The First Kiss of Spring has stuck with me after months of reading it. I love the story of Caitlin and Josh. The not-so-perfect romance that struggles and then perseveres. Although, in my opinion, Caitlin's character comes off as privileged in the beginning of the story she wins me over with her strength and willingness to stand up for what she wants. It was fun to watch her grow a spine. Josh's broodiness brought me to tears when his story is finally revealed. Their struggles are realistic and may hit home to readers, some more than others, because it is so relatable. Special thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book for my honest opinion which is my own.

I received The First of Spring by Emily March thru Net Galley for an honest review. The First Kiss of Spring is book 14 in Emily March's Eternity Springs series. Caitlyn Timberlake meets Josh Tarkington with a quick encounter. Caitlyn cannot help herself but feel the pull of the heart strings when she is around Josh or just thinks about the sexy mechanic. However, Josh does not feel the same pull that Caitlyn has. Josh did not have an easy childhood, or even some early adult life. After a few moments over a couple of days, Josh tells Caitlyn that he is not ready and that he may never be ready for a long term relationship. However, that does deter Caitlyn, not by a long shot.
The First Kiss of Spring by Emily March is the first book that I have read by her. Emily wrote a beautiful, wonderful, touching story. I liked the journal entries. They gave more background to Josh, reliability, more understanding of why he is the way he is, and what he struggles with every day. I love stories like this, they make me smile, laugh, cry, and root for them.

Not going to lie. I was let down with the story line with this book. While these can be read as standalones, its not strong enough to do that. I was really let down. Josh in the previous books was such a strong, funny character. You could tell he was hiding things but it wasn’t clear what. Reading his story it became clear the reason was his addiction to drugs. He was a nasty character. He would push and pull Cat. He wanted her but would turn her away due to his “addiction” . She was a push over character who was childish in her behaviour and her way of thinking. She knew she was going to marry Josh after spending a couple of hours with him. She knows nothing about him. Her life is easy and everything was basically handed to her. Unfortunately, this was the worst book in his series so far. Josh was nothing like he was in other books. This was a huge put off.

I’ve got to say, this wasn’t the Eternity Springs I was expecting! I thought I’d be reading light and sweet but what I read was dark and heavy.

While I liked the present day Josh character very much, his past was pretty dark, and that cast a shadow over much of the plot. His moodiness was understandable but just a little depressing for Eternity Springs.

I expected Caitlin to be the predictable small town girl/breath of fresh air, yet her character development was a little uneven: she’s still a young woman without a family of her own, yet she leaves her big city job to become a day care worker. She wants to be out of her parents’ clutches, yet she is just as judgmental as they are.

This book was well written and had cameos of characters from prior books. I loved Celeste’s hand in making sure everyone lives out their best life. Despite being thrown off by these two particular characters, I did — as usual — enjoy all the magic Eternity Springs offers.

If you’ve been reading the Eternity Springs series and wishing the next book would be more serious, a little gritty, and spicier than the previous books – Emily March has written this one for you.

Whoa, just whoa. The First Kiss of Spring is my first visit to Eternity Springs. Judging by the cover and the blurb I thought this was just going to be a sweet romance, something good for a weekend read. Well, let me tell you, I was wrong. The very first page - Journal Entry - showed me that this story was going to have some teeth and some secrets. It was sweet, very, very sweet, but it also had heartache and painful pasts and fear of moving forward.

Josh Tarkington and Caitlin Timberlake get stuck in the air in a gondola, and the chemistry and easy banter between them is instant. Neither of them is looking for a relationship. Caitlin has recently been dumped, and Josh is convinced he has bad luck with terrible consequences and has vowed to never, ever, ever get involved again. Well, so much for that.

Their relationship has a lot of ups and downs and twists and turns. Josh is willing to be "very good friends" and Caitlin sees that as her way to win him over. Neither is prepared for what will happen next.

The First Kiss of Spring is the 14th book in the Eternity Springs series. Having read any or all of those books prior to this one would have given me some insight into and backstory on some of the main characters, and believe me, I am going back to the very beginning to catch up. But this is completely satisfying as a stand-alone. The characters are well developed and complete; enough of their history is provided to let you know who they are and how they might behave, and the storyline moves so smoothly you never wonder what you might have missed.

As I said, this is a sweet, sweet, story. Josh and Caitlin are perfect together, even if they haven't figured it out yet. We know. And it's fun to watch - the beautiful small-town Colorado setting, the comfortable easiness of their relationship, the hot sex, their surprise when they realize they aren't as in control of their destiny as they thought they were: "Long after she'd drifted off to sleep cuddled against him, Josh stared up at the ceiling. He'd done it. He'd thrown sense out of the window. He'd gone and done the one thing he'd sworn he wouldn't do. He was in love with her. He'd fallen in love with her. Stupidly, ridiculously, idiotically in love with her. Passionately in love with her. He loved her. So what now? Could Celeste be right?" and "She loved him. Madly, truly, deeply loved him, and she'd be lost without him."

Aww, who can resist? Not me. I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. I loved it, and highly recommend it and the entire series.

This is a beautiful story of never letting our past define our future and that we all deserve our own happy ever after.

Josh is a broken young man, the extend of which we don’t learn until half way through the novel. He is vulnerable, thoughtful and kind. I fell in love with his character! But deep down inside because of his past, he felt he doesn’t deserve happiness or love. He seems to have even given up on love. But Caitlin is determined to worm her way into his heart and show him just how good of a person he is.

Their romance is up and down – Josh is too scared to reveal his past to Caitlin and this has many negative consequences to their relationship. Caitlin doesn’t know how to give him the space that he needs and pushes him in directions that he isn’t quite ready for. Josh has to find it in himself to push past his fears and insecurities, especially if he wants to keep Caitlin in his life.

The First Kiss of Spring is a beautiful story of hope, never letting our past define our future and finding our happiness. The plot was unique and well-played out – I could not put this novel down. I had to know what would happen next for this couple – would they be able to make it work or not.

It's a wonder that this is #14 in the Eternity Springs series and that it is a fresh and exciting story again after all this time! I loved the story of Josh Tarkington and Caitlin Timberlake and their initial meeting on a ski gondola in Telluride, Colorado. It seemed to be an appropriate encounter for royalty; Josh as a Hollywood prince and Caitlin as an Eternity Springs princess who meet but do not have an easy time of getting together until she moves to Eternity Springs on a permanent basis. Josh feels that bad luck and tornadoes have colored his past, but then his luck changes and he's responsible for good luck and saving lives! Let's see who will be the next lucky couple in Eternity Springs

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC; all opinions are my own.

I've enjoyed the Eternity Springs series and this story #14 really hits some emotional buttons. Josh meets Caitlin on a mountain gondola that gets stuck. He is a fun and charming guy who loves the town he now calls home. Caitlin isn't happy with her current career but she's home for a wedding when she meets Josh. He enjoys her company but he's not interested in a relationship. Later, Caitlyn returns to town with a new career in mind. She meets Josh again and although he only offers friendship, you know that they are going to be more. After an accident, Josh's demons come to haunt him again. Because he had a horrible childhood, he doesn't know how to ask for the help he needs and begins to push Caitlin from his life. This story was touching and thought provoking, you really hope that Josh can let those who care about him help him get through his personal crisis. He and Caitlyn have the deck stacked against them, but they are able to weather the storm and enjoy a future together. This is probably one of my favorites in the series because it was such an emotional roller coaster.

Not for me to be honest. The hero drove me bonkers with his secret keeping and refusal to open up to the heroine, and his backstory - though interesting - was too dark and twisty for the resolution that it got in the denouement. I didn't like the journal entries as a device either - they didn't sit right in the narrative and felt like too much like the author was trying to be clever and deliberately obscure. I also didn't think the balance was right between the scripture and the spiritual elements of the book and some of the rest of the content - it seemed to fall between two stools - not really an inspirational/christian romance, but not really a normal contemporary one either. Hey ho.

I'm not quite sure where to begin with this review. It was creepy to read the journal inserts it really made me feel uneasy as a reader, I was unsure who this was about and they were disturbing to read. I also didn"t realize this was the fourteenth book in this series, so if you have read them all up to this point I bet you are going to really enjoy this one. The story opened up fun and light hearted and it was a really interesting way the characters meet each other, then they went to the wedding together and had a really fun time and then the wheels fell off and we are barely three chapters into the book. Caitlin's wants to open a day care and what experience does she have to do this? This is where the book turned me off. Josh seemed so nice at the beginning but then he got weird too. A random trip to Vegas, a run in with Chase and then he is acting so fearful of parents. Her parents are awful and as unsupporting as they come. There are just so many turn off's in this book with these characters, not something I really enjoyed reading. The setting in Colorado sounded beautiful and added in a wonderful back drop to this book. Otherwise, it was ok.

Emily March never dissappoints! I love this series, and this latest installation is no different. With a warmth, and and great depth, this book - and every book in the series - stands apart from the standard romance novels, that at times read like they have been written with a formula in mind. Not this one!

Heartwarming and sweet, this novel can be read as a stand-alone novel - but I highly suggest that everyone should read all of the books in this large series.

Emily March creates a world readers simply do not want to leave and she is on top form with her latest novel, The First Kiss of Spring. Guaranteed to put a great big smile on readers’ faces and tug at their heartstrings, The First Kiss of Spring is a fantastic read small town romance fans are going to love!

Ambition and a determination to succeed in the business world had enabled Caitlin Timberlake to climb to the top of the corporate ladder and become a major success story in her field. A woman whose life had been dominated by deadlines, stress and pressure, Caitlin had never imagined that her priorities would change and that she would end up leaving the bright city lights of New York for her hometown of Eternity Springs, but life does have a habit of surprising you as she realises when her plans and ambitions change and she finds herself wanting to go back home and start a family of her own. Caitlin has got the perfect man in mind to be her husband and the father of children, sexy mechanic Josh Tarkington – but it’s just a shame that he has made it perfectly clear that he is the kind of man who does not do commitment!

While Josh cannot seem to stop himself from thinking about Caitlin or from wanting to make her his, he is only interested in a short-term fling free of feelings and emotions. Josh’s heart is firmly under lock and key – regardless of that niggling voice in his head telling him that the only way he can be happy is if he spends the rest of his life with Caitlin! But Josh is a man whose life has been forever tarnished by tragedy and he is adamant that he will not run the risk of putting his heart on the line ever again. Risking his future is not something he is prepared to do as he is always afraid that trouble is just around the corner, but will Caitlin’s love and the healing magic of Eternity Springs manage to save him from a lonely future?

When Josh stands to lose everything, will Caitlin be able to show him that he has got absolutely nothing to fear for she will be by his side and cherish him regardless of whatever life throws their way? Or is Josh too stubborn to grasp with both hands this unexpected chance of happiness?

Emily March has done it again and penned a heartwarming, tender and emotional romantic read that is absolutely impossible to resist. Wonderfully poignant, exceptionally told and impossible to resist, The First Kiss of Spring has got it all: a fantastic heroine, a gorgeous hero and plenty of drama, passion and romance to keep readers engrossed from beginning to end.

A sensational read that is far too good to miss, The First Kiss of Spring is an exceptional romantic tale readers are simply going to love!

I enjoyed reading The First Kiss of Spring. This book is book 14 in the Eternity Springs series. If you have followed me for long enough, you know my views on picking up books mid-series. They revolved around not being able to understand the different storylines/characters. This book avoids that for the most part. I wouldn’t say that this is a stand-alone book but I would say that if you were to read it, you wouldn’t get lost. The characters from the other books do make appearances but they do not take over the storyline.

I knew that there was going to be some serious subjects discussed in this book. When drug addiction was introduced, I did an eye roll. I also said to myself “This is not going to be relatable and the character will be cured“. I was wrong to have that viewpoint. The author did a great job of bringing up that addiction cannot be cured in one rehab session. She portrayed the challenges a recovering addict faces while out in the real world. Also how one misstep can lead to them to relapse.

The First Kiss of Spring is set in the fictional town of Eternity Springs, Colorado in the present day. As a first time reader of this series, the author did a great job of introducing the town and the legend of the town. I won’t tell explain the legend. That is something better read.

I didn’t like Caitlin at first. She came across as self-centered and childish the first half of the book. Her attitude with her parents rubbed me the wrong way. She acted like a bratty teenager. She even slammed the door when taking off out of the house. Her attitude during that first half of the book factored into my rating. She did grow up during the last half of the book and I started to like her. But I would read those scenes almost expecting the Caitlin from the first half of the book to reemerge.

Josh was such an enigma during the first half of the book. He came across as this happy-go-lucky guy who had a disabled dog. But, the author let clues drop that Josh wasn’t as happy as he seemed. When Josh’s background was revealed, I wanted to hug him and cry. He felt that he wasn’t good enough for Caitlin. A feeling that was reinforced by Caitlin’s father every time he saw him. When Josh finally came clean to Caitlin about his past, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Not what happened, that’s for sure.

As with every good book, the secondary characters are essential to the book. I loved how the secondary characters played a huge part in this book. But not so big that it took over Josh and Caitlin’s story.

Josh and Caitlin’s romance was sweet. Even though I thought that Caitlin was a spoiled brat, she did love, Josh. She didn’t give up on him. He was her other half and she knew it. It took him a bit longer to realize it. Then stuff happened. Bad stuff and it did drive a wedge between them. Caitlin was determined not to let him go or be alone. This is the part of the story I loved. She was the epitome of true love in those scenes. Even down to the “tough love” parts.

The sex scenes were hot. I was fanning myself after some scenes. Josh and Caitlin had some crazy hot sex.

I can’t get into the end of the book without revealing some major plot points. I will say that the ending was very well written and that the feels were anywhere. The storyline, along with the sub-storylines, were all wrapped up in a way that satisfied me. But, I am wondering if there will be a book 15. I got the feeling at the end of The First Kiss of Spring that this series is not done.

Pros of The First Kiss of Spring:

A) Great love story

B) Set in Colorado

C) Addressed addiction in a realistic way. Didn’t sugar coat it.

Cons of The First Kiss of Spring:

A) Caitlin. She acted like a spoiled teenage brat the first half of the book

B) Josh’s hardships. That man had everything but the kitchen sink thrown at him

C) Caitlin’s father. He was a little much the entire book and drove me nuts (like father, like daughter!!)

I would give The First Kiss of Spring a rating of Adult. There is sex and it is graphic. There is also language and mild violence. I wouldn’t recommend that anyone under the age of 20 read this book.

There are triggers’ in The First Kiss of Spring. If you are triggered by child abuse, drug addiction, and the talk of suicide then don’t read the book. While the child abuse is not graphic, enough is left unsaid that you get the gist of what the author is talking about. Same goes for drug addiction and suicide.

I would reread The First Kiss of Spring. I would recommend it to family and friends but with a warning about the triggers I mentioned above. I would also suggest reading the earlier 13 books before reading this one. This is not a stand-alone book but it can be read like one. I would read the earlier books to get a better sense of what the series is about.

I would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The First Kiss of Spring.

All opinions stated in this review of The First Kiss of Spring are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

This was such a nice contemporary read. Besides the romance which I want to talk about a bit later I loved the sense of community in this book. I loved with each chapter and journal entry I got to learn more in depth about the two characters. I loved that Caitlin in like a pitbull and once she sunk her teeth into something she wants she wasn't about to let go. I loved that she was really independent and when she came up with an idea there was no half way about it, even if she didn't have the approval of her family she wasn't about to let it hinder from her path and went on to do things that she thought was best. I loved Josh's character and finding out more in depth of what was really going on with him and finding out why he just didn't do relationship and seeing how unlucky he seems to be. Now as for the romance of the two I just wished for more out of it. This book seemed rush when it came to that romance bit but not sure I'm saying this right, it seemed like a quick romance but then it turned out to be weeks in the making and it didn't seem that way, that was the only thing odd to me but what the two had I did enjoy it. Overall if you are looking for a sweet spring time contemporary romance then I'd say check this book out.

I have to admit that in the beginning I was a little bit of hesitant for this book since I haven't read this author before.However, I was excited to read it because I like the synopsis. This is a sweet, contemporary, small town romance and works well without reading the previous in the series!I really liked the heroine and hero, Caitlin and Josh. Caitlin is a determined woman. She knows that he is perfect for her but she just can't understand him sometimes. The relationship between Josh and Caitlin was developed nicely, they have a great relationship!If you are looking for a sweet romance this is perfect for you!!

Great read. I enjoyed this book. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

This book had me from the very first chapter. What I thought was going to be the typical light read quickly turned into a much more thought-provoking tale. The story of Joshua Tarkington was sad and deep...and real. I fell in love with all the characters and will definitely look for more books by Emily March in the future!

I was given an advanced reader's copy for my honest feedback.

Emily March pairs two characters already familiar to her fans in The First Kiss of Spring, the fourteenth book in her beloved Eternity Springs series. The Timberlake family has been an important part of the Eternity Springs community since Ali Timberlake opened her restaurant there and she and Mac experienced the healing of their troubled marriage there back in the third book in the series (Heartache Falls). The family continued to be recurring characters, and readers especially loved watching the youthful romance of the Timberlake’s younger son Chase and Lori Reese. Chase and Lori finally got their HEA in Reunion Pass (book 11). Now it is the turn of the Timberlake’s youngest child and only daughter, Caitlin, and Josh Tarkington, foster brother of Brick Callahan. (Brick and Lili Howe are the protagonists of the thirteenth book, A Stardance Summer.)

Caitlin flies from New York City, where she has spent the last eight years of her life, to Telluride, Colorado, where she will serve as bridesmaid in the destination wedding of a college friend. Being back in Colorado just serves to confirm her decision to exchange her successful career as a textile designer for a new one as the owner and operator of a daycare center in Eternity Springs. It is an idea that has been simmering since her brother Chase’s disappearance in Chizickstan made her aware that she wanted a different life than the one she had in NYC. Caitlin has high expectations of her trip, but meeting Josh Tarkington when they share an unexpectedly adventurous gondola ride is an unexpected bonus.

Josh thinks some time with the beautiful Caitlin Timberlake will be the perfect addition to his vacation. He agrees to be her plus one at the wedding, and they are poised to allow the sizzling chemistry between them to take its natural course when Ali and Mac and Celeste Blessing appear. Mac’s protective-father reaction is the least of the reasons Josh runs scared when he learns of Caitlin’s Eternity Springs connections. But he can’t run far enough to escape thoughts of her. Shortly after his return to Eternity Springs, he learns that Caitlin is not in New York but next door to Tarkington Automotive where she is preparing to open her daycare center.

Josh has given up on lasting happiness, but Caitlin is convinced that he is “the one.” She lays determined siege to his heart, unaware that Joshua Tarkington was born only when a young boy, abused, traumatized, and abandoned, became the foster son of Paul and Cindy Christopher of Oklahoma City. Josh is fighting many demons, and his dark past still has a firm hold on him. The losses he has sustained as an adult have only added to his conviction that he must move through life alone. Can love triumph over such enormous obstacles?

I’ve been a fan of Emily March’s Eternity Springs series since it began, and I think this book is one of the best in this long-running series. I loved seeing more of the Timberlakes, and I found Caitlin and Josh an immensely appealing couple. Some readers may find the move from their romantic comedy beginnings to the intensity of their later story startling; others will see the contrast as adding complexity. Despite its connections to several other Eternity Springs books, The First Kiss of Spring can easily be read as a standalone.

I think March made some smart choices in this book. She has never shied away from difficult issues, but child abuse, addiction, suicide, and other deaths could have proved too much. March uses entries from Josh’s diaries to reveal the horrors of his early life, thus controlling the emotional impact of his past. As heinous as it was, he has survived. Approaching his past more directly almost certainly would have made the book an ill fit in this heartwarming series. In a similar fashion, Caitlin’s close family ties, innate optimism, and confidence that she is in charge of her life could have made the differences between her and Josh too stark, but reminders of the threat to Ali and Mac’s marriage and Chase’s narrow escape and Mac’s current health scare show that, although Caitlin’s life has been less traumatic than Josh’s, she is not immune to heartache. As usual for this series, the mysterious, benevolent Celeste Blessing makes her presence felt.

If you like small-town contemporary romance that combines sweetness and spice, focuses on a central couple but sets their story in the context of family and community, and includes just a suggestion of the paranormal, I highly recommend this book. Not many series could keep me hoping for more through more than a dozen books, but I finished this fourteenth book eager for another visit to Eternity Springs. I’m delighted that the fifteenth book, The Christmas Wishing Tree, will be released October 2.

Reviewed by Janga for The Romance Dish
4.5 Stars

The First Kiss of Spring is a small town romance that made me happy. I love the charm of Eternity Springs and all of the characters in the town. It was a fast, good hearted read. Although it was 14th in the series I read it without reading all of the others without issue. I can't wait to return to Eternity Springs.

This is a sweet romance with a bit of sex. The story is wonderful. I really enjoyed the characters of Josh and Caitlin. They are both great. They each had some growing up to do right after they met each other. I received a copy of this book from St. Martins Press for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.