The cover of this book has one of the cutest little foxes ever. She is the harbinger of what will follow – a touch of romance, missed signals, mild conflict and happy endings. The fox of Fox Crossing, Maine is part of the town’s legend and its PR. When the fox is seen, good fortune seems to follow the ones blessed by the sighting. But sometimes the good fortune needs more frequent sightings and a bit of self-awareness and action from those who see it.

The main character is Annie, descended from generations of independent, strong but quirky women. Annie runs the local trail outfitter store, which sits towards the northernmost section of the Appalachian Trail. Annie, usually in a brusque manner, deals with hikers of varying experience. Nick is at the lowest end of this continuum, although he believes he is ready to go. Annie and Nick clash and click almost at once. So, the rest of the book is dedicated to how and when these two will finally see each other as true soul mates.

Of course, Fox Crossing has other amusing characters, enough to flesh out a Lifetime movie or a mildly pleasant read by the fireside. These folks are also seeking connections, some romantic, familial, friendship or professional. This is light romance in a small-town setting, with an appeal for those yearning for a touch of the outdoors and a mythical fox.

I like the story of Fox Crossing and the mystery of The Fox. I don't think I was quite in love with Annie and her abrasive attitude but I can understand where it was coming from. I liked that Chloe helped to pull the information from her and put Annie in a little better perspective instead of us just getting the story.

Everyone seems to have their own problems that The Fox magically sets them on the right path to deal with them.

Ehh... I hate being mean about books, because I’ve never written one, so what gives me the right? But. This.... was not for me. It has heart, but reads like a Gilmore Girls/Twilight/Wild fanfic. It ended just as things were getting going. Relationships were half developed, rushed and concluded all too quickly, seemingly for the sake of being able to tie them with a nice bow at the end of the book. The bits ‘by’ the fox made me squirm out of my skin with awkward discomfort and I couldn’t read them. But, like I said, it had heart!!!

Fox Crossing is a small village in Maine with lots of quirky citizens. The village myth is that if a fox crosses your path it means good luck, but not just any fox - The Fox. Annie Hatherthly has a hard time believing this even when the Fox crosses her path. This was a fun and enjoyable book. I will be looking for more books by author Melinda Metz. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Kensington Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In Fox Crossing, Maine, rumor has it that if you cross paths with The Fox, good luck is sure to come your way. While some town residents wholeheartedly agree, Annie Hatherthly does not. Coming from a long line of strong, independent women (harrh!), she knows that only careful preparation and precision can bring you what you want and keep you safe should you decide to hike the 100-Mile Wilderness. Frustrated with the abundance of unprepared would-be hikers coming though her store, Annie lashes out at Nick Ferrone, another woefully lacking adventurer bubbling with excitement at the prospect of his trek. The two butt heads and sparks fly, but Annie's unexpected encounter with The Fox will have her questioning whether or not it's okay for her to let her heart lead, rather than her mind.

While Fox Crossing primarily focuses upon Nick and Annie (it's told from their dual-POV), several supporting characters had storylines of their own, all of which enhanced the novel, especially the one between the lonely soul (no spoilers!) and the stray dog. To be honest, though, my favorite character was Banana (a trail nickname - we never learn his real name). He had such a huge heart, and I found myself smiling whenever he came up through the book. I truly appreciated the development of Nick and Annie's characters, and I felt that Metz did an excellent job constructing their relationship. All too often, small-town romances are saccharine and somewhat unbelievable due to their lack of conflict and growth that creates depth, but I didn't feel that way with this one. She also did a fantastic job with the incorporation of The Fox's stream of consciousness. It never felt overdone, and The Fox had a wise, poetic voice that led to its charm. I was sad to see that this is a standalone, as I could easily see Chloe's story making a great novel, but I was extremely happy with her outcome nonetheless.

Fox Crossing was the book that I didn't know that I needed until I started it, and I have already recommended it to a few of my friends. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 on Goodreads. A massive thank you to Kensington Books for sharing this one with me early.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

I loved this book! It can make you laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time. I'm looking forward to more of this author. Highly recommended.

some interesting characters, and some really annoying characters. I love The Fox, but I wasn't crazy about this book.