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Maple Falls #1
Hooked on You
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?
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?
306 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2021
162 people are currently reading
4634 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Fuller
119 books1,114 followersBest-selling author of Amish fiction. Also a wife, mother, crafter, coffee addict, football fan, and chocolate aficionado.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 451 reviews
June 24, 2021
When I looked at the blurb for this book, I thought that this book had a lot going for it: nice book cover, interesting story line and likeable characters. (How many grandmothers do you know who break their legs while playing baseball?
Things started off well, but the story got directionless, fast. Changing points of view livened things up a bit, but I had no real idea why Riley felt she wasn't "good enough." The background for this feeling of worthlessness was never presented in a believable way: there was never a fleshed out backstory - just general allusions to a terrible upbringing because of all of Tracey's terrible boyfriends and their constant moving around.
Later in the story, we find out that Erma, the grandmother, tried to hire a lawyer to get custody of Riley, but that her lawyer counseled Erma that the courts wouldn't intervene unless Riley was being physically abused. For me, this was stretching credulity a bit. If Erma felt strongly enough about hiring a lawyer to get custody of Riley, then she should at least have contacted Social Services to monitor Riley's home situation. I get that many people worry about contacting Social Services on their own family members, but it isn't as if Erma and her daughter had any real relationship. Erma was just a human ATM for Tracey as far as I could see. This part of the plot definitely needed a fair amount of refinement.
That whole drama with the truth coming out about Tracey, and Erma's role in giving Riley a decent life, was just ridiculous. Riley's outraged reaction made no sense to me at all. Riley came across as a total drama queen during that scene. Everything just felt so contrived and over the top. (Jerry Springer had some potential contestants here!)
Another thing that bothered me: Riley always had a secret crush on Hayden, but during the first three quarters of this book, every time Hayden approaches Riley, she runs like hell - for no discernible reason. After this very odd behaviour, I have no idea why Hayden was attracted to Riley. Did Hayden have a serious Saviour Complex? That was the only explanation I could come up with.
Actually, there were some cute scenes and great dialogue between Erma and Riley. The Bosom Buddy squad was an interesting touch, but this story line kept getting derailed and ran out of steam way too many times. The break up between Riley and Hayden was totally foreseeable. Maybe Hayden was better off without this Yo-Yo female? Things start to get interesting in the last third of the story when Riley's terrible mother shows up to stir up more trouble and scandal. Tracey was more of a caricature than a character - just selfish and rotten to the core. I figured that the author wanted us to pity Riley, but "pitiful" story arcs never appeal to me. I like a heroine who grows a backbone and learns to triumph over adversity.
I'm rating this one a 3 out of 5. The author can write a decent sentence, but I couldn't get into this story. The blurb enticed me in but I got lost between the actual pages.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Things started off well, but the story got directionless, fast. Changing points of view livened things up a bit, but I had no real idea why Riley felt she wasn't "good enough." The background for this feeling of worthlessness was never presented in a believable way: there was never a fleshed out backstory - just general allusions to a terrible upbringing because of all of Tracey's terrible boyfriends and their constant moving around.
Later in the story, we find out that Erma, the grandmother, tried to hire a lawyer to get custody of Riley, but that her lawyer counseled Erma that the courts wouldn't intervene unless Riley was being physically abused. For me, this was stretching credulity a bit. If Erma felt strongly enough about hiring a lawyer to get custody of Riley, then she should at least have contacted Social Services to monitor Riley's home situation. I get that many people worry about contacting Social Services on their own family members, but it isn't as if Erma and her daughter had any real relationship. Erma was just a human ATM for Tracey as far as I could see. This part of the plot definitely needed a fair amount of refinement.
That whole drama with the truth coming out about Tracey, and Erma's role in giving Riley a decent life, was just ridiculous. Riley's outraged reaction made no sense to me at all. Riley came across as a total drama queen during that scene. Everything just felt so contrived and over the top. (Jerry Springer had some potential contestants here!)
Another thing that bothered me: Riley always had a secret crush on Hayden, but during the first three quarters of this book, every time Hayden approaches Riley, she runs like hell - for no discernible reason. After this very odd behaviour, I have no idea why Hayden was attracted to Riley. Did Hayden have a serious Saviour Complex? That was the only explanation I could come up with.
Actually, there were some cute scenes and great dialogue between Erma and Riley. The Bosom Buddy squad was an interesting touch, but this story line kept getting derailed and ran out of steam way too many times. The break up between Riley and Hayden was totally foreseeable. Maybe Hayden was better off without this Yo-Yo female? Things start to get interesting in the last third of the story when Riley's terrible mother shows up to stir up more trouble and scandal. Tracey was more of a caricature than a character - just selfish and rotten to the core. I figured that the author wanted us to pity Riley, but "pitiful" story arcs never appeal to me. I like a heroine who grows a backbone and learns to triumph over adversity.
I'm rating this one a 3 out of 5. The author can write a decent sentence, but I couldn't get into this story. The blurb enticed me in but I got lost between the actual pages.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2022
*Warnings*
#1 I originally wrote a looooong rant in the place of a review that explained not only my thoughts on this book but also what's wrong with most Christian fiction today. It got a lot of great feedback and amens after I posted it, so I'm not taking it down. Whether you agree with my views or not, it's staying at the bottom of this. #2 However, I still needed to write an actual review, so, armed with coherence and clarity, I wrote a short review about the technical aspects of this novel and why I didn't enjoy it, regardless of the content issues I addressed in my rant. Therefore, I am editing this to add my review directly below this warning section. #3 These aren't really warnings like my typical ones are...just...heads-ups and commentary on the course of events that brought me here. Anyway...enjoy the review + rant, my lovelies!
Stars: 2
Synopsis: Artist Riley McAllister is back home in Maple Falls. Nope, not for good. Only until her grandmother, who’s suffering a broken leg, gets back up on her feet and to work in her small-town yarn shop. Not even newly returned—and smokin’ hot—Hayden Price and his church softball team can get her to stay in her hick hometown...can he?
Wow. Um, y’all, after that extremely long and loud rant of mine last summer, I don’t know how I’m going to be able to review this book. I try, but rest assured that after that rant, I’ll be reviewing this from a more...technical perspective. If you want to know all my personal opinions, sensitive spots, and pet peeves, just scroll down. (To sum up, this “Christian” book had no Christianity at all, the ending wasn’t satisfying enough, and the entire foundation of Riley and Hayden’s “romance” was physical attraction...there wasn’t even any emotional connection.)
To be entirely honest, despite my taking notes, I can’t quite remember everything that went on and everything that stuck out to me...but I do remember there being a few moments of just wut? You know, some strange something being mentioned as if the author threw it in because they weren’t thinking about what they were writing and were too focused on meeting their daily word count. (Y’all know what I mean, don’t you, fellow authors?) I know it when I see it, because I myself am guilty of it too. It’s just really weird from the reader’s perspective.
I also remember that everything was so rushed at the end! Like, we had this huge buildup (mainly Riley making a fuss about everything) just waiting to make this long, dramatic ending...but nope. It just...ended. No real satisfaction, no epilogue, no close. Maybe that’s to leave things open for the next book, but I feel like these were loose ends specific to Riley and Hayden’s story.
The story as a whole was really bland to me. A few other reviewers have said it read more like women’s fiction, and I think that’s why. There wasn’t really much of a plot or any driving conflict. Now, there could have been, but so many elements—like Tracey and the parade—were never fully explored and the story seemed incomplete. Then we’re left with Riley and Hayden’s attraction and a few out-of-the-blue comments from the side characters...sure, there’s some drama, but not much substance.
Maybe if I could’ve connected with the characters...but I couldn’t. Riley and Hayden were like foils pulled out of a Hallmark movie, dropped into Maple Falls with nothing but the clothes on their back, and told to fight for their lives. In fact, my favorite character was Harper. She had more depth and personality than anyone else in this book!
Riley and Hayden did have definable arcs that were pretty decent, which is a plus, but it wasn’t enough to pique my interest and hold my attention. Maybe if there’d been something unique (because I’m sure Hallmark’s done the yarn shop too) or some beautiful redemption story on Riley’s part (spoiler alert: this girl has no interest in God or living for other people or general human kindness), I could’ve really gotten into it, but there wasn’t. There wasn’t even a swoony love story. Apparently I still live in the Regency era, though, where my definition of a love story is comprised of emotional letters, conversations about books, long walks at dawn, beautiful music and dancing, and a deep and abiding affection that fuels the desire to fight for, protect, and cherish one’s lover. The 21st century doesn’t operate like that, I’ve found. “Romance” in today’s era never lasts, has no worth or value, and requires no effort on anyone’s part to develop or maintain. In fact, smushed bananas are more valuable and lasting than romance—why, they even provide necessary nutrients and sufficient energy to the body, allowing us to live longer and more healthily!
I’d take a smushed banana over “romance” any day, and I hate bananas.
I digress.
Hooked on You had potential...to be another lovely Hallmark film, with just as much substance, connection, and Christian content. As a unique and interesting “Christian romance” worth reading, however, it was sorely lacking, if not completely deficient. It fell prey to one of the classic and increasingly common blunders in today’s “Christian romance,” which is quite saddening, because this should have been a good book. All these books that Christian novelists are putting out today should be good, but perhaps publishers and the market have lowered their standards or increased the pressure on authors to produce faster instead of better. I don’t know...all I do know is that I neither recommend Hooked on You nor anticipate reading more by Kathleen Fuller in the future.
Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
***
On to the rant. Bon appetit, mes amies!
Seriously, y'all. If I read another "Christian" book that has absolutely nothing to do with God whatsoever, I will probably just switch to reading secular fiction. It's the same malarkey either way you slice it.
Or maybe I should just give up reading altogether.
*sigh* Review to come. Can't promise you anything that's positive or makes sense or actually pertains to this book, though. Maybe I should say rant to come.
OH! And can I just go ahead and apologize for the fact that not everyone is as lucky Hayden to be so sexy? Like, seriously, guys. EVERY DAY PEOPLE ARE NOT THAT HOT IN REAL LIFE AND IF I READ ABOUT ANOTHER GORGEOUS GUY AND "TOLERABLE" GIRL I WILL PROBABLY PLUCK MY EYEBALLS OUT. WHAT ABOUT UGLY GUYS AND PRETTY GIRLS? OR GIRLS THAT ARE ACTUALLY NOT PRETTY FOR A LEGITIMATE REASON?
OR WHAT ABOUT A ROMANCE THAT'S NOT BASED ON HOW DURN SEXY EVERYONE IS? LIKE, IF THEY'RE SO BLASTED GOODLOOKING, WHY AIN'T THEY MARRIED YET? ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, AFTER ALL. CAN'T BE TOO HARD TO FIND ANOTHER PURTY PERSON IN THIS WORLD JUST OVERFLOWING WITH PURTY PEOPLE.
I MEAN, REALLY? WHAT KIND OF EXPECTATIONS ARE GIRLS SUPPOSED TO HAVE NOW? THAT THEY'RE GONNA FIND SOME HOT AS HECKFIRE GUY? THAT BEING ALL SEXY AND HAVING THAT PERFECT BODY SOMEHOW MEANS EVERYTHING? DON'T MAKE ME BE THE ONE TO GET ALL ANTI-APPEARANCE DISCRIMINATION ON Y'ALL.
*sighs* Pardon the type-yelling. I just...I come from this strange little place called earth where everyone is either butt ugly or just not as sexy as Hayden Price. So, yeah, stuff like this is depressing. Not to mention it literally breaks my Austen-loving, classical romantic heart to see that the general public's definition of romance has declined into nothing more than meaningless sexual attraction and tension. IN CHRISTIAN FICTION. Where's the love, people? Where's the goodness of heart and the fruit of the Spirit? Where's being a Godly person? Does not that fit into relationships any more? Can you not be a Christian and be a great boyfriend/girlfriend or spouse? ARE WE TOO BORING? ARE CHRISTIANS UGLY OR SOMETHING? BECAUSE, SERIOUSLY, THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE GIVEN BY MANKIND BUT THE LOVE THAT CHRISTIANS SHARE THROUGH CHRIST. IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT - CHRIST-LIKE LOVE AND SACRIFICE.
JESUS WAS UGLY.
BUT HE IS LOVE.
HE IS THE BEST BOYFRIEND YOU WILL EVER HAVE.
HE IS THE BEST BRIDEGROOM EVER.
HE IS WHO WE SHOULD STRIVE TO BE, WHO WE SHOULD LOOK FOR IN OUR POTENTIAL SPOUSE, WHO WE SHOULD RAISE UP OUR CHILDREN TO BE.
SUCCESS, MONEY, LOOKS, GENERAL POSITIVE ATTITUDES, SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTEN, WHATEVER IN THE WORLD YOU WANT TO HAVE IS NOTHING IN COMPARISON TO CHRIST. IF YOU AIN'T GOT HIM, YOU AIN'T GOT NOTHIN' WORTH HAVING.
AND ONE MORE THING. THERE IS NO HAPPY ENDING APART FROM JESUS CHRIST, GOD ALMIGHTY, AND THE HOLY GHOST.
THERE IS NO "OOH, I LOVE YOU" OR "HEY, LET'S GET MARRIED" OR "YAY, THEY SAVED THE TOWN." THAT IS NOT HOW YOU END A BOOK, PEOPLE. YOU END IT WITH YOUR HEATHEN CHARACTERS GETTING THEIR LIVES RIGHT WITH THE FATHER. YOU END IT WITH THE PROMISE OF ETERNITY IN HEAVEN. YOU END IT WITH HOPE FOR THE READERS, THAT THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN WHAT THE WORLD CAN GIVE YOU AND THAT JESUS CAN DO FOR YOU WHAT NO COUNSELOR OR THERAPIST OR REHAB CENTER COULD EVER DO FOR YOU.
Seriously. Y'all don't get me started on them counselors. I've got a counselor, and He is the Wonderful Counselor and the Prince of Peace and He has made me whole in a way no man, woman, parent, child, preacher, teacher, therapist, or shrink could ever make me. He has made me whole in Him and there is no wholeness apart from Him. He is perfection and He is all I want, everything I need, and the only thing that can satisfy me.
Anyway...yeah. I did not intend for that to happen, but, uh, yeah. There's my sermon for today. Seriously, though, I will leave this thing a review. Just...not right now. I need to go cool down, talk to my Wonderful Counselor. Do more than just pray a couple times and go to church. I think I'd rather commune with the Lord and read His Word and seek His Will than just be a once-a-week Christian. I think I'd rather be an all-the-time Christian who radiates the glory of God Almighty.
Can I get an amen?
#1 I originally wrote a looooong rant in the place of a review that explained not only my thoughts on this book but also what's wrong with most Christian fiction today. It got a lot of great feedback and amens after I posted it, so I'm not taking it down. Whether you agree with my views or not, it's staying at the bottom of this. #2 However, I still needed to write an actual review, so, armed with coherence and clarity, I wrote a short review about the technical aspects of this novel and why I didn't enjoy it, regardless of the content issues I addressed in my rant. Therefore, I am editing this to add my review directly below this warning section. #3 These aren't really warnings like my typical ones are...just...heads-ups and commentary on the course of events that brought me here. Anyway...enjoy the review + rant, my lovelies!
Stars: 2
Synopsis: Artist Riley McAllister is back home in Maple Falls. Nope, not for good. Only until her grandmother, who’s suffering a broken leg, gets back up on her feet and to work in her small-town yarn shop. Not even newly returned—and smokin’ hot—Hayden Price and his church softball team can get her to stay in her hick hometown...can he?
Wow. Um, y’all, after that extremely long and loud rant of mine last summer, I don’t know how I’m going to be able to review this book. I try, but rest assured that after that rant, I’ll be reviewing this from a more...technical perspective. If you want to know all my personal opinions, sensitive spots, and pet peeves, just scroll down. (To sum up, this “Christian” book had no Christianity at all, the ending wasn’t satisfying enough, and the entire foundation of Riley and Hayden’s “romance” was physical attraction...there wasn’t even any emotional connection.)
To be entirely honest, despite my taking notes, I can’t quite remember everything that went on and everything that stuck out to me...but I do remember there being a few moments of just wut? You know, some strange something being mentioned as if the author threw it in because they weren’t thinking about what they were writing and were too focused on meeting their daily word count. (Y’all know what I mean, don’t you, fellow authors?) I know it when I see it, because I myself am guilty of it too. It’s just really weird from the reader’s perspective.
I also remember that everything was so rushed at the end! Like, we had this huge buildup (mainly Riley making a fuss about everything) just waiting to make this long, dramatic ending...but nope. It just...ended. No real satisfaction, no epilogue, no close. Maybe that’s to leave things open for the next book, but I feel like these were loose ends specific to Riley and Hayden’s story.
The story as a whole was really bland to me. A few other reviewers have said it read more like women’s fiction, and I think that’s why. There wasn’t really much of a plot or any driving conflict. Now, there could have been, but so many elements—like Tracey and the parade—were never fully explored and the story seemed incomplete. Then we’re left with Riley and Hayden’s attraction and a few out-of-the-blue comments from the side characters...sure, there’s some drama, but not much substance.
Maybe if I could’ve connected with the characters...but I couldn’t. Riley and Hayden were like foils pulled out of a Hallmark movie, dropped into Maple Falls with nothing but the clothes on their back, and told to fight for their lives. In fact, my favorite character was Harper. She had more depth and personality than anyone else in this book!
Riley and Hayden did have definable arcs that were pretty decent, which is a plus, but it wasn’t enough to pique my interest and hold my attention. Maybe if there’d been something unique (because I’m sure Hallmark’s done the yarn shop too) or some beautiful redemption story on Riley’s part (spoiler alert: this girl has no interest in God or living for other people or general human kindness), I could’ve really gotten into it, but there wasn’t. There wasn’t even a swoony love story. Apparently I still live in the Regency era, though, where my definition of a love story is comprised of emotional letters, conversations about books, long walks at dawn, beautiful music and dancing, and a deep and abiding affection that fuels the desire to fight for, protect, and cherish one’s lover. The 21st century doesn’t operate like that, I’ve found. “Romance” in today’s era never lasts, has no worth or value, and requires no effort on anyone’s part to develop or maintain. In fact, smushed bananas are more valuable and lasting than romance—why, they even provide necessary nutrients and sufficient energy to the body, allowing us to live longer and more healthily!
I’d take a smushed banana over “romance” any day, and I hate bananas.
I digress.
Hooked on You had potential...to be another lovely Hallmark film, with just as much substance, connection, and Christian content. As a unique and interesting “Christian romance” worth reading, however, it was sorely lacking, if not completely deficient. It fell prey to one of the classic and increasingly common blunders in today’s “Christian romance,” which is quite saddening, because this should have been a good book. All these books that Christian novelists are putting out today should be good, but perhaps publishers and the market have lowered their standards or increased the pressure on authors to produce faster instead of better. I don’t know...all I do know is that I neither recommend Hooked on You nor anticipate reading more by Kathleen Fuller in the future.
Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
***
On to the rant. Bon appetit, mes amies!
Seriously, y'all. If I read another "Christian" book that has absolutely nothing to do with God whatsoever, I will probably just switch to reading secular fiction. It's the same malarkey either way you slice it.
Or maybe I should just give up reading altogether.
*sigh* Review to come. Can't promise you anything that's positive or makes sense or actually pertains to this book, though. Maybe I should say rant to come.
OH! And can I just go ahead and apologize for the fact that not everyone is as lucky Hayden to be so sexy? Like, seriously, guys. EVERY DAY PEOPLE ARE NOT THAT HOT IN REAL LIFE AND IF I READ ABOUT ANOTHER GORGEOUS GUY AND "TOLERABLE" GIRL I WILL PROBABLY PLUCK MY EYEBALLS OUT. WHAT ABOUT UGLY GUYS AND PRETTY GIRLS? OR GIRLS THAT ARE ACTUALLY NOT PRETTY FOR A LEGITIMATE REASON?
OR WHAT ABOUT A ROMANCE THAT'S NOT BASED ON HOW DURN SEXY EVERYONE IS? LIKE, IF THEY'RE SO BLASTED GOODLOOKING, WHY AIN'T THEY MARRIED YET? ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, AFTER ALL. CAN'T BE TOO HARD TO FIND ANOTHER PURTY PERSON IN THIS WORLD JUST OVERFLOWING WITH PURTY PEOPLE.
I MEAN, REALLY? WHAT KIND OF EXPECTATIONS ARE GIRLS SUPPOSED TO HAVE NOW? THAT THEY'RE GONNA FIND SOME HOT AS HECKFIRE GUY? THAT BEING ALL SEXY AND HAVING THAT PERFECT BODY SOMEHOW MEANS EVERYTHING? DON'T MAKE ME BE THE ONE TO GET ALL ANTI-APPEARANCE DISCRIMINATION ON Y'ALL.
*sighs* Pardon the type-yelling. I just...I come from this strange little place called earth where everyone is either butt ugly or just not as sexy as Hayden Price. So, yeah, stuff like this is depressing. Not to mention it literally breaks my Austen-loving, classical romantic heart to see that the general public's definition of romance has declined into nothing more than meaningless sexual attraction and tension. IN CHRISTIAN FICTION. Where's the love, people? Where's the goodness of heart and the fruit of the Spirit? Where's being a Godly person? Does not that fit into relationships any more? Can you not be a Christian and be a great boyfriend/girlfriend or spouse? ARE WE TOO BORING? ARE CHRISTIANS UGLY OR SOMETHING? BECAUSE, SERIOUSLY, THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE GIVEN BY MANKIND BUT THE LOVE THAT CHRISTIANS SHARE THROUGH CHRIST. IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT - CHRIST-LIKE LOVE AND SACRIFICE.
JESUS WAS UGLY.
BUT HE IS LOVE.
HE IS THE BEST BOYFRIEND YOU WILL EVER HAVE.
HE IS THE BEST BRIDEGROOM EVER.
HE IS WHO WE SHOULD STRIVE TO BE, WHO WE SHOULD LOOK FOR IN OUR POTENTIAL SPOUSE, WHO WE SHOULD RAISE UP OUR CHILDREN TO BE.
SUCCESS, MONEY, LOOKS, GENERAL POSITIVE ATTITUDES, SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTEN, WHATEVER IN THE WORLD YOU WANT TO HAVE IS NOTHING IN COMPARISON TO CHRIST. IF YOU AIN'T GOT HIM, YOU AIN'T GOT NOTHIN' WORTH HAVING.
AND ONE MORE THING. THERE IS NO HAPPY ENDING APART FROM JESUS CHRIST, GOD ALMIGHTY, AND THE HOLY GHOST.
THERE IS NO "OOH, I LOVE YOU" OR "HEY, LET'S GET MARRIED" OR "YAY, THEY SAVED THE TOWN." THAT IS NOT HOW YOU END A BOOK, PEOPLE. YOU END IT WITH YOUR HEATHEN CHARACTERS GETTING THEIR LIVES RIGHT WITH THE FATHER. YOU END IT WITH THE PROMISE OF ETERNITY IN HEAVEN. YOU END IT WITH HOPE FOR THE READERS, THAT THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN WHAT THE WORLD CAN GIVE YOU AND THAT JESUS CAN DO FOR YOU WHAT NO COUNSELOR OR THERAPIST OR REHAB CENTER COULD EVER DO FOR YOU.
Seriously. Y'all don't get me started on them counselors. I've got a counselor, and He is the Wonderful Counselor and the Prince of Peace and He has made me whole in a way no man, woman, parent, child, preacher, teacher, therapist, or shrink could ever make me. He has made me whole in Him and there is no wholeness apart from Him. He is perfection and He is all I want, everything I need, and the only thing that can satisfy me.
Anyway...yeah. I did not intend for that to happen, but, uh, yeah. There's my sermon for today. Seriously, though, I will leave this thing a review. Just...not right now. I need to go cool down, talk to my Wonderful Counselor. Do more than just pray a couple times and go to church. I think I'd rather commune with the Lord and read His Word and seek His Will than just be a once-a-week Christian. I think I'd rather be an all-the-time Christian who radiates the glory of God Almighty.
Can I get an amen?
November 24, 2021
3 stars
This was a cute and light women's fiction book. It had a romance in it, but as it wasn't the focus I wouldn't consider this a romance.
Riley is back in her small home town, Maple Falls, helping her grandma who's injured. Riley has spent the last decade of her life in NYC trying to make it as an artist and has no plan to come back home and live her life, but the small town charm starts to grown on her. She makes friends and of course there's a guy.
I loved the grandma and the hero of the story, but the heroine was a little aggravating.
This was a cute and light women's fiction book. It had a romance in it, but as it wasn't the focus I wouldn't consider this a romance.
Riley is back in her small home town, Maple Falls, helping her grandma who's injured. Riley has spent the last decade of her life in NYC trying to make it as an artist and has no plan to come back home and live her life, but the small town charm starts to grown on her. She makes friends and of course there's a guy.
I loved the grandma and the hero of the story, but the heroine was a little aggravating.
Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 3 stars
Narrators: Lauren Berst
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Women's Fiction
Length: 7h 19m
September 14, 2024
Riley McAllister has a problem making friends and letting anyone close, expecting to be hurt. She was born to an unstable mother until she was thirteen when she started living with her Mimi. Her mom's negative attitude left Riley with feelings of insecurity and low self esteem. Determined to show the people in her small Arkansas town of Maple Falls that she could be successful, she moved to New York City to pursue a career in mixed media arts. After struggling for years, she gets a call from her Mimi that she has broken her leg playing softball and needs her help. She certainly doesn't expect or want her high school crush to pick her up from the airport but Hayden Price shows up. Hayden was a star baseball player but had a career ending injury in his first major league game. I really felt for Riley as she works in her Mimi's yarn shop and tries to fit in with the local people. But she she does finally begin to accept their friendship, even Hayden's. And she is close to her Mimi's friends, the Bosom Buddies or BBs. She is so fragile that it doesn't take much for her to have a setback. Hayden and Riley begin a friendship, especially as they unite to rehab Mimi's shop and house. Hayden also has a dream to give the small town a makeover. This is a sweet story of love, sometimes painful, and overcoming deep issues of past hurts, forgiveness, and moving forward. Sweet ending.
I received a complimentary ARC from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
I received a complimentary ARC from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
March 23, 2022
Ive read quite a few Amish books by Kathleen Fuller but this is the first Contemporary Fiction book of hers that I’ve had the pleasure to read and I loved it! HOOKED ON YOU is the first book in the Maple Falls series. After reading HOOKED ON YOU I will read every book Kathleen Fuller has written. I instantly felt like I was sitting in Maple Falls helping Riley try and figure out what direction her life was heading to. HOOKED ON YOU is filled with just as much hope as it is with uncertain feelings. My emotions were all over the place while reading and I was even holding my breath at some parts that I was afraid to keep going. How much more heartache and grief could Riley put up with?
HOOKED ON YOU is filled with struggling with the choices we have to make and once you start reading, it will be impossible to put down. Keep the tissues close by because this will be one heck of an emotional journey. Will Riley ever find her place in the world, overcome her unhappy childhood, and be happy once again? Kathleen Fuller does a wonderful job of teaching the reader what Riley is going through. Riley was abandoned by her mom when she was young and raised by her Grandmother, Mimi. Kathleen Fuller normally writes Amish Fiction, but let me tell you, she really knows how to write about family drama, heartbreak, and forgiveness. I can not wait to read more by this wonderful and heart tugging author.
HOOKED ON YOU is filled with likable and relatable characters that will find their way into the reader’s heart. Riley moved away from Maple Falls years ago and vowed to never come back. Well, Mimi breaks her leg and needs help. Kathleen has a way of grabbing your heart and just squeezing it until you swear it is going to burst. Then she hands it back to you, slightly bruised but still in tact. How an author can do that is beyond me, but I love when it happens. HOOKED ON YOU is going to stay in my heart for a long time to come. My heart is still aching for Riley after all she went through when her mom walked away from her.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.
HOOKED ON YOU is filled with struggling with the choices we have to make and once you start reading, it will be impossible to put down. Keep the tissues close by because this will be one heck of an emotional journey. Will Riley ever find her place in the world, overcome her unhappy childhood, and be happy once again? Kathleen Fuller does a wonderful job of teaching the reader what Riley is going through. Riley was abandoned by her mom when she was young and raised by her Grandmother, Mimi. Kathleen Fuller normally writes Amish Fiction, but let me tell you, she really knows how to write about family drama, heartbreak, and forgiveness. I can not wait to read more by this wonderful and heart tugging author.
HOOKED ON YOU is filled with likable and relatable characters that will find their way into the reader’s heart. Riley moved away from Maple Falls years ago and vowed to never come back. Well, Mimi breaks her leg and needs help. Kathleen has a way of grabbing your heart and just squeezing it until you swear it is going to burst. Then she hands it back to you, slightly bruised but still in tact. How an author can do that is beyond me, but I love when it happens. HOOKED ON YOU is going to stay in my heart for a long time to come. My heart is still aching for Riley after all she went through when her mom walked away from her.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.
December 30, 2020
A heartwarming, wonderful start to a great new series! It's a story of finding love, family, and forgiveness.
May 4, 2021
Hooked On You by Kathleen Fuller is a romance novel set in a small town named Maple Falls, the first book in the duology. Riley McAllister stays and works in New York with her roommate cum best friend. She visits Maple Falls after 9 years when her grandmother, whom is calls as Mimi, is injured. Riley's mother has left her long back when she was little.
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. He takes life as it comes and enjoys the most that his town, Maple Falls has to offer.
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. Well, now we know where and how things are going to take place in this book. :P I loved the setting, I liked how the book has turned out to be. It was such as beautiful. A story of Love, Friendship, Forgiveness, Family and so much more.
________
Thank You @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for a honest opinion.
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. He takes life as it comes and enjoys the most that his town, Maple Falls has to offer.
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. Well, now we know where and how things are going to take place in this book. :P I loved the setting, I liked how the book has turned out to be. It was such as beautiful. A story of Love, Friendship, Forgiveness, Family and so much more.
________
Thank You @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for a honest opinion.
July 15, 2021
This is the first in a new series by Kathleen Fuller. I do believe it's her first contemporary book as she's written Amish books before this one.
It's a really cute story about a grandma who wants the best for her adult granddaughter,misunderstandings,hurt feelings,reconciliation,faith and love.
Can't wait to read the second book in the series.
Pub Date 11 May 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own
It's a really cute story about a grandma who wants the best for her adult granddaughter,misunderstandings,hurt feelings,reconciliation,faith and love.
Can't wait to read the second book in the series.
Pub Date 11 May 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own
July 20, 2023
2.5 ⭐️
Disappointing contemporary "Christian" fiction, where the only thing Christian is the characters go to a couple of church services. Otherwise, it's an instalove story whose MC's relationship is based upon their mutual desire for how sexy the other is. Seriously.
Disappointing contemporary "Christian" fiction, where the only thing Christian is the characters go to a couple of church services. Otherwise, it's an instalove story whose MC's relationship is based upon their mutual desire for how sexy the other is. Seriously.
May 18, 2021
Hooked On You by Kathleen Fuller is the first A Maple Falls Romance. I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the descriptions of the mixed media art, Maple Falls, and the grandmother’s yarn shop. I loved Erma McAllister, Riley’s grandmother. She is a lively character with a big heart. I hope I am as spirited as Erma when get to be her age. I also enjoyed Erma’s group of friends called the Bosom Buddies. I am not a fan of Riley McAllister with her numerous issues. I found her to be overly dramatic especially later in the book in a scene with Erma. Reading about Riley and her various troubles just made me anxious. I like to become immersed in books (relax and enjoy), but I was unable to with Hooked On You. There is limited character development. We learn more about the main characters as the story progresses in a piecemeal fashion. The story moves at a slower pace until the ending which felt rushed. I also thought the dialogue was awkward (stilted). Personally, I feel that Maple Falls with Erma (as an amateur sleuth) and the Bosom Buddies (helping her investigate the crimes) would make the great basis for a cozy mystery series. Hooked on You was not a good fit for me. I was not able to get into the story. I ended up skimming parts of the book until I reached the end. I suggest you obtain a sample of Hooked On You to see if it is a book that you would enjoy. Different books appeal to different people (that is their beauty). Hooked On You is a lighthearted Christian romance about finding love, family, friendships, and forgiveness.
August 30, 2021
Needed a relaxing read for a Sunday and decided to read Hooked on You. Riley was abandon by her mother when she was a teenager so she moved in with Mimi her Grandmother. Years later Riley is living to New York never returning home. Mimi needs her after breaking her leg, so Riley comes home to help. Hayden is an ex ballplayer who loves his small town. Secretly he has a crush on Riley and when she comes home he is ready to make his move. Can Riley get passed her pass and have a normal relationships with new friends and fall in love with Hayden? This was a 3 star read but the end was what changed it for me. Riley suffered from abuse by her mother and she is faced with her pass. The author wrote it as believable and something great to read. How many stand beside Riley is wonderful to read. This book isn't a masterpiece but a great Sunday read, just to sit back and enjoy!!
March 17, 2021
A few months before I first saw Hooked on You on Goodreads, I had this random thought of wondering if Kathleen Fuller would ever write something other than Amish fiction, so imagine my surprise and delight when I spied Hooked on You. I knew I had to read it!
Riley has lived in New York City for nine years trying to make it as a Mixed Media Artist to little success, so when her grandmother breaks her leg and needs her to come home to Maple Falls, Riley dutifully returns home.
Hayden remembers Riley as this mysterious girl(in high school) he always wanted to get to know, but he was never able to get to her. He thought she was incredibly talented( and beautiful) as an artist, but nothing happened between them at the time.
I thought the budding friendship/relationship was so cute. I liked the realness of showing with both their insecurities but also their strengths came through strongly as well. Riley is very hesitant with where this relationship can go because she has every intention of returning to NYC. Hayden already knows what it is that he wants. I was all in with Hayden and Riley, I haven’t really liked a fictional couple like them in a really long time.
But Riley hasn’t really dealt with her mother, who she refers to as Tracey. She(Tracey) returns home and changes everything for Riley and Hayden. Riley has many unresolved issues around her mother.
Hooked on You really hooked me and curled around my heart and took up residence! I haven’t read something like this in a really long time. Definite five stars.
My gratitude to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Riley has lived in New York City for nine years trying to make it as a Mixed Media Artist to little success, so when her grandmother breaks her leg and needs her to come home to Maple Falls, Riley dutifully returns home.
Hayden remembers Riley as this mysterious girl(in high school) he always wanted to get to know, but he was never able to get to her. He thought she was incredibly talented( and beautiful) as an artist, but nothing happened between them at the time.
I thought the budding friendship/relationship was so cute. I liked the realness of showing with both their insecurities but also their strengths came through strongly as well. Riley is very hesitant with where this relationship can go because she has every intention of returning to NYC. Hayden already knows what it is that he wants. I was all in with Hayden and Riley, I haven’t really liked a fictional couple like them in a really long time.
But Riley hasn’t really dealt with her mother, who she refers to as Tracey. She(Tracey) returns home and changes everything for Riley and Hayden. Riley has many unresolved issues around her mother.
Hooked on You really hooked me and curled around my heart and took up residence! I haven’t read something like this in a really long time. Definite five stars.
My gratitude to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
May 2, 2021
Hooked On You by Kathleen Fuller is a romance novel set in a small town named Maple Falls, the first book in the duology. Riley McAllister stays and works in New York with her roommate cum best friend. She visits Maple Falls after 9 years when her grandmother, whom is calls as Mimi, is injured. Riley's mother has left her long back when she was little.
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. He takes life as it comes and enjoys the most that his town, Maple Falls has to offer.
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. Well, now we know where and how things are going to take place in this book. :P I loved the setting, I liked how the book has turned out to be. It was such as beautiful. A story of Love, Friendship, Forgiveness, Family and so much more.
________
Thank You @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for a honest opinion.
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. He takes life as it comes and enjoys the most that his town, Maple Falls has to offer.
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. Well, now we know where and how things are going to take place in this book. :P I loved the setting, I liked how the book has turned out to be. It was such as beautiful. A story of Love, Friendship, Forgiveness, Family and so much more.
________
Thank You @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for a honest opinion.
November 29, 2023
This book was fine. But that's it.
This is a clean romance with church attendance in a small conservative town.
Riley left small-town Maple Falls to move to NYC and make it as an artist, but more to escape her past and her mother. Her grandmother gets injured and needs help running her life and her knitting shop while she is wheelchair-bound and manages to bring Riley back home.
There are good concepts here. The softball team and town camaraderie. The BBs group. The small businesses, mom trauma The past ball player, etc. Yet none of them provide much in the way of depth.
If you want an easy and clean romance, this is for you.
2.5-3 Stars.
This is a clean romance with church attendance in a small conservative town.
Riley left small-town Maple Falls to move to NYC and make it as an artist, but more to escape her past and her mother. Her grandmother gets injured and needs help running her life and her knitting shop while she is wheelchair-bound and manages to bring Riley back home.
There are good concepts here. The softball team and town camaraderie. The BBs group. The small businesses, mom trauma The past ball player, etc. Yet none of them provide much in the way of depth.
If you want an easy and clean romance, this is for you.
2.5-3 Stars.
July 2, 2023
Great story of family, friendship and love. I'm really enjoying this series!
April 15, 2022
This book gave me an urge to move to a small town and open a yarn store. Ha! It was really cute.
Receiving the call that her grandmother broke her leg during a softball game, Riley heads back home to Maple Falls to assist with the yarn shop, Knots and Tangles. Yup, Grandma Erma broke her leg during a softball game. She was so feisty. And such a meddler! I loved her.
Abandoned by her mother at a young age, Riley has a permanent sense of loneliness and no interest in her hometown. Itching to return back to her life in New York as a mixed media artist, Riley hopes to convince her grandmother to sell the yarn store. But then she runs into Hayden, the former baseball player whose family owns the local hardware store ... and everything changes.
With the businesses in Maple Falls slowly losing customers, this story focuses heavily on the joined connection between Riley and Hayden wanting the small town to thrive once again. I'll admit, the romance didn't make me swoon, but I did really enjoy it. Both Riley and Hayden had internalized fears, and I loved seeing them lean on each other and explore the significance of Maple Falls on their lives. The ending had a touch of family drama, which I liked, and overall I found myself completely wrapped up in this cozy setting.
Receiving the call that her grandmother broke her leg during a softball game, Riley heads back home to Maple Falls to assist with the yarn shop, Knots and Tangles. Yup, Grandma Erma broke her leg during a softball game. She was so feisty. And such a meddler! I loved her.
Abandoned by her mother at a young age, Riley has a permanent sense of loneliness and no interest in her hometown. Itching to return back to her life in New York as a mixed media artist, Riley hopes to convince her grandmother to sell the yarn store. But then she runs into Hayden, the former baseball player whose family owns the local hardware store ... and everything changes.
With the businesses in Maple Falls slowly losing customers, this story focuses heavily on the joined connection between Riley and Hayden wanting the small town to thrive once again. I'll admit, the romance didn't make me swoon, but I did really enjoy it. Both Riley and Hayden had internalized fears, and I loved seeing them lean on each other and explore the significance of Maple Falls on their lives. The ending had a touch of family drama, which I liked, and overall I found myself completely wrapped up in this cozy setting.
February 8, 2023
This was a very cute story. Very Hallmark-y, so if that's your thing you will really like it.
I got a little tired of hearing how the main character thought she was fat. 😅 Otherwise, I really enjoyed myself.
I got a little tired of hearing how the main character thought she was fat. 😅 Otherwise, I really enjoyed myself.
November 23, 2021
The book cover states this is a romance. For me, this didn't feel like a romance. There are two things that make a book a romance: a central love story and a HEA/HFN. This felt more like women's fiction than it did a romance.
On Goodreads it was shelved as Christian Fiction/Christian Romance. For me, this didn't feel like a Christian book. I'm not sure if readers felt it was a Christian book based on the author's previous books -Amish. Or if it was that that there is no sex in it? Or that they mention church a couple of times?
The overall story was an easy read.
On Goodreads it was shelved as Christian Fiction/Christian Romance. For me, this didn't feel like a Christian book. I'm not sure if readers felt it was a Christian book based on the author's previous books -Amish. Or if it was that that there is no sex in it? Or that they mention church a couple of times?
The overall story was an easy read.
Audiobook source: Hoopla
Narrator: Lauren Berst
Length: 7 H 19 M
October 30, 2021
2.5 stars
The more I read, the less I enjoyed this book. The plot was pretty much your stereotypical Hallmark movie plot and dragged after awhile. Not Christian fiction, except they went to church. No mention of God or Jesus, no praying when they had problems or needed direction - their help came from their own inner resources or other people (God can use other people, but not in this book). Heavy on the chemistry and the two main characters thinking about how "sexy" the other one was. 🙄
The more I read, the less I enjoyed this book. The plot was pretty much your stereotypical Hallmark movie plot and dragged after awhile. Not Christian fiction, except they went to church. No mention of God or Jesus, no praying when they had problems or needed direction - their help came from their own inner resources or other people (God can use other people, but not in this book). Heavy on the chemistry and the two main characters thinking about how "sexy" the other one was. 🙄
May 7, 2021
Sometimes you need a cute romance to just make you feel good inside. Riley came back to Maple Falls to help her grandmother with her yarn store after her grandmother broke her leg while playing baseball. Riley never wanted to come back to Maple Falls, she wanted to make it big in New York as an artist, but she couldn't turn her grandmother down when she called.
Hayden had big baseball dreams but after an injury he is back working at his father's hardware store in Maple Falls. He's not sure what he wants to do with the rest of his life, but he finally feels like he is home. When Riley's grandmother, Erma, breaks her leg during a game he is coaching, he wants to help her out in any way she needs, and that means he has to go pick Riley up from the airport. Riley is a girl who kept to herself when they were younger, but he always thought there was more to her than meets the eye.
When the two meet again, sparks fly. Riley doesn't want to get involved with Hayden though, because she knows she will be leaving once her grandmother is healed. Hayden has other ideas because he can't get Riley out of his head. He is determined to make her open up to him, but Riley has old wounds that haven't really healed yet.
3.5 Stars. This wa a very light clean romance that was just all around feel good with little to no real angst. There was some family drama, and I liked how it showed us more than just Hayden and Riley's side of the story, we got Erma sprinkled in there too.
Thank you to Kathleen Fuller Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for an early copy of this book.
Hayden had big baseball dreams but after an injury he is back working at his father's hardware store in Maple Falls. He's not sure what he wants to do with the rest of his life, but he finally feels like he is home. When Riley's grandmother, Erma, breaks her leg during a game he is coaching, he wants to help her out in any way she needs, and that means he has to go pick Riley up from the airport. Riley is a girl who kept to herself when they were younger, but he always thought there was more to her than meets the eye.
When the two meet again, sparks fly. Riley doesn't want to get involved with Hayden though, because she knows she will be leaving once her grandmother is healed. Hayden has other ideas because he can't get Riley out of his head. He is determined to make her open up to him, but Riley has old wounds that haven't really healed yet.
3.5 Stars. This wa a very light clean romance that was just all around feel good with little to no real angst. There was some family drama, and I liked how it showed us more than just Hayden and Riley's side of the story, we got Erma sprinkled in there too.
Thank you to Kathleen Fuller Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for an early copy of this book.
April 18, 2021
Hooked On You by Kathleen Fuller is a first for me by her as a contemporary romance author. I've read several of her Amish romance books and enjoyed them all. This book is about a young woman going home to her small town in Arkansas from New York to help her grandma out. She is a bit hard to warm up to. However, I liked the hero and the other characters really well. This book looks like it is the first in a series.
*I was given a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers and this is my honest opinion
*I was given a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers and this is my honest opinion
May 20, 2021
Hooked On You is a nice start to a small town series. I liked seeing these two characters, who both crushed on each other in high school, actually have a chance at a real relationship now that they were adults. That being said, Riley did not make anything easy in this story!
It was clear from the beginning that Riley had huge self esteem issues. She felt unworthy of love and expected to get hurt by anyone she got close to, so she kept herself separate emotionally from people. However, Hayden began to break down those walls and Riley began to fall for him.
It was hard watching Riley seemingly sabotage any progress she and Hayden made because of her fear of getting too close. I was happy with the way things wrapped up in this story, however, if this were real life, marriage counseling to help Riley learn how to trust and openly communicate with Hayden would be a necessity.
This book introduced a fun community of characters and I look forward to reading future books in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
It was clear from the beginning that Riley had huge self esteem issues. She felt unworthy of love and expected to get hurt by anyone she got close to, so she kept herself separate emotionally from people. However, Hayden began to break down those walls and Riley began to fall for him.
It was hard watching Riley seemingly sabotage any progress she and Hayden made because of her fear of getting too close. I was happy with the way things wrapped up in this story, however, if this were real life, marriage counseling to help Riley learn how to trust and openly communicate with Hayden would be a necessity.
This book introduced a fun community of characters and I look forward to reading future books in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
May 11, 2021
#BookReview: HOOKED ON YOU by Kathleen Fuller from Thomas Nelson
Do you love hometown romance? I do and I was so excited to read this. The cover is cute. Riley moved to NY about ten years ago and has never been back home to Maple Falls since. Not until her insistent and beloved grandmother, Erma got into an accident. It’s interesting to read how Riley is struggling to separate her past feelings that impacts her current actions. She has a complex character with so much talent. I do feel like she is too withdrawn to have fun. She focuses too much on herself and doesn't acknowledge the blessings around her. I'm glad Hayden’s charm worked. Well, maybe. The romance is cute. As they both work on their own personal issues as well as their budding relationship, they both have to learn how to share and be willing to sacrifice for the people they care about.
I enjoyed the BB’s friendship and how the Three Musketeers welcomed Riley into their group. Erma is a dear person even though a stubborn one. Oh I would love to see her play ball. Harper was a surprise and I think it will be fun to read her story. This is one sweet story of overcoming struggles in life and great friendships. 3.8 stars
Thank you Thomas Nelson and netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Do you love hometown romance? I do and I was so excited to read this. The cover is cute. Riley moved to NY about ten years ago and has never been back home to Maple Falls since. Not until her insistent and beloved grandmother, Erma got into an accident. It’s interesting to read how Riley is struggling to separate her past feelings that impacts her current actions. She has a complex character with so much talent. I do feel like she is too withdrawn to have fun. She focuses too much on herself and doesn't acknowledge the blessings around her. I'm glad Hayden’s charm worked. Well, maybe. The romance is cute. As they both work on their own personal issues as well as their budding relationship, they both have to learn how to share and be willing to sacrifice for the people they care about.
I enjoyed the BB’s friendship and how the Three Musketeers welcomed Riley into their group. Erma is a dear person even though a stubborn one. Oh I would love to see her play ball. Harper was a surprise and I think it will be fun to read her story. This is one sweet story of overcoming struggles in life and great friendships. 3.8 stars
Thank you Thomas Nelson and netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 8, 2021
Not bad but not the best…
I don’t mind cliches and predictable endings if I am caught up in the story… but I didn’t connect with this as much, it was a little goo-ier than I usually read. Also, there was an attempt at including Christianity but it wasn’t.. taken seriously.. the longest scene at the church itself included Riley comparing how she was dressed to the other girls. Sure, the softball team was made up of church members, the BB’s did charity stuff. That’s great! But.. I almost wish it hadn’t even been part of the story because it wasn’t made central or even seemed a real part of the characters lives.
Also, the word “sexy” was used so many times… I could’ve done without it. I just noticed how cute the cover is but it doesn’t even match the characters descriptions…
But.
What brought it to 3 stars for me was I loved the details of Riley’s art and the descriptions/reno they’d started on the yarn shop and revitalizing the town! I wish there’d been a bit more of that. I liked recognizing some names of nearby actual Arkansas towns. I liked that Lorri the yarn lady was based on a real person and there’s actually a crochet/knit pattern on the website specifically for the story!
I don’t mind cliches and predictable endings if I am caught up in the story… but I didn’t connect with this as much, it was a little goo-ier than I usually read. Also, there was an attempt at including Christianity but it wasn’t.. taken seriously.. the longest scene at the church itself included Riley comparing how she was dressed to the other girls. Sure, the softball team was made up of church members, the BB’s did charity stuff. That’s great! But.. I almost wish it hadn’t even been part of the story because it wasn’t made central or even seemed a real part of the characters lives.
Also, the word “sexy” was used so many times… I could’ve done without it. I just noticed how cute the cover is but it doesn’t even match the characters descriptions…
But.
What brought it to 3 stars for me was I loved the details of Riley’s art and the descriptions/reno they’d started on the yarn shop and revitalizing the town! I wish there’d been a bit more of that. I liked recognizing some names of nearby actual Arkansas towns. I liked that Lorri the yarn lady was based on a real person and there’s actually a crochet/knit pattern on the website specifically for the story!
December 9, 2020
I loved everything about this sweet and clean romance from Kathleen Fuller.
It's a bit different from her usual Amish romance but still enjoyable.
Isn't the cover sweet as well? Whoever designed it did an excellent job.
Since I'm from a small town I instantly felt at home in Maple Leaf Falls.
Life doesn't fall like we think it should.
Sometimes things happen for us to learn to appreciate people and what's right in front of us.
God lets us make our own choices for this reason. He does it so that we might learn to appreciate our loved ones and ask Him to help us along the way.
Just like Hayden and Riley had to learn. And yes even Erma.
I loved the BBs. They cracked me up and they sort of reminded me of the Golden Girls. In fact I think the BBs is what made this story. They were the angles here on earth. To help and support Riley through her struggles in life..
There's nothing like true friends for trust can be a hard thing. I should know that from experience.
I highly recommend this book
I can't tell you enough how much I enjoyed this book. All opinions are my own.
It's a bit different from her usual Amish romance but still enjoyable.
Isn't the cover sweet as well? Whoever designed it did an excellent job.
Since I'm from a small town I instantly felt at home in Maple Leaf Falls.
Life doesn't fall like we think it should.
Sometimes things happen for us to learn to appreciate people and what's right in front of us.
God lets us make our own choices for this reason. He does it so that we might learn to appreciate our loved ones and ask Him to help us along the way.
Just like Hayden and Riley had to learn. And yes even Erma.
I loved the BBs. They cracked me up and they sort of reminded me of the Golden Girls. In fact I think the BBs is what made this story. They were the angles here on earth. To help and support Riley through her struggles in life..
There's nothing like true friends for trust can be a hard thing. I should know that from experience.
I highly recommend this book
I can't tell you enough how much I enjoyed this book. All opinions are my own.
Read
January 18, 2021The quaint Arkansas town of Maple Falls could use a little sprucing up, and as it turns out, Riley and Hayden are the perfect pair for the job. What neither of them is counting on, of course, is that their hearts may receive some long overdue TLC in the process. Kathleen Fuller has knit together a lovable cast of characters and placed them in a setting so rich and dear you may find yourself hankering for a walk down Main Street on a warm summer’s evening. I loved every minute of my time in Maple Falls, and I can’t wait to return to visit the friends I made there.
*Read for Endorsement*
*Read for Endorsement*
May 21, 2021
"I was ready for a light-hearted romance and Hooked on You seemed to be just that from the synopsis.
Mimi and her friends were so cute! I mean, how do you not love a grandmother who breaks her leg sliding into third base? And, of course, they were slightly conniving, at least towards the people they loved - to make them happy.
While I liked Hayden, I didn't care much for Riley. I did understand her pain and why she kept everyone at arm's length but it seemed like at some point in her life she would have stopped being so judgemental - the way she kept thinking things her mom would have said was just crazy because she didn't ever feel cared for by her.
I also didn't quite get the impression that the attraction between Hayden and Riley was much more than physical. Sure, they had liked each other years ago in school, but even then it was merely a physical attraction. They had never gotten to know one another.
Overall, it was a cute story. It was a bit more angsty than I had anticipated and more Inspirational than Christian fiction. If you enjoy small-town romance, this is a good lighthearted read.
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own."
Mimi and her friends were so cute! I mean, how do you not love a grandmother who breaks her leg sliding into third base? And, of course, they were slightly conniving, at least towards the people they loved - to make them happy.
While I liked Hayden, I didn't care much for Riley. I did understand her pain and why she kept everyone at arm's length but it seemed like at some point in her life she would have stopped being so judgemental - the way she kept thinking things her mom would have said was just crazy because she didn't ever feel cared for by her.
I also didn't quite get the impression that the attraction between Hayden and Riley was much more than physical. Sure, they had liked each other years ago in school, but even then it was merely a physical attraction. They had never gotten to know one another.
Overall, it was a cute story. It was a bit more angsty than I had anticipated and more Inspirational than Christian fiction. If you enjoy small-town romance, this is a good lighthearted read.
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own."
January 30, 2021
First this is a clean romance (PG12) so more chick lit than Romance
Not my cup of tea
But I will rare it anyway
Hayley gas to leave NY to back in Maple Falls cause her granny Mimi injured gerself playing softball
Then she Reyes to fix and structure Mimi ‘s store
Next to g he er there is this nice boy Hayden that was her teenage crush
Very nicely written and nice tree point of view
I just reviewed Hooked on You by Kathleen Fuller. #HookedonYou #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]
Not my cup of tea
But I will rare it anyway
Hayley gas to leave NY to back in Maple Falls cause her granny Mimi injured gerself playing softball
Then she Reyes to fix and structure Mimi ‘s store
Next to g he er there is this nice boy Hayden that was her teenage crush
Very nicely written and nice tree point of view
I just reviewed Hooked on You by Kathleen Fuller. #HookedonYou #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]
June 2, 2022
Meh... didnt really feel it... the ending was what made it 2.75 stars at least...
February 19, 2023
I enjoyed the story line, Mimi and the organizing of the craft store. I didn't fully love the two main characters though. I plan to continue the series.
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