True to its name, the small southern town of Sugar Lake is a sweet place to visit—and you might even want to live there . . . With her big-city career and relationship in sudden free fall, Olivia Gale isn’t sure where she belongs. So when her help is needed at Goode ʼN Sweet, the family bakery in Sugar Lake, she jumps at the chance to indulge her pie-making hobby while getting her life back on … getting her life back on track. Olivia’s not looking for any distractions. Even if the boy who once left her without a word is now a grown man with intriguing secrets—and the same tempting hold on her heart . . .
A firefighter and single dad, Clayton Morris is trying hard to fix his past mistakes. He thought he was doing the right thing by leaving Olivia—and now he’s sure he has nothing to offer the accomplished woman she’s become. But ignoring the sparks between them is impossible. And as unexpected surprises and hard choices endanger their fragile reunion, they’ll have to decide which direction to take if they want to find the road back to love . . .
“A wonderful, heartwarming romance.”
—Rochelle Alers, author of The Innkeepers Series
“A damn-near perfect story of family, starting over, and second chances.”
—Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author
“K.M. Jackson gets right to the heart of family, to the heart of relationships, to the heart of love. She’ll get right to your heart, too!”
—Donna Kauffman, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author
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I was lucky enough to read an advance copy of this charming, romantic story from KM Jackson. Readers will fall in love with Sugar Lake. The hero raises honeybees as a hobby! What’s not to love?
A damn-near perfect story of family, starting over, and second chances.
A wonderful, heartwarming romance.
This is a story as sweet as pie, warm as a soft Georgia evening, and K.M. Jackson knows exactly how to feed her readers a book to be savored again and again.
This story is perfect for any reader who likes big families, small southern towns, and second chance love stories.
Olivia is the “together” sister, and Drea the sassy one who is a bit more unconventional. Olivia’s well-planned life falls apart at the exact time that her aunt in Sugar Lake could use some temporary help, so she and her sister take off for Georgia. When they get there, we meet more of the extended family, become intrigued by a series of fires and other shenanigans, and meet the very sexy Clay Morris, Liv’s first love. He broke her heart back in the day (misguided as his reasons were, he thought he was doing what was best for her). Now he’s a single dad and struck by seeing Liv again.
Although at first blush this type of storyline may sound familiar, the details of town, and the characterization of the family, keep it very fresh and engaging. It’s a heartwarming story that should be read with a warm drink and a pastry, of course. Or perhaps a slice of the berry pie (recipe in the back of the book!)
Enjoy!
While this story had some sweet moments, overall it dragged and lacked substance.
K.M. Jackson has given us the first book in her new Sugar Lake series. I think your going to like it and, like me, be waiting on book # 2. I’d never read any of Ms Jackson’s work and I’m delighted I took a chance. I was drawn in by the second chances plot. Don’t we all have that one person we’d like to have a do-over with?
Olivia “liv” Gale is living the good life. She has an interesting corporate job that pays well, a New York apartment she can afford and a hot boyfriend. She and Damon have been together for 9 months and he’s keeping clothes in her closet. That’s a good sign. Wait for it… In one day she’s restructured (fired) from her job, how’s she going to pay the rent, and Damon turns out to be a dog with fleas. While Liv is at work, getting fired, Damon trashes her bedroom gathering up his stuff, leaves the mess but takes her new flat screen tv. To make this the day from hell her Fathers retirement party is that night and she has to act like it’s all ok. Just shoot me now.
The retirement party turns out to be a salvation for Liv. Her Aunt in Sugar Lake, Georgia has broken her hip and needs help at the family business, Goode & Sweet Pie Shop. Liv volunteers, she can bake, and sister Drea can run customer service. The sibling dynamics will be familiar to anyone with a sibling (stop looking at me!) The shop is a little run down and the sisters set about updating the interior and adding new items to the menu. On the way into town the ladies had a good reminiscence about their childhood visits and how much the town has changed.
A small kitchen fire brings the fire department and their chief to the pie shop. The chief turns out to be Clayton Morris. He’s her young love, the first crush, the first everything. He freaked out, left town, knocked up his new gf & moved to the west coast, all without 1 word to Liv. That’s goodbye in anyone’s book. When their eyes meet in the pie shop it’s a wonder they didn’t start another fire. Clayton’s a single dad now & moved back home to Mom. He’s full of regret, Liv is full of anger. I’m going to stop here and let you take the journey to love, again, with Liv. It’s good.
As always, this is a romance and must have a happy ending. I’m thrilled to know another book is on it’s way. It has such possibility. Don’t leave me hanging too long, please? Receiving a free book ARC is a true privilege and one I certainly enjoy. Being able to provide my opinion is a pleasure and doesn’t cost a thing. Happy reading.
As Good As The First Time was definitely one rollercoaster of a ride. Lots of ups and downs, lots of laughs and sad situations, many of them bringing you into deep thoughs.
The writing was amazing, keeping you interested the whole time, never getting bored.
Promises have been told, mistakes have been done and teenage love never forgotten. 12 years later arising old feelings coming to the surface although sans wanting to make the same mistakes twice, all around wrapped in sweet pies and delicious honey biscuits.
Is it possible to fall in love for the same person again or is it that the heart never has stopped to beat for the other one at all? That’s the question with capital B.
I loved every second of this beautiful story.
K.M. paints vibrant pictures of her characters. . . . The romance at its heart is nostalgic, satisfying and real.
As Good as the First Time by K M Jackson
Sugar Lake book 1. Contemporary romance. Second chance troupe. Diverse.
Sisters Olivia and Drea return to the small home town of Sugar Lake to help their Aunt run her bakery. Having just lost her job, Olivia needs to look at her life and make some decisions. Seeing her first love Clayton, in all his firefighter glory, makes Olivia want to return to the city immediately but helping with the baking is therapeutic so she’ll stay a while longer. Proximity to Clayton is stirring up unexpected feelings Olivia is not sure what to do with.
A small town return and family make this romance sweet. I didn’t like the two sisters fighting so much through the story, but their relationship grows as well as they find their purpose and create new goals. Clayton’s priority in raising his daughter is admirable.
A bit slow in places but it all comes together.
3.5 increased to 4 for the HEA.
So just when you think you have it all together the universe has other plans. Olivia likes, no lives to keep everything in a neat and orderly fashion exactly according to the plan. Then in one moment it all changes. She sublets her apartment and heads south with her sister to both visit and help her beloved aunt and her bake shop. Sweet story of broken hearts mending, finding ones passion, family good, nosy and all the other loving and crazy parts and small town living. I hope that this is the start of a series. I want to see what happens next with Olivia, Drea, the cafe and Aunt Joyce. I found the storyline of the real estate cousin to be superfluous, but truly enjoyed the rest of the story. Perfect for few hours to get away from it all.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
As Good as the First Time is full of memorable characters, kisses-only romance, and sweet treats that will leave you wanting to return to Sugar Lake again and again!
Great read by K.M. Jackson! As Good as the First Time is a lovely soft romance with a women’s fiction feel that takes its times and allows you into the lives of its characters. Family relationships, sisterhood, second chances, and love!
As Good As The First Time is the first book in the Sugar Lake series of books from K.M. Jackson. If you are a fan of reunion romances or second chance romances, I can highly recommend this book.
Olivia Gale is the more “together” one of her siblings. Her brother is still finding himself and her sister Drea is still figuring out her talents and work goals. When Olivia is fired from what seemed to be her dream job, it happens at the perfect time to go back to Sugar Lake to help her aunt out with the family bakery. I loved that Olivia always baked to relax, and she was so quick to jump in to help her family. I also absolutely loved that her younger sister Drea surprised her by going with her, as I couldn’t wait to see how the sister’s relationship would change during the trip. Olivia appears to be super serious while Drea and more sassy and fun-loving when we first meet them.
Olivia knows when she returns to Sugar Lake it is possible she will run into her teenage love Clayton Morris, but totally isn’t prepared for him to not only be there, but living next door with his young daughter. I have to say I really liked that Liv and Clay slowly reconnected. Liv had to get past her anger and listen to Clay’s reason for distancing himself from her and eventually breaking her heart. I could totally feel the connection and chemistry between Liv and Clay from the moment they first saw each other again. I had all the feels for this couple as I read their reunion story.
While I loved the slowly building romance in this book, I have to say I loved the relationship building of Olivia, Drea and their cousins every bit as much. Olivia and Drea really have never been close, yet the more time they spent together the more they seemed to get each other. I love that the relationship between the sisters really seemed to be every bit as important to their character development as the romance between Olivia and Clay. Maybe because I have a sister and a brother the sibling relationships were just as important to me.
Olivia takes her time really figuring out where she belongs in the world. I honestly felt like it was just part of who she was to try everything before finally listening to her heart and going that route. I figured out at the very start of this story she was a baker at heart, but I loved her path to figure it out for herself. I also loved getting a glimpse of what Drea can become in this book. I can’t wait to see how her character develops in future books.
As Good as the First Time was a wonderful story. I’m a big fan of finding books in a series early so I can read them in order. I can’t wait to see where K.M Jackson takes the characters from this series in future books. I already have several favorites, and I hope they each get their own story along the way.
Rating: 4 Stars (B)
Review copy provided by publisher
Premise was good, but the writing was extremely awkward.
It was too drawn out. skipped over pages and went to the end
A perfect blend of great storytelling, unforgettable characters, and a delicious setting. Aunt Joyce and her pie shop in Sugar Lake reminded me why I love books with cooks so much.
As Good as the First Time was such a good read! I was excited and happy to see that it is the beginning of a series by this author.
This book has everything I enjoy, a small town, family, a history, a small business and lots of great character development. Oh and food. Did I mention food? This book will make you hungry because so much of what is mentioned sounds amazing!
And….there are firefighters. Oh yes, food, firefighters and family drama. How in the world can you want more than that?
This is my first book by K.M. Jackson, but it most definitely will not be the last. If you love ANY of the above, this is your book. Believe me.
I requested an ARC and thank Netgalley, the publisher and the author for making a copy available to me. My thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.
This is a sweet second chance romance. Liv goes back to Sugar Lake to help her Aunt run the bakery. She runs into her teenage sweetheart who left and broke her heart. Liv holds a lot against Clayton. Being back in Sugar Lake after 12 years brings back a lot of memories for Liv. Most all of them are good except the last summer there. Can Liv and Clayton overcome the past and move on in the future and will Liv finally realize what her true calling is. It takes the whole book to find out these answers.
*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
As Good as the First Time by K.M. Jackson
Sugar Lake #1
Oliva Gale has just finished baking pies for her father’s retirement party, sent her lover off to work and headed out the door for her own job when the story begins. By the end of the day she has said goodbye to more than one thing she had taken for granted and is saddled with a sister she bickers with constantly as she heads to Sugar Lake to help her aunt with the family bakery. She will meet up with her first love, spend time with family and be faced with big decisions before the books ends.
This is a new-to-me author and I am on the fence because I had trouble relating to the characters and found the plot somewhat predictable. Perhaps there wasn’t enough of the backstory or time in the second chance segment for me to see why Olivia and Clayton would be drawn to one another? I am not sure if it was that or the fact that I didn’t know enough about Olivia’s job in New York to see why she would prefer small town life as a baker over living in the city or just what it was that had me feeling just okay at the end of the story. I am wondering which of the characters mentioned in the story will have stories of their own: Liv’s sister, Clayton’s brother, some of the cousins or perhaps others who have not been introduced.
Did I love the story? No
Did the story flow? Yes
Would I read another book in this series? I think so
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars