw! I thought you were okay with kids in adult books? Only some of them?
DeleteI'm definitely a fan of small town romance – and second chances. I knew I would love this from the moment I saw the gorgeous cover. Both Sawyer and Annie were wonderful and Atticus? OMG. He was the most adorable thing ever. I have a feeling I know *exactly* which scene you're talking about, too. Loved! Great review, lady!
ReplyDeleteYou probably do! I texted Tonya and was like 'hold me my heart is dying'. LOL. Atticus was SO cute. I loved how he marched to the beat of his own drum!
DeleteI tend to really enjoy second chance romances and small town settings. This sounds really good. I just finished Second Chance Summer and really liked that. I am game for this series. Glad you liked it.
ReplyDeleteOh I need to read Second Chance Summer! I'm looking forward to it.
DeleteOooh, I love the sound of this! Small town setting and a second chance romance. I'm a sucker for second chances. I'll have to add this to my TBR. Great review!
ReplyDeleteLeave me some comment love! And I will get around to commenting back!
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