The Last One by Tawdra Kandle Pages: 263
Published by Hayson Publishing on September 28, 2014
Genres: contemporary, Love & Romance, New Adult
Source: ecopy from Author
Meghan Hawthorne is restless. The last year has been a roller coaster: her widowed mother just married a long-time family friend. Her younger brother unexpectedly became a father and a husband. Everyone's life is changing. . .except for hers. As she begins her final summer of college, Meghan's looking for excitement and maybe a little romance. Nothing serious; this girl just wants to have fun.
But the only man for Meghan turns out to be the last one she expects.
Sam Reynolds doesn't need excitement, and he doesn't want romance. Fun is out of the question. He's been the steady, responsible one since his parents were killed, and serious is his way of life.
When Sam rescues Meghan alongside a dark Georgia backroad, she falls hard for his deep brown eyes and slow drawl. But making him see her as more than just a party girl won't be easy. Sam's tempted by the fiery young artist, even as he realizes that giving into his feelings will mean radical change. . .maybe more than he can handle.
Nobody ever said love was simple.
The Last One by Tawdra Kandle is the first book in a contemporary romance series, called the One Series. It is told in dual narrative between Sam and Meghan, and I absolutely loved it. It is technically adult contemporary romance but I think it will appeal to fans of new adult and adult romances alike. The Last One allowed me to totally tune out the world. I could not put this book down, for anything or anyone. I was so engrossed with their story. I loved the dynamic between the two of them. They started out on the total wrong foot and became bicker buddies for a long time after that.
Sam had the wrong first impression of Meghan, but I loved the happenstance that brought them into each others lives for longer than their first meeting. Let me back up and explain. Meghan is a junior in college that has been having a rough time with some family stuff. So her and her best friend go out one night for carefree fun so Meghan can just let loose. Megahn and her friend end up broken down on the side of the rode and Sam comes to their assistance. Meghan is totally wasted and Sam thinks she is just some party college girl. Meghan meanwhile signs up to do a volunteer ArtCorps over the summer. A program that assigns an art student to be a volunteer teacher for a community in need of one. The student stays with a host family for the summer and gives free art classes to the kids in the community. Three guesses who is a part of Meghan’s host family for the summer. And just like that you have all the ingredients you need for a sizzling and banter laced-, unresolved sexual tension filled, summer of a good time.
Sam and Meghan are so great together but man oh man are they ever thick-headed. They are each so focused on not getting tied down, that they don’t see a good thing when it is staring them in the face. They each need a good shaking from time to time, but that is all part of their journey. And what a journey it is. Fans of new adult and of contemporary romance alike will love Tawdra Kandle’s writing. I could not get enough of Meghan and Sam. I can’t wait to see what is going to be next in the series. It is Ali’s story and I am super excited about that because that girl deserves her HEA.
*Note: I have seen this as Adult contemporary romance as well as New Adult contemporary romance. I think it would work for either of those categories.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- May Clean Sweep ARC 2015
kindlemom1
Sam and Meghan sound wonderful, I think I need to meet them. 😉