First in a series titled Band On The Run comes this refreshing contemporary romance. Matt Reed is lead guitarist with a band called Shaughnessy but after ten gruelling years he feels it's time to do something different. ONE MORE KISS starts on the night he takes his last bow, and kisses his best friend's little sister Vivienne for the first time. Two years later, Matt is not succeeding and he decides to leave the negative comment behind and take a break.

Vivienne Forrester meanwhile has been working hard online and has just got a job with an online lifestyle zine. She lives in North Carolina but can work from home. Then her brother gives Matt Reed the use of his house incognito. Viv can barely cope - she hates herself for acting like a groupie, and Matt seems far nicer than she's heard. Better act cool. Although that won't be easy, as she is moving into the newly built cottage in the grounds, and Matt promptly offers to help shift boxes.

Matt is perhaps understandably self-absorbed and the one thing that helps clear his head is playing piano, which he hasn't done for years. Vivienne comes over and offers to cook and share a meal, but after telling him about her job, she unfortunately brings up the latest online speculations about Matt. I'd have thought that after all this time, an entertainer would be able to shake off unkind rumours, but Matt, who has never done the hard partying of some musicians, gets upset. He's facing the end of his career. Vivienne does rather more telling him off than I'd expect. Maybe she's emotional because he's not living up to her youthful ideals.

This book will suit readers who enjoy details about cooking and eating food. Quite healthy food in most cases, like salmon with lime butter, or grilled steak, potatoes and sour cream. Also fruit tartlets and salads. The reason is that food blogging is part of Vivienne's job, and she cooks and takes the photos herself. I found a few interesting recipes and if the pair did stay indoors too much for my liking, at least they went to the seaside for a picnic. ONE MORE KISS has some darker sides and several lives entwine as the rest of the band feature too. I spotted some strong language but it's not a big aspect, and this is an adult romance. Samantha Chase who lives in North Carolina does a good job of fleshing out her characters and making us care about them.

Book Summary

MATT REED IS HIDING
...from his fans
...from his past
...from a failure too painful to contemplate
Most of all, Matt is hiding from himself.

VIVIENNE FORRESTER IS A WOMAN WHO GIVES HER ALL
...to her friends and family
...to her online food blog
...to the man she loves

Vivienne will try anything and everything to coax Matt out of his self-imposed exile. But for this to work, Matt is going to have to meet her halfway...