First Impressions (Language of Love) (Hardcover)

by Nora Roberts (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Roberts has a warm feel for her characters and an eye for the evocative detail." -- Chicago Tribune

"The publishing world might be hard-pressed to find an author with a more diverse style of fertile imagination than Roberts." -- Publishers Weekly

Product Description
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 healing 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.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Silhouette (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373285388
• ISBN-13: 978-0373285389
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #489,513 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's OK, November 14, 2006

By	Cherise Everhard (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This was a reread for me. I do not believe that Nora writes bad books, just some are better than others. This is not one of them. The story is of a small town girl, Shane Abbott. She teaches in the big city for 4 years and then comes home to her small town after her grandmother passes away. Her grandmother leaves her the house. Shane decides to convert it into a civil war museum and antique store.
Along a path and through the woods is the Old Farley place. A shack of a house that is currently being converted by the new guy in town. No one knows much about Vance Banning, but it is rumored that he is an out of work carpenter.
After a brief introduction Vance is rude and stand offish to Shane. They come to a truce of sorts and Shane to offers him a job working on the repairs on her house. He accepts.
The thing is he is not quite an unemployed carpenter.
This book is entertaining. But for me it showed it's age a bit, it was written in 1984. Nora has definately written a lot better stories. It has some funny moments. And some cheesy ones.
If you are a die hard Nora fan, of course you have to buy it and read it at least once. Otherwise I recommend reading a friends copy or visiting your local library.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet and Funny Older Nora Novel, March 9, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: First Impressions (Silhouette Language of Love #5) (Paperback)

I enjoyed this novel much more than the other reviewer. Vance Banning, the wealthy president of a large construction firm, feels burned out and buys a cabin in a secluded area for a long vacation. His neighbor is lovely Shane Abbott, who thinks he is an out-of-work carpenter. Shane feels sorry for him and keeps trying to find paying work for him! Very cute story.
Excerpt from the back of the book:
"Wealthy Vance Banning needed a rest from the rat race and from gold-digging women, so he settled in a rural retreat and said he was an out-of-work carpenter. Vance was certain that would stop his beautiful neighbor from getting too friendly! But he had no idea how persistent Shane Abbott could be when it came to giving a helping hand-or a loving heart."

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Very Impressive, February 8, 2007

By	drebbles (Arlington, MA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Shane Abbott has inherited her great-grandmother's house and decides to turn part of it into a combination antique store/museum. The house needs a lot of work and she decides to hire her next door neighbor, Vance Banning, to do the work because she thinks he is a carpenter. Initially Vance tries to avoid Shane, but there's an attraction between the two of them he can't resist and he reluctantly agrees to help. Vance is increasingly attracted to Shane and she makes it clear that she is attracted to him, but Vance has been keeping some secrets from Shane and wonders how he can tell her the truth about himself and his past. As Shane wonders what is going on with Vance, her less than loving mother reappears in her life and further threatens the relationship between Vance and Shane. Vance can only hope that the love between the two of them will hold up through all their troubles.

"First Impressions" was the first book by Nora Roberts that I've read and, while it had it's moments, I didn't really like it. Shane is a spunky enough heroine, determined to make a success of her new business. She's a well-developed and well-written character, a bit flawed but lovable, especially with her tendency to giggle at the wrong time. But Vance is not well developed at all. Roberts tries, but Vance's struggles with his business success aren't very compelling. Shane's mother, Anne, has no redeeming qualities at all. She's a cardboard character and comes across like a villain in a Disney cartoon. The romance between Vance and Shane moves quickly, too quickly; within a week of meeting him Shane says she's in love with Vance and going to marry him. There's a nice scene in the book when Shane's car gets stuck in the mud and Vance helps her to get it out. It was funny and romantic and the book could have used more scenes like that. The final conflict between Vance and Shane is too contrived as Vance had plenty of time and opportunities to tell Shane about himself.

"First Impressions" was not very impressive.