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First Kiss

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A girl. A curse. A kiss. The Lakes are not only famous for founding the small town of Lakeland, but also for killing off any man who would dare love them. Just one little kiss and he will perish, or so the rumors say. Erralynn Lake has never been a fan of rumors, or Lakeland. She can’t wait to move away and spread her wings. But as she plans her escape, an unlikely cold wind blows into town, bringing with it something wicked. Things crawl from the shadows with stories of a curse, a girl, and a kiss. And nothing makes sense. Because Erralynn Lake isn’t who she thinks she is. And Lakeland isn’t her real home. It fact, it might not be anyone’s real home. Crawl into the fairytale that will leave you wishing there was a rabbit to follow through the insanity. First Kiss

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2013

33 people are currently reading
318 people want to read

About the author

A.E. Watson

38 books83 followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Pen name of Tara Brown


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5 stars
117 (35%)
4 stars
96 (29%)
3 stars
65 (19%)
2 stars
34 (10%)
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15 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
Profile Image for Sharon Obelenus Holland.
442 reviews5 followers
October 5, 2016
I love a Tara Brown story!!!

I read this when it was first released, I loved it then, but it seemed like it was going to have a second book. This time though, you get a full story. If you love fairy tales, this book will keep you reading. A mixture of Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland and Charmed.

Small towns love to hold grudges, be nosy, but they really like to spread rumors. Erralynn Lake has had to put up with all of that for ten years. Her family started the town and legend is, if a Lake woman kisses a male, death will follow soon. All Erralynn wants is to be a normal girl, but at eighteen, no one is willing to kiss her. Until a party one night, where her crush who is drunk, kisses her and she meets a new guy that seems familiar. In the next few days her life is about to go from strange to cursed. Her crush? In the hospital fighting for his life and the new guy she can't stop thinking about disappears. Her crazy grandmother, steals all of her money and throws her out.

She runs into a strange man that offers her a job as a maid. The old mansion from her family's start is where they end up. Little does she realize, her family homestead is the beginning of her journey to break the curse.
Profile Image for Sara Nelson.
Author 1 book13 followers
November 5, 2013
I really liked this story. It was a nice twist in a crazy fairytale. I love all of Tara's books and its nice to see a side that isn't 50 shades. ;) The ending has you begging for more. I soooo cant wait for the next book. If I was Lynnie, I would be just as confused as she seems to be. It's hard knowing your whole life, that the town is afraid of you and of the curse. Come and take a journey in this wicked broken fairytale!!!!!
Profile Image for Lauren.
1,897 reviews4 followers
July 10, 2017
this is a cute and entertaining story about a young woman whose family has turned against her. She believe she's cursed and has cursed others, but the truth slowly starts to reveal itself. It's a fairy tale with the good and evil very pronounced. Quite the entertaining read that is unique and Charming.
Profile Image for Carol***BeautyandtheBeastlyBooks.
1,794 reviews168 followers
November 20, 2013
4.5 stars! What a great trip this story is!!

I shouldn't be amazed by how talented Tara Brown is! Really! The Lonely ismone of my favorite books of all times and it is a true mind f*$&*ck, and dark, just how I like them! But now Tara incorpored her talent for twists and turns in a Ya novel with paranormal-ish character.

I love that every story I read of hers there are those twists and the story turns upside down and you just kind feel like it's so normal because she really has the gift for writing! Only truly amazing writes can manage to do that! When you read a Tara Brown's book you can be sure there will be two (or more) stories behind it and it will all make sense!

I absolutely love the way Tara makes my mind work when reading her books! Honestly, I love how they challenge my brain and my sense of reality!

It's hard to describe ow it feels to read a book where the story takes turns and all of the sudden changes and turns into a 180 degrees, but in the end IT.ALL.MAKES.SENSE!
Not to,mention how much I love her characters (Eli is my bbf forever, just so you'll know LOL). Her characters are so real and they make you feel part of their stories.

I will write a more complete review, but for now just trust me, Tara Brown can make anything good! Even a plain story in her capable hands can turn your brain upside down (in a very good way)!!!

Profile Image for Jessy.
774 reviews
November 23, 2013
First kiss by Tara brown!

I'm always like a broken record when it comes to Tara Brown books! It's amazing! Must Read! Don't miss it! So I won't throw those cliches in this review! (See what I did there!) hehe But seriously one day I will meet this author and hug the crap out of her! She has given me countless hours of fantastic novels that take me to places only Alice in Wonderland gets to go! I want to be in this authors head! At least for a day! This book is a place where all your favorite childhood Fairytales meet the twisted mind of Tara Brown and we get to join in for the ride! Sexy lead character that will have you falling for him and his *ahem* arrogance! Let's face it, a little bit of alpha in a male is hot! Fans of Fairytales will love this! Don't miss out on this world where every page is another drop down the rabbit hole! I give this book my thumbs up! Love it! Thanks to the author for another book I can let my brain swim in! *applause*
Profile Image for Vodkamelie.
604 reviews3 followers
October 2, 2016
I bet the wind chased me and the boys feared me.

Lynnie's from a cursed family so they say...

"You wear your curse on the outside. I wear mine on the inside."
"I suppose I do. I suppose that makes you more dangerous than I am."


Tought to never let a boy fall in love with her or she will kill him with a kiss...

"The magic is within us."

But what happens when you find out you were living a lie?

"I prefer the truth. If what you are in the mirror is a lie, then I prefer the man with the scars."

And what heppens when you meet the unexpected?

"That's some kiss you have there, Lynnie." he whipsers onto my lips. I laugh and cry at the same time. "It'll either heal ya or kill ya."

Look in the mirror and you will find out...

True love. It is the only kind that may survive the curse.

First Kiss is a mix of fairy tale, sarcasm, evil and love. As always Tara's writing is bewitching and addictive.
457 reviews15 followers
May 1, 2020
Whoa what a read!! It seems this is my first thought as soon as i finish a Tara Brown book. She writes such addictive , unexpected and full of twist story that will keep on edge throughout. A Tara Brown spin on fairy tale, mixture of Beauty and the Beast and Alice in Wonderland. This book will suck you in from the beginning and wouldn't let go till the end!!! So many emotions. I enjoyed every second of this crazy fairytale. As always Tara's writing is addictive and unique. Another fantastic, bewitching read.
Profile Image for Kristen Anderson.
926 reviews7 followers
September 29, 2017
Such a cute story. So many possibilities for sequels! Please?
I will say, throughout the story I was skeptical. I was shouting “plot holes!” From the roof. I was like, “there’s no way allllllll this shiz is going to get explained...” but it DID. I was frustrated... It might have been a little too much. BUT! I really liked it. By the end I was like yessssss!!!!! Also, what happens to Sam? And Rosie? And Alex? And Mom and dad???????? There are so many possibilities!
Profile Image for Michelle Monroe.
560 reviews51 followers
October 3, 2016
Witches, Curses, a Prince, Evil Family member, a Beast, mystery and danger...all the great things that make up a fabulous fairy tale - First Kiss has all that and more!

**How most girls feel about boys is how I feel about music. Mostly because the closest I’ll ever come to making out is imagining it.
My sad confession is that in my eighteen years I have never kissed a boy.
I may never kiss a boy.
In my family, death has been known to come from a single kiss.

Erralynn Lake is Cursed. Doom to obviously repeat all that the women in her gmail you before her has done...kill the man they love with just one kiss. That's what she believes, that's what the entire town believes. Because all the men in her family had met an untimely death. Being forced to live with Mary, her grandmother who hates her, until she is 19, she find solace however she can. And that's usually with music. She plays guitar and sings in a local bar on the weekend.

Things are not what they seem, she finds that out when she meets Bash. A handsome boy who just came into town. But even he is not what he seems. Things start changing and Erralynn doesn't even trust her own eyes. Determined to leave town, she meets a mysterious stranger who offers her a job to stay, at the creepy mansion on the hill. The mansion that used to belong to her family. It's creepy, it's directly and condemned. No one goes there. So when she was offered the job, she figured it couldn't hurt because she needs the money to leave town.

That's when the real fun begins! The house isn't what it seems and neither are the people who occupy it. Erralynn starts to find out there is more to her story, things she didn't even believe were possible. Things that she had forgotten. And it's up to her to save herself and those around her. But will she take it too far?

**The dark act I’m about to commit will seal the deal, and I will officially be one of the witches everyone fears, the ones with no boundaries. But I can’t stop.
I don’t stop.

This story is so good, it will grab you from the very first chapter! Just like with all of TB books, I read this all in one sitting, it's that good. The mystery, the magic, the secrets. I loved every minute of it!
Profile Image for Lynn Clark.
231 reviews5 followers
July 9, 2017
I think I read this story in a little over a day. I couldn't, and didn't want to put it down. I'm amazed at the twists and turns that have made this book and its characters remarkable. If only this book needed a sequel! I'd continue it in a heartbeat.. but everything is tied up so neatly that I have no doubt to their future. Great book!
195 reviews1 follower
March 31, 2019
Confusing but good

This is another book that has been waiting to be read for a while by me! I started it and it took a while to get in to as Lynnie felt hard to relate to, but then it all clicked. I did get rather confused with what was going on at some points and the story did seem to circle around itself, but despite that I enjoyed it :)
Profile Image for Kristan.
280 reviews7 followers
December 14, 2019
Was promising and started off good but then when she got to the mansion it started to feel rushed and I felt like I was reading a different book. It was a cool concept but needed more development and time to evolve and grow and needed more suspense, it was a little too fast and everything just happened and was revealed too easy.
Profile Image for a collective of books.
1,525 reviews4 followers
July 3, 2017
I'm a huge Tara Brown fan and loved all of her books so far. This one fell short for me. It was kind of confusing and the plot was just ok. I was a little disappointed, but this won't stop be from continuing to read her works.
Profile Image for karen priest.
20 reviews2 followers
February 10, 2025
Never disappoints

Tara Brown has done it again with another can't put down book that keeps me reading till my eyes can't stay open . Hopefully I find more can't put down books from Tara Brown ! !
153 reviews2 followers
July 13, 2017
Loved it

Amazing read kept me gripped all the way through, its got lots of action and twists some of which I didn't predict.
Profile Image for Jo Williams.
115 reviews2 followers
December 29, 2017
Really good. This is the third book in a row that I’ve read by this Author and now I’m off to see what else of hers looks good on Kindle Unlimited.
Profile Image for Ashley Aleshire.
91 reviews2 followers
February 7, 2019
Wow! What a creative spin on fairytales. I do feel like there should be a second book! Not really a cliffhanger but subtle possibilities, lol. Kept me reading and loving it. I really love it.
Profile Image for Christine Bishop.
525 reviews
March 22, 2017
Happily ever after!

First Kiss by Tara Brown is a beautifully written fairytale. The story is full of curses, witches, werewolves, magic, betrayal, and love. I love this story and I highly recommend it. 5 stars!
Profile Image for Tara.
387 reviews35 followers
November 25, 2013
First I want to say Thank you to Tara Brown for gifting me this book. The description does not do it justice. I put this read in my top 5 favorite reads for the year.

I accidently skimmed a review of this before I read it, which I had mixed feelings about while reading. So I am going to warn you now – do not continue with this review. Just know that it’s a freaking awesome book and you should go grab it, like yesterday!

For the rest, it’s not really a spoiler but if you are like me, I dove in with particular expectations. Ms. Brown blew those expectations out of the water and delivered a complete mind fuck. No better way to put it.

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS, BUT NOT REALLY***

The review I glanced at went something like this – this is a tale that combines Snow White, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast and Rapunzel all in one. However I must add that The Little Mermaid needs to be added to the mix because of Linny’s red hair. Now that you know this, you will be like me and will seek out the similarities that Ms. Brown wove into this fantastical tale.

I actually read this book twice in the past 48 hours and the second time it felt like I picked up on more. Do not rush through this book. It’s one that you will want to sit down and really enjoy. There are so many twists and turns that you won’t know which way is up or down. I am still in a slight hangover trance. It is just that good.

The plot was just genius. You have lore, supernatural, mystery, slight horror, a love triangle and some fantasy…all mashed up into one big ol cauldron of WTF!!

In my opinion there is a cliff hanger (some reviews state that there is not, I felt as though there is). There is some language, a little drinking, and a few stolen kisses. This is definitely for the more mature reader only because I really do not think that a preteen would be able to follow all the twists and turns and get the full effect of just how brilliant this read is.

Being that I have already read this twice in such a short amount of time, I am okay with having to wait for book 2 only because I did not mind rereading First Kiss. I enjoyed it even more the second time, so if I have to read it a third before picking up book 2 – whatev!

This is so unlike me. Normally I want it all right now; however with this, I am perfectly content to savor the whole tale. Not to say that I didn’t message Ms. Brown and clearly state that “I want more now”. **I must add that I am not 100% sure that this will be a series. If not, I may resort to childlike temper tantrums**
Profile Image for Michelle Monroe.
560 reviews51 followers
September 9, 2016
Royals. Witches. Curses. Betrayal. All the good making of a fairytale, with a classic Tara Spin!

**My sad confession is that in my eighteen years I have never kissed a boy.
I may never kiss a boy.
In my family, death has been known to come from a single kiss.

Erralynn Lake thinks she's cursed. She's heard all the rumors about her family, the whole town has and they never let her forget it. The men in her family seem to die in mysterious ways, and she believes the rumors of the curse.

She is supposed to stay with Mary until her 19th birthday but Marybis horrid and hates her. She longs to leave. After one night and Mary's actions she decides to leave town earlier than planned. That is until she meets Lance, a very mysterious man who offers her a job at the creepy mansion on the hill. She goes since she needs the money to leave. What she finds is nothing like she's ever thought before.

***The house is beautiful, if you look past the mess. There, in the bones, is beauty disguised as a beast.

The Master of the house tells her if she agreed to stay for a year he would pay her whatever she asked. And even though she thinks he is creepy and the house even creepier, she agrees. That when things start to really get strange and she starts to get glimpses of the truth, although it's not the full truth.

The story is really interesting and so are the characters. I loved Erralynn right away and felt sad for her thinking she was cursed, keeping a safe distance from Sam, the boy who is crazy about her and always tries to kiss her. Lol. Then enter Bash, the mysterious cousin of her friend Brandon who showed up out of the blue one day. They creepy house and its inhabitant and you have a great story full of mystery, lies, a curse that kills with one kiss. And a twist you wouldn't expect.

Profile Image for Sara.
594 reviews25 followers
October 8, 2016
I love all of the modern fairy tales that are coming out of the YA genre right now and how they are really taking classic elements from older fairy tales we all grew up hearing and mixing them with modern situations thus making them new and relevant once more. First Kiss features the story of Erralynn Lake her family goes back to the founding of the town Lakeland but one thing she has constantly heard. . . Don't fall in love or bad juju happens! (Not asking a lot here are they? Psh) 


The townspeople are less than welcoming to Erralynn (Lynnie)  she has a small but quirky group of friends and they stand behind her despite her persona non grata status in the town but she finds someone different in the form of Bastion (Bash) -- you can tell from his first appearance that there was gonna be something about him you had to pay attention to. The whole story that he has a cousin (who BTW has never heard of him either) and he's visiting with while his parents are volunteering with Doctors Without Borders seems a little sketchy so you know he is gonna be one to watch. But later we find out fate is at work and so he seems a little less sketchy and more Prince Charming ish (except a little rougher around the edges) 


Mary was the character I had the hardest time with and who almost made me set the book down, it was a little too much but thankfully Bash puts her in her place so that made me keep reading! I loved the He's Just Not That Into You reference (actually that whole scene is kinda adorable) 


The creepiness factor is amplified when Lynnie leaves Mary behind and locates a job in the mansion her family once owned, and that is where the mystery deepens! With all the twists and turns its amazing the course this story takes. It takes a lot for me to be surprised but Tara has managed to bring about some plot twists I never seen coming. 
Profile Image for Sarah.
504 reviews
November 13, 2016
I was recommended this book after wanting something paranormal to read and I'm so glad I read this. This is a story that had me hooked from the beginning, I found it very difficult to put down when I had to because I kept wanting to know what's happening and what was going to happen next!
This has the feel of several fairytales all mixed together in some parts but with several twists and maybe not as 'fairytale like' in other parts.
Lynnie, the main character, has a lot to learn about herself and her world as she knows it. I could definitely understand her confusion through many parts of it. There was a lot if questions I found myself asking throughout it and when the answers came they were rarely what I expected! lol
This story was unique, it had me hooked and the way it was written flowed fantastically. It pulled you in deep to the characters' lives and they're story and had me second guessing and hoping things would work out well all along the way.
I would highly recommend this book to any paranormal lover or someone that wants to try it for the first time! Loved it!
Profile Image for Heather andrews.
9,520 reviews162 followers
November 24, 2013
Bash, *sighs* that hunk I loved him, "I didn't mean to offend you and call you a drunk or anything. If we're going to be friends, I want to apologize for that." His grey eyes catch my stare again. They hold me hostage." He's just, well he's complicated, "so that makes you country girls all the same?" He grabs the window again and shakes his head, "I'm not like that. I would at least get to know you a little before making my expectations known." He's protective, "I can't go without you. Come away with me. This isn't you, this place...it's horrid." (first clue that everything isn't as it seems) I mean there may be no hanky-panky but there are still a few steamy scenes, "he lifts me up into his arms, but the huge skirts prevent me from wrapping my legs around him. He turns and carries me to the bed, still caressing my tongue with his." Although there is no cliffhanger there are still some questions unanswered so I can't wait for the second book.
Profile Image for Tori Valencia.
17 reviews5 followers
December 29, 2013
Scattered

This book is a runaround fairytale mash up. Overall the story was good, but it was extremely confusing what was real and what wasn't. There were too many holes, too many unanswered questions that I have a feeling are not going to be answered in the next book. There characters are good and the main character has a ton of development, but once again, too many unanswered questions. The author creates this world with in a world with a world, within a world (yes, that many times). I think it would've been better if she explained exactly what was going on in a row, instead of getting some answers here and there leaving the reader to connect the dots. And there were too many plot twists. Plot twist are if there is just one at the end. But when there's 3 and 4 and 5 turns in the story, it loses its flavor and the magic of a twist.

I liked the setting and premise of the book, but it's too complicated of a storyline and was not executed well.
Profile Image for Ashley Poteet.
289 reviews13 followers
October 8, 2016
Awesome

I really loved this story....I really wish it was a series, but it's great stand-alone book. I loved the storyline and the characters were fun and I love them. Tara is a fantastic author, I can't believe I put off reading this for so long.

Lynnie is great character...I felt really sorry for her situation and she's also relatable. She has a fantastic journey ahead of her.

Sam and Bastion are two total hotties pining after lynnie...jealous lol.

I very much recommend this book to.anyone
Profile Image for Josie.
103 reviews14 followers
August 6, 2017
And it happens again... once I start reading one of Tara Brown's books I just can't put it down!! She never seems to amaze me, I LOVED this story!

I got confused a couple of times but this story is sooo interesting and fascinating I reread it till it made sense.... Beautifully written and great storyline, I just can't wait for book 2!!
42 reviews
January 7, 2014
ok.....this is a first for me! I have never read anything about witches, blood and magic (except Harry P) and I Loved it. I was very surprised I enjoyed it. I am eagerly awaiting for the next book in this series. I don't like the cliffhanger ending, but in saying that this fairytale left me hungover. Dam you Tara.....
6 reviews
December 14, 2016
Read it!

I keep my eyes open for books from this author. This one had a bit of magic that I was in the mood for. The main characters are likeable, the writing has the author's fun snarkiness that I enjoy, and the story kept me engaged. I read it in one sitting and am left wishing I'd dragged it out a little so I could enjoy it longer. Give it a try!
Profile Image for Ashley .
317 reviews20 followers
August 14, 2016
Tara Brown is one of my favorite authors but I did not care for this book. I had a headache from the cluster of confusion that was this book. I'm honestly still a little confused. It was...craziness.
Profile Image for Christy Sloat.
Author 27 books676 followers
January 16, 2014
Tara Brown is a phenomenal voice in today's fiction. First Kiss is my first read by this author. She had me guessing the whole time. When things first started to come together I thought it was brilliant.
An awesome spin on a fairytale.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews

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