I Should Have Kissed Him

Nurses of Maricopa County #1

by Annie Mick

Lucas
It’s true what they you never forget your first love. Liberty Collins was mine. Problem is, I've not only never forgotten her; I've never gotten over her. Liberty wasn’t just my first love; she was my only love, and my last.

The very memory of her and the night we parted have served well as a cruel reminder there will never be another love for me. We made a deal that day, one I’ve never forgotten. One that has factored into every decision I’ve made since.

She’s back, and I’ve come to collect on her ‘promise of tomorrow’.

A story of young love and best friends torn apart by tragedy and tested by time. Follow the journey of Lucas and Liberty as they struggle with adult relationships, all the while searching for the one they never forgot.

Recommended for mature audiences due to subject matter.

313 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2024

Reviews

[BookwormBeccaAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic!!! Second chance romance, childhood love, drama, suspense, twists, found family, it is so good!!

[Jessica's Book Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Should Have Kissed Him by Annie Mack is a cute childhood, second chance romance novel. We meet Liberty & Lucas as 12 year old neighbors and best friends. Lucas comes from an abusive home and Liberty’s family became his second family. One day everything changed. Lucas’s father killed his mother and Lucas is sent away. Liberty has no idea where Lucas was sent to. They both love each other and need each other so much. They never forgot one another and we read of small glimpse’s of their adolescence into adulthood, still NEEDING one another. It was very sad & heartbreaking.

Lucas can’t love another woman. He only wants Liberty. Liberty is engaged but doesn’t “love” him like she loves Lucas. After all these years they can’t move on. The first 50% of the book the anticipation was killing me! I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the moment Lucas and Liberty are reunited.

From there I was left a little disappointed. I know Liberty and Lucas love each other but I would have enjoyed a little more buildup between the two after reuniting instead of all the “I love you’s”, “you’re my soul mate” talk. They have been through a lot and I felt a little more buildup would have been more realistic for these two characters. Also both Lucas and Liberty have exes that seemed to have just disappeared. Especially Lucas’s crazy ex. One of them would have been an interesting story conflict. I kept waiting for them to make a reappearance but they just disappeared… while I did enjoy the story and characters. The second half of the book just wasn’t for me. Between the fast reconnection and a little far fetched connections of characters at the end I just needed someone more in depth.

This was my first novel by Annie Mack and while this one didn’t mark all my boxes, I look forward to reading another novel of hers.

I give I Should Have Kissed Him by Annie Mack 3 stars.

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is emotional, focusing on the power of first love and the impact it has on life decisions. It’s a sweet and emotional read about second chances and unforgotten promises. Perfect for romance lovers.