First and Only

Publisher's Summary

Lexi O'Connell has secretly been in love with Ian Callaghan for more than 10 years. So when she returns to Pine Ridge and he turns those sexy crystal blue eyes her way, she doesn't have a hope of resisting, even if she knows it can only be for one night. Even if it will break her heart. Because while she would know him anywhere, he doesn't even recognize her. Ian Callaghan is mischievous, playful, and irresistible to women. When he sets his sights on the attractive young woman who has been discreetly staring at him, he doesn't think twice about seducing her. It wasn't supposed to be more than one night. And falling in love with her was definitely not part of the plan. A few days is all Ian needs to know that Lexi is The One. His soul mate. And he doesn't understand how she can just walk away. But what Ian doesn't understand might just kill her. Contains mature themes.

©2016 Abbie Zanders (P)2017 Tantor

Great storytelling

I enjoyed this audiobook very much. The story was original and well written with great characters. As a nurse, there were a few things I found wrong with the medical portion of the story, but overall it was a fine story in this series. Aiden Snow did a great narration!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Aiden Snow is wonderful

I have all the books in this series and have read them multiple times. I am so excited to see them coming out as audio books and Abbie picked a very sexy narrator for our sexy Callaghans! My favorite brothers are Michael and Kane. Can't wait for their stories narrated by Mr. Snow!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Very good but could have been better

Enjoyable series so far with 1 minor irritant

First the good – lovely romance with two very likable characters. I, for one, have always enjoyed seeing a playboy brought to his knees when he meets his match and this story didn’t disappoint in that area. I also liked that despite not looking to settle down, Ian didn’t fight it when he realized Lexi was the one for him.

Now the bad – my one major pet peeve is heroine’s who are in one sentence written as intelligent, strong and capable and in the next you wonder if they have any functioning brain cells. ****Spoiler alert**** Lexi knows her step-sister has her claws into Ian and is desperate to be in a relationship with him, Ian has explained Kayla was only an occasional distant hook-up he now can’t stand, and yet when Kayla tells her she’s pregnant with Ian’s baby, Lexi believes her without talking to Ian and runs away because, of course, he would stand by Kayla and raise their child together. Then when she discovers her pregnancy, she doesn’t tell him because he should be with Kayla and their child not with her.

Say what? That makes absolutely no sense. Granted it created the necessary drama romances need to have but there is way to have that without the heroine being a moron.

If you can overlook that part – the book is enjoyable and the sex scenes – very hot!!

Can you forget your first love?

We catch up with Ian in this book...we know from bk 1 that he’s a bit of a player so no surprise when he decides to chase after the woman whom he met on the Greyhound bus into town. Except this isn’t just any woman...this is his brother’s best friend from hs...the timid girl who used to love him from afar. Of course he doesn’t recognize her until the next day at her father’s funeral. Lexi O’Connell is back in town after over a decade for her father’s funeral. Not only does she have to put up with her stepmother and her nasty stepsister, but knowing that Ian did not recognize her. Ian can’t get enough of Lexi but she has a life threatening secret...and she’s not sharing...seeing as she’ll be leaving town in a few days. Follow Ian and Lexie as they maneuver through their feelings and maybe have a relationship...if only they can communicate.

These brothers are HOT 🔥.

The Callaghan brothers are men you dream about. Aiden Snow's voice has you melting. Wonderful to listen to. Highly recommend this series.

Bad leading lady

Good story. But got really upset over the leading lady. She is too selfish god my liking and need a slap in the face in more than 1 occasion.

One Night Isn’t Enough!

Ian Callaghan can’t believe that Lexie can just walk away from him when he knows that she is his soul mate. Lexi has been in love with Ian for years however she knows she cannot be with him for more than just one night of passion. Ian doesn’t have any idea that the secrets Lexie holds can kill her. The relationship between Ian and Lexi had a lot of bumps and there were many things they had to overcome. My heart went out to both of them, though at times I felt like shaking some sense into Ian! Lol! I really enjoyed this story and Aiden Snow’s narration always adds to that enjoyment.

Had potential

I have loved you for years books are my favorite. This started out good and it should have ended sooner when the first conflict about Kaylee came to a conclusion. No, they added more for no reason than to drag on the story. I won't read the rest in series. Not worth my credit.

very disappointing

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. This second book in the series was lacking in character development. I liked the lead male character from this book in the first book, but found him disappointing in this book. The lead female character was not to be liking.

What could Abbie Zanders have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Based on the first book, i expected a similar type of story w/a strong female character and it just wasn't. For someone who lived w/her condition all for years, she wasn't very smart.

Which character – as performed by Aiden Snow – was your favorite?

I liked Aiden Snow's performance and will seek out his books.

Did First and Only inspire you to do anything?

yes, finish the book asap, so I can move on to another book.

Better than the first

We first met Ian in Dangerous Secrets (the first in the Callaghan series) But this could be read on its own. Ian sleeps around, charming women everywhere. He meets Alexis on a bus back to their home town. They spend a very passionate night together and Ian becomes absolutely captivated with the mystery woman. Turns out, this woman is none other than Lexi, his younger brother's childhood best friend. His entire family always saw her as the little sister they never had. She was always secretly in love with Ian, he never really realized his attraction to her until he had already made a huge mess of the situation.

I loved this one so much more than the first in the series. If I could do it over again, I would have read this one and just skipped the first altogether. The storyline and the characters had so much more depth. I found Lexi and Ian's relationship believable and honest. I really felt for Lexi because she had to deal with the evil step sibling/ mother and a very rare illness to contend with. I also enjoyed the interesting family dynamic. It's so cute how all the brothers embraced Lexi even though she had been gone for so long. Ian was so clumsy and messy throughout; I spent most of the time wanting to slap him upside the head. They were able to get it together but it took a lot of time and angst to get there.
No complaints about Aiden Snow. His performance was spot on.