Last First Kiss at the Village Church

The Glenbriar #13

by Margaret Amatt

Love thy neighbour...

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers

340 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 6, 2025

About the author

Margaret is a Scottish author and chocolate lover who has been writing stories for over twenty years (possibly more if you count her primary school efforts). Her early works will never see the light of day and are locked in dusty vaults on some old floppy disks. But after all those years of practise, Margaret released her first novel A Winter Haven in 2021. This is the first of a ten-book series set on the gorgeous Scottish Isle of Mull.
The stories are unashamedly romantic but with lots of drama and an eclectic mix of characters. Each book can be read as a standalone but followers of the series will enjoy catching up with previous characters.
A new spin-off series based in the Scottish Highlands is coming out in 2023. Look out for the Glenbriar Series throughout the year.

Reviews

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

According to Amazon this is the thirteenth book in a fourteen book series....is my time spent in Glenbriar really coming to an end?

I'm still yet to read the entire series - I started on book four - but I've adored each and every one to date.

I love Kristi! She had me in mind of a Kat Slateresque character...all rock and no roll! Her relationship with Grant just proved the old adage right...opposites do attract!...there's alway more to someone than what meets the eye!

It's fun, heartwarming and as always an absolute delight to read.

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last First Kiss at the Village Church by Margaret Amatt

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Love thy neighbour.

Music-loving Kristi Buchanan dresses like a rockstar and dreams of being an artist, but her reality is much less glam–she’s a single mum in her late thirties...and a church cleaner. Her love-life is non-existent, and she can’t even create a dating profile that doesn’t make her life sound deadly dull.

Young church minister Grant Kerr has a pitiful dating history. Whenever women discover what his job is, they run. With a new position in the idyllic Glenbriar parish, he hoped his life was on the up, but the parishioners don’t appreciate an attractive, unmarried man in the pulpit.

Despite not being religious, Kristi forms an unlikely friendship with him. With each other’s help, they construct their ideal dating profiles, only to end up on separate dates in the same place. But the dates don’t go to plan.

Kristi can’t let herself fall for Grant, not when he’s determined to win over the parishioners by finding the perfect match, and she doesn’t fit the description at all. As Grant wrestles with his own feelings, their friendship is tested. Perhaps if they dare put their faith in each other, they might just find the love they’re both seeking.

My Opinion

Last First Kiss at the Village Church is the thirteenth book in the Glenbriar Series, and whilst it can be read as standalone this series is simply delightful so I would recommend reading the books in order. I always love my trips to Glenbriar so I am always on the lookout for upcoming releases. Margaret Amatt has once again written a beautiful, heart-warming story with some great characters.

Rating 5/5

[Pam Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This great series expands with a story focussing on Kristi, who we have met in earlier novels. On the outside, she is unconventional in dress and appearance but as we find out, she has a down to earth attitude, inherent kindness and fierce loyalty towards her family and friends. Whilst some members of the Church congregation might look askance at her, her instincts are more tolerant and forgiving than theirs.

The newly appointed church minister, Grant is not the favourite choice of some of his congregation but he is determined to keep an open mind and a welcoming attitude towards local people. You can see the friendship between Grant and Kirsti develop. They are both looking for a partner and for a time, they buddy up to help each other navigate dating sites. They both have concerns about their families and come to appreciate each other's qualities. Kirsti is looking for a more demanding focus for her life but feels at a disadvantage against her more conventionally successful peers. Often, she feels judged by others but has proved herself to be a steadfast parent. Facing an empty nest, Kirsti is keen to see where the next phase of her life will take her. Peopled with a range of likeable characters, I thoroughly enjoyed this thirteenth in the series.

In short: appearances can be deceptive
Thanks to the publisher

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book 13 of The Glenbriar Series, and once again, we are back in the lovely small town with village vibes.

First of all, I adore these covers! They're so lovely!

This time, it is the turn of Kristi (the rocker chick, single mum) and Grant (the new, young church minister) - their story is quite unique.

I absolutely adored these characters.

Kristi needs to be my best friend, and I love strong and resilient she it - she takes no messing.

Grant is brilliant, too! I love his quite modern view towards Christianity and how he wants to support his new community. He is also a lovely guy who has faced and overcome adversity.

Both characters have had their fair share of sadness in their lives, but both have grown from this.

Their story is engaging and wholesome, and I loved the friends-to-lovers trope ❤️.

Once again, Margaret has written a beautiful book, and I absolutely can't wait to read Book 14!

[Ade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last First Kiss is an absolute delight about the reverend and the rock tattooed chick. The minister has a type and it is the goth girl.

Last First Kiss is the thirteenth book in the Glenbrair series and is the story of the minister (Grant) in charge of the village church and the goth girl (Kristi) who cleans it.

It examines stereotypes, small town gossip and love in unexpected places. It was a funny read and I enjoyed Kristi’s no filter approach to life. I love the small town atmosphere and the meddling.

The characters were very relatable and interesting, even though I didn’t agree with some of Grant’s actions.

I love the opposite attracts and friends to lovers trope, small town romance and the plot, which is a massive credit to the author.

If you are looking for an interesting summer read, I highly recommend this.

[Book Escapes Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mistakenly thinking that this was the penultimate book in the superb series made it a bittersweet read, but I now have confirmation that it’s not; that said, it only took me a moment to become immersed in Kristi’s story. Since first meeting her and learning of her history with her ex, I have been hoping she’d find her happy ever after.
Kristi is a goth rock chick, think plenty of eyeliner and black clothing. Despite her potentially off-putting look, she has a heart of gold and lives for her children, who are now both living independently. Since her brief role as an artist came to an end, she has been working as a cleaner, which takes her to a variety of settings, including the village church, where she does a great job, albeit while blasting rock music from her phone.
The parish minister, Grant Kerr, sees the benefit of attracting a younger congregation, but feels opposition from the old guard who view youngsters in a dim light. Keen to bridge the gap between the old and the new, Grant finds himself drawn to Kristi, which leads to conflicting thoughts as they become closer.
I do enjoy an opposites attract theme, and this one was particularly enjoyable. There’s a gentleness to the way that their attraction bloomed, and seeing their awareness of each other develop was heartwarming. Possibly more heartwarming was the way Kristi was able to set aside her lack of religious beliefs to focus on the events surrounding the church’s anniversary celebrations and lead the youngsters in creating an art installation.
This beautiful story takes two lost souls and gives them a new focus on what is right in front of them. Achingly romantic with a regular dose of realism, I loved everything about it and can’t recommend it enough.

[Julie Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved reading this book from the first page to the last. It Was lovely meeting new characters and catching up with old ones. This story is about Grant the new minister in Glenbriar and Kristi the church cleaner and Goth. I am really looking forward to the next book in this series. Keep up the good writing Margaret Amatt.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret Amatt has done it again with another brilliant addition to the Glenbriar series. I’ve always had a soft spot for Kristi and am so happy that she gets her story told. Although she comes across as confident, bold and brash underneath she is just a woman looking for contentment and love! Grant is the new minister who is trying to make a good impression and is expected to be married. The thing is he struggles in the romance department as when any potential partners find out what he does as a job they run a mile! Kristi, who cleans the church, and Grant form an unlikely friendship but is there a chance that they actually like each other more than just friends? I honestly can’t recommend this series enough. Reoccurring, but very individual, characters, engaging storylines that have just the right amount of everything and a gorgeous setting makes them a must read!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when an emo artist/singer/cleaner meets a hunky (single) vicar? You get an interesting will-they-won’t-they read!

I loved Kristi. She loves her family deeply aand fiercely. She is under no illusion of people’s opinion of her, which in the main is unfounded. She’s got a heart of gold which is taken advantage of!!

Amatt got the internal politics of a small community bang on. The bickering and oneupmanship was real. The concern for how things “looked” when it’s really their opinion rather than the community.

The Last First Kiss At The Village Church is a gorgeous feel good read. Amatt got the sparks and tension between the leading couple spot on. I was willing them to get their act together and give me the happy ending I wanted. Did Amatt give me what I wanted or did the politics of community and church put pay to that?!? You’ll have to read it to find out.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are authors whose books I admit I adore
And this is one - I always look for her books that's for sure!
Her characters seem so real, the community, too,
So easy to relate to all they go through!

It is great to catch up on folks we've read of before
And learn about new ones some more.
This time the focus is on the Glenbriar church celebrations,
And the people involved - and their relations.

Such a fun read, with dilemmas and more
With expressed conflicting opinions hard to ignore.
With the church minister, Grant, surprised to discover
The church cleaner, Kristi, is like no other.

An unlikely friendship between these two grows
Despite their differences each of them knows
This could be so much more if they give it a chance
But dare they risk each other for romance?

A gorgeous read where maybe teens know best
And older parishioners put all to the test.
With family and relationships being challenging, too,
There's so much for them all to work their way through!

For my copy of this lovely book I say a huge thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

[Evie Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reverend and the rocker? A church minister and a tattooed single mum? YES PLEASE!

Margaret Amatt's books always deliver the goods, and Last First Kiss at the Village Church delivers a top tier read. Whether you're religious, an atheist, or agnostic, I promise you will love this fantastic romance read.

Kristi is comedy gold, Grant is cinnamon-roll gold, and the two of them together? Opposites attract perfection!

I rooted for Kristi and Grant from their first joke to their first kiss and beyond. Their romance is sweet, a little steamy, and tugs on all of your heartstrings. There are baddies (Malcolm needs to take a long walk off a short pier), surprises, and FABULOUS cameos from previous Glenbriar book stars.

I stayed up way too late reading Last First Kiss at the Village Church, and loved every page. If you’re looking for a small-town romance with big heart, witty banter, and the softest cinnamon roll hero ever—read this book now!

[Jo Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always loved Kristi as a character in some of the other books in the Glenbriar series. She has her own unique style and does not care what people think of her, although part of that comes in the form of armour after becoming a teenage mother with all the judgement that comes with it.

Grant was a young parish minister at the local church, six years younger than Kristi. He was very chilled and well-equipped to deal with some of the more demanding of his parishioners. When he finds himself drawn to Kristi his worry is not that she is unsuitable to be his girlfriend or his wife, he is worried that if the relationship did not work out, he would lose his best friend.

I loved the way they became best friends, helping one another in trying to find someone to date, while ignoring the fact that they both knew that they would have a better time with one another.

The dynamic within the church committees was entertaining. Their old fashioned views on not only Grant, but also on Kristi who some did not even think should be the church cleaner, created some big arguments, but it was clear that both Kristi and Grant could give as good as they got.

The encouragement from Grant really gave Kristi some much needed confidence in her abilities. She was such a wonderfully loyal and supportive person, always willing to drop everything to help someone in need.

This friends to lovers romance was delectable and I was almost disappointed when I reached the end. I love the Glenbriar series so much. They all work as standalones and I have loved them so fully that I will be a tiny bit devastated when the series comes to an end.

Last First Kiss at the Village Church is a smile-inducing romance with lots of community spirit too.

[Grace Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kirsti who is a single mum and a bit of a goth/rebel and Grant the new minister seem an unlikely couple but opposites do attract.
In Glenbriar the congregation are concerned because the new minister is young, fit and unmarried!
Kirsti and Grant are friends first but this leads to so much more.
A match made in heaven.