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.

Titles in the Blushing Bay series include:  Forbidden Kisses – 

Title:  Forbidden Kisses
Series:  Blushing Bay #1
Author:  Annie Rains
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  April 11, 2017
Publisher:  Random House – Loveswept
My Rating:  4 stars

I’ve been looking forward to the Blushing Bay series since hearing about it shortly after I’d finished up the Hero’s Welcome series.  And if Forbidden Kisses is any indication, it looks to be another sweeping, emotionally charged series – exactly how I love them.

I loved Jack and his siblings, there’s interesting stories there that I’m wanting to read about.  The world building put me right there without having to stretch my imagination.  The descriptions and people are vivid and interesting.  And by my avoidance of one character you’ll know where I’m heading with this.

I really wish I could have liked and connected with Grace.  I simply did not.  I found her to be selfish, too eager to blame others for the consequences of her own actions, and the lies that she wanted told… I just couldn’t get behind her as a match for Jack.  I wanted to, but I never found anything that I would call redeeming about Grace.  I feel badly about that, but it is my reaction to this particular main character.  And it happens sometimes where a story is great and interesting, but one person within that world just isn’t likable because of their actions.  That reaction of mine to Grace certainly doesn’t apply to the rest of the characters (well maybe Tammy a bit)  or this ongoing series.  Forbidden Kisses is an interesting story, starts off a new series that seems to be full of intriguing people that I want to know more about.  So I’ll definitely be following Blushing Bay.

I certainly enjoyed the rest of this story, simply not the way one character behaved.  So, I’d say to any reader that enjoys Romance and series – give this one a try, not everyone will react to Grace as I did.  You’ll miss an otherwise interesting story if you don’t read it for yourself and form your own opinion.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Available for the Kindle