Review: First Touch by Laurelin Paige (First and Last #1)
Note: This ARC was provided by St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
When before he'd been a blustering wind that I'd chased and sometimes was lucky enough to catch–or be caught up in–now we were both still, coming together on our own accord. We originated in this. Everything now was new. A start. A beginning. The brush of his hand across my cheek, though he'd done it many times before, it was as if this time was the first. His whispers were unheard whispers. The gasps at the back of my throat were sounds I'd never made. The way my knees buckled, how he pulled me tighter against him, the sighs between us–all new.
This was our first surrender.
First embrace.
First kiss.
First touch.
Oh. My. Goodness... I was practically speechless after finishing First Touch, the first in the First and Last duet from bestselling author Laurelin Paige, and I dare say, her best work so far. It's naughty and dirty but it's also intensely intriguing and is proof that a book can have hot, unbridled sex AND still have one hell of a story that grabs and holds your attention for however long it takes you to read it from start to finish. In short, this book isn't just about sex but there's certainly enough of it for you to enjoy. First Touch is both story- and character-driven, meaning that it's difficult to find anything worth griping about because the book's been written so damn well. Okay, I actually do have something to gripe about: the fact that I'm going to have to wait until June 2016 to find out what happens next! The evil cliffhanger has struck again!
It's been nearly seven years since Emily Wayborn last saw her former best friend but when Amber Pries leaves a message and when Emily hears "blue raincoat", she knows Amber is reaching out to her for help. This leads Emily to have a private investigator look into Amber's movements prior her to disappearance, but Emily does her own digging and detective work, which is how she ends up in one of the resorts owned by Reeve Sallis. But Emily's plans to learn more about Reeve's involvement in Amber's life and his possible role in what happened to her is put to the wayside when their initial contact proves to be an indelible one and leaves them craving to unravel the mystery that is one another. There's lust and desire simmering between them, but there's also wariness, distrust, and a curiosity that could very well kill them.
I loved how flawed both Emily and Reeve are, and they're both more than aware of just how deep those flaws can run deep. Their relationship seems more like an arrangement, but there's no doubting the intimacy that's there, and I'm not merely talking about the sex. They're both unsure of one another and their respective motivations in being together. It's almost as if they keep each other at a distance with one hand while pulling closer with the other, as if they can't help themselves. Emily is careful, not wanting Reeve to find out about her link to Amber, but all it takes is a glimpse at the kind of man Reeve is and it's clear how cunning and observant he is, making me believe from the get-go that he either already knows what's going on or will figure everything out before Emily can even dare to contemplate confessing to him.
My feelings toward the main characters run the gamut from frustration to admiration. There's nothing innocent about either one of them, but it's difficult to peg them as bad people. They've both got pasts that they look to be trying to move forward from, but it's easier said than done. They've done things that they probably wish they could undo, and they still do things that make their moral compass suspect at times, but at their core, they're two lost people who found themselves and something more significant with one another. The acceptance they weren't necessarily looking for, they were able to receive from each other. But just when it seemed as if they were finally moving in the direction of a far more committed relationship, things become much more complicated. And yes, this is where we're left hanging till June 14.
The year is coming to a close in less than two days and I already had a pretty good idea which books I would have on my year-end list of favorite and top reads. The thing is, I didn't anticipate First Touch and my reaction to it, so now I've got a couple of days to re-work this crazy list of mine. I know there are more than six months before the sequel, Last Kiss, is slated for release, but do yourselves a favor and read this series starter. I'm not going to compare it to other erotic romances because this one is in a class all its own. It's set the bar unbelievable high for the second book, and I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that those expectations are either met or surpassed, because a book as good as First Touch both demands and deserves it. Whether it's to end or start the year, First Touch is worth the read. Five-plus stars times two. ♥
Release Date: 29 December 2015
Date Read: 29 December 2015
Learn more about Laurelin Paige.
Purchase First Touch on Amazon | B&N | Kobo.
I loved how flawed both Emily and Reeve are, and they're both more than aware of just how deep those flaws can run deep. Their relationship seems more like an arrangement, but there's no doubting the intimacy that's there, and I'm not merely talking about the sex. They're both unsure of one another and their respective motivations in being together. It's almost as if they keep each other at a distance with one hand while pulling closer with the other, as if they can't help themselves. Emily is careful, not wanting Reeve to find out about her link to Amber, but all it takes is a glimpse at the kind of man Reeve is and it's clear how cunning and observant he is, making me believe from the get-go that he either already knows what's going on or will figure everything out before Emily can even dare to contemplate confessing to him.
My feelings toward the main characters run the gamut from frustration to admiration. There's nothing innocent about either one of them, but it's difficult to peg them as bad people. They've both got pasts that they look to be trying to move forward from, but it's easier said than done. They've done things that they probably wish they could undo, and they still do things that make their moral compass suspect at times, but at their core, they're two lost people who found themselves and something more significant with one another. The acceptance they weren't necessarily looking for, they were able to receive from each other. But just when it seemed as if they were finally moving in the direction of a far more committed relationship, things become much more complicated. And yes, this is where we're left hanging till June 14.
The year is coming to a close in less than two days and I already had a pretty good idea which books I would have on my year-end list of favorite and top reads. The thing is, I didn't anticipate First Touch and my reaction to it, so now I've got a couple of days to re-work this crazy list of mine. I know there are more than six months before the sequel, Last Kiss, is slated for release, but do yourselves a favor and read this series starter. I'm not going to compare it to other erotic romances because this one is in a class all its own. It's set the bar unbelievable high for the second book, and I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that those expectations are either met or surpassed, because a book as good as First Touch both demands and deserves it. Whether it's to end or start the year, First Touch is worth the read. Five-plus stars times two. ♥
Release Date: 29 December 2015
Date Read: 29 December 2015
Learn more about Laurelin Paige.
Purchase First Touch on Amazon | B&N | Kobo.
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