This was almost a second chance romance, only they never got their first. He's known who she was at school but he went unnoticed by her.
A decade later Callie is fleeing from a broken engagement to her uncle's home that she inherited. Callie is from a rich family and Tanner was the poor, abused kid taken in as a young teen by Addie. Tanner loved her from afar and she may just wake up and see what's under her nose.
I really enjoyed their story, the characters and location. This is a sweet small town romance with all the feel good moments...well not always. Someone wants her scared off, will Tanner get to the bottom of these incidents before someone is hurt?
What a wonderful read, I loved it.

An interesting new series for Ms. Foster.

Callie inherited her uncle's house and property. After a disastrous engagement, she is glad to have this house as a way to figure out who she is today.

I so enjoyed the give and take in this story. Reading how Callie grew as a person and how she helped Tanner get over some of his preconceived notions about her and others was refreshing.

I enjoyed the story and wonder where she is going next!

This was a typical, easy read romance. Nothing special but a good beach read.

Thank you #netgalley and #htp #canarystreetpress for the eARC.

4 star

The story has laughs, secrets, second chances, and sweet love.

This is Callie and Tanner’s story. He wanted her back in high school, but she was out of his league. When she comes back to town, he thinks he still does not have a chance with her. She had big plans after leaving town. But some of those plans didn’t work out. Now she is back and determined to build a future on her uncle’s farm. She does not know how to handle the chickens on the farm or work the tractor, but she is going to figure it out and build her future. With some help from Tanner, she is making it work. Small town feel with a very slow relationship building.

I recommend this book.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cozy, heartwarming, wonderful book. I loved it!

Let Me Be the One by Lori Foster is a charming, heartfelt romance that beautifully blends second chances with small-town charm. Callie McCallahan returns to her roots in Hoker, Kentucky, hoping to start fresh after a series of personal setbacks, including a painfully public breakup. Inheriting her uncle’s farm seems like the ideal opportunity to reboot her life, despite her complete lack of farming know-how.

Enter Tanner Patrick, the ruggedly appealing neighbor who has quietly carried a torch for Callie since their high school days. Watching her navigate—and often stumble through—her new life, Tanner finds himself drawn irresistibly closer. Foster excels at crafting authentic, relatable characters whose vulnerabilities and humor create irresistible chemistry.

Full of endearing moments and sweet, sizzling attraction, this novel captures the essence of rediscovering oneself and embracing unexpected love. Readers seeking a feel-good, romantic escape will find Let Me Be the One delightful and refreshingly genuine—a perfect pick for fans of second-chance romances with a healthy dose of humor and heart.

I loved this story, it was inspirational and romantic, I hope there might be another? All the characters were amazing .

A sweet romance that will leave you wanting more! Thank goodness this is the start of a new series. Callie has been betrayed by her fiancé, make that ex-fiancé. With pressure on all sides to forgive and forget, from her parents, cousin and the ex to carryon with the wedding plans. She runs away to her uncle’s house that she inherited. Away from the traitors and to decide what she wants in life.
Tanner is shocked, his boyhood crush is back in town and she is messing up his plans on buying his deceased neighbor property. As he tries to talk her in selling while holding in check all those feelings that never went away it gets harder as he finally gets to know the real Callie. She is definitely not the fantasy of his mind and she doesn’t remember him from those early days when she lived there. When strange things start to happen surrounding Callie his protective instincts kicks in and he is falling in love with the real Callie.
I was drawn into the story from the beginning. Great character development, great storyline, can’t wait to read the next book. Thank you #NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #LetMeBeTheOne

Oh my goodness! I LOVED this book! It was just a great read, with wonderful characters (and some super crazy ones as well!), a lovely (and twisted) storyline and a budding relationship!

When Callie has an ugly break-up and decides to move back to the town where she grew up and was left a home by her recently deceased uncle…she had no idea she would end up next door to Tanner, a boy who crushed on her in high school. Unfortunately, they grew up with two different social and economical statuses, so there was no way anything would have progressed back then…or now for that matter. You really can’t pair together a hard-working tree farmer with a Princess, now can you?

Callie’s character is very strong-willed and determined…maybe even a bit stubborn. HAHA. Tanner knows she is in way over her head with the property left to her, and he is even more frustrated by her will to revive her uncle’s home because he wanted to purchase the property for a charity investment.

I loved all of the side characters in this! Addie, an older woman who raised Tanner and his brother Kam, has a heart of gold! Kam…what a character! Glory (Callie’s cousin) has a wonderful backstory that we learn in this book! Glory, Dirk and Lang, Nell and Liam….Callie’s parents……….Gah!!! Such a great book!!!!

I loved everything about this book from the cover to the title. The story was another winner by a favorite of mine, Lori Foster.

Lori Foster’s Let Me Be the One is a heartwarming tale of second chances, personal growth, and the transformative power of love. Set in the quaint town of Hoker, Kentucky, this novel introduces readers to Callie McCallahan, a woman seeking a fresh start after a failed engagement and business venture. Inheriting her uncle’s farm, Callie returns to her roots, aiming to rebuild her life and career.

Tanner Patrick, her neighbor and former high school admirer, has built a quiet life focused on his family’s tree farm. When Callie reenters his life, old feelings resurface, leading to a rekindling of past emotions and the possibility of new beginnings.

When Callie McCallahan takes over her late uncle’s farm, it feels like the perfect escape—a chance to leave behind family expectations, an overbearing ex-fiancé, and the exhausting need to meet everyone else’s standards.

Despite her “princess” upbringing, Callie is anything but pampered. She’s practical, hard-working, and incredibly easy to root for. And Tanner? He captured my heart instantly. Once the scrappy kid from the wrong side of town, he’s grown into a man who’s loyal, grounded, and absolutely swoon-worthy.

Tanner’s family plays a strong supporting role—from the woman who took him in and raised him, to the brother he’s chosen through love, not blood. The family dynamic in this story is rich and emotionally satisfying.

If small-town romance is your thing, this book has everything you crave—nosy but lovable neighbors, heartfelt moments, and that cozy sense of belonging. Callie has her share of struggles—from family guilt and unsettling neighbors, to the chaos of backyard animals. The chemistry between her and Tanner is magnetic with witty banter that brought a constant smile on my face.

Notable Quotes:

“She’s more than the girl next door. She’s the one who got away.”
“Could this be the do-over each of them didn’t know they needed?”
Themes and Highlights:

Second Chances: Both protagonists confront past regrets and explore the possibility of new beginnings.
Community and Found Family: The novel emphasizes the importance of community support and the families we choose.
Personal Growth: Callie’s journey from city life to embracing rural challenges showcases resilience and adaptability.
Final Thoughts:

Let Me Be the One is a delightful read that combines romance, personal growth, and the warmth of small-town life. Foster’s engaging storytelling and well-developed characters make this novel a standout in contemporary romance. Highly recommended for fans of heartfelt love stories and tales of personal transformation.

Callie has left her cheating fiance in the dust! She’s moving into her uncle’s ramshackle cabin and starting over. Little does she know that her new neighbor might not want her there. Tanner loves his family and his community. What he doesn’t love is the city woman who moved into a property he wants to own. Can two people from different backgrounds and with different life plans make a future together or will their differences end them before they begin?
CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS
Callie starts the story as a silly character out of her element with no apparent plan. The author allows her to grow and develop slowly through the events of the story. By the end, she is part of the community and strong enough to stand on her own. Her former fiance is a cheating jerk. Her family is cruel to her and on a journey of their own. I like that her family was pushing her to marry Sutter because it would help their business and community standing. Tanner is a bit of a loner. He is serious about his business and family. He had a rough childhood and that has determined his path in life. The woman that took him in became his “mom” in every sense of the word. I like that he understood his “mom” was taking a chance on him when he moved in with her and he has never done anything to make her regret her kindness. I like that the author gave him a good reason for wanting Callie’s property. His program for young people in trouble is a great reason for him to be the way he is. As their relationship developed, I believed that they were a good match. I like the side characters. They each add a little something unique to the story.
There is a bad guy and another bad guy. The obvious bad guy is Callie’s cheating ex fiance. Of course, he appears in the story and tries to get her back. He has nefarious reasons for his actions. Her parents are also bad guys. They treat her like a possession they can give away to gain something in return. By the end, I felt like they actually valued Callie. Then there are the bad guy next door neighbors. That is a more interesting part of the story. They have a long standing feud with Sutter. That feud ends up spilling over onto Callie. I thought the author did a good job with this part of the story. It took a few fun twists and turns.
This story takes place in Kentucky. The two main characters went to high school together but ran in two different circles. This is a story about resilience and kindness. I enjoyed this story and will read more from this author in the future.

Every Lori Foster book is a must read for me and this new series is a winner. I’d call this a “Wholesome “ story with a little sex thrown in. You have two families, foster kids needing help, questionable neighbors, a nasty ex, a dog, a cat, chickens, and 4 goats, a lot of chaos, and a lot of love all put together to make an awesome story. Don’t miss this wonderful book.

Lori Foster delivers another small-town romance that makes you long for slow, easy, days at the lake where everyone looks out for everyone else. Moving back to her hometown after inheriting her uncles farm, she's on the path to a whole life reset, or maybe more of a second chance at getting it right. Tanner is the town hottie, but never forgets he was from the wrong side of town and grew up with feelings for Callie. As usual, the side characters and animals in this story play into the story line in humorous and heartwarming ways. I love the way Ms. Foster always draws us in with heart, humor and community.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was the start of a new series, and I can already tell you that this will be a good one! Callie has recently moved into a farm that she inherited from her uncle - she's looking for a chance to make a fresh start. Her neighbor, Tanner, is from her childhood and he had such a major crush on her in high school! He never expected to see her again, but now that she's back he's determined to be a part of her life.

He and Callie were such wonderful characters! I loved seeing the growth from just a crush into real, true, strong and developed feelings. The found family was also truly well done, and I'm eager to see who the next book will be about!

I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t stop reading it. Loved how Callie came to get old hometown when she inherited her Uncle’s home. Turns out one of her neighbors, Tanner had always had a crush on her. He does try to keep his distance. Loved their chemistry and how close they became. But what’s with her ex? He cheated but seems to think they should still be engaged. Why does it seems her parents are pushing him on her? Loved staying on edge and feeling their emotions. Loved their happy ever after. I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy and I highly recommend this book.

I enjoyed every minute of Tanner and Callie's story! The characters were great, the animals were adorable, and I loved their found family. I hope that Kam, Dirk and Lang all get their own stories! I can't wait to see whose story is next.

Callie catches her Fiancée in the act of cheating him her. She walked away and isn’t looking back. Her estranged uncle leaves her his house when he died. She and her cousin decide to check out the property. While wondering through the property she wanders into the neighboring property of Tanner. Tanner has always thought Callie was the one. He had designs on her inherited property. He try’s to chase her off. She is not going anywhere. She determined to stand on her own. Despite her mom trying to convince her to go back to the cheating finance. A great new romance from Lori Foster. One one the best books I’ve read this year! I couldn’t put it down!

I was thrilled to get started on Lori's newest series.

I LOVED the characters in this one. The main characters, Callie's family, Tanner's made family, the crazy neighbors, the ex-fiancé, where all wonderful. Callie was the rich girl in a small town and Tanner was from the wrong side of town. That didn't stop him from noticing her. When her uncle passes away and leaves her his home she returns home.

I struggled with this one. I have loved Lori's writing and stories for 20+ years. I went in assuming this would be more of a romantic suspense and it was more of a slow second chance romance. There wasn't much to it aside from character development and I assume falling in love.

DNF at 83% I wasn't looking forward to continuing to read so I stopped.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

LET ME BE THE ONE will pull you in with each page, giving you the feeling that you are there, really know these people and never want to leave Hoker, Kentucky.

Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko for Fresh Fiction

Complete review: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=90613