Then He Kissed Me by Laura Trentham

Then He Kissed Me 
by Laura Trentham 

But Nash was the total opposite of the type of man she usually went for. For one thing, he was smart, really smart. For another, he seemed nice, adorably nice. Chivalrous even. Maybe that was something he picked up studying medieval knights or maybe it was his Southern DNA flaring to life in the humidity.
The way he swooped in last night to get her away from Heath had made her want to throw herself in his arms. And the way he’d insisted they come back to his place so she’s be safe made her heart flutter.
But, it was Nash, Her best friend. Until he wasn’t anymore.

Laura Trentham’s descriptive prose shines in Then He Kissed Me, the second book in The Cottonbloom series. I could see the town of Cottonbloom with all of its shops and the river that divides the town. Then He Kissed Me is a heartwarming friends to lovers story with several interesting twists.

Nash is my favorite character in this series (sorry Sawyer!) Ms. Trentham has written a to die for beta hero. Who wouldn’t fall in love with a sexy college professor who reads comic books? And the fact that Nash remembered every detail about his childhood friendship Tally made me fall in love with this sensitive man. Nash’s transformation from a nerd to a handsome hero hasn’t been easy. Tough subjects such as death, bullying and prejudice are issues that have impacted Nash.

Tally Fournette grew up in Cottonbloom, Louisiana—the working class part of town with her three brothers. Tally shared a bond with Nash when they were children. She never forgot Nash and their friendship. She runs a successful gym and is very independent. Tally has unresolved issues and is keeping a secret from Nash and her family.

Tally and Nash appealed to me—neither thought they were good enough for each other. The couple learned to accept and trust each other during the well -paced romance. The Quilting Bee characters of Miss Effie, Miss Leora and Mrs. Carson are fabulous! Loved that author continued the Tomato Festival competition between the two sides of Cottonbloom during the second book in the series. The contest added a touch of humor to the story and gave insight to the characters of Regan and Sawyer.

Then He Kissed Me is a fabulous read! It’s an excellent slice-of-life novel filled with passion, intrigue and endearing characters. The author added a surprise romance  between two secondary characters which worked perfectly in the storyline. The novel has a clear message about standing up for yourself and acknowledging your feelings woven throughout this small town novel. 

Then He Kissed Me is the perfect summer read! I loved the book and highly recommended it!

Reviewed By: Susan Gorman
ARC provided the publisher

Laura Trentham is an award-winning author of contemporary and historical romance, including Caught Up in the Touch, Kiss Me That Way, and others. She is a member of RWA, and has finaled multiple times in the Golden Heart competition. A chemical engineer by training and a lover of books by nature, she lives in South Carolina.