REVIEW: Last First Kiss by Lia Riley

Last First Kiss by Lia Riley: He wants to be her last first kiss. From the time he was 18 years old, Sawyer Kane knew Annie Carson was the girl for him, despite their families several generations long feud. And she might have been his girl back then if he hadn’t messed it up, leaving her to part their small town feeling betrayed and even more like an outsider. Her family is known as the Kooky Carson’s for their independent, free-spirited ways, and for as long as Annie has been alive she’s always been an outsider in her town.
Back again due to a divorce and the need to fix up her family’s farm before selling it to the highest bidder, this time around Annie’s only going to focus on her son, Atticus. At least, that’s what she believes until Sawyer comes along for his second chance, and to finally have their first kiss.

“‘Annie, look at me;
‘Why?’ she whispered.
‘Because this.’ He stepped behind her and placed a gentle kiss on the nape of her neck…
‘And this.’ He kissed her neck, right over her pulse, deeper, more open-mouthed, adding a hint of tongue. She arched, her sweet ass driving him to the edge. Hell if he could be this close and not savor her. He couldn’t help the groan. She tasted gorgeous.”

But, despite her draw to Sawyer, Annie only knows herself as a mommy. She runs Musing of a Mighty Mama, a blog devoted to creating the perfect image of herself and her mommy doings, such as organic recipes and day trips. In order to let herself fall, Annie needs to learn who she is outside of the Kooky Carson’s and what she wants again.
Last First Kiss should either have been condensed into a novella or been given more development. While good, it was stuck in an odd position of a little too much drama and space given to small conflicts. It was good, but could’ve been great.
I enjoyed the characters, especially Sawyer. Whatta dreamy cowboy sheriff. If only we were all so doggedly pursued by someone as lovely as he. Although, he could’ve used a bit more character beyond his perfection, I love him. He wasn’t as interesting as he could have been.
And for Annie, she was generally developed well, but I liked her most when viewed through Sawyer’s lens. Then she was quirky and cute, and kooky in the complimentary way. Claire, too, her visiting sister was fierce and adorable, and she’s so getting a story which I am definitely interested in reading. Same with playboy and fun-loving Archer’s story, Sawyer’s brother.
 

Book Info:

 June 23, 2015 | Avon Impulse | A Brightwater Novel #1

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.