Review: Once Kissed by Cecy Robson

Once Kissed: Curran O’Brien and Tess Newart

(O'Brien Family #1)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

Once they shared a night of passion. Now a chance encounter forces them back together. In Cecy Robson’s O’Brien Family series debut—perfect for readers of Monica Murphy and J. Lynn—two total opposites find that the flames of desire are still smoldering.

Tough-as-steel cop Curran O’Brien is quickly rising through the ranks of the Philadelphia police department. But when his rookie partner is almost killed under his watch, Curran just wants to prove he still has what it takes to walk among Philly’s finest. So he’s pissed to be stuck on a cushy security assignment for the DA’s office . . . until he gets a good look at the sweet, straitlaced intern he’s supposed to protect—but not touch.

Tess Newart recognizes Curran instantly. How could she not? Back in college she tied this former frat boy to the bed with her argyle socks! That sizzling one-night stand was the only indiscretion Tess ever allowed herself. She has survived law school so far, despite being pushed to succeed by her overbearing father. Now that she’s interning on a major case against a ruthless crime boss, she won’t jeopardize her career by giving in to temptation again. She just never expected temptation to look so damn hot in uniform.

Tess knows her father has other plans for her, and they don’t include Curran. But soon she’s falling for him all over again. And when danger emerges, Curran will prove just how good a bad-boy cop can be.

Review:

So I’ve read six of Cecy Robson’s contemporary romance novels at this point. I’ve always enjoyed Cecy’s writing and while that is still the case with this book, I have to say this one is probably my least favorite of all of her novels. Not saying that the book was bad, because it certainly wasn’t but I just had a harder time connecting with either Tessa or Curran.  

So one thing that got me and I’ll probably get some flack for it but I dont care, it’s my opinion.. Curran, the name itself. For readers of Urban Fantasy the name Curran is the name of one of the most Alpha of Alpha’s in the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. This series is wildly popular and fans LOVE it. The character Curran is almost always one of the finalists in “Alpha smack downs” he is EPIC... So if you are going to use the name Curran, your character better be as good if not better than the character already using that name. I couldn't help myself from comparing and Cecy’s Curran couldn't even come close to Ilona Andrews Curran and i found myself let down. I doubt I’m the only one that subconsciously or consciously drew the line.  

Curran as a character, he was all wisecracks and hiding behind smiles. A bad thing happened and now he is suffering from PTSD and a loss of confidence. I couldn't form any sort of connection with Curran until towards the end of the book. He was blocked off and while I liked him, there wasn’t really anything all that special about it. Nothing to grab me in. I started to warm up to him probably about 80% of the way through but thats a bit too late in a book to start connecting with a main character.

Actually 80% seems to be the sweet spot for this book because that's also when things start happening and I also started connecting with Tessa a bit more as well. Again, not a bad character but nothing really stuck out about her. When we find out that she is the chick that tied Curran up with her argyle socks in college I was expecting a sassy or at least confident women. Instead we get a mousey barely there beaten down chick, that I’m supposed to believe is on her way to being a shark of a lawyer… Not buying it. About 80% of the way through she starts to realize she has a backbone and stands up to her father and you start to see her shine through. But again, a little late for that.

At the end of the book an incident is thrown in and it just comes out of nowhere and for what seems like no real reason. I mean I was expecting it, but I was expecting it earlier, where it was was just misplaced and awkward.

Overall, while the book is not a bad book, it was mediocre. The character development was not where it needed to be and not much happens for most of the book. As always Curran’s family is a hoot and I can’t wait to read more from them but when they were around they definitely scene stealers.