Callie and Tanner were high school classmates, though she has no memory of him. He's carried a torch for her since those days. Now, they find themselves as next-door neighbors.

Overall, I enjoyed the characters, except for Callie's ex and her occasionally frustrating mother. The heartwarming community that Callie builds became the story's highlight, at least for me, taking center stage over the romance between her and Tanner.

I would definitely revisit this series in the future. I'm particularly interested in following Kam's story.

This is my first Lori Foster book, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. The best way to describe this one would be , a curfew hallmark movie novel. Overall I thought it was a cute Romance, loved the small town romance vibes.

First and foremost as always thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! Definitely worth the read!

I absolutely loved this book! It had me from the beginning to end. Callie is so independent and feisty. She is determined to make it on her own, and she does. Tanner, wow! For a guy being from the wrong side of the track, he grows up to be an amazing man! Of course, with the love of amazing woman, Addie, who took him in and Kam (another young boy who needed someone) when he was young. You have so many amazing characters in this story, as well as Blu, Tanner’s dog. Lori Foster hit a homer run with this wonderful story!

I love second chance romances set in small towns. Finding love after a break up and meeting new people and reconnecting with old people made such a great book. Not to mention a little suspense thrown in too. Great read!

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Callie was heart broken by her fiancé so she runs to her newly inherited house. Which is a fixer upper at best and has animals included. And neighbor well he is something special.

Tanner has always had a secret crush on Callie but never expected to end up her neighbor. Now they are forced to co exist and they cannot seem to leave each other alone. But Callie’s ex is not letting go that easy. Will they be able to find happy ever after?

The found family is awesome. Great read.

Five stars for sure! Wonderful characters, great chemistry between the romantic leads, good story, and bonus animals. A lot to like in this small- town romance. One of the few times I loved the hero and heroine equally. I got a little perturbed at a couple of the supporting cast, but all but one were redeemable. I received an ARC and my review is honest and voluntary.

This is a classic romance Callie comes from money and moved away from the area when she was teenager, Tanner was a kid from the wrong side of town. Tanner has been in love with Callie since they were kids. Callie moves back to the small town after she inherits her uncle's farm. Callie and Tanner are really sweet together. The two characters were really easy to fall in love with.

Love these characters. Tanner had a bad childhood and when he was teen, he was taken in by Addie, who taught him about real families and love. Callie had everything growing up, always had it easy. When she finds her fiancée in the coat closet with another woman, she decided that she was done with going along with what everyone else wanted. She didn't really love her fiancée; she was only with him because their families wanted it that way. Now she is living in a rundown house with chickens and goats. She knows nothing of this kind of life, but she is willing to learn. She also learned a lot about herself. Tanner has had a crush on Callie since high school and she never even knew he existed. Now they are grown up and Callie sure notices Tanner now. As she gets to know more about him, she knows he is a very good man. He is willing to help everyone, especially kids who have a rough home life. How could she not fall in love with him? Tanner thinks Callie is going to be there temporarily and doesn't want to get too close to her. But that is impossible. She is so easy to love. Will she stay?

🤍Book review 🤍

Let Me Be the One by Lori Foster


Let Me Be the One by Lori Foster is a sweet, small-town romance with lovable characters and a cozy, heartwarming vibe. Callie returns to Hoker, Kentucky, after inheriting her uncle’s farm, hoping for a fresh start. But with no farming experience, she quickly realizes she’s in over her head. Enter Tanner, her rugged and broody next-door neighbor, who secretly had a crush on her in high school.
I loved how their relationship developed naturally—slow-burn but full of chemistry. Tanner’s protective and caring side was heart-melting, and Callie’s growth throughout the book was fun to see. The side characters added charm, and the small-town setting felt realistic and inviting.
Some moments felt a little repetitive, and the ending wrapped up a bit too quickly, but overall, this was an enjoyable, feel-good read. If you love second chances, opposites-attract, and found-family themes, this book is worth picking up!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

LET ME BE THE ONE – Lori Foster
Family Ties, Book 1
Canary Street Press
ISBN: 978-1-335-00941-8
April 1, 2025
Contemporary Romance

Hoker, Kentucky – Present Day

Callie McCallahan had once lived in Hoker with her parents, but they moved away for financial reasons. Callie has been left her late uncle’s cabin and property outside Hoker, and she arrives with her cousin Glory to move in. Alas, it’s not very habitable and the next-door neighbor is kind of scary. She went to school with Tanner Patrick but barely remembers him. He is big and utterly handsome, so she can’t help but notice him now. Tanner lives with the woman who took him in, Addie, and Kam, someone he considers like a brother. The threesome is friendly and helpful to Callie as they let her, and Glory, stay with them while helping them get the cabin presentable enough so that she can live in it. Callie can’t help being attracted to Tanner. When she ends up having issues, from snakes to scary men to her ex-fiancé being a pain in the rear, Tanner turns out to be a plus. Will their friendship lead to romance?

After finding her fiancé having sex with another woman, Callie dumped him and moved away because her parents were pressuring her to forgive him. She may have been raised to expect the good things in life, but she isn’t afraid to work hard. The cabin is disgustingly dirty and rundown. At first, Callie is not sure about Tanner, though she isn’t afraid of him like Glory is. She doesn’t want to impose on Tanner, Addie, and Kam but they insist. It beats sleeping in her car, and she appreciates their help. They are out in the middle of nowhere with only one other neighbor—a couple of brothers that Tanner warns Callie to stay away from. She soon can live in the cabin and buys some chickens and goats. Then her adventure really begins.

Meanwhile, Callie’s ex and her parents show up at the cabin trying to pressure her to forgive her ex and return to the city where they all live. She refuses. She loves it here and she feels empowered by her newfound independence. But will they exert even more pressure to get her to change her mind? Tanner hangs around, but more as support to Callie. How do her parents feel about Tanner?

Tanner was raised by a terrible father who was finally murdered by someone while he was a teen. Addie took him in and raised him to be the fine upstanding man he is. Like Tanner, Kam was raised by Addie, and they are all hardworking men. Tanner had a crush on Callie when they were in high school, though she never looked his way. But now he’s spending time with her and the two are clicking in big ways. He won’t push her but if the signals are right…then he can’t say no. Tanner rescues Callie several times, but she is as stubborn as ever when she tries to assert her independence.

LET ME BE THE ONE is an enjoyable tale right from the start. Readers will root for Callie to succeed, and for Tanner to get together with her. They are stellar people in everything they do and are willing to take the shirt off their backs. Even as her ex and her family continue to pressure her to leave Hoker, she digs her heels in. Readers will be cheering for Callie and Tanner as they fight for the right to be together. A fun and entertaining romance, be sure to not miss LET ME BE THE ONE.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

OMG, this is my favorite book ever. But then again every book I read from Lori is my favorite. I am not one to go back and read a book but this on I will. I can't wait for Kam's book. I hope Liam's and Nell's romance continues to blossom and that Dirk and Lang get their own books. And Glory finds herself then finds her romance. The characters were all so loveable except Sutton. I didn't want the book to end.
I am looking forward to reading about all the troubled teens they help.
if you haven't guessed by now, I absolutely loved this book and I highly recommend it.thank you Netgalley and Harlequin for Lloyd me to read this title for an honest review.

Aww what a great story. I absolutely loved Callie and Tanner together. I loved their instant attraction to one another although it did take them a little bit of time to acknowledge their mutual attraction. I loved that he had always had a crush on her. So cute. And I loved Callie's growth throughout the story. Let's also not forget all the secondary characters. Loved them all too. I really liked how the secondary characters changed and kind of redeemed themselves as well. Character growth all around. A really nice surprise. Really hoping Glory and Kam will get their own story. Not sure if they'll end up together but I wouldn't mind reading each of their love story.

Lori Foster's latest novel, and the first book in a new series, is a sweet, slightly sexy, small-town romance, and it was a very enjoyable read with a slightly too abrupt ending, which is the reason for my 4-star review.

Callie McCallahan has just inherited her uncle Reggie's home and 10 acres of land in small-town Hoker, Kentucky. After finding her fiance, Sutter, cheating on her, she tossed back his ring, ended the engagement, and hit the road, much to the astonishment and dismay of her parents and his, both of whom approved of their upcoming marriage for a number of reasons. It's obvious that as soon and Callie spots Uncle Reggie downtrodden home and property, she realizes she has a lot of work to do. What she also soon discovers is that her gorgeous next-door neighbor, Tanner Patrick, was planning to buy Reggie's house and acreage to add to his 30-acrew tree farm. The two are mutually attracted to one another, but Tanner, a boy from the poor side of town, seeing his secret high school crush, a girl of privilege and popularity who never even noticed him, and seeing how smartly she's dressed, assumes that she'll soon give up and return to wherever she came from, and he can go ahead with his purchase plan--and he couldn't be more wrong.

What follows is a sweet, sexy, slow-moving attraction between these two characters, and Callie's ex-fiance, who now wants her back. Her family and his both want this marriage to happen, but will Callie cave to family pressure? Is the work ahead of her on Reggie's place too much for her? What about her attraction to her hunky, next-door neighbor, Tanner? Since I don't do spoilers, you'll just have to read this enjoyable novel for yourself. It was a really good read, and I'm happy to recommend it.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.

Callie impulsively fled to the farm she inherited from her uncle but now she's got to live there- even though she doesn't have a clue about farms. Nor does she have a clue that her neighbor Tanner, who is actually a farmer, had a crush on her in high school. This is an opposites attract/second chance romance with a good dose of found family for Tanner. And it's about growing into yourself for Callie. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. This is a good, small town romance with positive vibes- perfect to relax.

I don't know how Lori keeps doing it, but each new book of hers becomes my new favorite of hers. I feel like I also need to shout out this amazingly beautiful cover!

This story was so heartwarming and had the theme of found family entwined deeply into it. I loved how Callie was so fiercly determined to make it on her own when she inherited her uncle's house and property. She hadn't planned on Tanner entering her life, but that made her story so much sweeter.

As for Tanner, can we please all have a moment to swoon? This man, who is so loyal and protective of his found family, is the definition of everything a woman could depend on. And I will always be a sucker for a "one who got away" story.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to everyone.

Let Me Be the One by Lori Foster

Callie is starting over,  back in her hometown, but she's not prepared for the state of things.  Tanner is surprised by the unexpected neighbor and blast from his past. Of course, she has no idea who he is. Now faced with the changes in his plans and ignoring the growing attraction, Tanner still wants to spend time getting to know her.  Callie brings her own drama, from her ex to her parents.  Now, she's trying to stand in her own and build something she can be proud of.

Lori Foster returns with another cozy small-town romance that blends humor, heart, and just enough emotional grit to keep you hooked. Let Me Be the One pairs two characters from vastly different worlds and asks the classic question: can you really come home again—and make it work the second time?

Callie McCallahan is a woman at a crossroads. After a failed business and a broken engagement in the city, she’s inherited her late Uncle Reggie’s farm in Hoker, Kentucky. With zero farm skills but a strong social media background, she’s determined to turn this inheritance into a fresh start. It’s equal parts brave and reckless, and that tension drives much of the early narrative.

Tanner Patrick, on the other hand, never left Hoker. He’s a hardworking tree farmer who remembers Callie as the untouchable rich girl from high school. What he didn’t expect was to find her back in town, living next door—and looking lost but determined, wearing designer boots to feed goats.

This is very much a slow-burn, opposites-attract story, but what sets it apart is the emotional depth of Tanner. He’s not just a broody small-town guy. He’s a man shaped by hardship, trauma, and quiet resilience. Raised by a kind woman named Addie, and later becoming a guardian figure to a teen named Kam, Tanner’s life is rich in found family—even if he doesn’t see it that way.

Callie, while not overly complex, is written with empathy. Her transition from pampered to practical feels believable, if a little fast in places. She’s endearing when she fails and admirable when she tries again. Her relationship with her cousin Glory is one of the strongest emotional beats in the book—warm, funny, and supportive without being overly sweet.

As their paths cross more frequently—sometimes by accident, sometimes not—the romantic tension builds naturally. Their chemistry is subtle but satisfying. There’s no dramatic “will they/won’t they”—it’s more like watching two people slowly realize they’re on the same page, even if it takes a while to say it out loud.

Foster knows how to write a setting that feels lived-in. Hoker, Kentucky, may be fictional, but it reads like a real town, full of gossip, grit, and community. The best parts of the book are found in Tanner’s relationships—with Kam, with Nell and Liam (two teens he mentors), and eventually, with Callie. These interactions add depth and heart to the story. There are genuinely funny moments (Callie being terrified of chickens is a recurring win), but they’re never cartoonish.

That said, the story does repeat itself at times. Scenes where Callie answers the door, Tanner tries not to care, or side characters drop hints start to feel familiar. The middle sags slightly because of this. Some characters, like Dirk and Lang, could have used more nuance. Their turnaround happens quickly and conveniently, especially given the tension their presence creates.

One detail that didn’t quite land is how Callie, despite growing up in the same small town, never knew anything about Tanner’s past. It’s a small hole in the logic, especially since her parents are still part of the local social circle, and the town is portrayed as one where everyone knows everyone. It doesn’t break the story, but it does poke at its realism.

Still, Let Me Be the One doesn’t need to reinvent the genre. What it offers is comfort: a story about starting over, healing, and finding love in unexpected places. It’s sincere, occasionally laugh-out-loud funny, and filled with the kind of characters you want to root for. Foster’s fans will absolutely enjoy it, and newcomers looking for a gentle but emotionally rewarding romance will find themselves right at home.

This was such a heartwarming story. Callie is a pampered rich girl who is running away from home because a failed engagement went sideways. After Callie caught her fiancé cheating, she was only too happy to escape to her former hometown in Kentucky where her uncle has left her his farm. What she wasn’t counting on, was the place being run down, coming with lots of animals, and a sexy neighbor who doesn’t want her to stay. Tanner is a tree farmer and all around great guy who spends all his free time helping out the local down on their luck teens. He is upset to find princess Callie next door, the gorgeous rich girl he crushed on in high school who didn’t notice him and doesn’t remember him. He wants her to leave, but also can’t turn away a person in need of help, and Callie is clearly in over her head. As Callie works to build her independence and her life, the two grow closer. But Callie’s family and ex keep intruding trying to get her to reconsider getting back together with her ex and returning to her old life. The problem is Callie isn’t sure her old life fits anymore. This was a heartwarming story about finding yourself, and the families we create. The scenery was beautiful, the side characters were delightful, and I was really rooting for the two main characters right from the first page. Another wonderful story by Lori Foster. I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.