First Time in Forever (Puffin Island, #1)

by Sarah Morgan

[Leah]

If Sarah Morgan’s GoodReads page is to be believed (and why wouldn’t it be?) she’s the author of over 300 works. Which is actually impressive. Not many people can say they’ve written over 300 books and that those books have been published, too. Most of those are Mills & Boon novels, but over the past year or so she’s started a couple of Chick Lit series, the first being the O’Neil Brothers trilogy (which I haven’t read) and her latest being her Puffin Bay trilogy. I’ve heard nothing but good things about Sarah’s books, but it’s been hard to get the chance to read her books, so I dived in to First Time In Forever hoping for a fabulous read.

At times, recenly, I sort of feel my love for Chick Lit is waning as my love for Young Adult, New Adult and Crime rises. Because a lot of Chick Lit is same old, same old. But First Time In Forever was refreshing and really quite fabulous. Anyone know reads my reviews regularly will know that I LOVE the idea of going and living on an island, one where you’re part of a community, and everyone has your back, but it’s also peaceful and quiet and Puffin Island sounds PERFECT. I would dearly love to go and meet the puffins, and live on this island with all of those wonderful people we get to meet in First Time In Forever.

Another plot I really love is when someone unexpectedly becomes a mother, which is what happens to Emily after her sister dies in a plane crash. I love seeing people navigate their way in something entirely new and alien, and Emily does it well, although her fright does sometimes take her over (and when you learn why she’s so frightened you can understand why). Thankfully Emily isn’t alone in trying to raise Lizzy, as she has the delectable Ryan at hand, who made a promise to Emily’s best friend Brittany to look out for Emily and Lizzy, and Ryan is, of course, delicious, meaning the tension and chemistry between him and Emily is somewhat off the scale. YAY! I love off the charts chemistry and Emily and Ryan were somehow perfect for each other, despite not really knowing each other (at first).

I really loved First Time In Forever – the setting was so, so perfect and I’m looking forward to more books set there, and especially learning Brittany and Skylar’s stories (and I’ve already found them their perfect partners) in the next couple of books. If Sarah can somehow manage to wangle me an invite to Puffin Island, I’d be there like a shot. :) The book was just so delightful. I loved Emily and Ryan, Lizzy was the cutest little girl you could ever wish to care for, and the entire community of Puffin Island just made me wish it was an actual place I could go live, especially to go and have some of Lisa’s ice cream. I love ice cream. And islands with puffins attached to it. And I can’t wait for the second Puffin Island book, it can’t come soon enough.