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Sandy M’s review of The First Kiss (Sweetest Kisses, Book 2) by Grace Burrowes
Contemporary Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 3 Feb 15

I try not to be redundant in writing my reviews, but in this case, I can’t help it! I love this series! I wish there were eight or ten Knightley brothers instead of three, so the series would go on and on and on. Everything about these books hits the mark with me – the characters, the storylines, Ms. Burrowes’ writing, the pacing, and so on. One more book to go. Then I think I’ll be down in the dumps for a bit, no more Knightleys to read and have such fun with.

James is the ladies’ man of the three brothers. He charms’em, beds’em and then leaves’em. His little black black book has so many entries, he keeps it on his computer. James has been feeling a bit off concerning his lifestyle lately, so fate is about to step in and throw a humdinger of a wrench into his life. Running an errand for older brother Trent, James drops off some paperwork to the firm’s client, Vera Waltham. There goes the first zing!

A classical pianist on sabbatical after a messy marriage and divorce, Vera has a restraining order against her ex-husband. Bizarre things have been happening around her house and it has to be the ex responsible. He wants her to complete the tour dates set up before Vera sidelined her very successful career. But Vera just wants time with her daughter, Twyla, and time to practice and play the piano for herself. James Knightley is a distraction she cannot afford, especially since her judgment where men are concerned is a bit on the fritz. Zing!

These two are just delightful together, once they decide to make a go at seeing each other. They pull things from the other they never imagined they’d share with anyone. Turns out that not only is Vera’s ex-husband a bad seed, but her first was also before he died in a car accident. So nothing has been what she’s thought for so long. James has kept his emotions at bay for years, believing he’s let everyone in his life down, starting when he was left behind on the farm when his brothers took off for school. Taking care of the farm and a drunken mother alone isn’t how he’d imagined those years. It’s these types of things that cement these characters together, as well as James deciding to shred his black book and then take piano lessons, something he enjoyed in his younger years.

I love the scenes of Vera teaching James those lessons, learning to feel the music instead of just mechanically stroking the keys. She even asks him to play for her when a day doesn’t go well and relaxation is what she needs. Also, the scenes with Twyla and James are wonderfully done, just as they were with Trent and his stepdaughter in the first book. Of course, some of my favorite scenes are with only the brothers, especially Mac, the oldest, and James when Mac discovers what happened when he left home. You feel family to the bottom of their souls.

The mystery of who the villain is keeps you guessing throughout the story, and though I have an inkling who it is, I’m not always sure until the final revelation. I’m really looking forward to Mac’s book. He’s one secretive man, doesn’t date – ever, so you know something is just waiting to be revealed.

sandym-iconGrade: A

Summary:

Classical pianist Vera Waltham is recovering from a bad break up by taking a hiatus with her daughter in the Damson Valley countryside. She’s content with her music, and has no interest in complicating her life with further attempts at romance.

Attorney James Knightley is a numbers guy who reads contractual fine print for lunch, and wants nothing to do with damsels, in distress or otherwise. Nobody is more surprised than James when he falls for Vera Waltham, and the only contract on James’s mind when it comes to Vera is holy matrimony.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

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