First Impressions

by Nora Roberts

Escaping the rat race and the lure of gold-digging women, wealthy businessman Vance Banning moves to a small, rural retreat, telling the townsfolk that he's an out-of-work carpenter. All he wants is peace, quiet and to keep away from women. So the last thing he needs is a charitable neighbor; especially a beautiful, gracious and persistent neighbor of the female persuasion - but there's something about Shane Abbott he just can't ignore.

Vance is certain his cover story will stop his lovely neighbor from getting too friendly, but Shane is determined to break down his resistance. Vance has been burned once, so only a fool would fall for the same innocent act twice. And he's no fool. But he has no idea how relentless Shane Abbott can be when it comes to giving a helping hand; or a loving heart.

He needed to simplify his life and mend his broken heart. She was searching for a place to finally fit in and a man who could love her for who she was. Together they discover that all they really needed was each other, and that love is the greatest Christmas gift of all.

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Holiday, Chick Lit

Paperback

First published April 1, 1984

About the author

Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know what is the actual worst? When you find out that the guy you're dating, who you think is a penniless, out-of-work carpenter, is really a millionaire business executive. Right?!?! God, I can't tell you how many times that's happened to me. And every time it almost wrecks the relationship, because I'm all (sobbing): "How could you have betrayed me like this? How could you be so cruel?" Etc. Anyway it was nice to finally see this extremely common experience reflected in the plot of a romance novel. Basically, millionaire business executives, you have to stop masquerading as carpenters because we are not having it anymore.

A couple of other cute things from this book were, first, the hilariously inaccurate statements the fem. protag. makes about the experience of teaching in the inner city (apparently she did it for four years, but I am like, girlfriend, based upon these statements you are making, there is no way so please just stop pretending), and second, the title, which as I'm sure every romance reader knows was the original title of Austen's Pride and Prejudice, which is just SO APT because First Impressions and P&P are practically twinsies.

[*CJ* · Rating 4 out of 5]

“First Impressions” is the story of Shane and Vance.

A sweet Nora Roberts small town romance which involves the classic plot of deception, love and miracles, set in the holiday season.

The hero is a billionaire businessman who takes a break from his hectic life to reside in a countryside. When asked about his profession, he confesses to being a carpenter, primarily to his vivacious and loving neighbor Shane. Shane has a heart of gold, and spends all her time helping the townsfolk. When an enigmatic stranger intrudes upon her life, she never expects to take one look and know that he’s her soulmate.

Their love story is filled with uptight and psycho exes, crazy mothers and meddlesome friends. The lovemaking is hot and angst is medium. Ends leaving a smile on your face.

Safe
4/5

[Lyndi W. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This might be considered spoiler-y. Technically, I haven't given away real details, but some folks are pickier. So be warned.

So here's the thing. The Big Misunderstanding trope is used constantly in this book. And it's always because Shane absolutely refuses to allow Vance to finish a fucking sentence. He tries to explain things numerous times, but she always talks over him. She just plows right on through and completely misses the mark - half the time she's flat out wrong, but she's like a runaway train and nobody can stop her. I wanted to grab her, shake her, and demand that she shut the hell up for two seconds so Vance could give her the explanation she's demanding so violently.

And then there is a scene where Shane lets her mother break her heart again. Like, you know this woman is poison and wants to hurt you. You've been preparing yourself for her to show up and pull some shit. So how the hell are you so surprised and gullible when she shows up and pulls some shit?

So she falls for her mother's bullshit and goes tearing off, screaming for an explanation, which she won't shut up long enough to get. She does this whole "I trusted you and you were laughing at me the whole time! You were laughing at me! How could you laugh at me?!" Which mostly reminds me of the movie Carrie , when she's having that psychotic break and hearing her mother's voice in her head saying "They're all gonna laugh at you! They're all gonna laugh at you!" On and on with this laughing shit with Shane, when it's horribly obvious that nobody would find it funny. It's not a prank or con somebody would pull because it makes no sense, there is no payoff to doing it. I could have understood if she was just upset about being misled, but I don't get her thinking at all. Of course he wasn't laughing at you, dumbass. Be quiet and let the man speak!

She was so melodramatic while ranting and raving, totally incorrect and illogical, but entirely unwilling to allow anyone to speak long enough to correct her. I hated her by the end of the book.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hilarious! I kept picturing Shane as Debby Reynolds in her early years. Cheerful and fun!
The scene with him trying to push her car out of the mud, and then getting covered with it when she stepped on the gas too hard? That actually happened to me in my teens. My date did not think it was funny when he was covered in mud, either. 🤣Laughed so hard I was crying!

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found First Impressions by Nora Roberts a few months ago while browsing in a little tiny thrift shop. Nora Roberts is one of my all time favorite authors and the beautiful Christmas cover also attracted me. This was a perfect book for this time of year. Vance Banning is the president of the nation’s largest construction business. But, he needs a break from the city and from his past. So he buys the old Farley place in the country to restore it and try to find himself again. Somehow, though, the small community thinks he is an out of work carpenter. Right next door lives Shane Abbott. She spent four years in the big city as a teacher. But, after the death of her beloved Grandmother that raised her, she has gone home to restore her Grandmother’s home and convert it to a museum and antique store. Shane is one of those wonderful people that wears her emotions on her sleeve. When she laughs, you can’t help but laugh right along with her. But being so emotionally open also subjects her to be easily hurt.

The first time she laid eyes on Vance, she felt something. She knew she needed to find out just what that feeling was but Vance was having none of it. He made it clear he did not want company. But, Shane decides she needs his help with her house and thinks that Vance needs the work so she hires him as a carpenter. As they get to know each other, she breaks through Vance’s brittle exterior and slowly helps him to heal. But what will happen when she learns the truth about Vance’s past? Will she be able to forgive him for not being honest? And there is someone in Shane’s past they will have to deal with as well.

This wonderful Christmas story is told in true Nora Robert’s fashion, with beautiful scenery and characters with complicated lives. She has a way in her words of making me almost feel the snow down my back and the cold on my cheeks. It was a perfect book to set the mood for the holidays.

[Mara · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this book hadn't had some serious instalove (which I'm down with in a paranormal or fantasy, but not a contemporary), I would have rated it higher because I loved the heroine, I loved the reno aspect, and I loved how it angsted so good at the end

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this keeps up, I'm going to have to revise my opinion of Nora Roberts books released in the 80s. I liked this book more than my rating is going to show—mainly because I half fell in love with Shane, myself. She's quirky and determined, but mostly I like her self-trust and ability to accept people and events as they are. Vance is kind of a turd, but he does grow on you so I'm not disgusted that Shane was attracted to him. Plus, I like that he's running (more or less) from an unusual past that both explains his gruffness and why Shane is just the woman for him.

So why the downgrade? Shane goes all stupid at the end of the novel, more or less contradicting all that we know about her to that point. It was frustrating and completely unnecessary that she forgot herself so much that she could let it affect the love she knows she has. Frustrating beyond belief and it doesn't help that her crisis is propelled by the very least appealing character of the book (and possibly of all Roberts' 80s novels). The book might have been shorter if Roberts had simply cut out the next-to-last chapter or three, but it would have been vastly improved as well. If it weren't an audiobook, I'd be tempted to perform the edit myself...

A note about Steamy: A couple of truly excellent sex scenes and not just because I find Shane so very appealing, viscerally.

[MisskTarsis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Iba muy bien hasta que se puso todo melcocho. Nojombre, eso me arruinó el libro. Iba muy genial.
Me dio mucha risa al inicio, cuando ella le dice a la amiga: este es el hombre con el que me voy a casar, sólo que aún no lo sabe.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amo a Nora Roberts, en cualquier formato y de cualquier año.

Vance es un gran personaje!! Muy digno de Nora Roberts, duro por fuera pero dulce como el chocolate derretido por dentro, tiene muy buenos motivos para tener su corazón (y su billetera) tan bien custodiados. Shane es totalmente abierta y alocada, lo opuesto a Vance y por eso lo intriga y enfurece a la vez. Si a esto le sumamos el contexto histórico de la Guerra Civil, un museo, unas cuantas antigüedades y una romántica historia en Navidad... encontramos a un ganador!!

[Destiny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has the qualities of a fairytale and I love that. The hero literally sweeps the heroine off her feet.

It has the usual contemporary romance feel - he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not...Then, oh, HE LOVES ME! It was sweet. I laughed out loud several times during the story. Nora Roberts is so clever with the interaction she has between the two characters.

The hero is a disguised prince, note that he is rich and he ends up falling for a small town girl with little possessions. Sigh... Isn't that what all girls dream about?

[Tisha (IG: Bluestocking629) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book at a local thrift store. The cover looked so Christmasy I had to have it. But... the cover gave the wrong first impression...

Vance is creepy. And rough. Very rough. And he's also a jerk. Look, I know he had a rough life...but why take it out on Shane? He's also a lying liar (by omission).

And Shane? She's too trusting. And too forgiving. And too clueless.

"Her struggles went unnoticed. A fire consumed him". Ummm may I please have some mustard with that cheese?

Gag me...

I never completed a Nora Roberts book before. I tried with Morrigan's Cross...and now this one. I have given it the old college try.

I ended up, around page 100, just skipping parts. I started reading it in full again the last 30 pages. Yikes. That ending was super cringe.

This book was way too gritty and dirty for me. I want my Christmas books tied up in a nice red bow. This most certainly was not to my liking.

I think Vance needs an anger management class gift certificate from Santa. Shane needs a brain from the Wizard.

[Branwen Sedai *of the Brown Ajah* · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was never a thought to deny him. She knew she was already his.

"I'm not an idealist, I simply don't automatically assume there's someone waiting to take advantage of me. I think you miss a lot more by not trusting people than you risk by trusting them."

This book was absolutely fantastic! Such a sweet and wonderful love story that took place around the holidays! The only thing I would change about it would be to make it longer, since I didn't want it to end!

A great book to read near Christmas time to really lighten your spirit and warm your heart!

[Mary Vance · Rating 2 out of 5]

All Nora Robert's books are predicable stories now. Boring, same characters in each, just with a different name and job. Waste of time to read.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
A sweet small town romance.
An enjoyable and easy read. Not one of her standout books, infact it was a more simplistic storyline than I usually expect from Nora Roberts but this author is a "sure bet" and she never fails to hold my interest.
I am not sure when this was first published but it is definitely an early novel .

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this on my local library Christmas display table. I loved this book! It is about Vance, a man taking a break from his life by buying an old rundown farm in a small town where no one knows him. Shane and Vance meet and it is true love at first sight. Both feel it but they take a little time figureing that out. She makes him feel alive again after so many years of guilt while she comes to terms with the death of the one true family member she has left!

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Impressions - G+
Nora Roberts
Escaping the rat race and the lure of gold-digging women, wealthy businessman Vance Banning moves to a small, rural retreat, telling the townsfolk that he's an out-of-work carpenter. All he wants is peace, quiet and to keep away from women. So the last thing he needs is a charitable neighbor--especially a beautiful, gracious and persistent neighbor of the female persuasion--but there's something about Shane Abbott he just can't ignore.

Vance is certain his cover story will stop his lovely neighbor from getting too friendly, but Shane is determined to break down his resistance. Vance has been burned once, so only a fool would fall for the same innocent act twice. And he's no fool. But he has no idea how relentless Shane Abbott can be when it comes to giving a helping hand--or a loving heart.

He needed to simplify his life and mend his broken heart. She was searching for a place to finally fit in and a man who could love her for who she was. Together they discover that all they really needed was each other, and that love is the greatest Christmas gift of all.

[Kayrene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just keep trying to like Nora Roberts. Bailed out on this before the end. Where's some depth to the story? A storyline, would be good, rather than just the waiting for the physical contact. Need more in a book. Nixed it to Goodwill.

[Erin **Coffee and Book Addict** · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet story. I just loved Shane. She is just the sweetest thing. I love her ambition and I love her willingness to fall so much in love with someone she didn't know. As usual, Nora makes it so easy to put myself in the main character's place and just imagine myself living in this book.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review haiku:
She thinks carpenter,
But really executive.
True love overcomes.

[Brecht Denijs · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would call this a poor person's Pride & Prejudice, except I do not wish to insult poor people. It was clearly inspired by it, as is obvious from the title, but boy does it not even come close. The thing is, I didn't need it to either. If this was a cute and fun but rather unoriginal small town, sunshine & grumpy romance, I would have still loved it. And it tried to be, but failed miserably.

So, I did like the set up for it, it reads very easily and quickly and the basic concepts for the characters do work, which is why I’m still giving it two stars instead of one, but that’s unfortunately where the nice things end.

The structure was terrible. What little plot there was, was pretty much pushed all in the final chapters and before that we get a toxic, problematic version of yearning, giving in and pulling back on repeat. Even if this was well done it would still have been a terrible idea. The inciting incident and the resolution of it, happen in one and the same chapter, literally within a handful of pages from each other. It really makes you wonder what the point of it all was and I suspect, this being a book from the 80s when smut wasn’t yet main stream like now, the plot was just an excuse to have a series of chapters with some steamy scenes in them. The plot in this makes “wafer thin” seem obese.

The romance, I’m sad to say, is more of the problematic kind that we see so often and which continues to baffle me why so many people are into it. Apparently, this shit has been going on for well over 40 years, no wonder the dating world is so messed up.
Vance, our MMC, seems to have just one emotion he can process and that is anger. He is angry all the time, at everyone and everything, including at our FMC Shane. He is in fact angry with her for – checking notes – “being attractive and a decent human being.” How dare she?!
He even expresses his love through anger, he’s always kissing her angrily, grabbing her angrily, shaking her angrily and doing other things to her angrily. But it’s okay, because he just can’t help himself around her and she knows that deep down that he’s a good person. How does she know this? Not a freaking clue, but she’s convinced he’s the man she’s going to marry from the minute she lays eyes on him and she even decides that if he’s doesn’t propose soon, she will…AFTER KNOWING HIM THREE MONTHS!
Do I even need to mention he has no respect for consent or her boundaries. But it’s okay though, because she secretly wants it anyway and he somehow knows that. Barf!

This is the kind of toxic shit that gives all romance novels a bad reputation and I for the life of me do not get why so many people are into this. Especially when it is this poorly written. Roberts has written over 200 books? Well yeah, I’m not surprised, even I could spit something like this out in a month, no problem.
I have heard that she has improved over the years and this one is from the 80s, so maybe I’m a little behind with my critique. I bought this in a bundle and the other book in it is from the 90s, so maybe that one will be better? I’m not holding my breath though.
Incidentally, I feel a little cheated, I bought this as part of a cosy winter reading sale (I read wintery books in summer because I hate the summer), but in spite of its Christmassy looking cover, it actually starts in September and only the last two or three chapters mention winter, snow or Christmas. I’ve said it before but I hate book marketing. Bunch of misleading assholes just trying to make a sale.

Anyway, like so many bad books I’ve been suckered into reading: good idea, terrible execution.

[Ali Molenaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

De eerste indruk is altijd belangrijk en dat geldt voor Shane en Vance in deze charmante romance, maar ook voor de lezer. Nora Roberts slaagt er heel vaak in om die eerste indruk een goede indruk te maken. De vierde ster is omdat ik het zulke leuke mensen vond.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shane Abbott hopes to convert part of the house she inherited from her grandmother into an antiques shop and Civil War museum. Much work needs to be done to the house, and, luckily, her new neighbor is an unemployed carpenter. However, Vance Banning is downright rude when Shane approaches him. Shane is nothing if not persistent and slowly wins Vance's heart only to find he is not the person she thought he was.

Shane and Vance are as different as night and day, so, of course, they fall passionately in love with each other. This is a reprint of a very early Nora Roberts romance. It is a cute and sexy story, but the reader will be aware of how much Roberts has grown as a writer. Recommend.

[Kirsten (lush.lit.life)]

So, I was looking for a mindless, fluffy, Christmas romance book just because I wanted to feel Christmassy without working too hard. I found this on the "light-hearted Christmas tales" display shelf at the library. The name Nora Roberts was familiar. I thought for mindless, fluffy romance perhaps. This was definitely a mindless, fluffy, melodramatic, predictable, false-drama infused romance. What I did not realize is that Nora Roberts writes mindless romance WITH STEAMY SEX SCENES, lol. And that's if "steamy" means unintentionally comical (hey, these scenes start early in the narrative, don't judge me). So, now I know what to expect from Nora Roberts. Oh and yes, the Christmas depicted was positively magical.

[♥ℳelody · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book I've ever read by Roberts and was pleasantly surprised. Fun contemporary read. I really liked Shane and Vance. Vance was just yum and way too fun. Loved the tension set up between them especially after their 'first meeting'. I liked the 'total opposites' dynamic between the two. Vance with his dark cynical broody attitude verses Shane's sweet caring unassuming nature. I really was expecting it to be over the top or cheesy but it wasn't, it was nicely written and believable. I liked how Shane quickly put Vance on edge and he didn't know what to make of her. Was very realistic and not forced and just a sweet love story. I enjoyed it!

[Suzanne Thackston · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not spending one more minute on this turkey. All I can say is that NR becomes a MUCH better writer as her career progresses. Now I know better than to venture into her early stuff.
I've lived in Sharpsburg for 30 years (the reason I wanted to read this one, set here) and not once- not one single time- have I ever heard one of my neighbors refer to someone from DC (or Baltimore or anywhere else in MD, not even the eastern shore which IS flat) as a 'flatlander.'
DC has way more and much bigger hills than Sharpsburg.

[Cisz Geverink - Strasters · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

First Impressions was an enjoyable read featuring a romance between a woman who returns to her hometown and her new reclusive neighbor.

Shane Abbot is finally returning home after working as a teacher in the big city for four years. Her first order of business is to start renovations on her grandmother's old house to convert it into a museum and antique shop. Vance Banning escaped to rural Maryland to get away from the pressure of running the family empire so he buys a house and begins renovating himself. When his neighbor Shane thinks he's out of work and offers him a job working on her house, he's amused and agrees. But as Shane and Vance work together closely on the renovations, unexpected feelings begin to surface.

Vance is wary of relationships after his late wife treated him poorly and made it clear she only wanted him for his money. Due to their relationship, Vance has a lot of trust issues and has no interest in entering into a new relationship. After the death of her grandmother, Shane left her job as a teacher and returned home. She has always dreamed of doing something with antiques and with the inheritance from her grandmother, now is the perfect time. Shane is very knowledgeable about her work and what she doesn't know, she researches to find out.

Shane and Vance's first interaction doesn't go well and Vance is actually quite rude to Shane. Eventually after the pair have been working together for a while, they form a friendship of sorts. The two work well together and I liked that Vance understood what Shane wanted with the renovations. Shane is pretty open about her interest in Vance but with his trust issues, he fights the attraction for a while. I will say my main issue with this book comes after their relationship progresses beyond friendship. Vance continues to let Shane believe he's an out of work carpenter rather than the very wealthy man that he is. Once she does find out, she's rightfully upset and it causes issues in the relationship. I just felt Vance's reasons for not telling her didn't hold up after he knew the kind of person Shane was. Outside of that issue, I did enjoy their romance.

Overall First Impressions was an entertaining read and I would recommend it if you're looking for a quick contemporary romance to read.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this book wasn't as Christmas'y as I would have liked but the story was so great.

Shane is getting over the death of her grandmother and using her home to start a antique museum and shop.

As she is getting ready to revamp it Vance Banning moves into the broken down place near her. He has actually ran away from his corporate job.

He has ran away from a terrible past relationship as well, so when he and Shane met and the zing is instantaneous he is as prickly as possible. Shane on the other hand is drawn like a moth to a flame.

Her genuineness draws Vance in right away. They fight and play and fall in love. The difference between what Vance was used to and Shane is polar opposites. They fight in the mud and Shane just laughs. They can't stay away from each other.

Unfortunately Shane has a horrible mother that she only calls by her first name. That should show us and her really that these two are not family at heart. She comes in and fakes feelings and then quickly turns into a viper.

When Vance finds out he goes and puts Ann in her place. Unfortunately she is a sneaky viper and unearths all of Vance's secrets. Then she throws them in Shane's face.

The strength of their connection, the way they turn everything into fun, they searing sweetness of the love making made this book nearly impossible for me to put down.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

something about this narrator ...certain bits ... wordage ...she sounds like Winnie the Pooh? no clue why? but my ears hear? i enjoy this read and i enjoyed the idea ...what a great idea ... leaving the rat race and opening and taking over an old home ... museum and antiques ...what fun! love the characters ... great listen and fun time just enjoying it in my everyday life.

[Phil · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first story in this collection was pretty darn cute. The second story was simply too cliché. Not really believable at all. Still, Nora Roberts is good with setting the place, the landscapes and the food. If the second story characters seemed a little flat well.... she got paid to write this story, hmmm?