Susan's Review of Forbidden Kisses by Annie Rains

Their chemistry is more explosive than ever. 

And if the Sawyers can forgive and forget, anything is possible.

FORBIDDEN KISSES

Blushing Bay #1

Annie Rains

Releasing April 11th, 2017

Loveswept

For years, Jack Sawyer’s family has been running their upscale seafood business like a finely tuned machine. But every machine breaks down eventually, and suddenly Jack needs a new office manager, a new kayak launch, and a new lease on life. Then Grace Donner shows up again. She’s smart, motivated, and perfect for the manager position, but if she’s anything like her mom, she can’t be trusted. And Jack has never been able to trust himself around Grace.

Grace hasn’t seen her former stepbrothers since their parents’ messy divorce, but she never forgot them—especially Jack. She misses being part of the big rambunctious Sawyer clan, and if there’s an opportunity to set things right, she means to do it. But she can’t ignore Jack’s irresistibly kissable lips, or the searing way he looks at her when he thinks she’s not looking. Their chemistry is more explosive than ever. And if the Sawyers can forgive and forget, anything is possible.

Annie Rain’s Forbidden Kisses is a contemporary twist on the second chance for love romance. The ability to forgive and to move forward are themes that are woven throughout this well-paced novel.

Jack Sawyer hires Grace Donner as the office manager for his family’s seafood business. His brothers are unhappy with his choice because Grace’s mother was married to their father and their marriage ended bitterly.

Jack is at a turning point in his career. His best friend died in a boating accident and a grieving Jack has lost the desire to continue fishing for his family business. He is interested in striking out on his own and starting a marine building company but, he is worried about his family’s reaction to his decision. Grace desperately needs the office manager position at Sawyer Seafood to pay for her mother’s medicine and other medical expenses. Because of the animosity between the families, Grace feels compelled to resolve the situation between them.

The chemistry between Jack and Grace drew me into the story. I loved the scene when Jack and Grace are needed to take over a delivery run on short notice. After making the deliveries, they share a meal and decide to take a walk before driving home. The unspoken attraction between the couple intensifies as they walk through the busy tourist town. Jack and Grace find it easy to talk to each other and Jack becomes aware that he’s not thinking of her solely as a friend.

Grace and Jack decide to move forward with their relationship and agree to keep their romance a secret from their family and friends. Their relationship is tested several times. Loved when Jack went to Grace’s for dinner only to find her mother seated at the dinner table. The evening does not go as planned because Grace miscalculated Jack’s ability to forgive and forget. The animosity between Jack and Tammy Donner has not faded with time. The dialogue between the two characters is very emotional and direct. When the couple's relationship becomes public, the author does a fabulous job capturing the reactions of Jack’s Father and brother Noah when they learn about Jack and Grace. I could feel Noah’s hurt and disappointment when he found out that his brother’s relationship with Grace was sexual.

The couple’s trust issues resurface and their relationship falters. The last few chapters are exceptionally well crafted—the dialogue is honest and the characters recognize their mistakes and learn from them. Can Jack and Grace have a relationship without their family members interference? Can they trust each other and believe the best of each other? The well –written conclusion to this novel took me by surprise… but, was perfect for this couple.

If you enjoy reading authors Sherryl Woods, Samantha Chase and Melissa Foster--- you will love Annie Rains first book in the Blushing Bay series!

Reviewed By Susan Gorman
Edited by Brian McGee
ARC provided by Tasty Tours

Annie Rains is a USA Today bestselling author who writes small-town love stories set in fictional towns on the coast of North Carolina. Raised in one of America’s largest military communities, Annie often features heroes who fight for their countries, while also fighting for a place to call home and a good woman to love. When Annie isn’t writing, she’s spending time with her husband and three children, or reading a book by one of her favorite authors.

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Jack reached for a folded blanket beside the cooler and laid it down on the open floor of the boat. “I know it’s not the most comfortable surface for lying back, but I thought we could look at the stars. It’s a favorite pastime of fishermen, you know.”

“Oh yeah?”

He reached for her hand to help her lower to the floor. She held on to his tightly, surprised at how off balanced she felt. Then they lay back together, close enough that they touched. The soft hair on Jack’s arm resting against hers aroused her senses. Were they really just going to look at the stars?

Yes, it was all very romantic, but so was doing other things under the stars. Things she’d been thinking about since stepping aboard.

Jack pointed up at the sky and started to speak. Grace was tired of talking, though. Tired of resisting what she wanted, and right now all she wanted was Jack.

Unable to help herself, uninhibited by the wine and the romantic environment, she rolled on top of him and crushed her mouth over his.

Judging by the stiff protrusion that met her inner thigh, he wanted her just as much.

“Well, hello there,” he said, smiling against her mouth.

“I’m sorry,” she said, even though she didn’t mean it.

His hand slid down her back and settled on her bottom, pulling her snug against him. “I’m not. I’d decided tonight was for romance only, but I can’t think of anything more romantic than making love to you on this boat.”

White-hot heat tore through her. She was so hot that maybe it was time to start stripping.

As if reading her mind, Jack tugged the hem of her shirt up on her back and then over her head. The rest of her clothes fell away in the wake of his needy hands until she was tipsy and naked on the floor of his pontoon boat—on a boat ride to nowhere in particular, except his body was promising to shoot her to the low-hanging full moon.