Vera Waltham hasn't had good luck in her marriages - the
first one left her widowed, and the second has her in the
process of a not-so-amicable divorce. Although neither
marriage was a great love match, both spouses managed to
disillusion her, and right now, romance is not at the top
of her list. So, she is leery of even friendliness from
James Knightley, who is the brother of her attorney.
James is the corporate whiz at the law firm, as well as a
CPA. He has also been living a promiscuous lifestyle,
and his partners have been so numerous that he keeps a
spreadsheet which contains intimate information about
them.
Recently James has become sick of the life he's leading.
He feels the shallowness and emptiness of his encounters,
and comes to the conclusion that he has been used as much
as being the user. While he's not sure what direction
his life will take, he decides to get rid of his little
black book, and to stop the flirting and meaningless sex.
When he first meets Vera, he feels the stirrings of
something "more." Unfortunately, Vera has a stalker, is
in the middle of a divorce, and has lost some of her
passion for the piano. (She's a renowned concert
pianist.) She's not ready for romance, and when James
gives her their first kiss, she sends him packing.
I like James - he's the strong, silent type. When his
brothers, who are a little older, went off to college, he
was left at home with his widowed mother and their farm
to run. Mom had a lot of problems of her own, and the
burdens that young James carried were very heavy. He
chose to keep silent, never letting his brothers know how
bad things really were, and causing some distance between
them. Late in the story, we finally learn all James had
to deal with, and why he chose to live the life he did.
Yet, despite all this, James remains a true gentleman,
and a kind and giving person.
Vera is a combination of strength and vulnerability. Her
first marriage produced a daughter, and Vera is a
wonderful mother. She made some bad choices, and leaned
a little too much on her spouses, but now she's
determined to be strong and make her own decisions. As
she begins to see what a good person James truly is, she
begins to let him get close.
Vera and James have a lot to work through if they want to
have a life together. Vera is still being stalked, and
has the legal problems to work out with her ex, and also
career decisions to make about her touring. Can she work
through these issues and accept James' past? While it's
always enjoyable to read about protagonists who can do no
wrong, the beauty of THE FIRST KISS is reading about
characters who are flawed, yet are struggling to do the
right things and live the best lives they can. Two
imperfect people finding a perfect love together is
always a joy to read, and I recommend this book for
readers who enjoy their romance with a dose of reality,
yet plenty of warmth and heart.
New York Times and USA Today
bestselling author Grace Burrowes brings her gorgeous
writing and incredible storytelling abilities to a brand new
series of contemporary romance.
The
sweetest kiss is the one that means a fresh
start
In the second novel of the Sweetest
Kisses series, classical pianist Vera Waltham is quiet,
cautious, and fiercely protective of her young daughter, but
she lets down her guard enough to strike up an unlikely
friendship with business law expert James Knightley. James's
past comes between them when Vera learns exactly how big a
tomcat he has been, but when she and her daughter are in
danger, it's to James she turns...
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