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Nestled Hollow #1

Coming Home to the Top of Main Street

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She's his best friend's sister and completely off-limits. But she's also the only one who can help him.

Business savvy Joselyn Zimmerman knows everything about how to run her own business, except what kind of business to run.

Chef Marcus desires a life outside the kitchen—one with a family of his own, and more than anything, he wants that family to include Joselyn. But her family has always been there for him, and he doesn’t want to do anything to jeopardize that.

When an empty commercial space that they both want becomes available in their home town, Nestled Hollow, the two work together to open an ice cream shop. After spending time in close quarters, making their dreams a reality, Joselyn falls for Marcus. But when their relationship threatens both their new business and Marcus’s place in the Zimmerman family, can their relationship survive?

The start of the feel-good, fun-loving, swoony sweet romance series. Come make yourself at home in Nestled Hollow where community becomes family and the romances are sweet, swoony, and chock-full of chemistry. Each interconnected stand-alone novel has its own happily ever after.

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 22, 2019

415 people are currently reading
638 people want to read

About the author

Meg Easton

42 books534 followers
Meg Easton is the USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romances and romantic comedies with fun, memorable, swoon-worthy characters, and settings you’ll want to pack up and move to. She lives at the foot of a mountain with her name on it (or at least one letter of her name) in Utah. She loves gardening, bike riding, baking, swimming before the sun rises, and spending time with her husband and three kids.

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5 stars
599 (45%)
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383 (29%)
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252 (19%)
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56 (4%)
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17 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
Profile Image for Maddie Murrow.
181 reviews11 followers
August 30, 2023
This book was adorable but i wish it was longer. I wanted a slow burn romance from them and it felt like it went at 100x speed. It was like boom kiss boom its been 3 weeks boom break up boom marriage boom kids. I thought the premise of this book was so adorable tho. I loved joselyn and Marcus so much and i had butterflies for them the whole book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Bonny Rambarran.
1,521 reviews21 followers
February 25, 2023
She puts in a bid - - - and a friend puts in a bid. When she hears that she gives it up. Now what? When he asked her help — - — sounds like a plan. But how can they just be friends? Seriously? But that is all her family will allow and it is better than nothing . . . .LOVED THIS BOOK!!! SUCH AN AMAZING STORY!!! I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.
Profile Image for MacKenzie Emery.
564 reviews4 followers
June 12, 2024
I enjoyed this story as an audiobook. This story was narrated by Liz Crane. Liz did amazing at giving Joselyn and Marcus their own voice and naturally letting the story flow. I felt like she did a great job at adding emotion behind the voice so you knew exactly what the characters were feeling.

This is a dual pov, clean romance. It is part of a series but can easily be read as a stand alone novel. I love the energy between Joselyn and Marcus. You can feel the chemistry between the two of them every time they are together. I felt so bad for these two though because I felt like they let other peoples opinions (or what they thought was their opinions) dictate their life for so long. I hate that for them because I feel like we may have seen a HEA so much sooner had they not done that. At the same time, I feel like it was a learning experience for them and that they had to mature to understand that.
Profile Image for Susy Santos.
192 reviews10 followers
June 12, 2023
Ler Meg Easton é como beber chocolate quente num dia frio de inverno.
Sabe tão bem e acaba rápido demais.
Não consigo deixas essa cidade nem estas personagens.
Leitura que faz bem à alma.
Profile Image for River.
9 reviews
December 13, 2023
This was cute, short read but I got so much second hand embarrassment and it had a 3rd act breakup😭
Profile Image for J. Hansen.
Author 15 books64 followers
March 1, 2023
This is a delightfully sweet second chance romance! After secretly dating in high school, the two main characters find themselves both back in their hometown. He is her brother's best friend and still very much as feelings for her. She is ready to make a leap into owning her own business. The pair become unlikely business partners as they try to navigate this new phase of their lives and relationship. A sweet read!
Profile Image for Katie (hiding in the pages).
3,503 reviews328 followers
March 9, 2023
I have a soft spot in my heart for childhood friends to more and when you add in a secret romance or two? Yes!

Marcus and Joselyn have know each other for the majority of their lives and I love how Marcus is almost like an honorary family member. I nestled right into Nestled Hollow and enjoyed watching dreams and magic happen. I will say: do not read this book while hungry! Ice cream is one of my love languages and I spent every page wishing for a big bowl of hot chocolate ice cream with marshmallows and salted caramel swirls. Seriously--can someone make this happen?

As delicious as that sounds, the romance was every bit as sweet, with that swift little kick of spice. There are big things and obstacles to overcome, but remember that I was nestled right into these pages.

The characters and setting were dreamy and the ice cream descriptions were almost too much to take in. Loved it!

Content: mild romance

*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Profile Image for Laurel .
1,348 reviews5 followers
April 21, 2023
This was a cute romantic cozy, that had so many ups and downs due to over thinking what family would say. Basically, two people who never got over their high school crush. Meet up, have the same goals, different strong points, and both are afraid what the family will say if the date. A lot of rehashing of dialogue as gossip.
Profile Image for Donna Weaver.
Author 87 books459 followers
August 28, 2019
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
She's his best friend's sister and completely off-limits. But she's also the only one who can help him.

Business savvy Joselyn Zimmerman knows everything about how to run her own business, except what kind of business to run.

Chef Marcus desires a life outside the kitchen—one with a family of his own, and more than anything, he wants that family to include Joselyn. But her family has always been there for him, and he doesn’t want to do anything to jeopardize that.

When an empty commercial space that they both want becomes available in their home town, Nestled Hollow, the two work together to open an ice cream shop. After spending time in close quarters, making their dreams a reality, Joselyn falls for Marcus. But when their relationship threatens both their new business and Marcus’s place in the Zimmerman family, can their relationship survive?

MY TAKE
This book is a charming prequel to the delightful Nested Hollow series. I always get excited when I see another book's been released. Since, timewise, this story takes place before all the others, I'm wanting to go back and read them all again after this one.

Marcus is so much fun! He got a wonderful sense of humor. I love positive people, and he's as positive as they come. His and Joselyn's love story has been delayed by a decade of fears and childish promises. Her family is the only real family's he's known, so if he and she tried to get together and things didn't work out, he'd be alienated from not only her but her family. They tried it in high school (while keeping it a secret from her family). Now, they're in a place where it makes sense to go into business together. That's already a red flag for his family and sets up even more guilt when they do it anyway and keep it a secret. And then they start falling for each other all over again.

Ah, the pressures people put on us and that we let them. I wanted so badly for these two to get together because they belong with each other. It was so obvious.

And there's something so hot about a buff guy who loves to cook and wants to be a dad. What's with that?
Profile Image for Leah.
16 reviews
May 22, 2024
This book was incredibly annoying to me. While its sweet and the premise is fine, the relationships between the characters are ridiculous. Its written almost as though they are stupid tweens not adults.
Profile Image for Lisa.
748 reviews8 followers
May 21, 2024
I thought I'd read the whole series, but somehow I missed this first book! It's a great intro to the series and has the same feel as the rest of the books. It's sweet and light-hearted.
56 reviews
March 11, 2023
This has been a book I have been meaning to read for ages. I finally got around to it and thoroughly enjoyed it. Joselyn Zimmerman and Marcus Williams grew up together in Nestled Hollow, seeing each other regularly given Marcus was and still is her twin brothers’ best friend. However, that created the oft spoken rule……never to date your best friends’ sister…….. and although he promised not to, he had fallen for her years ago. In spite of the fact that they both have feelings for each other, they are also held back by the rest of the Zimmerman family who feel they should not date to avoid creating problems in the wider family if and when they break up.
When Marcus has the opportunity to open his own ice cream shop in Nestled Hollow, he talks Joselyn into helping him as he has no idea how to do it. He is just an expert who creates delicious ice cream flavors while Joselyn has spent years researching different businesses and how to run them so one day she can open her own business. However, she has never been able to work out what the business should be so accepts the job of helping Marcus and later ends up agreeing to a partnership. That’s when things start to get complicated, and when she has doubts about the relationship and ends it, the repercussions not only devastate them both, but potentially the whole Zimmerman family. Joselyn’s lack of faith was somewhat frustrating, given Marcus was such a loveable and supportive character……she just needed to have more faith!!
This book was well worth a read and although I haven’t read the rest of the books in the Nestled Hollow series yet, it was a great introduction to key characters who will appear in the additional books. I hope you enjoy meeting the Zimmermans and the other characters who reside in Nestled Hollow.
Profile Image for Shauna Jones.
716 reviews16 followers
February 28, 2023
What if only one person’s dream can be fulfilled?
What happens when only one dream is possible but two people want it? Especially if those two people have history behind and complications everywhere. When Marcus moved to the small town of Nestled Hollow, making friends with the Zimmerman sons, he was immediately accepted into the Zimmerman family. Of course, his friends made him promise to never date their younger sister Joselyn. They also made Joselyn promise to never date Marcus. But you know the saying, promises are made to be broken and they began dating, for three months, secretly during high school. Then he vanished for two months and with his return everything was awkward. Now grown, both return to Nestled Hollow and both decide to open a shop at the top of Main street but there is only one storefront open. So only one can have their dream. Joselyn backs out, wanting only good for the man she still has feelings for and Marcus moves forward. However, Marcus has no idea how to turn his dream into a business and Joselyn is the only one he knows with those skills, but how does he control his feelings for the perfect girl he let get away, while they work together. A fun read with characters you will easily relate to and feel for as they try to find a way forward without hurting each other or the family they both hold dear... I received an early copy and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Emily Guenther.
37 reviews1 follower
April 16, 2024
I'm a sucker for romance novels and was in the mood for a really sweet one. This one fit the bill. My problem with it was that the FL's and ML's main reason for not getting together was because of what her family might think of it and because they made a promise to her brothers when they were kids to never date each other.

Both lead characters had been pinning for each other for years. The FL was so worried about what outside resources thought of their relationship. For instance, she saw a statistic that said most couples who go into business together end up breaking up, and the business ends up failing. So, she pretty much decides she wants to give up because of that!? I think she missed the part where there are some businesses that do make it under those circumstances.

I think the story would have been more interesting if it focused on how they came up with solutions when they disagreed. I mean, I'm glad it points out that having disagreements is not a bad thing, but when they had differing opinions in the book, either someone else gave them a solution or they both just gave up their preferences and deferred to the other's without explaining to each other why they made the decision they did.

I think this story just wasn't for me.
1,760 reviews33 followers
February 26, 2023
This is a sweet story of two people who have dreams but have different ways of going about obtaining them. Jocelyn is driven to own her own business and has been working towards it for years. She's been doing spreadsheets and analysis and even working two jobs to figure out WHAT that business will be! Her business is all cerebral! Then, there is Marcus. His business is all heart. He loves people and making things, especially food. He loves making people happy. While he's working in a high-end restaurant and loves it, what he really wants to do is make amazing ice cream flavors that bring people joy! However, he doesn't know the first thing about running a business! He and Jocelyn have known each other since they were children and even tried dating. He wants her to help him try running a business, but he also knows she wants to run her own business! What to do!? I loved this story and fell in love with Marcus from the beginning. Jocelyn was a little harder for me only because she didn't use her heart enough. She was all about numbers in business and in a relationship, she wanted things to go smoothly! However, her family was great and I loved their "interference"!!!
2,536 reviews46 followers
February 27, 2023
I read the original version of this book a couple years ago and recently found out the author had revamped the book so I was going to read the new version. Then I found out the new version is also on audio and free on Ms. Easton's YouTube channel (go subscribe). I already had the new ebook but can't resist an audiobook. I thought the narrator did a great job. Great inflection and differentiation of voices for the characters. Well done.
The story is sweet and clean. It really is the stuff that romance movies are made of. I love second chance romances. I love the close knit family, though big brother needs to figure out that he doesn't get to dictate who his sister dates. The main characters really are well matched but definitely opposites. They will probably benefit from being slightly tempered by the other. Just a little.
I'm just a little jealous of Marcus's creativity in coming up with flavor ideas etc. I don't have that skill. Or perhaps it is a gift. Either way I don't have it. I don't have the drive for business either so in those terms I can't connect with either of them. But I could relate to their lasting love.

No sex, language or violence
Profile Image for Cathy.
1,951 reviews69 followers
March 14, 2023
I loved this book by Meg Easton. The Nestled Hollow Series is one of my all time favorites. I loved getting to revisit Nestled Hollow and all of the great characters there.

I really loved Joselyn. She's kind of like me, because she uses tons of spreadsheets. I love it when I can relate to a character in some way! Joselyn has always wanted to start her own business. But she just doesn't know what to do. So when a building on Nestled Hollow's Main Street becomes available, she puts on offer on it. And then tries to come up with a business.

Marcus is a chef. He grew up in Nestled Hollow. He'd love to move back. He also sees the available building and puts an offer on it. Marcus would like to open his own ice cream shop. But he doesn't have the slightest idea where to start.

I loved the way these two end up working together to start an ice cream shop. I loved that they got a second chance at their love story. These two just worked together. And they had a whole family supporting them in Joselyn's family. That's not to say they didn't have their ups and downs, because they for sure did.

This is a quick read. I loved it from beginning to end!
Profile Image for Michael Damen.
297 reviews3 followers
June 22, 2023
Almost DNF. Waaaaay too repetitive.

I still miss Joselyn;
I still miss Marcus

But I can't risk dating her/him;
The family will never approve

I've always wanted to move back to my hometown;
But if I move back, I'll see her/him

I'd love to go into business with her/him;
But if it doesn't work out, the family will be upset

I'd love to date her/him;
But if it doesn't work out, the family will be upset

No one can know we dated for 3 months in high school;
That's still true 10 years later

And yet I still miss her/him;
But it's too risky to try again

I love spending time with her/him;
But that just makes me want her/him more

I really want to date her/him;
But what if it doesn't work out?

I think of her/him all the time;
But it's too risky to take the next step

The family will be mad if we date;
I just can't take that risk

But I want her/him
But I can't have her/him

I just argued with her/him
That's proof it won't work out

But I'm really attracted to her/him
I have to stay away from her/him

That was a great kiss;
We can't ever do that again

And on and on and on and on....

And zero spice.

But that ending....

Very cinematic and sweet.
Profile Image for Randi Sampson.
1,752 reviews92 followers
February 23, 2024
If you love second chance romances with a small-town setting, you'll want to add this one to your TBR!

Jocelyn has always dreamed of opening a business, though she's uncertain on what kind of business she wants. When a storefront opens on Main Street in Nestled Hollow, it seems her dream may be closer than ever... until her brother's best friend (whom she secretly dated in high school) announces that he wants to open an ice cream shop there. They find themselves working together to make his shop happen... and it seems those feelings have never quite gone away. Their second chance of love was not without it's challenges and yes, sometimes I wanted to shake some sense into them both... but only because I really enjoyed them together and felt invested in their happily ever after. It truly was the sweetest story... as sweet as the ice cream that you'll surely be craving by the end! It had all the Hallmark vibes--- in the absolute best way possible! This was my second visit to Nestled Hollow and it has me excited for the next!

Coming Home to the Top of Main Street is a sweet, closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.
Profile Image for Lyn Brownlie.
637 reviews15 followers
April 28, 2023
Can they work it out.
Heartfelt and beautifully written story of two people that have grown up together, wanting so much more from each other but afraid to take the chance.
Marcus, best friends to Joselyn’s twin brothers is welcomed into the Zimmerman family at a young age. Knowing that his best friends sister is off limits and still loving her from afar as he wishes for a family to call his own.
Joselyn, growing up in a large close family watches Marcus grow into the gorgeous caring man he is. Realising that after their dating in secret when they were young they were not meant for each other, but not able to move on.
Both coming together to help take the next step in their careers. Realising that they may just be able to make a work life and a relationship work between them if they only give it a chance and worked up the courage to tell the family.
An enjoyable story with great characters (loved all the Zimmerman family and all their interactions) with an ending that made me cry.
I definitely recommend this sweet story.
Profile Image for Hailey.
324 reviews2 followers
September 27, 2023
At first I was like cute silly hallmark read.

So I liked it until the 3rd scene break up. This is a classic romance move but this one was just so stupid. Them being like maybe things are going wrong because we’re dating but the things going wrong are completely out of their control. And he is so dramatic trying to move the next day and transferring the business. How is she supposed to run that herself especially before opening day.

Also “we dated twice and failed both times” okay well this time you’re dumb and last time you were straight up children so let’s not hold that against everyone.

Lastly, everyone can tell they’re in love all their lives but the family is so pressed about them dating. That’s like evil?? Let them feel the love. (Turns out the family wasn’t mad and it was miscommunication but I still was annoyed for long enough to mention)

3 stars cause it was cute until I got triggered
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jozie | Cozy Romantasy Reader.
177 reviews11 followers
February 13, 2025
This was a sweet, second chance romance.

Marcus has been best friend's with Joselyn's brothers since they were children. As teenagers, they dated hiding their romance from Joselyn's family. Although, it didn't work out, their feelings for each other never really died out. Years later, Marcus decides to open up an Ice Cream shop. He doesn't know much abput business, though, so he hires the smartest business woman he knows, Joselyn. There are a lot of fears when opening a business, as well as starting a new relationship and these two are doing both.

I enjoyed Coming Home to the Top of Main Street. Joselyn and Marcus navigate running a business together as they come to terms with the feelings that they share for each other since they were young.

If you're looking for a short and sweet, clean romance, this might be for you!

brothers best friend • christian romance • clean romance • contemporary romance • family • forbidden romance • second chance • small town
Profile Image for Vivian.
692 reviews30 followers
February 28, 2023
I love Meg Easton books and this one is not the exception. This book is a revamped version of a previously published book, the characters have more depth and the story flows better.
Joselyn and Marcus has known each other practically their whole lives and there has always been something there pulling them to each other, so much so that they dated very briefly in high school, things didn't work out and for ten years they have been fighting that feeling that both of them have towards the other.
Can you work with the person you're in love with as your business partner and at the same time have a love relationship with him/her? That is one of the key questions in the book. You will have to read it to find out if this couple gets destroyed or in the contrary get to fulfill everything that they always wanted.
Profile Image for Bette Stanek.
2,140 reviews3 followers
April 22, 2023
It’s the best friend’s sister who is totally off-limits trope along with a second chance trope. Because of course Marcus and Joselyn didn’t stick to the “off limits” rule. OK, that was when they were in high school. It was only two months. So what if they promised Joselyn’s brothers, aka Marcus’ best friends, that they would never date? No one knew, right?

Now, ten years later, they’re all grown up but the attraction is still there. They are both wanting to start their own businesses, end up putting a bid on the same site, and the fun starts from there. The characters in this book are one BIG, happy, close-knit family. They are what you’d want your own family to be like. The story is sweet, clean, and endearing. There is no great mystery or extreme drama. Just a sweet story that will leave you smiling. Oh, and laughing. Don’t forget the laughing.
Profile Image for Jane.
1,266 reviews16 followers
June 7, 2023
Joselyn Zimmerman works for a financial software company and takes some days off to attend the Fire and Ice Festival with her sister Macie and sister-in-law Hannah in the quaint town of Nestled Hollow.

Marcus, a chef and best friends with Joselyn’s brother Everett has been contemplating a more fun job where he’d be able to interact with people. His job as a chef means he gets to work in the kitchen all day.

So when Everett suggests to Marcus to open an ice cream shop in Nestled Hollow, Marcus jumps at the chance.

Turns out the space he was hoping to lease has another contender—Joselyn who’s planning to start a business of her own. The owner of the hardware store however decides to accept Marcus’s offer.

Seeing as he knows absolutely nothing about running a business, Marcus considers asking Joselyn for help in setting up his business.
Profile Image for Jodi.
303 reviews2 followers
March 10, 2023
Welcome to Nestled Hollow, Colorado! In this first book of the series, we are introduced to Joselyn Zimmerman and Marcus Williams. Joselyn’s twin brothers are Marcus’ best friends and he has sworn to never date Joselyn. Little do the brothers know, they did date in high school briefly. Marcus and Joselyn are stuck in a rut in their respective lives in Denver, but when an opportunity to move home to Nestled Hollow and open a business comes up, they jump at the chance. But wait, it’s only one building and Joselyn’s family is against them even working together, what will they do? Will this opportunity bring them too close or will it drive them farther apart than ever? You only get once chance at a second chance love!
Profile Image for Joyce Marion.
490 reviews7 followers
April 17, 2023
Joselyn has dreamed of owning her own business all her life. She has put together a binder of all that you need to do. When a storefront in her hometown comes open, she puts a bid in on it. Her brother's best friend, Marcus also bids on the storefront. He is a chef and decides to open an ice cream shop. Joselyn and Marcus had dated secretly in high school and had broken up. They try to avoid each other. When Marcus needs help with the business aspects of setting up his ice cream shop, he asks Joselyn to help. As they work together, they fall in love all over again, but they feel their family doesn't want them together. Such a sweet book. I really enjoyed the characters and how they worked through each struggle.
2,870 reviews11 followers
January 20, 2024
A contemporary, clean & wholesome romance. Joselyn has known Marcus most of her life. Against her brother's and friends' advice, they even dated in high school until she broke it off out of fear. Years later, the two team up to open an ice cream shop in Nestled Hollow. Spending time together to work on the business brings out dormant feelings.

The beginning is inviting yet filled with slight stumbling blocks to keep the reader's attention. Toward the end, it is tragic since fear is a passionate antagonist. Nonetheless, the silver lining at the end of the tale is well worth the struggles.

Entertaining. Great world building. Happily Ever After. Romantic. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.
Profile Image for Ashley.
225 reviews2 followers
September 24, 2025
Plot: Joselyn and Marcus dated in high school. Her family has always been his honorary family, so after the breakup, from the secret relationship, they had to pretend nothing happened. As they both decide to lease the same building on Main Street, the battle of the business begins. Who will win the building? How will their relationship change?

What I liked: I liked that Marcus and Joselyn were able to come together as business partners and in a relationship

What I didn’t like: I didn’t like that Jos’ brother acted like he could dictate her life and relationships

Swearing: none

Physical intimacy level: closed door

Star rating: 3 stars

Trope: second chance romance, business partners, found family, mutual pining, forced proximity (kinda)
Profile Image for Quinn Fforde.
3,271 reviews15 followers
February 27, 2023
Joselyn and Marcus have known each other forever. He is close to her older twin brothers, who made sure that those two would never date. Except that they did date secretly for a while in high school. It didn't last long, though. Now they are both back in Nestled Hollow and even bidding for the same building. As events progress, Marcus comes up with a great idea -- to be business partners. Then they add dating to that. And both of those things are secrets. You just know it is all going to blow up in their faces, right? I enjoyed the humor and the friendship these two share. It was fun to read and a great introduction to the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews

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