Running from her family and a very bad break-up, Callie returns to small-town Kentucky after learning that she has inherited her estranged uncle's farm. This will be perfect, a chance to start over in a new place the only problem is she knows nothing about farming.

But that is where Tanner comes in. Tanner works on the neighboring tree farm. He knows a lot about farming, and he is more than willing to help Callie. He remembers Callie well from high school because he had a crush on her. The problem is Callie didn't even know Tanner existed. Will they find their way into each others' hearts?

What I loved about this book was Tanner's family. Even though Tanner came from a less than ideal childhood, his found family made up for it. Also the antics of the loyal dog was enjoyable. I also enjoyed that the acceptance Tanner found with his family was mirrored eventually by Tanner with the neighbors and again by Callie with her own parents.

This was a refreshing read.

This story was such a beautiful romance, showcasing growth independently, learning to trust others, and finding a family outside of your own.

Romance, some spice, animals (which I always love), small town, second chances & found family! Not to mention a hint of suspense in some parts.

Just an amazing romance, and a great start to a new series- I can’t wait for more!

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! The narration was spot on! Definitely worth the read!

I had the pleasure of listening to Let Me Be the One by Lori Foster as an ARC audiobook from NetGalley, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The narrator did a great job! This heartwarming small-town romance delivers a perfect mix of emotional depth, family drama, and sizzling chemistry.

Callie is a refreshing FMC who stands firm in her decisions despite her family’s relentless pressure to reunite with her cheating ex for financial reasons. While she loves her family and feels guilty about their struggles, she refuses to let them dictate her future—a quality I truly admired. That said, her constant fear of the local wildlife started as amusing but became a bit repetitive after a while.

Tanner, on the other hand, stole the show for me! At first, he comes across as too gruff, but his compassionate nature and dedication to helping at-risk youth quickly won me over. His complicated past—growing up in an abusive household before being taken in by the wonderful Addie—adds depth to his character. His initial standoffishness toward Callie, due to an old crush and the differences in their upbringings, added some great tension before their romance fully bloomed.

The slow build between Callie and Tanner made their eventual relationship all the more satisfying. Their bond felt genuine, and their romance was filled with warmth and passion. I also loved the side characters—especially Addie, Cam, and the teenage duo, Liam and Nell. The way Tanner, Cam, and Addie uplifted those around them was truly touching.

If I had one critique, it would be that some conflicts wrapped up a little too quickly and conveniently, particularly Callie’s parents coming around, her ex being dealt with, and Glory’s growth. I would have loved a bit more depth in those resolutions. However, the journey was still engaging, and I grew to appreciate even the initially prickly neighbors by the end.

Overall, Let Me Be the One is a heartfelt romance filled with lovable characters, strong themes of resilience and found family, and just enough drama to keep things interesting. A great pick for fans of small-town romances with a touch of second-chance and unrequited love tropes!

Let Me Be The One is a sweet second chance romance. Callie has recently inherited her uncle’s Kentucky farm. After a failed engagement, she decides to head to the farm to reevaluate her life. She meets her neighbor, Tanner, who she doesn’t recognize. For Tanner, Callie is the girl that got away. She is his high school crush, and the girl he’s dreamed about for years.

This book is full of small town romance, family drama, a jilted ex-fiancee and a host of farm animals. This book will appeal to so many readers who love the cozy setting of a small town and a tight knit community.

Lori Foster follows her usual recipe for intense romance. Callie has returned home after a disastrous career blunder to take over the home she’s inherited. Her next-door neighbor, Tanner, was Callie‘s high school crush, and the man who broke her heart. Now that she’s home, Tanner can’t get Callie out of his mind, and romantic fireworks, ensue

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.