Last First Kiss

Hale Street #10

by Amy Knupp

“I loved this book. Once I started I couldn’t stop!”—Reader reviewHer best friend’s hockey-player brother is the last guy who could give her what she dreams of…but the only one she wants.Ob-gyn nurse Lena Kessler never wanted to be the last unmarried Kessler sister standing. She’s content caring for babies in her career, but what she truly yearns for are babies of her own and a good man beside her. After trying too hard to make the wrong relationships work, though, she’s determined to be wiser and more discriminating. Then her roommate’s brother, Ash, moves to town.Being a hockey has-been was never in Ash McGuire’s life plan. After two surgeries, a career-ending injury, a blur of partying, and an unhealthy dose of self-destruction, he digs deep to get his life back on track. A job as the coordinator of a youth hockey league allows him to relocate, grow up, and reconnect with his sister at the same time.Ash is definitely in the hands-off category for Lena, even if she very much wants to put her hands all over him. He realizes settling down in a new city with a new career with the right woman might just be the hat trick of all hat tricks, but can he convince Lena he’s ready and able to be her most valuable player for life?Last First Kiss is a stand-alone story in the Hale Street series, which includes these books by Amy KnuppSweet SpotSoft SpotOne and OnlyLast First KissHeartstringsImmerse yourself in the Hale Street world instantly!

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Sports, Amazon, Novella

152 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 18, 2017

About the author

Amy Knupp is a USA Today Best-Selling author of contemporary romance and a freelance copy editor. She loves words and grammar and meaty, engrossing stories with complex characters.

Amy lives in Wisconsin with her husband, and has two sons, four cats, and a box turtle. She graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in French and journalism. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, breaking up cat fights, watching college hoops, and annoying her family by correcting their grammar.

Reviews

[E-Reader Addict · Rating 2 out of 5]

Last First Kiss is book ten in the Hale Street series, which is a series of books written by different authors, all taking place in the same town. There are interrelated characters, but each can be read as a standalone.

Not gonna lie, I was a little underwhelmed by this book. The writing was good - entertaining even - but when a synopsis tells me a woman “truly yearns for babies of her own and a good man beside her,” I expect a decent amount of page space to be devoted to how much this woman aches because she doesn’t have that. When she falls for a man who she doesn’t believe wants the same things (marriage and children), I want to feel the anguish in having to walk away from him. Or hear them hash things out.

Even accounting for this being a novella, I was hoping for more. This story had the potential to be really good, but what I was anticipating reading - based on the synopsis - fell far short of what the story actually offered. The main conflict in this relationship came from the fact that the hero was the brother of the heroine’s best friend, and the heroine didn’t want her friend to know she’d been seeing her brother - not that she was hurt because the hero didn’t want the same things in life she did.

I would be willing to try another book by Amy Knupp. I didn’t find anything wrong with her writing. But in the future I may need to do a better job managing my expectations...

[W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found the right person, finally

I like how this book starts right in at the middle of prior book, One and Only, and we can see the same event from other perspective. It was interesting to watch both Ash and Lena learn to navigate a 'normal' relationship in an adult and natural course of events.
I found this story a bit less Hale-centric than the other books in the series I have read. Principally because neither main character owns a business or works at a business on Hale Street. Although Ash is living at the Wentworth Hotel and his sister/her housemate works at Clayborne's on the Corner, Ash and Lena have lives in the larger Nashville area. These characters are not as emotionally connected or committed to the Hale Street project. But I love how the Hale Street people are happy to embrace them as part of the larger Hale community.
I purchased a copy of this story from Amazon and voluntarily chose to share my review.

[Kerry Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blurb
Her best friend’s hockey-player brother is the last guy who could give her what she dreams of…but the only one she wants.Ob-gyn nurse Lena Kessler never wanted to be the last unmarried Kessler sister standing. She’s content caring for babies in her career, but what she truly yearns for are babies of her own and a good man beside her. After trying too hard to make the wrong relationships work, though, she’s determined to be wiser and more discriminating. Then her roommate’s brother, Ash, moves to town
The chemistry between these two was off the page and the slow burn, loved it.
I'm new to this author but absolutely loved her writing style.
There is banter, friendship and all the cozy vibes.
It's a novella Thus a fairly quick read, but I didn't want it to end so took my time with this one.
Kerry Kennedy Author

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

We met Lena and Ash in One and Only which was Micah & Sloan’s story. Sloan is Lena’s roommate and Ash’s sister. Lena is attracted to Ash, but Sloan tells her that he’s not into relationships, only one night stands and never sees the same woman more than once. I won’t spoil any of the story for you, but it’s well worth the read to find out how the woman who is scarred from past relationships and the man who never knew love learn how to put their fears behind them and find their way to each other. There’s a lovely and emotional epilogue and of course, a HEA.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all things hockey. Ash was introduced in a few books before. He has missed playing hockey which he has had to give up due to a second injury. He has moved to Nashville for a job and he has a sister that lives here. He realizes that it is time for him to grow up and get on with his life. Shortly after moving to Nashville he meets his sister’s roommate Lena, and is smitten. He is not sure what to do. Lena has had several heartbreaks in her past. She realizes that she falls hard to fast, before the guy is ready to commit, so she shies away from relationships. She is drawn to Ash and feels a strong connection. I enjoyed this story.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

I loved this book. Once I started, I couldn't stop. I fell in love with Ash and Lena. The dual POVs give the reader a great in-sight into these wonderful characters. The book had just enough descriptive detail that the reader is able to fill in the rest. You could picture the scenes just like being at the movies. I felt like I was right there with the characters.

I highly recommend this book to anyone.

[Lorie - Bookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet

I love the 'Hale Street's series. Don't give up on your dreams in Book 10.

Just one night with Ash McGuire, Kens was pretty sure , would blow her ever-loving mind.

Ash knew it without a doubt, he was losing his mind, acting like a damn animal in mating season with his heart hammering and blood pounding through his vanes.

Amy definitely knocked this story out of the rink. Keep reading and enjoy.

[Laura R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick read and enjoyed the two main characters, Lena and Ash. Will their spending more and more time together lead romance or is it hopeless for them since Ash is the brother of Lena's best friend Sloan? Recommend reading this book. This is my honest review in exchange for a free copy of the book.

[Kathleen Booker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I move to Hale Street😍😍

Lena has watched her sisters and friends find their forever love but is starting to think she never will. Her best friend Sloane has constantly warned her away from her brother but when Ash moves to Nashville for a job, he and Lena can't seem to stay away from each other. I'm so glad Lena listened to her heart because her and Ash belong together.

[Miranda Hohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy romance read with a little spice, that could be finished within a day. The timeline felt a little choppy, and there were a couple of times the transition of time was off, so I would have to go back and double check I wasn’t loosing my mind.
Overall, I wanted a short and cute story, and I got a short and cute story

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a lot of Amy's books, but this one was not a favorite. I loved Ash's character in how he tried to reinvent himself. I didn't like Lena's character - she's too selfish to me. I don't like the way she used and abused Ash. I'm a person who can hold a grudge, and I have ... I sort of wish Ash was the same. He deserved someone better.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I downloaded this free back in August and then realized it was part of a series and held on to it till I could get the rest of the series. It was an absolutely lovely written series. Of love, understanding and relationship growth. Well worth the read.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Likeable characters and a decent story. Nice addition to the series.

[Maria]

FREE today (March 9, 2024) on Amazon.

[Angel Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good story.

I like Ash and Lena together.

Recommended reading.

[Sharon]

Purchased in epub format from Barnes and Noble for my Nook.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inthralling

Loved the characters and the whole story. I was captivated by the story and the characters. Very much recommend. It is a "Good Read".

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read and fun. A small amount of spice. I hadn’t read any of the other books, so I felt like I didn’t know the characters

🌶️/5 (explicit-ish)

[Feija · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️ I really liked this book!!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

a cute short story, love the mentions of hockey!

[Emily Prior · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars

This is a cute story for finding love band I like the characters in this book! So it was a happy read for me