What do you think?
Rate this book
First Last Forever: A Collection of First Date Disasters
Love them or hate them, we’ve all had first dates. From the blush of romance to the slamming of a door, nothing can capture—or repel—our hearts so fully. Do we swoon with desire? Hope for tenderness? Or does the first meeting shatter any chance of two souls connecting?
In First Last Forever, each story follows the passionate, sometimes accidental rendezvous between two people as they fight to overcome the one obstacle between them and happiness—the disastrous first date. Will they end with a promise, a parting, or a pledge? Read these stories to find out.
First:
"Valentine’s Date"
by K. C. Maguire
Should we be friends?
"Salt to a Wound"
by Mandy Broughton
First world dating problems
"Speed Freaks"
by Monica Shaughnessy
Five minutes to find forever.
"Prima Facie"
by Artemis Greenleaf
Say no to drugs and yes to romance.
Last:
"Date from Hell"
by Monica Shaughnessy
Karma has never been so sexy.
"A Soliloquy of Survival or First Dates Suck"
by Ellen Leventhal
Stalkers can be so hot.
"Dance"
by Artemis Greenleaf
Killer dates come in small packages with excellent dance moves.
Forever:
"Cassie"
by Artemis Greenleaf
High winds lead to high romance.
"In the Mood"
by Mandy Broughton
Principal Charming experiments with thermodynamics
"Famine’s Daughter"
by Artemis Greenleaf
Never force a woman’s hand.
"Auld Lang Syne"
by Ellen Leventhal
Can we call a do-over?
In First Last Forever, each story follows the passionate, sometimes accidental rendezvous between two people as they fight to overcome the one obstacle between them and happiness—the disastrous first date. Will they end with a promise, a parting, or a pledge? Read these stories to find out.
First:
"Valentine’s Date"
by K. C. Maguire
Should we be friends?
"Salt to a Wound"
by Mandy Broughton
First world dating problems
"Speed Freaks"
by Monica Shaughnessy
Five minutes to find forever.
"Prima Facie"
by Artemis Greenleaf
Say no to drugs and yes to romance.
Last:
"Date from Hell"
by Monica Shaughnessy
Karma has never been so sexy.
"A Soliloquy of Survival or First Dates Suck"
by Ellen Leventhal
Stalkers can be so hot.
"Dance"
by Artemis Greenleaf
Killer dates come in small packages with excellent dance moves.
Forever:
"Cassie"
by Artemis Greenleaf
High winds lead to high romance.
"In the Mood"
by Mandy Broughton
Principal Charming experiments with thermodynamics
"Famine’s Daughter"
by Artemis Greenleaf
Never force a woman’s hand.
"Auld Lang Syne"
by Ellen Leventhal
Can we call a do-over?
201 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2016
1 person want to read
About the author
Monica Shaughnessy
17 books28 followersMonica Shaughnessy has a flair for creating characters and plots larger than her home state of Texas. Most notably, she's the author of the Cattarina Mysteries, a cozy mystery series starring Edgar Allan Poe's real-life cat companion. Ms. Shaughnessy has nine books in print, including two young adult suspense novels, a middle grade superhero novel, an Easter picture book, two cozy mystery novellas, and numerous short stories. Customers have praised her work time and again, calling it "unique and creative," "fresh and original," and "very well written." If you're looking for something outside the mainstream, you'll find it in her prose. When she's not slaying adverbs and tightening plots, she's walking her rescue dogs, goofing around with her family, or going back to the grocery store for the hundredth time because she forgot milk.
The best way to learn about her books is to join her mailing list, which can be found on her website: www.monicashaughnessy.com. You'll receive advance release notices, special discounts, and the occasional ARC.
The best way to learn about her books is to join her mailing list, which can be found on her website: www.monicashaughnessy.com. You'll receive advance release notices, special discounts, and the occasional ARC.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 13, 2016
Favorite Quotes:
“And he’s not a bad guy in the right light and after a few glasses of alcohol.”
“I count the lines on his forehead like I’m counting the rings of a tree.”
“He’s the kind of guy my mother would grab in the grocery store and shove in front of me. ‘Look, Lindsey, here’s a nice one,’ she’d say, as if we were picking out melons.”
“The next four dates pass like childbirth, a pain I am not familiar with but one my mother recounts when I disappoint her.”
“Tears started and he cried like a small child who didn’t get that candy bar in the grocery store.”
“At thirty-five, however, Josie couldn’t afford to play hard to get, not when she was halfway down life’s path. She’d thrown too many fish back over the years, and the older she got, the less bait she had to offer. Hence, tonight’s low-cut, thigh-high, traffic-stopping dress.”
“Most of the guests had already left by the time Emily tossed the bouquet at me, her two college roommates, and Mom’s widowed elderly neighbor, Mrs. Paddington. Good grad, Mrs. P.!”
“And that diet I’ve been on, well, I have only fifteen pounds to go from the ten I originally wanted to lose.”
“I told them I had students to discipline and dreams to crush. Keeping you all downtrodden and helpless is full-time work.”
My Review:
A grab bag of fun, touching, ironic, thrilling, and chilling stories involving first dates. Each self-contained story is short and mostly complete, a few just end, but none are a lead in or cliffhanger into a second book or series. These are entertaining and quick reads that can be completed during a coffee break or several read during a lunch period. Most involved highly likable everyday people with issues that were easy to relate with, although a few had paranormal elements. My favorite of the bunch involved a handsome devil.
“And he’s not a bad guy in the right light and after a few glasses of alcohol.”
“I count the lines on his forehead like I’m counting the rings of a tree.”
“He’s the kind of guy my mother would grab in the grocery store and shove in front of me. ‘Look, Lindsey, here’s a nice one,’ she’d say, as if we were picking out melons.”
“The next four dates pass like childbirth, a pain I am not familiar with but one my mother recounts when I disappoint her.”
“Tears started and he cried like a small child who didn’t get that candy bar in the grocery store.”
“At thirty-five, however, Josie couldn’t afford to play hard to get, not when she was halfway down life’s path. She’d thrown too many fish back over the years, and the older she got, the less bait she had to offer. Hence, tonight’s low-cut, thigh-high, traffic-stopping dress.”
“Most of the guests had already left by the time Emily tossed the bouquet at me, her two college roommates, and Mom’s widowed elderly neighbor, Mrs. Paddington. Good grad, Mrs. P.!”
“And that diet I’ve been on, well, I have only fifteen pounds to go from the ten I originally wanted to lose.”
“I told them I had students to discipline and dreams to crush. Keeping you all downtrodden and helpless is full-time work.”
My Review:
A grab bag of fun, touching, ironic, thrilling, and chilling stories involving first dates. Each self-contained story is short and mostly complete, a few just end, but none are a lead in or cliffhanger into a second book or series. These are entertaining and quick reads that can be completed during a coffee break or several read during a lunch period. Most involved highly likable everyday people with issues that were easy to relate with, although a few had paranormal elements. My favorite of the bunch involved a handsome devil.
August 23, 2020
Quick, quirky short stories. Some were good, some were not.
“Speed Freaks” recounts one woman’s night of speed dating. A woman has a date with the devil—literally! And kids scheme a Parent Trap.
“Speed Freaks” recounts one woman’s night of speed dating. A woman has a date with the devil—literally! And kids scheme a Parent Trap.
April 1, 2016
How many of us remember a first date? Was it a blind date that turned out horrible? Maybe it was love at first sight and you didn't want the date to end. This funny book has some unbelievable first dates thst are sure to make you smile or cringe. There are several stories in the book, each with a different perspective of a first date. They are quirky, funny, sad and some a bit strange. It's a quick read and very entertaining. I enjoyed the stories and how they were open about their experiences. The book is well written but a bit short. I hope the authors consider a part two with a bit more to each story. Sone did seem rushed while others were just ok. Overall it is not a bad book to read for a few laughs as you remember your first date.
I received a copy of this book from Librarything for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book from Librarything for an honest review.
Read
February 3, 2016I don't rate my own books. ;-)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews