Once Kissed

by Cecy Robson

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

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

Once Kissed is the book one in the O’Brien Family series, bur it is not my first time hanging out with the members of this large, loud and tight family. I received my first introduction to this family in Save Me. Now with that being said, I must confess Once Kissed had been on my TBR shelf for a while. I am not sure why it took me so long to get to it; but I am glad that I finally attempted to pick it up. I had a blast with this beautiful and funny second chance romance.


SUMMARY

In Once Kissed, the focus is on Police Officer Curran O’Brien and law intern Tess Newhart. Curran is hardworking and well respected by his fellow officers. However, after an unfortunate event which almost ended tragically, his superiors placed him on temporary reassignment to work security detail in the District Attorney’s office. His assignment, protect his brother’s intern.

Tess Newhart faces potential danger because of the high-profile case his brother is currently working on. He took the assignment with a heavy heart, not that he had a choice, but when he laid eyes on Tess, his assignment took on a new life. If only she would loosen up and let down her hair.


Curran’s reaction to Tessa when he discovered her identity had me cracking up. You see, these two shared an interesting past. I couldn’t believe Tess had displayed such inhibited behaviour in the past. In this moment Tess comes across as a straight laced geek. She possesses many layers, and it took sometime to peel each one away. However, with each unpeeling, one learns to appreciate her and empathise with her circumstances. To some persons, she may appear weak, but in my opinion, it was the opposite. It takes strength to endure all she did and maintain a compassionate persona. Tess is definitely a survivor.

Curran is the type of hero one could easily fall for. Funny, flirtatious and generous. All was not well with him, though. The incident mentioned earlier led to him dealing with PTSD. He refuses to address it, but a big push from Tess had him seeking help to work through his issues.

The romance which developed between Tess and Curran was sweet, filled with heat and free of drama. I enjoyed their banter, which had me laughing out loud a few times. At first glance, it would appear they wouldn't make a great fit, but this was not the case. They made a great couple, and they brought out the best in each other. Curran showed her what it meant to be loved and helped to restore her confidence.

Curran was assigned to protect Tess, but her biggest threat had nothing to do with the case she was working on. It came from the one person who should have protected and loved her throughout her life. Instead, her father mistreated her and controlled every aspect of her life. He ensured that any attempts to breakaway would have dire results.

Robson weaved a little suspense and danger into the mix, which along with the antics and banter of Curran's family gave the story that extra oomph.

Once Kissed delivered a delightful read which will captivate you with its witty banter and endearing moments.

This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading