Mercurial and charming, Tate Larson is a rising author and playboy who has a different woman on his arm every night of the week. Focused on his work, Tate has no plans to settle down any time soon. That is until he meets his pretty new assistant, Piper Donovan.
Desperate to escape the promise of backwater living, Piper ditched her Alabama hometown and never looked back. That was almost two years ago. Now that she is out of a job and her bank account is running on fumes, she’s desperate to find a job, fast. She finds the break she is searching for when she lands a position at Bookish Temptations. A little dancing and a lot of drinks with the girls seem the perfect way to celebrate. After a brief but explosive encounter with a man she was never supposed to see again turns out to be the same man she will be bending over backwards to please, her every instinct tells her to run. But when running means leaving the life she has struggled so hard to create, Piper decides her only option is to continue working for the devastatingly sexy Tate Larson...even if it kills her.
Unable to deny their growing attraction, they struggle to keep their distance in a relationship that requires anything but.
Professional Reviews
WOW!!! Great Read!
First of all, what a pleasure to read a book that is all inclusive....no cliffhanger and no sequel that is due out in 10 years!!! This was a well written and funny novel with likeable characters and a great storyline. If I had to offer one criticism, it would be the cover. That certainly is NOT the Tate that was described. I look forward to other J.C. Valentine books. I wish other indie authors would take note that it is NOT necessary for a compelling novel to conclude with a cliffhanger.
A SOLID, SEXY READ WITH A GOOD DOSE OF DIRTY TALK =) “What do you say, Piper? Should I take you here, now?” He grinned devilishly, stepping into her, grazing her arm with his fingertips. “Yes, you want that don’t you, baby? You want to feel me moving inside you again. I bet you’re creaming your panties aren’t you? Should I check? Should I slip my fingers inside and see if you’re wet for me?” he purred, pressing his body against hers until the heat from his skin seared her.
I had this book on my TBR list for a while and was able to pick it up on sale. I didn’t realize that That First Kiss was the second book in the Night Calls series by J.C Valentine. That First Kiss read perfectly fine as a stand-alone novel but I do prefer to try to read series like this in order when possible. Stranded is a novella and is the first book in the series. Stranded tells the story of Felix and Poppy (who both play supporting roles in That First Kiss) and I definitely plan to go back and read that book. (After checking, I actually already have Stranded, I picked it up earlier in the year as a freebie and didn’t realize it).
First Kiss tells the story of Piper, a somewhat independent, fun young woman struggling to make it in the big city. After an impromptu sexcapade in a bar bathroom after a night of celebrating a new job, Piper discovers that her bathroom Romeo is none other than her new boss. The new boss of the job she desperately needs. Maybe this sounds familiar? Sure, there’s been books with similar stories recently but I still enjoyed this one.
“What are you doing?” Piper flattened herself against the door as Tate tilted his head toward her.
“Thinking,” he said, distracted.
“About what?” Her heart pounded and she was finding it harder to breathe.
His lips whispered across hers. “Kissing you.” He dragged his lips down the slope of her jaw to her neck. “Tasting you.” When he reached the curve of her shoulder his hand dipped between her legs and cupped her throbbing mound. _______ you,” he whispered, placing a succulent kiss to her heated flesh.
Tate, the hero, is actually pretty much a jerk for part of the book. He’s difficult and bossy and definitely likes to have his own way. But he’s also a bit of a dirty talker which in my book, is very much appreciated =)
“Don’t over think it. You want this,” he told her again. “Remember what it felt like the first time? Do you remember how it felt to have me inside you? I do,” he grunted in her ear as he ground his hips against her. “You were so wet, baby. So _______ tight. You made me come so hard. Let me inside, baby. Say yes and I will make you feel so good.”
Tate eventually becomes less of an ass which is a good thing. I liked Piper as a heroine. She was smart and a hard worker and although quirky, had a charming personality. I think she put up with way too much from Tate at times though. As these two continue to work together, chemistry between them continued to exist and the lines between employer and employee become blurred…
I enjoyed That First Kiss. I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as I thought I would when I started it. I’m not sure why my expectations were so high and what may have been missing for me. I can’t put my finger on any one thing. I did like it, I guess I didn’t love it. A 3.5-4 STAR. The writing was solid and I found several parts funny. There’s more than enough steam to satisfy most readers. And did I mention Tate is a dirty talker? Umm, yes. Overall, this was an easy, fun read and I will check out the next book in the series when it is released. I was hoping Thomas (a supporting character in this book) would be the hero in the next book in the series but unfortunately that doesn’t look like that will be the case. I’m still holding out hope!
That First Kiss
Tate is in his prime lots of woman and a promising future as an author. Piper is trying to stay far away from her roots; she needs to job now so she takes one knowing the boss is a bit of a bastard. She goes to celebrate with her friends, meets a gorgeous man and they have a little "meeting" in the bathroom. Both of them thought they wouldn't see each other again, but fate the tricky bitch kicks them both in the teeth and it turns out that Pipers' new job is being the assistant to the bathroom god aka Tate the jackass. The two of them try to keep their attraction at bay and put some distance between them, but is easier said than done and the two of them are about to find out it's impossible to forget that first kiss. The title of this book does not do justice to how hot it is That First Kiss sounds so sweet and cute. This book starts out red hot, then keeps you at a boil with sexual tension just when you’re about ready to strangle the people you get some good stuff, and then you’re boiling again. Tate can be the biggest doucheater on the planet and then he does something sweet, it's hard not to fall in love with the guy. Piper had to have the patience of a saint to deal with him, yes sometimes she acted like an adolescent but if I was her I would have done the same thing. This was a great hot sexy read, not something that you want to be reading in a room full of people or if you’re looking to relax. It will have you on edge with the characters emotional angst, it will also have you laughing and reaching for a fan and a cold glass of water. J.C. Valentine is being added to my list of automatics author to buy and must have my husband home to read.
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