Grace Donner and Jack Sawyer used to be step-siblings once upon a time. The Sawyers were the only family Grace has ever known and she loved them. So when her mom ruined everything by selling Jack's deceased mom's items, including a boat named after her, their parents got a divorce and they never talked again. Until she starts working for him, that is.

Forward years later and Grace's mom, Tammy, has parkinson's disease. After pausing her life to attend to her sick mom, the protagonist finds herself without a job or a perspective on what to do to support them both. Until Jack makes her an offer she can't refuse, to work on her former family's company.

What I liked the most about this book was the Sawyers, specially Noah, and I hope there'll be a book about him and Krista. I'm also very intrigued to know what happened to Sam and Abby. I even enjoyed Pete's participation in this book, even though he didn't show up very much. Ironically, since this story is about Jack, he was my least favorite Sawyer.

Grace was a nice character, but she was also very annoying and stupid at times. In the beginning of the book she claims that "Grace Donnor didn't cry. She was tough." but then for every little thing that happens throughout the book she contradicted herself. I do believe she's a strong a character, she is tough, but she's also definitely a crier and a maker of bad decisions.

I found myself more interested in what was going on with the side characters than with the main characters. It's not that I didn't like them, they were nice characters, it's just that they didn't hold my attention, they weren't as interesting, or had as much chemistry, or were as entertaining, they just weren't... more.

The step-siblings bit is a huge taboo, but I got to confess that I actually love this trope, so that wasn't a problem for me, and since they hadn't been actual step-siblings for years, it really wasn't an issue for those who do have a problem with it. It's also a second change romance book, which is one of my favorite tropes, so it was very entertaining.

This is the first book I've read from the author, and I actually really enjoyed the writing, I'll definitely check out more of her books and wait for more books from this series. Overall, if you want a quick and sweet read, this is definitely for you.

Beautiful story about love forgiveness and healing.

When the past interfere with the present cause you can't forget and forgive the bad, it makes it difficult to continue with life and see the changes that only time can do. For some reason somethings changed and the two finally got back on the right tracks.

I immensely enjoyed this book I will be posting a full and comprehensive review upon release day.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this book

Wonderfully written with an emphasis on enduring love. Jack & Grace were brought together as kids when their parents married & a beautiful bond was created & unbeknownst to them it lasted for over 15yrs after their parents awful divorce. Now Grace is in desperate need of a job & overhearing Jack during an interview she thinks she can do the job that she learned so long ago but the only problem was that the family hated her or so she thought. After getting the job she's thrown in contact more with Jack, causing her feelings for him to grow & him to realize he still cares as well. They start a secret relationship which when outed causes some hurt feelings. When Grace is seriously injured on the water it makes her decide to change her life & causes Jack to realize how much he really cares for Grace. Feelings from the past are standing in the way of their happily ever after & it's going to take great change to keep these two together. This is a great start to a new series from Annie Rains that I can't wait to continue. Definitely recommend.

Wow, what a totally awesome book from author Annie Rains. Forbidden Kisses grabs you right from the beginning and the engaging plot never loses its spark. The two primary characters, out of work bartender Grace Donner, and family business owner Jack Sawyer, have undeniable chemistry and their romantic journey is replete with desire, forgiveness and love. This is the first book from Ms. Rain's brand new series, Blushing Bay, and it can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Grace and Jack developed feelings for each other way back in high school. At the time, Grace's mother was married to Jack's father and both families seemed to mesh quite well. Grace loved having step siblings and Jack's father treated her very well. Then Grace's mother ruined everything with her unthinkable actions, and once again the Donner women were on their own. The Donners and the Sawyers have not spoken in fifteen years.

Jack and his family are in the seafood business. They are fishermen and own a restaurant. Jack also likes to build piers, boats and docks. Now the family business needs a new office manager, and Grace desperately needs a job to meet her rent and pay for her mother's medication. She asks Jack for the job, knowing that the situation is beyond dicey. Against his better judgement, Jack hires Grace, and hopes that his family will accept her back into their lives. Grace and Jack fall in lust and love, as they simultaneously repair the damage to both their families.

This is a satisfying love story with an interesting plot and well-defined characters. Ms. Rains is an excellent storyteller, and her words kept me entertained from beginning to end. If you enjoy a novel with a determined heroine and a hero that won't give up, then check out this book. Overall, this is an exciting and slightly emotional read that twists and turns in all the right places.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

Great story of love being able to over come past differences among family members.

While this is kinda a stepbrother/stepsister romance, it really isn’t. It isn’t as hardcore as some of the stepbrother/stepsister romances that I have read. Also add in that Jack and Grace’s parents got divorced and they are no longer semi-related, it takes the kink right out of it. Which is fine by me because the story ended being so much more than that.

I really liked Grace. She put up with a lot of crap from her mother growing up but was still there for her when her mother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. To say her mother wasn’t June Cleaver was an understatement. She also took a lot of crap from her old boss, the owner of a bar and ended up quitting when she couldn’t deal with his sexual advances anymore. So that leaves her without a job. Which brings her back into Jack’s world again.

I liked Jack. He had never forgotten Grace or his attraction to her but his rage at her mother’s actions kept him from talking to her. Not to mention that Grace went out of her way to avoid them because of what her mother did. So, he was surprised when Grace overheard him giving a job interview (not know it was him) and approached him for the job. He was in a bind, didn’t like the other applicants and hired her…without his father or brothers knowing. So, it wasn’t surprising when his brothers acted very negatively to Grace being there. What surprised me was his father’s reaction and I wanted to hug him.

The other story lines of Tristan and Tammy were very sad. I thought it was great when Jack stepped up and went to bat for Tristan. He gave him a job when most people wouldn’t and he stepped in when most people didn’t (read the book to find out what the situation was). Tammy’s storyline was sad but at the same time I wanted to smack her. She laid so much on Grace about her past regrets and making things right before she died that Grace thought the only way to heal the rift between their families would be to buy back the boat Tammy sold.

I also could totally understand where Jack was coming from with his hatred of Tammy. I mean, she did sell off all of his mother’s belongings. I did wonder, at points in the book, if he would find it in himself to forgive Tammy (read the book if you want to find out).

The sex scenes between Grace and Jack were very hot and a little naughty (remember stepbrother/stepsister). The pages did burn up when they got into bed with each other and the pages burned up even when they weren’t sleeping together.

The end of the book was pretty good. Be ready to shed a tear or two and definitely be ready for the HEA during the epilogue. I love it when authors to let the readers know what is going on after the story ends. Made me smile!!

How many stars will I give Forbidden Kisses: 4

Why: Enjoyable, relatable characters, hot sex and a great plotline. I read this book in one day, it totally captivated me. I can’t wait until book 2 comes out!!

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Sex and some mild language

**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**

Perfect second chance story that readers will fall in love with. Grace has hit rock bottom and is desperate for a job when Jack, her former stepbrother, walks back into her life and just happens to be looking for an office manager for his family's company. Grace and Jack had been drawn to each other as hormone driven teenagers despite the forbidden nature of the relationship before Grace's mother caused a rift between the families with her lies and betrayal. Grace is left to pick up the pieces now that her mother has fallen ill. Jack has no reason to trust that Grace isn't anything like her mother but he gives her the job anyway because he is still drawn to Grace. Will they be able to put the past behind them and finally follow their hearts and dreams or will they be pulled under? Readers will be anxiously turning pages to find out. Definitely recommend!

OMG Annie Rains you have done it again! I absolutely loved this book! It made me laugh, cry, and just become so absorbed with the story that I was almost late for work and couldn't wait to get home so I could continue reading. I can't wait to read the next book in this series because I have no doubt it will be just as great as this one!

I'm new to this author and I'm certainly going to fix that. The story is sweet and the characters are very genuine and likeable. Jack and Grace have a lot of baggage to work through in order to become a couple. For the reader, the journey is both frustrating and heartwarming. The family dynamics and the secondary characters are very intriguing and I'm looking forward to reading their stories as well.

I loved this book and am excited that it is only the beginning of a series.

Grace and Jack were a great couple. They were very likable, and their backstory made the reader cheer on the relationship. Grace was independent and strong with a huge heart. Other than the romantic side of the story, it was fun to read how she was transforming other parts of her life to become a happier person for herself. Seeing Jack overcome the difficult things that had been making his life difficult also added to the story. It added depth and reality to see them improving their own lives and working toward their individual dreams instead of just falling into the romance together.

Additionally, I adored all of the secondary characters. They played a big role in this book, and I feel invested in each of them. They were all developed enough that I felt like I was part of their group of friends, and now I look forward to seeing where each of their stories leads. I am excited to not only revisit Grace and Jack in future books, but to catch up on all of the other characters as well.

Fantastic read which I highly recommend.

I receives this ebook from the publisher in exchange for a complete and honest review.
I enjoyed reading this new-to-me author. Jack and Grace, the story's main characters were cute together and like every small town contemporary romance, have a series of hilarious hiccups on their relationship- stemming from easy to fix misunderstandings. The plot was a cute premise, but I just didn't like Grace very much.
To sum the story: Grace is the daughter of Jack's previous stepmother that had sold off all of his late mothers' belongings, including his family's prized boat named for her. Grace's mom and Jack's father divorced, separating the two families and earning their extreme dislike in the process. Fifteen years later Down on her luck Grace and we'll to do Jack meet once again and sparks fly.
During the course of their dating Grace gets mad at Jack for his inability to be all forgiveness to her mother, who now has Parkinson's Disease, so she breaks it off with him.
Grace is the kind of woman that I cannot stand. She may be considered good hearted and self sacrificing, but she seams selfish to me. Her mother essentially did something that made Jack and his family like they lost their mother again! As someone who has had a similar action occur, I know it's not all forgive and forget.
The story is well written and funny at moments, but during the last third of the story I had trouble enjoying it because of Grace's actions and beliefs. The small beautiful town of Blushing Bay is so worth revisiting. I hope this author continues with the side characters, Abby and Kristy.
3 stars.

Grace Donner and Jack Sawyer were once step-siblings but their parents divorced many years ago. Grace has come back to Blushing Bay to take care of her ailing mother, Tammy. She must get a job to support her mother but times are tough in the job market. She overhears someone interviewing a prospective office manager in a cafe and it turns out to be Jack Sawyer. She's always had a crush on Jack and even though they haven't seen each other in ages, those old feelings come back easily. The story revolves around Grace, Jack and the bad blood left in the Sawyer brothers' veins for Tammy. I found the story to be bittersweet and engaging. I enjoyed all the characters (except Tammy) to the very end. I think that Annie Rains and Blushing Bay are a welcomed addition to contemporary romance and I recommend Forbidden Kisses to all romance lovers.

Forbidden Kisses by Annie Rains will be available April 11, 2017 by Loveswept, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

3,5
Forbidden Kissesis in a way second chance love story between former step-siblings. After 14years the path between Jack and Grace cross again. And Grace has no other option but to beg in a way Jack for a job. The attraction that was strong when they were teenagers comes back 100x stronger and it doesn’t take long that secret affair begins. Grace is the one who is scared to ruin new establish relationship between other Sawyers men’s. But of course nothing good ever comes out of hiding secrets and Grace is left alone. At first I thought that story was a little predictable but toward the end it changes course in to unpredictable story.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly

This was a pretty good book. It was a quick read for me, flowed very well. Jack and Grace definitely had chemistry and you couldn't help but get caught up in their story. Their past history and family dynamics were a big part of the story.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

I've read and enjoyed many books by Annie Rains so when I saw she was starting a new series I was excited to read it. This was a small town contemporary romance featuring great characters and fortunately there are several Sawyer brothers for future books. Grace is desperate for a job but unfortunately the only job she is qualified for is working for her ex-step family. And they definitely did not part on the best of terms after the divorce. Both Jack and Grace used to have a crush on one another but has too much time and drama passed between them to work together let alone like one another? Perfect for fans of second chance romances and small town settings.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

This is a non-graphic, pretty clean second chance romance. It's about high school sweethearts, who never quite were. Their parents married when they were in high school and there's always been this strong attraction. Her mom ruined everything when she betrayed the family, and things have never been the same.

The mother was hard to figure. It seems like the guys, at one point really liked her, which means she couldn't have been all bad, but I can't see it. To this reader, it seems like many years ago she was selfish, spiteful and greedy. Now she seems unconvincingly remorseful, and really not all that sincere on any front.

Mom aside, I enjoyed this read and think the HRA is one the main characters deserve.

I received an ARC of this book, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Annie Rains is still writing books about North Carolina coastal towns, but now she’s moved on to a new series. I really enjoyed her previous books and this one looks like a winner. We have here a twist on the stepbrother romance genre that seems to have sprung up in romance books. In this story, Grace Donner’s mother used to be married to Jack Sawyer’s father, but he divorced her when she unforgivably sold of some prized possessions belonging to his first wife. The Sawyer family are fishermen and they run a seafood business catering to restaurants along the coast.

Grace and Jack were attracted to each other as teenagers, but never acted on that attraction. But now it’s years later and Grace desperately needs a job. She also has to help her mother who has Parkinson’s. Jack is still attracted to her and offers her a job as office manager. There are tensions with the other family members who find it hard to forgive Grace’s mother and, for some reason, blame the daughter.

Grace and Jack are still attracted to each other and start a relationship. However, Grace wants to do all she can to help buy back one of the possessions her mother sold off. This leads to some plot complications that part the lovers, but you know they’ll work it out in the end and wrap up everything in a HEA for everyone.

These were likable people and I enjoyed the time I spent with them. I look forward to reading more in the series.

I was given a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Annie Rains has become a go to name for me when I'm in the mood for a feel good romance. Forbidden Kisses may be the first book in a new series but she still lives up to all the expectations I had.
Taking the tale of the could have been forbidden love story between step siblings, she gave the story a unique twist and set our heroine Grace on a quest for redemption. The story moved along at a great pace. The buildup between Jack and Grace kept me in anticipation for that first kiss... and then for everything else.
I expected that their relationship would have been my favorite thing about the book but it wasn't. Don't get me wrong, they were great to watch but I found myself looking forward to the scenes between Grace and her gal pals, and especially the interactions between Grace and Noah. I think that bodes well for the rest of the series that will undoubtedly explore those characters and the relationships we've gotten to glimpse.

Overall I got exactly what I expected... an enjoyable read.