His First and Last (Ardent Springs) by Terri Osburn

Ardent Springs #1

by Terri Osburn

At eighteen, Lorelei Pratchett couldn’t wait to get out of her hometown. Twelve years later, her Hollywood dreams have fizzled and she’s back—temporarily, she thinks. Though she throws herself into saving the old theater and starting a baking business, small towns have long memories, and Lorelei’s wild past still haunts her. It doesn’t help that her ex-boyfriend, Spencer Boyd, is even hotter, smarter, and more distracting than before.The fiery Lorelei that Spencer knew years ago may have become closed off and cautious, but their chemistry hasn’t faded one bit. Losing her a second time is unthinkable to him, yet Lorelei is convinced she doesn’t belong in Ardent Springs. Somehow, Spencer needs to show her that everything she needs is right family, friendship, new beginnings…and a man who’s never stopped loving her.Warm, sexy, and laugh-out-loud funny, His First and Last is an irresistible story of first love and second chances.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Second Chance, Audiobook, Fiction

Mass Market Paperback

First published April 21, 2015

About the author

Bestselling and award winning author Terri Osburn writes contemporary romance with heart, hope, and lots of humor. She fell in love with the written word at a young age and the genre of romance beckoned during her teen years. Since her debut in 2013, her work has been translated into five languages, and sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide. Terri resides in Pittsburgh, PA, with a menagerie of high-maintenance pets. You can learn more about this international bestselling author by visiting her website at www.terriosburn.com.

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Reviews

[Didi · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a very sweet second chance love story. I love small town backdrops and this book delivered in spades. Which, judging by TO's incredible Anchor Island series, it's no surprise! Running off at 18 years of age from Ardent Springs, from the love of her life, from her grandma, from all the discomfort of growing up in a town that judged her so harshly, Lorelei Pratchett thought escaping to chase a dream of stardom would solve all her problems.

But 12 years later, the failure of her ambitions brings her right back to where she never thought she'd return: Ardent Springs. Nothing has changed, or has it? Spencer Boyd let Lorelei go once but he's not about to do it again. But convincing her all her dreams are within reach isn't going to be easy, especially considering she thinks she's a lost cause. But slowly, and with lots of patience, Spencer helps Lorelei see she's more than the sum of her past.

This was such a great example of a second chance love story. Both Spencer and Lorelei grew so much while apart and while they both had their own forms of tragedy to deal with, they also didn't lose sight of the potential future with each other. There were some startling revelations here involving both main characters and I enjoyed seeing the similarities between those experiences. Lorelei really blossomed, more than Spencer even. She was so bitter and so resentful when she left but coming back she had to dig deep and realize that her dreams weren't all lost. She did irritate me at first with her stubbornness and attitude but she grew so much and did so much for a town that didn't necessarily welcome her back, that I ended up really liking her. Spencer was great, I loved him and his endless patience and understanding. He truly loved Lorelei and it shone through everything he did.

The relationship between Lorelei and Spencer was also realistic. They didn't just jump into each other's arms, but slowly came to trust one another and give in to the inevitable. I loved seeing that and seeing how they vowed to never repeat their past mistakes.
The secondary characters were great, especially Snow, with her mysterious past. I'm really looking forward to her story and what happened with Caleb! The epilogue was sweet and ended things on a high note. So, a great story from an author who knows how to take a small town or place and make it magical with memorable and lovely characters, I really liked it.

**Arc generously provided by Terri Osburn via Netgalley for review**

[Duchess Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terri Osburn perfectly captures small town life in her new Ardent Springs novel, "His First and Last." Seeing as how most people will never know what it's like to grow up in a town in which everyone knows not only your name, but your dog's name, your family history, and all of your little mistakes, this book laid it all out for the reader.

Lorelei and Spencer were high school sweethearts until Lorelei decided that she wanted more from life than the judgmental folks of Ardent Springs. Spencer was happy living where he grew up, and one major blow up fight sealed the deal between the two. Now Lorelei has come home to lick her wounds, and Spencer is still there...older, wiser, divorced, and still in love with his girl.

But Ardent Springs hasn't changed all that much, and this story is all about the journey for not only Lorelei and Spencer, but for people of the town as well. It's easy to judge others when you follow the crowd. The folks in this town come to realize that they may have treated Lorelei unjustly in the past. Osburn begins this new series with the introduction of an entire town, but she spares us a bunch of information dumping, instead deftly weaving the new characters and places into the plot, using Lorelei and Spencer as her tour guides. This is an old town on the cusp of modernizing while trying to hold on to it's old time roots. And that goes for our romantic interests too. Lorelei is searching for her "meaning to life" while Spencer realizes that he found his in Lorelei a long time ago. She just needs some convincing. With the help of Lorelei's grandmother and some cataclysmic revelations, these two get a second chance at being together. Another winner from go-to author Terri Osburn!

Advance copy provided by the publisher for review

[Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book – His First and Last (Ardent Springs)
Author – Terri Osburn
Publication Date – April 21, 2015
Genre – Romance
Type – Companion Series
Cliffhanger - No
Rating – 4 out of 5 Stars

Complimentary Copy generously provided by Montlake Romance via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
 

My Thoughts - Story
This was such a sweet second chance love story but I spent the beginning of the book really hating Lorelei and thinking Spencer was stupid for putting all his faith in this woman.

But as the book progressed, I did find myself opening up to these characters and rooting for them and their HEA.



I enjoyed the writing and the descriptions from the author – I fell in love with the small town the author painted and the Norman Rockwell setting.


Re-Cap
Lorelei finds herself back where she hates it the most – Ardent Springs. Leaving behind her first love and her grandmother, she is thrown directly back in the line of fire from the townspeople and the embarrassing way she left things.

This time around, Spencer and her grandmother have different plans on how to make Lorelei set her apron strings to stay for good.


 
Reason for Reading – NetGalley
Story Rating – 4 out of 5 Stars
Steam Rating – 4 out of 5 Stars
Angst Rating – 4 out of 5 Stars
Writing Rating – 4 out of 5 Stars
Content Flow Rating – 4 out of 5 Stars
Would Read More from Author? Possibly
Recommend To – Anyone who likes a story about second chances.

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The people of Ardent Springs never let Lorelei forget that she was born out of wedlock to a nameless sperm donor on a Spring Break holiday. She was vilified and bullied for her entire young life. So it's no surprise that as soon as she turned 18 she blew off the town and burned all her bridges on the way out.

Now after being away for more than a decade she has returned, broke and with nothing to show for her time in LA. But the people of Ardent Springs have long memories and they're not so quick to forgive the things she said when she left.

With her only allies her ex-boyfriend Spencer, the guy who refused to leave with her, and her grandmother, she needs to somehow find a place for herself. Spencer is determined that he will be that place, but with the town all but shunning her she might be forced to leave before he can convince her to stay.


I have so much love for Terri Osburn. She really is a great writer. This is fairly typical Contemporary Romance and it hums along without breaking any of the rules of the genre. But it's just so well written that you hardly notice that you've read all of this before. Something I sometimes say about poets like E.E. Cummings and Rabbie Burns is their poems feel good in your mouth. They just beg to be spoken, to be read out loud. It's not something I would have ever expected to say about an author of Contemporary Romance but there you go.

Many thanks to Montlake Romance and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC

[Maida · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sure that this novel will be fine for most of my GR friends & that many of my GR friends may actually enjoy it. I, HOWEVER, spent 3/4 of this book curled up in the fetal position. I was so incredibly devastated & incensed by the way in which the heroine (Lorelei) was treated by the vast majority of society. Lorelei never stood a chance against this small town-- a town that had prejudged her WHILE LORELEI WAS STILL IN HER MOTHER'S WOMB!!! The narrow-minded & hypercritical people inhabiting this town took each & every opportunity available to verbally abuse Lorelei & to make her childhood, adolescence & high school years a nightmare. Their biggest problem with Lorelei was that she was supposedly an "illegitimate" child. Lorelei's mother never divulged the name of Lorelei's father, & the town residents took it upon themselves to throw stones & pass judgment. Even Lorelei's principal at school & the town's mayor got involved in the cruel taunting & verbal abuse.

Lorelei's mother passed away when Lorelei was very young. And instead of the flood of sympathy that should have ensued, Lorelei was only treated to MORE cruel taunts on her first day back to school after her mother's funeral. Fellow classmates called her mother a "whore." Furthermore, when Lorelei decided to leave that sh*t-hole of a town once she turned 18 & graduated from high school, the townsfolk treated her as if she were a traitor, & it's safe to say that very few of them wished her success & happiness.

Cue 12 years into the future...

After 12 years of working in L.A. & failing to make it as an actress, Lorelei was forced to swallow her pride & to return to her small hometown (where her grandmother still resides). Another person who still resides in that town is Lorelei's ex-fiance (Spencer) who had refused to move with Lorelei to Los Angeles, hence ending their engagement. The first half of the novel, which chronicled Lorelei's return home, had me seething. As if the cards weren't already stacked high enough AGAINST Lorelei's favor, her grandmother & Spencer also passed judgment upon her, & they encouraged her to be compliant (A.K.A.: a doormat) for the townsfolk to step all over, even when they threw insults her way. It took A LONG TIME for me to warm up to Spencer. I thought that he was a smug & self-righteous a$$hole in the beginning, especially when he chastised Lorelei when malicious townspeople accosted her & heated words were exchanged. (In all fairness, Spencer does make up for his abominable behavior later in the novel, but by this point, my anger had already reached a boiling stage, & I no longer gave a sh*t).

Furthermore, I did NOT appreciate the double-standard portrayed in this novel. Like Lorelei, Spencer was also raised by a single-mother, & the identity of his father was unknown. However, unlike Lorelei, Spencer was NEVER the object of town ridicule or cruelty. He wasn't judged harshly for being an "illegitimate" child. And once he entered high school, he was respected & liked by many in the town. Because Spencer never had to endure the abuse that Lorelei endured at the hands of their fellow townsfolk, he couldn't understand why Lorelei refused to *grin & bear* the taunts thrown her way on a daily basis, & he also couldn't understand her need to move away after high school. *** This novel depicts the double-standards employed, in regards to gender, in the worst way possible.*** Lorelei is prejudged while she is still in her mother's womb, & nothing that she could have done as a living breathing child would have changed the townspeople's negative perception of her. However, because Spencer was a male, the townsfolk never thought twice about his "family circumstances." Society was more-than-willing to overlook Spencer's "illegitimate" status; however, they used Lorelei's "illegitimate" status as a reason to verbally abuse & torment her daily until the day when she finally turned 18 & had the courage to move away.

Bottom line: This small town is full of sanctimonious bigots who thrived off of tormenting innocent children. They were a church-going town, & yet they defied Scripture by continuing to throw stones instead of bread. They were hypocrites; they were cruel; they were bigoted & discriminatory; they were small-minded; they were judgmental & proud. With the exception of murder, they were everything that Scripture warned against. And I, for one, just couldn't take reading about it.

In short, I think that this novel included too many "triggers" for me....

*** These triggers include: child abuse perpetuated by practically an entire town (including those in positions of authority), bullying, gender discrimination, bigotry, hypocrisy, people who put on a show of being "outwardly religious" but who fail to practice what they preach, etc.

*1/5 stars*

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

This was a super cute, sweet, heartwarming story. I really enjoyed it, and even though the main character kind of made me want to slap some sense in to her....she wasn't altogether ridiculous. Spencer! I love him, and every time he said 'Darlin'? *swoon*

There were a few things that I didn't think were altogether necessary to the story, and some of it was kind of weird and maybe a little unrealistic, but it was still a good story, and I really enjoyed it.

[Geri Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 second chance stars!

I have been a huge fan of Terri Osburn after getting hooked on her Anchor Island series. TO takes us to another small town, this time to Ardent Springs where a bitter woman with a failed acting career is forced to return to her home town after vowing not to.

I loved how Terri Osburn wrote these characters. Both Spencer and Lorelei weren't the same people they were years ago. The changes in their perspective is evident in the book. I liked how they come together. They had to work out through their issues, which is handled beautifully by Ms. Osburn.

Fast-paced, sweet, full of interesting and engaging characters, the Ardent Springs series is another series to watch out for from this author.

ARC provided by Montlake Romance in exchange for an honest review.

[Ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amüsant und insgesamt schön geschrieben, wenn auch nicht so gut wie Anchor Island.

Lorelei hasst Ardent Springs. Mit 18 hat sie den Menschen, die ihre Mutter verurteilt und verleumdet haben, gesagt was sie von ihnen hält und ihre Sachen gepackt um Ruhm und Erfolg in Hollywood zu suchen.
12 Jahre später ist sie zurück, arm und verzweifelt. Aber sie will sich beweisen und kann auf ihre Granny und Spencer zählen, den Mann der ihre große Liebe war, den sie damals aber zurückgelassen hat. Und er hat sich genauso verändert wie Lorelei.
In Ardent Springs hat sich auch Einiges verändert aber nicht die Menschen, sie haben Lorelei und die Sünden ihrer Mutter nie vergessen und lassen es sie spüren.

Eine beschauliche Kleinstadt, in der Klatsch schnell umgeht und jeder alles über jeden weiß. Ardent Springs ist aber voller unsympathischer Menschen, die ein junges Mädchen verurteilt haben, weil sie keinen Vater hatte, und dadurch mal was anderes.

Und passend zum Setting ist das Tempo eher ruhig aber angenehm. Die Figuren sind authentisch und gut charakterisiert. Genauso wie Lorelei hat auch Spencer sich seit ihrer Trennung weiterentwickelt, kommt selbst aus schwierigen Verhältnissen und hat eine unschöne Scheidung hinter sich. Eigentlich total der Traummann, unendlich geduldig, so verständnisvoll und entschlossen sie nicht nochmal gehen zu lassen. Hier ist aber die Geschichte und die Entwicklung so ruhig, dass seine Art fast zu ruhig scheint.

Insgesamt läuft schon alles zu glatt, sobald kleine Schwierigkeiten sich anbieten, werden die zu schnell gelöst. Die vielen kleinen Nebengeschichten bieten viel Potential, wurden aber nur angeschnitten und wenn es dann mal Drama gibt, wird schnell weder davon abgelenkt. Da hätte gerne mehr ausdiskutiert werden können, vor allem zwischen den beiden Hauptfiguren. Und auch die polarisierenden Nebenfiguren kommen zu gut weg.

Es liest sich aber super schnell und flüssig, nur manche Formulierungen sind mir zu „chick-lit“, was aber Wahrscheinlich an der Übersetzung liegt. Und die Serie hat gutes Potential, sich noch zu steigern.

[Addicted to Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it ! Wow Terri Osburn is my contemporary equivalent to Lisa Kleypas's historicals. That is a huge compliment!

I am always going to say "Time for some Terri Osburn Magic"! Terri Osburn is going to be auto buy for me.

I loved the slow build up (oh god how I love slow build up) and how they learnt about each other and began to fall in love all over again, while I kept falling in love with Spencer. I also loved the whole mystery behind their pasts how the romance was so complimentary to the whole togetherness of family and the whole small town magic.

Rarely do i come across romances nowadays with slow romances that build up with so some maturity and other heart tugging elements.

I am not going to give away any of the plot and spoil it. You can read it from the blurb

I highly recommend that you buy it now and read it and fall in love!

[Libri & SognaLibri · Rating 4 out of 5]

RECENSITO DA SARAH JL PER IL BLOG DI "LIBRI E SOGNALIBRI"

Primi amori e seconde occasioni, questo è ciò che ci regala la piccola cittadina di Ardent Springs. Nel primo volume della serie conosciamo una Lorelei tutta pepe e il determinato Spencer.
Lorelei è una donna che ha collezionato solo insuccessi nella vita, nata e cresciuta ad Ardent Springs da una madre single che viene malvista da tutti per aver avuto una figlia fuori dal matrimonio, fugge alla ricerca della fama. Ma gli anni alla caccia di sogni finiscono e, anche a causa di una relazione finita male, si trova a dover tornare in Tennessee a casa della nonna. L’ultima persona che vorrebbe rivedere è lui, il suo primo amore, quello che aveva lasciato platealmente mandando all’inferno tutti gli abitanti del paese prima di fuggire in cerca di una fama che non ha mai trovato.
Spencer, cappello da cowboy e fisico possente, un matrimonio fallito alle spalle ma con tanta determinazione a costruire qualcosa di buono nella sua vita, non nasconde a nessuno i sentimenti ancora vivi che prova per la sua ex ragazza delle superiori.
LA RECENSIONE CONTINUA NEL BLOG:
https://libriesognalibri.wordpress.co...

[Lapis Lazuli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forse quattro stelline sono esagerate, ma devo dire che come primo romanzo di una nuova serie mi è piaciuto particolarmente. Ambientazione rurale graziosa, personaggi simpatici, un buon gruppo di comprimari (che saranno i protagonisti dei prossimi romanzi... per la cronaca, io mi sono già innamorata del meccanico alla seconda riga della sua descrizione). Insomma, un bel romanzo sulle seconde occasioni, che consiglio a chi ha amato la prima serie dell'autrice (Anchor Island) e a chi apprezza i romance un po' corali ambientati nelle piccole cittadine americane, sullo stile di Virgin River.

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contemporary romances are not my first to go to genre, but when Montlake invited me to read and review an ARC of His First and Last via Net-Galley, the book description intrigued me so I accepted their offer. I like reunion/second chance romances and this one is excellent.
Lorelei Pratchett is returning to her home town after following her dream to become the next Meryl Streep. Unfortunately that didn’t pan out and now she’s back with nothing to show for the past twelve years, except her bruised pride and heart. While she looks forward to seeing her beloved grandmother, she does not look forward to the biased attitudes of the citizens of Ardent Springs.

After throwing his ring back in his face and leaving him for the bright lights of LA, Spencer Boyd has never been able to move on. After a failed marriage and years of lamenting the one that got away, he realizes that he is still in love with Lorelei when he picks her up at the airport for her grandmother.

As Lorelei gets involved in the campaign to save the Ruby, the theater in town that holds some wonderful memories, she works with Spencer on the project and spends a lot of time with him. She realizes that her feelings are as strong as they were back when they were engaged all those years ago.

Can Lorelei’s depleted self-esteem and aching heart allow Spencer to work his magic and heal her soul, or will she keep him at arm’s length while she works at rebuilding her life?

This is the first book I have read by Terri Osburn and I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful story of young love surviving even though the hero and heroine have not seen each other in twelve years. This is a story that pulls at the heart-strings and puts a smile on your face. I know it did that for me.

Lorelei is a spunky kid type of character. She may be down, but is far from defeated by life. She pulls on her big girl panties and sets out to reinvent herself and show Ardent Springs she is not the same person who left right after high school. Whether she is fighting the committee as she tries to convince them she has the plan to restore the Ruby, or making her wonderful treats for her fledging company, Lulu’s Home Bakery, her feisty spirit comes through. I loved her character from the first page.

Spencer is a great hero. He’s steadfast and loyal as he helps Lorelei re-establish herself in their hometown. His ability to see that he had just as much culpability in their break-up as she did, melted my heart. And to top it off, he’s a hunk with well-defined muscles, sun-kissed light brown hair and deep penetrating brown eyes. And did I mention he loves his dog? You have to love a man that is not afraid to show his tender side, and Spencer does it while still coming across as a strong-willed individual.

While this is a story line written many times, Ms. Osburn puts a fresh spin on it with her great character building and ability to give the reader a new look at small town USA . This is a fast-paced read and kept me entertained from start to finish. If you enjoy a story with great characters and plenty of emotion, you will love His First and Last. I suggest you give it a try. Happy reading!

[Harem's Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

"La felicità è come gli arcobaleni."


Care dame, il libro di cui vi parlo oggi è: La sua prima e ultima, primo volume della serie Ardent Springs, di Terri Osburn.


Titolo : La sua prima e ultima
Titolo originale: His first and last
Serie: Ardent Springs
Autore: Terri Osburn
Editore: Amazon Crossing
Data di pubblicazione: 28 maggio 2019
Genere: romance contemporaneo

Tutto quello di cui ha bisogno è lì, in quella piccola città incapace di perdonare

A diciotto anni Lorelei Pratchett non vedeva l’ora di scappare dalla sua città natale. Dodici anni dopo, quando i suoi sogni hollywoodiani sono andati in fumo, Lorelei deve tornare ad Ardent Springs e affrontare un passato turbolento. A peggiorare le cose, ad accoglierla è Spencer Boyd, il suo ragazzo di un tempo, più sexy e appassionato che mai.

Per Spencer è impensabile perdere Lorelei una seconda volta, ma lei è convinta di aver spezzato per sempre ogni legame con Ardent Springs. Dovrà dimostrarle che la loro attrazione non si è mai spenta e che in quella piccola città potrà realizzarsi un nuovo sogno.

Dopo l’enorme successo della serie ambienta ad Anchor Island, con La sua prima e ultima Terri Osburn ci porta per la prima volta ad Ardent Springs, in un’irresistibile storia sul primo amore e le seconde occasioni.

" - Questo posto è insignificante! - strillò, assicurandosi che tutti potessero sentirla forte e chiaro.
- Siete un branco di inutili ipocriti pronti a giudicare, e potete andare tutti all'inferno. - Si voltò verso Spencer e si sfilò dal dito l'anello di fidanzamento con il piccolo diamante quasi invisibile.
- Tu non sei diverso da tutti loro - lo accusò."
È con queste parole che Lorelei Pratchett, diciotto anni, si appresta a lasciare Ardent Springs, il piccolo paese dove è nata e cresciuta, per inseguire il suo sogno di diventare una grande attrice. Dodici anni dopo si ritrova a ripercorrere la stessa strada in senso inverso, con più rimpianti di quando era partita.
"Poteva anche non aver desiderato tornare nella sua città natale e affrontare i demoni che si era lasciata alle spalle (non che i demoni accumulati a Los Angeles fossero migliori), ma ora si trovava lì, forse le cose non sarebbero state così male. Forse la nonna aveva ragione: tornare a casa era proprio ciò di cui Lorelei aveva bisogno."
Chi poteva essere la prima persona che incontra al suo arrivo all'aereoporto se non Spencer Boyd? L'ex ragazzo mollato per inseguire un miraggio. L'ex ragazzo che capiva la sua smania di lasciare un paese che le stava stretto, dove scontava gli sbagli della madre, perché in un paesino i peccati dei genitori ricadono sui figli.

"Alla fine si girò e alzò lo sguardo sul suo ex ragazzo delle superiori. Con una mano si schermò dal sole che tramontava, ma riusciva a vederlo solo in controluce. Sembrava più imponente di quel che ricordava, anche il cappello da cowboy era lo stesso. In dodici anni non poteva comprarsene uno nuovo?"
Per Spencer rivedere la ragazza dopo tanto tempo è una forte emozione, anche se la sua vita è proseguita, si è sposato e ha divorziato, non è mai riuscito a dimenticare il suo primo amore. Per quello si era fatto convincere dalla nonna di Lorelei ad andare a prendere la ragazza all'aereoporto.
"La vita va avanti. Le persone cambiano tranne Lorelei. Avrebbe dovuto saperlo. Dio, era bella come sempre. I capelli biondi, leggermente più corti. Il corpo di una donna, non di una ragazza di diciotto anni. Non c'erano mai stati dubbi sul fatto che Lorelei Pratchett sarebbe stata stupenda, ma quando l'aveva scorta seduta su quella panchina era stato come beccarsi un'incornata al petto da un toro alla carica."
Lorelei è molto confusa, non sa cosa fare della sua vita dopo il crollo dei suoi progetti. Venire a patti con i propri fallimenti è difficile, si aspetta che tutti in città la evitino, ricordando il modo come li aveva sempre trattati, che ricomincino i pettegolezzi. Ma in fondo è una donna forte, che affronta i problemi di petto, è decisa a farsi apprezzare dai cittadini di Ardent Springs. Con un alleato come Spencer, amato da tutti,come potrebbe fallire? Si chiede. Ci riuscirà?

" Lui le rivolse un'espressione ferita.
- Stai dicendo che non sono uno dei tuoi preferiti?
- Se intendi la spina nel fianco preferita, allora sei senz'altro in cima alla lista.
- Numero uno. Mi sta bene.
A quel punto lei rise. Quell'uomo era incorreggibile."

Ho vissuto per metà della mia vita in un piccolo paese, dove tutti sapevano tutto di tutti, forse per questo sono riuscita a capire le scelte di Lorelei. È dura vivere con gente che si impiccia sempre dei fatti tuoi, i pettegolezzi che passando di bocca in bocca diventano montagne. Vivere in un luogo che ti soffoca. Come la protagonista a un certo punto sono scappata da tutto questo, ma come lei ho capito che puoi anche cambiare posto ma se ti porti dietro i problemi da cui scappi, nessun luogo sarà quello giusto. Mi è piaciuto come l'autrice ha descritto i personaggi di un paesino di provincia, ha descritto i contro (l'interferenza nella vita altrui), ma anche i pro, il calore di chi si aiuta nel momento del bisogno, diversamente dalle grosse città dove la gente ti ignora. I protagonisti pur venendo da situazioni quasi identiche, entrambi figli di madri single, affrontano in modo diverso la vita. Lorelei in difesa, attaccando tutti quelli che le stanno intorno. Spencer con la tranquillità di chi sa che non può cambiare le cose, ma rimboccandosi le "maniche" per migliorarle.
Lettura scorrevole anche se a volte molto lenta. Diversamente dal solito non sono riuscita a entrare in sintonia con nessuno dei protagonisti, forse perché essendo scritto in terza persona, rimane più impersonale. Ci sono alcuni colpi di scena man mano che si va avanti nella storia, ma rimane sempre la sensazione che manchi qualcosa. Nonostante questo, è una lettura piacevole e rilassante per passare qualche ora in totale relax, con la consapevolezza che a volte ritornare sui propri passi è l'unico modo per andare avanti.

Alla prossima,
Maria

[RachelW (BamaGal) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've enjoyed Osburn's 'Anchor Island' stories; but this first book in her new small town series is a terrible disappointment. The story is well written, but chock full of every truly ridiculous small town stereotype character and stock cliche known to man. The h of the book, Lorelei, is supposed to be spunky. Unfortunately, she comes across as alternately bitchy and pathetic. Spencer deserves better.

Although I'm holding out some hope for the next book about Snow; this one was a completely unoriginal, hot mess.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

romanzo carino

storia di un amore ritrovato dopo molto anni, è ambientata nella tipica provincia americana pettegola e malevola
lorelei e spencer sono due adulti che si ritrovano dopo una vita, si sono amati moltissimo da ragazzi ma lei è scappata da quella realtà che la soffocava inseguendo i suoi sogni di attrice
entrambi hanno avuto una loro vita ma nel momento in cui si ritrovano capiscono che ora da adulti possono costruire un amore nuovo e più forte insieme
il libro si legge fluidamente, i personaggi sono descritti abbastanza bene e anche i comprimari si inseriscono nella storia in modo complementare
una lettura senza stress che vale la pena

[Annuccia Palmeri · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5/4 Terri Osburn torna con questo second chance che segue le regole del buon vecchio romance e quindi fa e dice tutto nella maniera giusta. Tutto ciò era successo anche con la serie di Anchor Island, cosa non ha funzionato così? La terza persona lo ha fatto sembrare un po' troppo meccanico e privo di emozioni e pathos, inoltre la magia che si respira ad Anchor con lo spirito della comunità dava un tocco ai libri. Continuerò cmq a leggere altri libri perché sono molto fiduciosa.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this on audible. Once a month I take a drive out of state and pick a narrated book to help pass the time, today I was in a rush and so picked this one without digging into reviews like I usually would do. So I was going in based on synopsis and star review alone and honestly was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the characters and the town was interesting enough to have me curious about others in the series. It was a great light read. No laugh out loud moments or tears but still highly enjoyable.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its a simple nice romance.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Second chance novel

When her blooming acting career crashed and burned in California, Lorelei Pratchett was forced to tuck tail and return back home to Ardent Springs.
Instantly upon returning, she is quickly reminded of what she left behind - a man that loved her dearly but wasn't willing to help her follow her dreams.
Spencer Boyd is determined to make up for his lapse of judgement in the past. After 12 long years, he hasn't been able to forget his beautiful first love, Lorelei. He will do just about anything to win her back.
This was my first Terri Osburn book and it will definitely not be my last. This second chance novel was a perfect introduction. Narrowing in on all of the perks and disadvantages of small town living, the story flowed very well and had very relatable and well developed characters.
I look forward to getting to know the rest of the residents of Ardent Springs.

[ANGELA OBERNDORFER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and enjoyable.

While not a hot and steamy romance, this was a well written story with characters you can fall in love with and a story you can become part of.

[Il confine dei libri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Voto libro - 3.5
Per leggere la recensione in blog cliccare qui:
https://ilconfinedeilibri.blogspot.co...

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vikki’s Musings

Contemporary romances are not my first to go to genre, but when Montlake invited me to read and review an ARC of His First and Last via Net-Galley, the book description intrigued me so I accepted their offer. I like reunion/second chance romances and this one is excellent.

Lorelei Pratchett is returning to her home town after following her dream to become the next Meryl Streep. Unfortunately that didn’t pan out and now she’s back with nothing to show for the past twelve years, except her bruised pride and heart. While she looks forward to seeing her beloved grandmother, she does not look forward to the biased attitudes of the citizens of Ardent Springs.

After throwing his ring back in his face and leaving him for the bright lights of LA, Spencer Boyd has never been able to move on. After a failed marriage and years of lamenting the one that got away, he realizes that he is still in love with Lorelei when he picks her up at the airport for her grandmother.

As Lorelei gets involved in the campaign to save the Ruby, the theater in town that holds some wonderful memories, she works with Spencer on the project and spends a lot of time with him. She realizes that her feelings are as strong as they were back when they were engaged all those years ago.

Can Lorelei’s depleted self-esteem and aching heart allow Spencer to work his magic and heal her soul, or will she keep him at arm’s length while she works at rebuilding her life?

This is the first book I have read by Terri Osburn and I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful story of young love surviving even though the hero and heroine have not seen each other in twelve years. This is a story that pulls at the heart-strings and puts a smile on your face. I know it did that for me.

Lorelei is a spunky kid type of character. She may be down, but is far from defeated by life. She pulls on her big girl panties and sets out to reinvent herself and show Ardent Springs she is not the same person who left right after high school. Whether she is fighting the committee as she tries to convince them she has the plan to restore the Ruby, or making her wonderful treats for her fledging company, Lulu’s Home Bakery, her feisty spirit comes through. I loved her character from the first page.

Spencer is a great hero. He’s steadfast and loyal as he helps Lorelei re-establish herself in their hometown. His ability to see that he had just as much culpability in their break-up as she did, melted my heart. And to top it off, he’s a hunk with well-defined muscles, sun-kissed light brown hair and deep penetrating brown eyes. And did I mention he loves his dog? You have to love a man that is not afraid to show his tender side, and Spencer does it while still coming across as a strong-willed individual.

While this is a story line written many times, Ms. Osburn put s a fresh spin on it with her great character building and ability to give the reader a new look at small town USA . This is a fast-paced read and kept me entertained from start to finish. If you enjoy a story with great characters and plenty of emotion, you will love His First and Last. I suggest you give it a try. Happy reading!

[Catherine (The Sassy Bookster) · Rating 5 out of 5]

HIS FIRST AND LAST is an absolutely well-written and heartwarming story of second chances at love, life and coming full circle in the search for love and where to belong and is a great start to Terri Osburn's new series, Ardent Springs!

Lorelei Pratchett hightailed it out of Ardent Springs when she was eighteen for fame and fortune in Hollywood leaving behind everything - the man she loved as well as the town that judged her harshly for the circumstances of her birth. Twelve years later, she has returned home temporarily, broke, jobless and homeless, to regroup and head back out. At least that's what she thinks.

Twelve years ago, Spencer Boyd foolishly let the woman he loved walk out of his life. Now she is back and he is not going to let her go again. He's got to convince her that everything she needs is right there in Ardent Springs, a task that is made difficult by the fact that Loerlei has lost faith in herself, but Spencer is willing to exercise patience.

A lot of things have changed in Ardent Springs, but what has not changed is the judgmental attitude of some of the town. Drafted into the committee formed to restore an old landmark by her grandmother, Lerelei finds herself facing opposition from peopel with grudges and her responses are tinged with the bitterness and resentment from her past.

Ms. Osburn is great at creating charming small town settings and makes you just want to take a trip to her fictional towns. Her characters are well-developed, realistic and full of life as well. At  the beginning of the story, the animosity Lorelei faced had me thinking that being back home was a bad idea but as the story progresses, she displays admirable growth and maturity. Her plans to stay temporarily get thrown to the side as she embarks on building roots in the town and also exploring her relationship with Spencer. I love the pace at which Lorelei and Spencer's relationship grew - deliberate and steady - and I loved that they were both willing to work at it, with Spencer being very patient and understanding.

The secondary characters are just as fun (mostly) and charming as the main characters and Ms. Osburn sets the scene for the following books very skillfully.  She also throws in some huge secrets that when revealed, rock the lives of some of the characters.

Any book that has me smiling and chuckling throughout is a winner in my opinion and HIS FIRST AND LAST is certainly that. I highly recommend it to lovers of contemporary romance and look forward to the rest of the series!
 

*I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*

This review was originally posted on The Sassy Bookster

[LJT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you looking for an imaginative, fast-paced second chance romance? If so, your search is over because "His First and Last" by Terry Osborn is the perfect book for you. Who knew a small town in Tennessee could have so much action, fun and romance.

On the verge of becoming homeless, Lorelei Pratchett returns to Ardent Springs, the gossipy town she grew up in. After spending twelve years in Los Angeles trying her luck at an acting career, her life is going nowhere. Now at the ripe old age of 30, her only marketable skill is waitressing. Thankfully, her spunky grandmother welcomes her back with open arms. All she has to do now is find a job, cope with Spencer, her ex-fiance who just happens to live in the apartment above her grandmother's garage, and deal with the townsfolk who made her life miserable from the day she was born. Whew, how overwhelming is that! Luckily, Lorelei is stronger than she thinks and manages to supersede the town's expectations as well as her own.

It doesn't take long for Lorelei and Spencer to rekindle their chemistry from high school, however now their baggage and maturity is what keeps them together for a second chance at love.

Ms. Osborn is a terrific storyteller and "His First and Last" is the first book from her brand new series, Ardent Springs. This is a well-written, emotionally charged story with an interesting cast of characters. It has a vibe somewhat reminiscent of the old TV sitcoms from the 1960's, like The Andy Griffith Show and Petticoat Junction, but with a unique modern flair. All the characters are relateable, whether they are naughty or nice. The mayor and his daughter are especially malicious and nasty, due to Ms. Osborn's amazing words and ability to bring out their venomous personalities. This story has a wonderful and engaging ending, which continues to make me smile whenever I think about Lorelei and Spencer. I can't wait for book two!

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terri Osburn is my go to author for fun in a little town. I know I will laugh, cry and even wonder what the heck is going on at points in her books. I always feel so close to the heroine. She portrays them as so ordinary that we could be them ourselves but also as exciting and someone you would want as a friend.

His First and Last is her first book in her new Ardent Springs series. Lorelei Pratchett comes home after her dreams in LA fall through. She makes sure to tell all that its only temporary, she is not staying. This small town remembers too much, her crazy past and too many rumors. When she left Ardent Springs she did so with the thought of never going back. Her ex-boyfriend is still here, Spencer Boyd. Unfortunately he is sexier and even better looking now.

Spencer Boyd has been through changes. He has been married and divorced, lost a child. He sees Lorelei and realizes she is not the same person, she is very distant and withdrawn. She doesn't have that spark she used to. But seeing her again makes him realize he never stopped loving her, and now that she is back he needs to make her see that she belongs in Ardent Springs and with him.

As Lorelei and Spencer get to know each other again the sparks will fly. They will argue and laugh, and entertain us. They show us that sometimes you can have a second chance and if love is meant to be, it will survive even through all of the hurts, faults and pain. Well, at least it will in Ardent Springs and that is okay with me!! I definitely recommend this new series!! Can't wait for the next book!!

[Lauren Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, Lorelei and Spencer … deep sigh. This was such a great book!

Lorelei was a great “redemption” character – the girl who leaves town with a bad reputation, then returns with some trepidation, wanting to show everyone how she’s changed but not really sure she has. We get to watch her journey throughout the story, and meet all the great secondary characters who help her make her final transformation. I loved how so many of her old relationships got turned on their heads, and how some of the traits she saw as faults became her strengths when she learned how to harness them.

And, of course, there was Spencer! Deep sigh again. One of the “mistakes” of Lorelei’s past became her biggest proponent, as old flame Spencer picks her up from the bus station and their relationship journey begins. Spencer was such a wonderful hero – sweet and kind, hunky and protective, good to Lorelei’s grandma, his dog, and even surprisingly decent toward the ex-wife who cheated on him. His infinity for forgiveness is exactly what Lorelei needs – and needs to learn about – at exactly the right time.

Ms. Osburn is so great with words – spinning clever, funny sentences with deep, meaningful ones until we are swept up in her tales from beginning to end. I loved her previous Anchor Island series, and now we have the beginning of a brand-new series to adore just as much. (Actually, I think I’m liking this one even more! But, then again, I’m always a sucker for a man in a cowboy hat!) Thank you, Ms. Osburn, for another series to devour!

[Janie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"His First and Last" by Terri Osburn is part of her new series that takes place in 'Ardent Springs.' It's a small town with lots of wonderful characters. If you've ever lived in a small town you'll get that almost everyone around you knows what you're up to. If you have not lived in a small town it makes you want to live there. There are those who are petty, and think that they're better than anyone else, but for the most part the community helps out one another.

In this book we meet Lorelei Pratchett and Spencer Boyd. They were high school sweethearts but Lorelei was looking for Hollywood Glamour and left her small town with a bang, and some harsh words. Spencer stayed in town, married, and divorced while never stopped loving Lorelei. When she comes back to town because Hollywood wasn't all it was meant to be she is still trying to get over the stigma that drew her away in the first place. Her mother had her out of wedlock and told her she was the product of a one night stand while on Spring Break.

Lorelei and Spencer both need to come to terms with their past, and with the fact that neither one of them knew who their fathers were. Many twists turns try to come between them, and they must overcome their insecurities before they can move on. I loved this book so much that when I started reading it I could not put it down.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

All in all, I liked His First and Last, even though it was a bit of a shift to move from Anchor Island to Ardent Springs and start over with this series. But by now I trust Terri Osburn enough to just run with it.

The story does start a little slow as we establish whom Lorelei and Spencer are and whats their story, and then it starts to build in layers. But the author keeps Lorelei and Spencer in the center and actually takes the time to explain why Lorelei hates the town so much and kind of why Spencer loves it. That was very interesting.

I got distracted with the setting up of the town, though, it didn't always feel organic, but all in all I'm growing to like Ardent Springs and I was REALLY intrigued by the next book up! I think I'm going to really like that one.

As for His First and Last, it was a nice read, if a bit slow in places.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

A second chance love story of their first love. Lorelie left Ardent Springs to hit it big, fast forward twelve years and Lorelie has returned home from her failed dreams. Her first love Spencer, has never left Ardent Springs and he still believes Lorelie is his one and only. Spencer is not willing to loose Lorelie a second time, so now he only needs to prove to Lorelie that Ardent Springs is where she belongs.

Loved the small town atmosphere and the family and friends of Ardent Springs. Terri will have you laughing out loud with this story. I knew it was true love when Spencer let Lorelie blow her nose in his tee shirt.

I have already fallen in love with Ardent Springs, can't wait for more.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 2 out of 5]

His First and Last was a true second chance story. This book was heavily layered with drama and tension on all sides. Unfortunately, it was a thumbs up/thumbs down book, in my opinion. The characters were somewhat wooden and in some moments, they even came across as immature. Several plot points did not seem to be fully flushed out, which frustrated me a bit. With that said, I liked the story well enough to finish it. The ending for the main characters was positive, and the author left a dangling thread which seemed to be a lead in for another story.

Rating: 2.25/5
Recommend: +/-
Audience: Adult
Status: M
Chemistry/Intensity: +/-
Conflict/Drama: Yes
HEA: Yes
Stand Alone: Yes
Series: Yes