"A friends-to-lovers romance that’s magically both hot and wholesome. Cozy, sexy, and so very satisfying… this one’s a keeper." — Jen Devon, author of Right Where We Left Us
In Erin Hahn's cozy, swoony romance, Maren Laughlin has been fishing her whole life, but she’s finally ready to be caught.
At thirty-three, Maren Laughlin's just turned down her boyfriend’s proposal, walked away from her decade-long position as a park ranger, and returned to her childhood playground in Northern Wisconsin to accept her inheritance: a decrepit waterfront bait shop. After a lifetime of letting things happen to her, she’s ready to start making her own moves, even if everyone else thinks she’s making the wrong ones. Well, not everyone—at least the local heartstopper and resort owner is on her side.
Josiah Cole has made some missteps in his life, but he’s proud of what he has: two awesome kids and the keys to the kind of getaway spot that has families coming back every summer– their up north home away from home. After his marriage dissolved, leaving him a single dad, he feels he’s the last person to judge Maren for her recent transformation (even if his best friend, her brother, wants him to feel otherwise). Besides, he genuinely likes having her around. She’s a breath of fresh air, his kids adore her (not to mention her dog, Rogers), and it doesn’t hurt that she’s beautiful.
Things between Maren and Joe are easy. So easy, they’re fully immersed in the middle before they even decide to begin. It’s not a question of should they, but rather can they make it last? Are things too easy, or is this just how real love works? In Erin Hahn’s heartwarmingly sexy Catch and Keep, Maren and Joe have to be brave enough to find out.
A small town brother's best friend romance featuring a woman who just turned down a proposal and moved back into her small town to work on her inherited bait shop... all the while reuniting with her brother's best friend, ex marine single father and completely irresistible but off limits. Maren used to be a popular youtuber before it became too much and she moved out. Now years later after her boyfriend proposed to her, she turns him down and walks away from her job as a park ranger to go home and work on her inheritance, a bait shop. Maren is now reunited with her brother and his best friend, Liam, a handsome ex marine who is now a single father. Liam is completely off limits but she can't help but be drawn to him and his charming kids and the home that they are giving her. While she is meant to be just working on fixing up the bait shop and selling it....but maybe Liam can convince her to stay. This was definitely a small town romance with spice as Maren and Liam instantly fall for each other. The book was just okay for me, the whole "issues" with the relationship weren't really that much of an issue and the romance was insta love. I really wish I could like it more but something about this book just didn't convince me over. The romance was fine but the story just kind of felt like it was missing something and I can't put my finger on it. While this one wasn't for me I do think that if you like the trope of brother's best friend I think you'd have fun with it.
Release Date: October 15,2024
Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)
*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*
