Author: Kathleen Fuller
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Christian Romance
Source: Purchase

Goodreads: When her grandmother injures herself sliding into third base, Riley McAllister must return to her small hometown to help run the family yarn store in this sweet, lighthearted romantic comedy.

Riley McAllister left the small Arkansas town of Maple Falls after graduating high school, hoping to make it big in New York as a mixed media artist. She’s still pursuing her dream when her grandmother begs her to come home and help her manage the store while she recovers from a broken leg she got after sliding into third base during a church softball game (she was safe, by the way). Riley agrees, planning to convince her grandmother to sell the old shop and retire so Riley can get back to the big city. New York is where she belongs, not some hick town that doesn’t even have a decent coffee shop.

Hayden Price’s life hasn’t turned out as he expected either. He still works in the hardware store his family has owned for several generations after his chance to make it out of Maple Falls ended when he blew out his pitching arm during a minor league game. Stuck with debt from college and a broken engagement, he decides to make the best of things when he comes back to Maple Falls and puts together the town’s first church softball team–with him as coach, of course.

Riley and Hayden went to high school together but ran in totally different circles. In fact, it’s safe to say they hated each other. Will that change when the softball team unexpectedly brings them together? Or will the pain and disappointment of their past failures keep them from discovering love in Maple Falls?

Ope’s Opinion: I read book two a couple of weeks ago. Now I read book one. They can stand alone, but I do wish I had read them in order. Getting to know the town, Erma and her friends, and Riley’s friends would have been better if I had done it in order.

I enjoyed this book a bit more than book two, but they are very similar. They are very light, easy reads. These are good to save for your next beach trip.

Book three is coming out August 2. If you enjoyed one or two keep your eye out for number three.