"first blush" by rebeca seitz

About the book (from the publisher): Elizabeth Bakersfield may live in the gorgeous town of Naples, Florida, but she is not the thirty-year-old she envisioned. Her husband left with a Miami Dolphins cheerleader. Her job prospects are nil. The rent is due. Her best friend is living a thousand miles away, building a career in NYC. And her closest companion is the cockatiel Johnny Carson.

The job front starts looking up when she's offered the position of caretaker of Ganderley's - a library, kind of. Elizabeth's job is to loan out the priceless antiques and cars amassed by the widowed Ganderley sisters. Easy, right? Sign things out, get them back in two weeks. And, if she runs into trouble, there's the gorgeous Ganderley nephew with the British accent, Nicholas Harrington, waiting in the wings with help.

But Elizabeth is about to learn first-hand that possessions - and gorgeous Brits - bring their own kind of drama. If she doesn't figure out how to sidestep it, her job (not to mention the start of a new life) might be over before it ever really began.

My take: "First Blush" is a delightful novella about a woman's longing to find her place in the world. A young divorcee who lives in the shadow of her wealthy parents' expectations, Elizabeth longs to live life for herself ... though she has no idea what it is she really wants. Her life changes when she is given the opportunity to run Ganderley's, a sort of lending library to the rich, while its elderly proprietresses go on vacation. There she meets Nick, a mysterious Brit who helps her bosses reclaim their property when those who borrow it "forget" to return it. Elizabeth can't deny her attraction to Nick, but is he safe?

I enjoyed "First Blush" immensely. It's a super quick read (only 93 pages), and I never was sure what would happen next. My only complaint? It's too short! So many things that I wanted to know were left unanswered, especially the questions surrounding Nick. I hope that "First Blush" is just the beginning of Elizabeth's story, because I certainly want more!

Content note: I would categorize this as clean fiction. It's not Christian per se, but there's nothing objectionable about it. A few characters do drink (some to excess). There is no swearing or sex.

My rating: 4 stars

Buy the novella.

About the author: An award-winning novelist and President of the first public relations firm dedicated to representing entertainment created from a Christian worldview, Rebeca has worked with various national media outlets, including The Today Show, USA Today, National Public Radio, Southern Living, Good Housekeeping, Real Simple, and Good Morning America. She is recognized for her groundbreaking research into the behaviors of Christian consumers as well as development of public relations standards specific to creators of values-driven, entertainment-oriented products. She also co-chairs the non-profit SON: Spirit Of Naples, which equips and encourages Christians creating mainstream, commercially-viable media content. Learn more at glassroadmm.com and spiritofnaples.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Glass Road Media & Management. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the  Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."