Title: Hooked on You by Kathleen Fuller
Maple Falls Series Book One
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
She never wanted to come back. He never wants to leave. The town of Maple Falls has plans for them both.
Riley McAllister is living the dream in New York City . . . if the dream means being a struggling mixed-media artist, part-time food delivery driver, and having a carefully curated social media to hide all of the above. She refuses to admit defeat and move back to small-town Maple Falls, but when her grandmother breaks her leg sliding into third base during a softball game (she was safe, by the way), Riley reluctantly agrees to go home and help the woman who raised her—while secretly hoping she can convince Mimi to sell her house and yarn shop and move in with a good friend. Then Riley can return to her new life in NYC, on her own and for good.
But Mimi has her own plans, which include setting Riley up with local baseball star Hayden Price, who returned to Maple Falls after an injury ended his major league career. Now he works at his father’s hardware store, coaches the church softball team, and worries about the declining town. It’s not the life he dreamed of having.
With a little meddling and a lot of kindness from the town, Hayden and Riley find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other as they discover the true meaning of home.
Welcome to Maple Falls, where everyone knows your name and your business.
Review:
Hooked on You by Kathleen Fuller is a wonderful novel about family, healing and love.
After high school, Riley McAllister left Maple Falls, AR to move to New York with high hopes of taking the art world by storm. Ten years later, she has not had her big break but she is not giving up on her dream. But when her feisty, beloved Mimi breaks her leg and needs her help, Riley hops on the next plane back to her small home town. The last person she expects to pick her from the airport is her teenage crush Hayden Price. He also left town but after an injury put an end to his major baseball career, Hayden returned to Maple Falls. He is working in his family’s hardware business and coaching the church softball team. Riley is still drawn to Hayden, but will she overcome her fears and explore the possibility of a relationship? And will she give up the Big Apple for small town life?
Riley’s life as a child with her mother was incredibly chaotic. Even after moving in with Mimi as a teenager, Riley found it difficult to let herself make friends. She is close to Mimi and she loves her grandmother’s friends, but she struggles with accepting offers of friendship with women her age. Riley is also extremely guarded and finds it hard to allow Hayden into her life. But as they agree to just be friends, Riley is surprised when she relaxes enough to allow their feelings blossom into a tentative romance. But how will she react when she must face her past?
Hayden was also interested in Riley when they were teenagers. But he did not have the time for a romance since he was single-mindedly focused on pursuing his baseball dream. His years of hard work paid off only to be dashed by a career ending injury. Putting his disappointment behind him, Hayden is rebuilding his life in Maple Falls. Hayden still feels a spark between him and Riley and he knows he will have to tread very carefully with her. He does not know much about her life before moving with his grandmother, but he has no trouble reading Riley’s “keep away”. Hayden is willing to take as much time and patience as he needs to nurture his fledgling romance with Riley. But will his own baggage get in the way of their burgeoning romance?
Hooked on You is a very enjoyable novel with a charming cast of characters. Despite the passage of time, Riley’s dysfunctional past prevents her from getting close to anyone. Hayden recognizes how wounded she is but he does have a few issues of his own. Their relationship unfolds gradually over time, but Riley pulls away whenever she feels emotionally threatened. Maple Falls residents are absolutely delightful but the town itself is in need of some TLC. This first installment is a sweet introduction to Kathleen Fuller’s Maple Falls series that readers are going to absolutely love.
