A Swoonworthy Slow Burn Romance Full of Autumn Vibes!
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Take It or Leaf It Book Cover Take It or Leaf It
Kirby Falls (Book 1)
Laney Hatcher
Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Independently Published
August 20, 2024
ebook, paperback
348

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William Clark IV never anticipated being back in his hometown. At least, not until he had a long and successful career as a pitcher in the major leagues. He couldn’t have foreseen his career-ending injury right out of the gate or the painful return to his family’s apple farm in rural North Carolina.

What started as an effort to get back on his feet turned into nearly a decade of going with the flow. Now the grumpy farmer is stuck in a resentful rut. He’s bitter and bearded, and baseball is a sore spot that never stops aching--not when his well-meaning neighbors keep reminding him of everything he lost.

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Becca Kernsy never expected to fall in love with a town. To be fair, she’d never had much luck with men either. But the tiny hamlet of Kirby Falls completely blindsides this city girl and makes her ache for something she’s never had before: a place to belong. The residents are quirky and lovable. The setting is picturesque perfection. And it doesn’t hurt that she keeps running into Will Clark and his faithful dog.

Getting a reluctant smile out of the handsome farmer becomes her favorite pastime. But pretty soon, her innocent crush gets out of hand. Becca ignores the looming expiration date on her trip down south, and like a helpless cliche, she finds herself falling hard for the man she met on vacation.

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Through small-town adventures and increasingly friendly outings, Will starts to remember the hometown he once loved. The only missing piece is the tourist who’s headed back to the city at the end of her stay. The one packing up and taking his heart on a six-hundred-mile journey home.

Book #1 in the Kirby Falls small-town contemporary series follows the steamy romance between a grumpy former professional athlete and the sunshiney tourist he can’t seem to resist. ‘Take It or Leaf It’ is a full-length romantic comedy filled with humor, heat, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

“Kirby Falls was this wild and wonderful place full of characters and rich history. I was already falling in love with it, one apple cider donut at a time.”

If you know Laney Hatcher, then you’re aware she writes phenomenal historical romances. Take It or Leaf It is Laney Hatcher’s first full-length contemporary romance release, and Kirby Falls is quickly becoming one of my favorite small towns in fiction. Her novella, Love ‘em or Leaf ‘em is free to newsletter subscribers and is the perfect intro the romance that blooms in Kirby Falls. However, reading it first isn’t necessary at all to enjoy all that Take It or Leaf It brings to readers.

Mick Haupt via Unsplash

Will is the grump of the family. His fledgling and very promising professional baseball career ended abruptly due to injury, so he’s thrown himself completely into the family business of running an orchard and taking care of the accounting of his mother’s bakery which are both vital to the town of Kirby Falls. And it isn’t just the townsfolk who love his family. Kirby Falls also relies on visitors and tourists during the Autumn. Will has made a name for himself, and with only his family, a few friends, and his dog Carl that puts up with his surliness, everyone is puzzled when tourist Becca can’t seem to stay away from him.

“She was a million firsts waiting to happen. Just not for me.”

Jen Theodore via Unsplash

Becca is in town to escape the demands of her family, but to also work remotely in a gorgeous location. Who wouldn’t want to work in a town that comes alive with the vibrancy of the Autumn colors in the mountains of North Carolina? I don’t blame Becca at all for not wanting to leave either. There’s a cidery, a bakery that always has a table and a sweet snack for her to eat while she works, and the owner’s son not only rescued her from a tree, but his dog adores her. I was equally as charmed as the town when Becca started to truly hit her stride and win over the townsfolk.

Not only did I love the forbidden aspect of the townie versus tourist aspect of Will and Becca’s romance because hello? Can you hear that ticking clock? But I adored the grumpiest of grumps falling for the epitome of sunshine and goodness in Becca. With a new novel comes world building and I adored every single aspect of Kirby Falls. Laney, this is my official application to be an honorary resident. The growth that both Becca and Will experience throughout the book makes me giddy with happiness because we LOVE character development! Say it with me! “Everyone deserves LOVE!”

“Then he lowered his head and kissed me. It was a promise—a vow—on the altar of honesty and truth.”

Take It or Leaf It makes me crave anything apple related (don’t ask me about my cider consumption lately), warm days, cool nights, the smell of autumn leaves, and a cozy blanket near a firepit. I am jazzed and craving more! Laney! Happy New Release! Take It or Leaf It comes out August 20th go get your copy reserved right now!