Last Kiss

Sheridan Rosselare lost her son, Charlie, a year ago and she still has been unable to return to her career as a singer-songwriter. Charlie's girlfriend, Nell, wants answers about Charlie's Death, so she hires private investigator, Gavin Dawson to investigate his death. Sheridan and Gavin were best friends and wildly in love as teenagers, but broke up years ago. When Gavin comes back into her life, Sheridan realizes that it's time to live again.

Characters from previous novels by Rice have small roles in this book. Rice is beautifully descriptive as she writes about Hubbard's Point and life by the ocean. I found this novel to be a little slow. Too much description and too little action for me.

Already being a fan of Luanne Rice, I am always surprised by what she has in store for us. In my humble opinion, I think a lot of writer's have a certain style in which we know what to expect from them - I don't feel this is the case with Luanne. I have read several of her books, and every time am pleased with the vast array of topics that she covers.

In The Last Kiss, she brings us the story of a mother's loss. The devastation of losing a child and not know the reason behind it. A promising life gone in a moment's time, not leaving behind any clues as to why. It is also a tale of closure. Learning to love again, trust again, and believe that one can go on after a terrible tragedy.

I truly enjoyed this book. I do not find that it show more provided me a fluffy reading experience - it was not a fun book, but it was a book filled with hope and faith and love. The Last Kiss made me think about my own children and how I pray every day for their safety and well-being. I thought it was a beautiful story and I would highly recommend it. show less

A face on a poster, a name in the news, an inexplicable tragedy. A promising young man goes out one warm summer evening and is found dead - murdered - less than twenty-four hours later. No motive; no clues; no answers. Most people might reflect briefly on the disturbing headlines, perhaps say a prayer of safely removed sympathy, but ultimately will move on with their lives. But what if the young man was your son? Or your true love?

Nearly a year after the death of eighteen-year-old Charlie, singer-songwriter Sheridan Rosslare still hasn't played a note of the music that was once her life's passion. Tucked away in the beach house where she raised her only child, she lives with her memories of him and a grief still too fresh and pervasive show more to even share with her beloved sisters or her dear friend Stevie Moore. Nor can Stevie comfort Charlie's heart-broken girlfriend, Nell Kilvert, whom Stevie regards as a daughter. Nell won't rest until she finds out what really happened to the boy she loved. Out of the past she summons a man she believes cares enough, and is tough enough, to uncover the truth - Sheridan's long-ago soul mate, Gavin Dawson.

Now Gavin's boat, the Squire Toby, sits anchored in the harbor within sight of the window of the woman he once loved, still loves, and will always love. Sheridan, too, had once fervently believed in the miraculous power of love and healing, forgiveness, connection, and reconnection. But her faith died along with her son...

New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice returns to Hubbard's Point, Connecticut, and to characters from her beloved Beach Girls, to tell the haunting story of a close-knit community grappling with a heart-breaking mystery, and of a woman rebuilding her world and reclaiming a love she believed lost a lifetime ago.

In my opinion, reading Last Kiss by Luanne Rice was just slightly annoying. The story itself was certainly alright - perhaps more attention was paid to the romantic entanglements of characters than I would have liked, but the story was otherwise intriguing to me. However, being the sixth book in a series, there was quite a bit of catching up for me to do in Last Kiss. To me, covering the plots of five previous books in only a few pages, is not really enough. Granted, I had read The Perfect Summer - which is the fourth book in this series - back in February of 2010, however, there were still large portions of this book's plot which didn't make sense to me.

Overall, I give Last Kiss by Luanne Rice a B+! I will certainly read more from this author in the future, but I think that I will stick to reading her standalone novels rather than books from her series from now on. show less

I thought this book was really good. It sucked you in and kept you interested until the last page. I was glad the hero and heroine ended up back together. I did kind of wish that the son would turn out to be alive if only for the sake of his mother and girlfriend who were grieving so profoundly.

With the one year anniversary of Charlie Rosslare's death and no hint of an answer as to what happened from the police, his girlfriend, Nell, hires Gavin Dawson to find out what happened on the last night of Charlie's life. Gavin wants to get answers to more than just what happened to Charlie though, he also wants to know what happened between him and Charlie's mom, Sheridan, and if what they had all those years ago can be had again now. As Gavin digs to find the truth he begins to uncover secrets that no one wants to think about or believe. Will he be able to tell Nell what she longs to hear? Will he ever be more to Sheridan than just a memory from her own childhood?

I very much enjoyed this book and am beginning to think that Luanne show more Rice may be making my favorite authors books very soon. I feel I will be reading all of her books in the future. show less

Hubbard's Point is a small Conn beach town where life is slow and easy. Parents relax together and kids meet each summer, grow into their teens and fall in love. So how is it that Charlie leaves this town to go to college in NY and within days is mysteriously murdered? Is it a random act of violence or was it personal.
Nell, Charlie's teen age sweetheart cannot live without knowing what happened. Since the police didn't uncover any clues, Nell hires a private investigator to solve the mystery. The fact that Gavin, the investigator is the former beau of the dead boys mother can only complicate or help the situation.

My first Rice book, it was light but enjoyable.

Great read! Rice returns to Hubbard’s Point, Connecticut, and to characters from her beloved Beach Girls, to tell the haunting story of a close-knit community grappling with a heartbreaking mystery, and of a woman rebuilding her world and reclaiming a love she believed lost a lifetime ago.