Love's Home Run

by Judith Keim

Love isn’t a game… or is it?

Melissa Hendrickson is tired of being a good sport, one of the guys. She wants to find love and settle down in Lilac Lake with the man of her dreams. She thinks she’s found the man, but he doesn’t know she exists. After she runs into Ross Roberts, her next door neighbor and former professional baseball player, during a charity softball game, he requires her help. She’s more than eager to make amends for causing him to have knee surgery. Then, a fire destroys her family restaurant and her job as chef there. She’s forced to think about a lot of changes in her life, including finding the right man for her.

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2025

About the author

Judith Keim, A USA Today Best Selling Author, is a hybrid author who both has a publisher and self-publishes. Ms. Keim writes heart-warming novels about women who face unexpected challenges, meet them with strength, and find love and happiness along the way, stories with heart. Her best-selling books are based, in part, on many of the places she's lived or visited and on the interesting people that she's met, creating believable characters and realistic settings her many loyal readers love.

She enjoyed her childhood and young-adult years in Elmira, New York, and now makes her home in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and their two dachshunds, Kacy and Wally, and other members of her family.

While growing up, she was drawn to the idea of writing stories from a young age. Books were always present, being read, ready to go back to the library, or about to be discovered. All in her family shared information from the books in general conversation, giving them a wealth of knowledge and vivid imaginations.

Ms. Keim loves to hear from her readers and appreciates their enthusiasm for her stories.

To sign up for her newsletter, go here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/oeiwdp1vkc

Her website: https://judithkeim.com/

Follow her on Book Bub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/judit...

Reviews

[Nicole Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy and am voluntarily reviewing it. I love that readers are getting more of Lilac Lake. I fell in love with the town with the Gilford sisters series. Melissa Hendrickson is a chef at the restaurant her family owns, Fins. This upscale restaurant is Melissa's legacy. She is ready to settle down and has her eyes set on Dirk McArthur, the local dentist. Both are extremely busy, but Melissa is dedicated to this path in her life. She just needs Dirk to notice her, even if she has to make the first move. She even discusses the situation with her neighbor and friend, Ross Roberts.

After injuring Ross in a freak baseball incident, Melissa takes on the responsibility of getting his to and from his PT appointments after knee surgery. They are spending more and more time together, but they are JUST friends. In a series of unrelated events, Melissa is out of a job and Ross needs to go visit his ailing father. Melissa and Ross embark on a road trip. Melissa is trying to figure out where her career is headed now that Fins is out of the picture. Does she want to be the head chef at another restaurant? Everyone is on edge.

Things in Ross and Melissa's relationship make an unexpected turn. Ross finally tells Melissa that he has had feelings for her, but did not want to interfere with what she was developing with Dirk. Ross knows how to show and prove that his feelings are real, but is it enough for Melissa? Melissa has always felt she wasn't good enough. How can Ross want her when he can have his pick of women? I really enjoyed how this romance evolved. I understood Melissa hesitancy and need for validation. Will Ross step up to the plate?

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love isn’t a game… or is it?

Melissa Hendrickson is tired of being a good sport, one of the guys. She wants to find love and settle down in Lilac Lake with the man of her dreams. She thinks she’s found the man, but he doesn’t know she exists. After she runs into Ross Roberts, her next door neighbor and former professional baseball player, during a charity softball game, he requires her help. She’s more than eager to make amends for causing him to have knee surgery. Then, a fire destroys her family restaurant and her job as chef there. She’s forced to think about a lot of changes in her life, including finding the right man for her.

This contemporary sweet second-chance, small-town romance, is page-turning with exceptional world-building in Lilac Lake, and characters that are a strong resilient woman facing challenges, captivating, and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with love's home run, finding happiness along the way, drama, heartfelt emotions, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with love's home run and a second chance romance that is sure to transport readers into a world that is sure to transport readers into a world that is sweet and unforgettable.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Paula Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judith Keim has hit a home run, knocking it out of the park in her new novel!
Melissa’s a chef at her family’s restaurant in her small town. She also wants a relationship & has two potential options. She’s drawn to her neighbor, Ross. When faced with horrible events, she needs to get her man & just may get her second-chance with Ross. I’ve lived the Lilac Inn series & was so happy to come back in a new book that’s a spinoff. With well-liked characters & a small town setting, it’s nothing but enjoyable.

[Jessica Wilczynski · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Wild Quail Publishing for an advanced copy of Love’s Home Run.

Melissa is a chef at her family’s restaurant and she loves it but she wants more. She wants to find her soulmate and she wants it to be Dirk but he does not seem as interested. She goes to her neighbor and friend Ross for advice. She ends up injuring his leg and she helps him through his recovery and begins to see him in a different light but does he feel the same about her?

I like that this book was about mature characters. But I did not like the miscommunication the main characters had with one another. Overall it was an okay read for me.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me a little bit of time to get into. Once I did I thoroughly enjoyed the neighborly "friendship" between Ross and Melissa.
They are great support for each other as they create a wonderful friendship. Once they go on a road trip you know sparks will fly and magic will probably happen.

I always enjoy Judith Keim's book and while this one was slow to start, I enjoyed this book as well.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

[Susan Gromis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melissa Hendrickson is a chef at her parent's restaurant, Fins, in Lilac Lake, New Hampshire. All of her closest friends have significant others or are married with children. She longs to find her "forever person," but hasn't found the perfect guy for her.
Melissa's next door neighbor, Ross Roberts, is a retired pro baseball player and is her close friend and confidant, so she begs his help in getting to know Dirk,who is the new dentist in town. Despite the many attempts to help a relationship along, everything seems to fall flat; Dirk just doesn't seem interested.
When tragedy strikes the restaurant, Ross is there to help pick up the pieces. And despite Melissa's thinking she is not glamorous or famous enough for Ross' preference, their long time friendship and the hours spent together in the aftermath of the tragedy kindles a spark. Could Ross possibly be the person she has needed all along?
This cozy Lilac Lake story brings back many of the characters from Judith Keim's past books in this series, but it easily can be read as a standalone.
This is a fun read with several good story lines and a cast of characters that make you want to pack up and go visit the wonderful town of Lilac Lake!

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in a charming small town Lilac Lake, Ross and Melissa’s story is one of making plans only to have fate and life take you in a different direction. While the new direction is unexpected, it leads to a connection and love that fulfills the dreams they were beginning to think would never be fulfilled. Both Ross and Melissa have watched their friends and family find happiness in their careers and personal lives. While they have managed to have success in careers they both love, their personal lives are another matter. They have had little success in the area of live and relationships, but are ready for that to change. They are neighbours anyway and friends, though Ross never expected Melissa to ask him on pointers on catching the new dentist’s attention and dating. Everything begins to change when Ross and Melissa are involved in an incident at a charity baseball game and he ends up needing knee surgery. Melissa feels guilty and wants to help him out as he recovers. The time they spend together helps them to really see each other, especially as they help each other through some personal crises. Both begin to realize that their feelings go deeper than just friendship, but telling the other how they feel seems to beyond them .

I loved their rapport, their chemistry and the way they support each other. Both are afraid to trust their hearts and second guess their choices in their personal lives, but are confident when it comes to their careers. Others see their connection and how perfect they are for each other, but they resist thinking the same. They do finally get it right though. The small town setting and the fascinating secondary characters, some of whom are familiar due to reading the previous books set in a Lilac Lake, make this book even more enjoyable.

I am happy to recommend this heartwarming book.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love's Home Run is the newest release in A Lilac Lake Book series. Each book can be read as a stand-alone, however, I recommend reading the series.

Melissa Hendrickson is a chef ar her parent's restaurant, Fins. Life is good, but she's left wanting more. She longs to have a husband and family, but has always found dating a bit awkward. Just when she thinks she has a plan in motion, fate decides to change course.

Ross Roberts played for the New York Yankees until a knee injury ended his career. Now living in the quiet town of Lilac Lake, life has a way of repeating itself when he is accidentally injured while playing in a charity softball game. But this time is different...this time he has help in the recovery process from his friend and neighbor.

As the story unfolds, it becomes obvious that fate has a way of making sure the right path is chosen in life. Melissa and Ross may have started out as being just friends, but it's obvious they were destined to be so much more. I absolutely loved following the journey of their relationship. As time goes by, the chemistry between them becomes evident, but the question is will Melissa trust her heart as well as Ross?

This is a story that has a bit of everything...friendship, family, unexpected twists, and of course, love. The main characters are well-developed and relatable, making this story a great read because you want to see them get their HEA. I was completely drawn in from beginning to end, hoping Melissa would realize that what she was looking for was always right in front of her if she'd only take the chance.

I received an ARC of Love's Home Run from the author. My views are my own, and are in no way influenced by anyone else.

[Patty Duplechin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ross Roberts was a former professional baseball player who had an injury that ended his career. He lives in a small quaint town of Lilac Lake. His next door neighbor is Melissa Hendrickson who is a chef and works at her parents restaurant who also works there. When they both played a charity softball game, Melissa runs for a fly ball and falls on top of Ross and re-injures his knee. She offers to help him anyway she can. She feels so guilty. When there was a fire at the restaurant and it was completely burned down. What will she do now? Maybe now she can start having a personal life now. A man to love and a family because that’s what she really wants. Nothing’s holding her back, so she drives Ross to see his family and then to Florida for a meeting for a new sports center there with his business partner since he had surgery. It worked out just fine. They end up spending a lot of time together and the chemistry just keeps getting hotter. Ross can’t feel that for her because she’s not his usual glamorous dates. She has also been let down by others. She has trust issues. They are friends and neighbors but they are there for his father’s death, her father’s heart attack and planning their futures. Can they have one together? Will they just stay friends and neighbors? Can she let the past go and trust Ross and their feelings? Will she finally find a new career cooking that will allow her a personal life? The characters are wonderful. They were meant to be. They both need to look toward the future and decide if they will be together. I was rooting for them. Judith Keim never lets you down. Worth the read. I received this book for my honest review. I give it voluntarily.

[Jennifer Ritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love’s Home Run is a Lilac Lake story by Judith Keim. Many of the characters were first introduced in Ms. Keim’s Lilac Lake Inn series, including one of the main characters, retired baseball player Ross Roberts. However, chef Melissa Hendrickson, neighbor to Ross, is the primary character of the story.

Melissa has never felt comfortable in her own skin as she was more the athletic type with more male friends than female. Lately Melissa has become a valued member of the young adult group that meets regularly at Jake’s for an evening drink and visiting. As such, Melissa and Ross become better acquainted, often sharing rides. In fact, as their friendship grows, Melissa even asks Ross to put in a good word for her with the new town dentist, which he does.

When Ross asks for volunteers for a fundraising softball game, many of the group, including Melissa, volunteer. Although the game is quite successful in fundraising, as Melissa and Ross both go for ball they collide reinjuring a knee injury that puts Ross in the hospital awaiting knee replacement surgery. Feeling responsible, Melissa vows to help with recovery, including driving Ross to physical therapy. This leads to her also accompanying Ross to visit his dying father, which leads to an unexpected journey, leading down new paths for them both.

This, like all of Ms. Keim’s novels, brings together a fine cast of characters in an idyllic setting. But more than that, she explores her characters, their backstories, and the things each is dealing with. This story has many different threads entwined to tell a heart warming tale. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lilac Lake is the place to be to live in this beautiful picturesque small town. Chef Melissa Hendrickson can attest to this. To make it even more delightful to live in Lilac Lake would be someone to love and have a relationship with. She thinks the the new dentist in town fits the bill, but what she thought was a good match in her mind turned not to be so, and the man that she was just friends with, is the one that is putting a fire under her in the feelings dept. When next-door neighbor and friend Ross Roberts turns out to be more than good friends, she wonders if he feels the same. The Ex baseball player needs her help and as the days and weeks go by she finds a new dream of a future. She helps him recover from surgery on his knee, his father's passing and he helps her when the family business burns to the ground and then her father's heart attack. All time they spend together they begin to see a new relationship and Melissa sees a future, does Ross feel the same way.

I really like the steady friendship between Melissa and Ross and how it grew from friends to good friends and to lovers. The trust they put in each other and the chemistry that was quiet and warm and then on fire. When Melissa confesses her feelings to her friends that she does not think Ross feels the same as her, they assure her that they were made for each other.
Lilac Lake is a wonderful setting for two people to find love and a HEA.
It's a book that should be on your TBR shelf.
I was given a copy of this book for my honest review, which I am giving freely.

[Susan Hamann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melissa is a talented chef in her parents' restaurant. She loves her work, but she's starting to think about what she's missing from her life - a family of her own. She lives in a small town where people get along well. And even better, many of the friends she knew from earlier in her life are returning. She's become focused on a new person in town, but he really hasn't seemed to get the message that she's interested. She asks her next door neighbor, a former baseball player for the Yankees to put in a good word about her to stoke interest in her "intended."

Russ is happy in his life in this small New England town. He's gotten involved in several projects and he enjoys his friendship with Melissa. He had to leave baseball when he suffered an injury. When he reinjures his leg, he needs a knee replacement and he goes to Boston for the surgery. Melissa accompanies him and visits with two chef friends who live there.

Russ' father has been seriously ill so after Russ is recovered, the two friends go to visit his father and his family in New Jersey and then head south for a well needed vacation. Russ and Melissa both suffer big upheavals in the book and they lean on each other and their friendship.

I'm enjoying this series. New England was my home for many years so I love the setting of the town and the closeness to Boston. People get along really well in this town and they enjoy their lives and each other. Intimacy takes place behind closed doors. If you enjoy easy going romances and great characters, this is a series you'll enjoy reading.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melissa is a chef at her family seafood restaurant in Lilac Lake. She puts a lot of hours into her job and at 30 years old is starting to look for more in her life. She has a lot of friends and sees them often but maybe it's time to find someone special to fall in love with. She has decided that the new dentist in town might be the man of her dreams. When he continues to treat her like one of the group, she enlists help from her next door neighbor and long time friend Ross. Ross has returned to town after injuries ended his pro baseball career and Melissa knows that she can talk to him about anything. When an accident happens between Ross and Melissa during a charity soft ball game, she feels responsible for injuring his knee. She decides that she'll take him to his rehab appointments and even fills his refrigerator with food. The more time they spend together, the more she wonders if he may be the man she needs. When they are both faced with calamities in their lives, they help each other through the bad times. Melissa has to make some decisions about the rest of her life -- which of the two men does she see a future with?

This is another great book in the series. It's great to see Melissa grow throughout the book and realize what is really important in life.

[JoAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE’S HOME RUN is the second book in the Lilac Lake series by Judith Keith. It was wonderful being back in this small town with friends, family, romance and career changes but also misunderstandings, tragedies and illnesses which gives the story realism and touched me emotionally.

This is Melissa and Ross’s story. Friends, neighbors and maybe more? I enjoyed watching them getting to know each other but Melissa sometimes has to get out of her own head. She always seems to second guess herself but also withdraws after doing so. Part of it is because of her upbringing and how her mother always seemed to want her to be different or act differently and wasn’t afraid to let her know it.

Reuniting with characters we’ve met before and introducing new ones broadened the story and added more depth. There are multiple stories being woven together along with some unexpected twists and turns. There are vivid descriptions of the small businesses, the grounds, homes, the lake but especially the food. The story has a good flow and I was drawn in from the first page to the last. There is closure with a potential for a happily ever after.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lori R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was full of romance, angst, food, and good friends who lived in Lilac Lake, New Hampshire.  I really liked Melissa, a chef at her family's restaurant, Fins.  She seemed so real and down to earth.  She was confident as a chef but not in her love life or lack of one.  She did not always see what her friends saw but she was trying to become more confident in that area, although she knew it was very hard to break old habits.  Thank goodness she had some wonderful friends to help remind her.

Ross was her next door neighbor.  He was a former baseball player but had to quit after a knee injury.  I kept wanting Melissa and Ross to date, but they were only friends and she was interested in someone else and had even asked Ross to help her to get Dirk's attention.

This book made me feel like I was with a bunch of close friends, enjoying the carefree life on the lake, eating good food, and planning my life.  I hope there are more books to come in this series because I enjoy getting to know the wonderful characters, their hopes, their struggles, and their dreams.  I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

[Ann-Maree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love's Home Run by Judith Keim

"Love's Home Run" is another great read set in the small town of Lilac Lake, New Hampshire, part of the A Lilac Lake Book series. This book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone or as part of the series. If you've read some of the other books, you may already be familiar with the engaging characters and friends of Lilac Lake.

The story follows Ross Roberts, a former professional baseball player who had to retire due to an injury. He has since become a successful businessman with a passion for helping young kids enjoy the game of baseball.

His next-door neighbour, Melissa Hendrickson, is a chef who works at her family's restaurant. While she loves her job, she yearns for more in her life, especially as her friends are finding love and happiness in their relationships.

As Ross suffers another injury, he and Melissa end up spending a significant amount of time together. She supports him through the loss of his father, while he helps her cope with her father's heart attack.

Judith Keim delivers another winner with this book, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

I enjoyed being back in the Lilac Lake setting and recognizing characters from earlier books in the series. Melissa isn’t one of the Gilford sisters, but she is friends with them having grown up in the area. I hate to say that Melissa is probably the least likable character in the series, though. I felt she was immature and at times unreasonable in her relationships.

Ross is a former baseball player and an accomplished businessman. He feels grateful to have Melissa as a neighbor and friend, but when he is injured and needs more help, Melissa jumps in. Both of them have family tragedies in a short time and support each other well. Will they be more than friends? Read it and find out!

Thanks to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

[Macy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore this author. I know that no matter what happens I am going to feel food at the end. This book did not disappoint. You cannot help, but to adore the two main characters and want them to find their happy place. Melissa wants it all. And as she is having those thoughts, she loses the one thing that she thought was a given. When the family restaurant burns down she is She is mentally floundering and feels untethered. Ross, her friend and neighbor start spending time together after a mishap leaves him in need of help. A small town, friends to maybe more story about good friends, family, love and paying attention to what is right in front of you. I needed a sweet heartwarming story and this hit the spot. A lovely read from cover to cover.



I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Pam Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melissa has been wondering where her future will take her. Trying to decide if she wants to be in the restaurant business, her decision seems made for her when a fire breaks out at the family restaurant.

At first Melissa feels like she has a future with Dirk, a dentist who is new in town. As time passes, Melissa realizes that relationship is going nowhere. As she spends time with her neighbor Ross, Melissa begins to develop feelings. When both of them face family tragedies they lean on each other. At the death of Ross’ father, Melissa stands by him and supports the family. Her father’s heart attack makes Melissa consider her future. What is in store for Ross and Melissa? Will they become more neighbors and friends?

Thank you to the author for this ARC. This review is my honest opinion

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love's Home Run by Judith Keim was wonderful from the first word to the last! I am a huge fan of Judith Keim. She does a beautiful job of making the characters in her books feel like someone I would want in my life.
Lilac Lake is the location of this story. Melisa has come to a point in life where she finds herself where all she is doing is working. She is a chef in the family restaurant but wants to find more time in her life to do things she has not had time to do for quite some time.
When a new dentist moves to Lilac Lake, she sets her focus on seeing if there could be anything between them. Life has other plans for her.
Thank you NetGalley, Judith Keim and Wild Quail Publishing for the ARC Love’s Home Run. This is my personal review.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good story. Melissa was a chef for her family's restaurant but wanted a family too. Her neighbor (Ross) had been a baseball player that got hurt and had to retire. She thought she wanted one man but then the more time she spent with Ross, she was confused. When he got hurt again, they ended up spending quite a lot of time together. she helped him through his father dying and he helped her through her father's heart attack probably brought on when their restaurant burned down. It was sweet how their romance progressed, but she still had trouble believing it was real. A very sweet story that I had trouble putting down.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rosie Trzewik · Rating 4 out of 5]

More romance in Lilac Lake. Melissa and Ross are neighbors but really more of acquaintances. With her busy schedule as a chef in the family run business and Ross with his many business ventures as a retired baseball player, they only occasionally meet at their friend’s hangout bar. When Melissa finally gets up the nerve to ask Ross for help in attracting the new dentist in town, fate takes a twist in both their lives. And as they support each other with the difficulty of life, they find more than a budding friendship.
Another sweet story and another finds their HEA in Lilac Lake. Helps to read the previous books but this one can be a standalone. Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #LovesHomeRun #LilacLake

[Megann · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many of us have an image of what we want our future to look like. As we read in the book woman are planners and we tend to plan out every moment of our lives, relationships, families etc. what we fail to realize is that there may be another option for our lives and we may be settling for something less than what we want.
In the book the main character has decided that the new dentist in town is who she should be dating not opening her eyes and realizing that her best friend and love of her life lives right next door. Love how Judith brings the whole relationship together and let’s love blossom. Life is short but some things are worth waiting for so don’t settle. Love this tory.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melissa loves her job as a chef at her family’s restaurant, but she yearns for more. When she literally runs into her neighbor and former professional baseball player, Ross Roberts, during a charity softball game, she feels guilty for causing the latest injury to his knee. She agrees to take him to rehab appointments and help him in any way she can. He even gives her some dating advice. They help each other through some trying times and as they spend more time together, feelings start to grow.

A heartwarming story!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Barb Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful series. Melissa is a chef at her family restaurant. She is ready to settle down and has hopes that Dirk, the new dentist will be her perfect match. Ross is her next-door neighbor and good friend. Dirk turns out not to be for her, but everyone thinks that she and Ross are perfect together. Family troubles come up with Ross's dad being ill, the family restaurant having a fire and Melissa's dad having a heart attack. Ross and Melissa deal with it all together. Their feelings grow, but does Ross feel the same way? I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

[Margaret Yelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love's Home Run by Judith Keim. As always this was another wonderful read. Melissa is a chef in her family restaurant, but her love life hasn't always been all that great. Melissa carries around some self esteem issues, yet believes she is ready for a relationship with the new dentist in town. Her neighbor Ross, has become a good friend but that is all she expects from that relationship. Little does she know that life will toss some unexpected obstacles into her path. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

I received and ARC from NetGalley and Wild Quail Publishing, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melissa is neighbors with retired professional baseball player Ross and friends with a large group of people from their little neighborhood. She is ready to settle down and she ask Ross to put in a good word for her with the new dentist Dirk. When he ask her out they had zero connection but she and Ross continue to hangout. When her family’s restaurant where she s a chef burns down and the death of his father they grow close but she is having doubts about his feelings. Loved this book and the characters were so warm and real.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Penny Leidecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will pull at your heartstrings and take you on a roller coaster ride, but what a ride. I loved Melissa and Ross, but I had my doubts they would end up together. Melissa starts out thinking she wants to be with Dirk, but then she starts feeling things change with Ross her next door neighbor. I’m not going to leave any spoilers, but give this book a read and see if you have the doubts about Ross that I did. Judith Keim has another winner with this book and I look forward to reading more from her.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Michelle Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. This book is considered a stand alone in the Lilac Lake Book series.

Melissa Henderickson is ready to settle down. Most of her friends are in serious, committed relationship, and Melissa is ready to join them. When the new dentist moves into town, she sets her sights on him, thinking they have a lot in common would be a good fit. However, with starts and stops, they do not seem to be getting any further. Melissa relies on her neighbor, former professional baseball player Ross Roberts, for help in trying to land him. However, a road trip with Ross has her rethinking what she should do about her future.

[Sheila Penwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. In this one Melissa, who is a chef at her family's restaurant is Lilac Lake, is feeling the odd person out as most of her friends are paired up. Sheknd of likes the new dentist Dirk and Ross one her best friends makes that happen. Them when playing baseball Melissa and Ross run into each other and Ross's knee is hurt. She takes him to Boston to the hospital . He has to have his knee replaced and they end up together a lot . Follow their journey and see what happens. A VERY GOOD READ.