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First Love
Leslie Collins had it all figured out. A successful business, a plan to expand her cupcake empire, and a move back to her hometown so that she could be close to her family again. God had been so good to work out all the details for her, just like that.
What Leslie didn’t count on was running into Blake Young, the boy who broke her heart back in high school. When Blake’s own interests in town turn her plans upside down, Leslie is left plotting revenge and vowing to get even.
Not today, Satan.
Can the past be forgiven? Can there be grace even in grief? And can God change hearts?
What Leslie didn’t count on was running into Blake Young, the boy who broke her heart back in high school. When Blake’s own interests in town turn her plans upside down, Leslie is left plotting revenge and vowing to get even.
Not today, Satan.
Can the past be forgiven? Can there be grace even in grief? And can God change hearts?
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 27, 2018
47 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Jenn Faulk
81 books144 followersJenn Faulk is a native Texan who enjoys reading and writing chick lit. She's a pastor's wife, a stay-at-home mom, and a marathon enthusiast who loves talking about Jesus and what a difference He's made in her life. She has a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston and a MA in Missiology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
While all of Jenn's books are standalone novels with no cliffhanger endings, incomplete plots, or questions left unanswered, there is a suggested reading order that might be helpful as you get into the books...
Resolutions
Different Stars
Just Breathe
Best Day Ever
Even Still
Ready or Not
A Little Faith
Promises Kept
Beyond the Game
Just Friends
A New Tune
Pure Fiction
Home to You
Something Better
From Here on Out
Anywhere
Happily Ever After
Perfectly Pretend
Take Heart
So Like Us
Christmas Surprises
Tis the Season
The Plan
A Big Summer
Taking Chances
Destination Wedding
Crushed
Run (with L.N. Cronk)
Childish Ways
The New Girl
You and Me, Baby
Obsessed (with L.N. Cronk)
What a Christmas
Romance, Reality, and Blog Writers
Meet in the Middle
The Same Place (with L.N. Cronk)
Always
Lost and Found
Who You Know
The Mrs. Degree
You Again
Taken (with L.N. Cronk)
First Love
All My Days
Picture Perfect
Worth It
Wasted Time
Holiday Town
The One That Got Away
Meant To Be
All I Ever Wanted
Stuck on You
Pieced Together
Where You Are
Close Enough
All I Want for Christmas
Unexpected
Magical
Broken
Extraordinary
Wanted
Mine
More
Becoming Us (with Jaycee Weaver)
Maybe
Unmasked
Lucky
Called
Forever
While all of Jenn's books are standalone novels with no cliffhanger endings, incomplete plots, or questions left unanswered, there is a suggested reading order that might be helpful as you get into the books...
Resolutions
Different Stars
Just Breathe
Best Day Ever
Even Still
Ready or Not
A Little Faith
Promises Kept
Beyond the Game
Just Friends
A New Tune
Pure Fiction
Home to You
Something Better
From Here on Out
Anywhere
Happily Ever After
Perfectly Pretend
Take Heart
So Like Us
Christmas Surprises
Tis the Season
The Plan
A Big Summer
Taking Chances
Destination Wedding
Crushed
Run (with L.N. Cronk)
Childish Ways
The New Girl
You and Me, Baby
Obsessed (with L.N. Cronk)
What a Christmas
Romance, Reality, and Blog Writers
Meet in the Middle
The Same Place (with L.N. Cronk)
Always
Lost and Found
Who You Know
The Mrs. Degree
You Again
Taken (with L.N. Cronk)
First Love
All My Days
Picture Perfect
Worth It
Wasted Time
Holiday Town
The One That Got Away
Meant To Be
All I Ever Wanted
Stuck on You
Pieced Together
Where You Are
Close Enough
All I Want for Christmas
Unexpected
Magical
Broken
Extraordinary
Wanted
Mine
More
Becoming Us (with Jaycee Weaver)
Maybe
Unmasked
Lucky
Called
Forever
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 4, 2018
Christian romance.
Travis, Leslie, Holly and Brooke Collins were orphaned when their parents died in an accident.
The girls were still underage and stood on the shoulders of their brother, at age 19, the responsibility to keep the family together.
Their father's construction company was mired in debt. Travis was not intimidated, and with the help of some people in the city, he carried on his father's work.
Leslie wanted to help her brother in some way and had the idea that from that day on, the sisters would make cupcakes and sell them.
Over the years, the Collins went from the poorest in the city to the richest.
Leslie came back from university and her cupcakes business was thriving. Her dream was to open a bakery in her town.
The perfect building for this had been on sale for years, and the day she would sign the contract, Leslie discovers there was someone else interested in the building, and it was none other than Blake Young, the boy who had broken her heart years ago.
Blake came from a broken family. His father lived unemployed and every time he was fired, he put the blame on someone else.
Blake approached Leslie years ago because of a bet.
Now he was back as the new pastor, and he had plans for that building.
But knowing that Leslie was also interested in buying it, the war between them is declared.
Which one would win?
Was there a chance of a reconciliation?
4 stars
Travis, Leslie, Holly and Brooke Collins were orphaned when their parents died in an accident.
The girls were still underage and stood on the shoulders of their brother, at age 19, the responsibility to keep the family together.
Their father's construction company was mired in debt. Travis was not intimidated, and with the help of some people in the city, he carried on his father's work.
Leslie wanted to help her brother in some way and had the idea that from that day on, the sisters would make cupcakes and sell them.
Over the years, the Collins went from the poorest in the city to the richest.
Leslie came back from university and her cupcakes business was thriving. Her dream was to open a bakery in her town.
The perfect building for this had been on sale for years, and the day she would sign the contract, Leslie discovers there was someone else interested in the building, and it was none other than Blake Young, the boy who had broken her heart years ago.
Blake came from a broken family. His father lived unemployed and every time he was fired, he put the blame on someone else.
Blake approached Leslie years ago because of a bet.
Now he was back as the new pastor, and he had plans for that building.
But knowing that Leslie was also interested in buying it, the war between them is declared.
Which one would win?
Was there a chance of a reconciliation?
4 stars
June 7, 2018
The story was told in two pov; Leslie and Blake. Blake's pov focus on the past. How he met Leslie in their senior years of high school as lab partners. How they became friend and high school sweetheart. And what led to their break-up. Leslie's pov focus on the present. What happen after six years of their break-up. This book was heavy on the Christian theme. So, if you're not into religion or you think you can't handle talk about religion, then this is not for you. The romance story was good and what kept me reading.
The thing I dislike about this was the clueless characters. It's like they are stuck inside their own world or in this book, the small town. They never bother to do research or find out about things that doesn't matter to them. Well, can't blame the characters because it was all on the writer. I hate it when people try to impose their opinion on me instead of stating choices with facts and letting me make my own decision. For example, the writer like A and tried hard enough to tell us the reason why we should go for A, when there are 25 other letters in the alphabet. And if we chose other than A, then we are an ignorant fool.
The thing I dislike about this was the clueless characters. It's like they are stuck inside their own world or in this book, the small town. They never bother to do research or find out about things that doesn't matter to them. Well, can't blame the characters because it was all on the writer. I hate it when people try to impose their opinion on me instead of stating choices with facts and letting me make my own decision. For example, the writer like A and tried hard enough to tell us the reason why we should go for A, when there are 25 other letters in the alphabet. And if we chose other than A, then we are an ignorant fool.
April 5, 2018
First Love
Another winner from Jenn Faulk! This is a sweet romance about young love, a first love and growing up. This book was a full circle back to a couple finding each other again. There were sparks and humor and reflection. It was about forgiveness and redemption too. I really enjoyed it. I hope there will be a book about Holly next. Hint hint. ;)
Another winner from Jenn Faulk! This is a sweet romance about young love, a first love and growing up. This book was a full circle back to a couple finding each other again. There were sparks and humor and reflection. It was about forgiveness and redemption too. I really enjoyed it. I hope there will be a book about Holly next. Hint hint. ;)
March 28, 2018
Oh my gosh these chick lit books just keep getting better and better. Leslie and Blake have to cross the divide of broken hearts and dreams to get their happy ending.
July 16, 2020
Leslie and Blake
Leslie is the oldest of Travis' three sisters that he raised in Meet In The Middle. She's called the Cupcake Queen and aspires to own her own shop and become independently wealthy. She's supposedly a Christian, but after reading this book...I'm thinking she was a Christian in name only. How can a true believer have such hatred and anger? How can she still, after all these years, still dwell on things that Blake said as a teenager? Maybe, just maybe, he's matured by now? And the fact that he's a youth pastor, might say that he's had a heart change?
Blake...bless his heart! He had a horrible home life as a young boy. And yes, he said and did some really dumb things as a teen when he first met Leslie. Haven't we all? But God got a hold of his heart and he had a true conversion. He even showed more restraint than Leslie did once they started dating!
I'm sorry but this story angered me. I finished it, but it is definitely not a favorite.
Leslie is the oldest of Travis' three sisters that he raised in Meet In The Middle. She's called the Cupcake Queen and aspires to own her own shop and become independently wealthy. She's supposedly a Christian, but after reading this book...I'm thinking she was a Christian in name only. How can a true believer have such hatred and anger? How can she still, after all these years, still dwell on things that Blake said as a teenager? Maybe, just maybe, he's matured by now? And the fact that he's a youth pastor, might say that he's had a heart change?
Blake...bless his heart! He had a horrible home life as a young boy. And yes, he said and did some really dumb things as a teen when he first met Leslie. Haven't we all? But God got a hold of his heart and he had a true conversion. He even showed more restraint than Leslie did once they started dating!
I'm sorry but this story angered me. I finished it, but it is definitely not a favorite.
March 16, 2019
E-Reader. Christian / Fiction
Leslie Collins first love was Blake Young, in high school. But he broke her heart.
Her parents died in a car accident, she was quite young. She has an older Travis, was allowed to custody his 3 sisters, Leslie, Holly & Brooke.
After got of college she decided to back home. She's called the cupcake queen. She bakes cupcakes even for weddings. She delivers cupcakes for other events or people who in town.
She found out that Blake Young was the new youth pastor, at church her family attends.
There are too many characters in this book to list!
Will Leslie & Blake fall in love, again?
I you will enjoy this book as I did!
Leslie Collins first love was Blake Young, in high school. But he broke her heart.
Her parents died in a car accident, she was quite young. She has an older Travis, was allowed to custody his 3 sisters, Leslie, Holly & Brooke.
After got of college she decided to back home. She's called the cupcake queen. She bakes cupcakes even for weddings. She delivers cupcakes for other events or people who in town.
She found out that Blake Young was the new youth pastor, at church her family attends.
There are too many characters in this book to list!
Will Leslie & Blake fall in love, again?
I you will enjoy this book as I did!
April 6, 2018
I loved First Love!
First Love is beautifully told from Leslie’s present, yet often reflective, point of view and from Blake’s during their high school years. I especially love how she transitioned between the two using similar phrases, emotions, or events that echoed one another.
Taking place not long after Always, one of my very favorites, this book tells another Collins family tale that takes old hurts and works through them with grace and the overwhelming, redemptive love of Christ. So, so good.
First Love is beautifully told from Leslie’s present, yet often reflective, point of view and from Blake’s during their high school years. I especially love how she transitioned between the two using similar phrases, emotions, or events that echoed one another.
Taking place not long after Always, one of my very favorites, this book tells another Collins family tale that takes old hurts and works through them with grace and the overwhelming, redemptive love of Christ. So, so good.
April 24, 2018
Another amazing story!
I was so excited when I saw that Jenn had another book out. I have read through all her books-not once but twice. Now I think I need to start through a third time! I always come away feeling so uplifted and warm inside. It's definitely a tale of how God, maturity and open communication can salvage a ruined relationship. Keep them coming, please!
I was so excited when I saw that Jenn had another book out. I have read through all her books-not once but twice. Now I think I need to start through a third time! I always come away feeling so uplifted and warm inside. It's definitely a tale of how God, maturity and open communication can salvage a ruined relationship. Keep them coming, please!
February 28, 2019
He stepped up to take care of his young sisters when parents died. The business was in debt, and with help of other he made a go of it. Leslie decided to help her brother by selling cupcakes. A romance in high school and a break up, to come full circle to love again. A good Christian story.
April 4, 2018
I love this book. I really enjoyed the way it flowed so smoothly from present to past. The one disappointment was that it didn’t end with a glimpse into the future like so many of her other books.
April 6, 2018
DNF at half. Very slow therefore boring.
March 6, 2019
Cupcakes & Christ
What a wonderful story of how Christ can change lives. Great characters and storyline. Let’s not forget the cupcakes. Wish the recipes had been included.
What a wonderful story of how Christ can change lives. Great characters and storyline. Let’s not forget the cupcakes. Wish the recipes had been included.
July 6, 2019
Cute book! Cupcakes make a fun theme, but this one also delves into some deeper topics as well.
July 16, 2025
A sweet cover (no pun intended) and story.
June 30, 2018
Having read about the other Collins siblings, it was fun to finally read Leslie's story. Faulk does a great job in this one of weaving past and present together without leaving the reader lost. Definitely a good read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews