Sunday, March 15, 2015

From the Start by Melissa Tagg

About the Book
Kate Walker used to believe in true love and happily ever after. While her own love life may have left her brokenhearted, it hasn't kept her from churning out made-for-TV romance movie screenplays...until a major career slump and a longing to do something meaningful send her running back to her hometown of Maple Valley.
Permanently sidelined by an injury, former NFL quarterback Colton Greene is temporarily hiding out in a friend's hometown to avoid the media and the reminders of all he's lost. Maple Valley seems like the perfect place to learn how to adjust to normal life. The only trouble is he's never really done normal before.
While Kate plays things safe and Colton is all about big risks and grand gestures, they both get what it's like to desperately need direction in life. An unexpected project gives them both a chance to jumpstart their new lives, but old wounds and new dreams are hard to ignore. Starting over wasn't part of the plan, but could it be the best thing that's ever happened to them?

My Thoughts
Oh were to begin?! As I fully expected, I adored every second of this book! I've been a huge Melissa Tagg fan ever since I started Made to Last and I swear she's only gotten better! After reading her novella Three Little Words which introduced us to the Walkers and Maple Valley, my anticipation for this book (which was already exceedingly high) went through the roof.
Maple Valley is such a quaint town and I wish it was real so I could move there. It was that perfect small town that made you feel at home the second you stepped into it.
As for Kate and Colton, they were amazing! I loved both of them so much. Their banter was such fun and watching them fall in love had me melting. The scene where they meet was one of the funniest I have ever read and had me laughing so hard! You could just tell from the get go that they were perfect for each other. I really could identify with a Kate a lot, especially the shying away from risks, and the disinterest in football, though I will admit Colton had even me rethinking my dislike of football! My heart wanted to break for the life Colton had experienced and I loved watching him find his place in Maple Valley and in the Walker family. He was exactly the kind of hero I love, a little bit broken, a reformed bad boy, funny, hardworking, and caring. I loved how he was willing to do whatever necessary to help those he cared about.
So yeah Kate and Colton were a spectacular heroine and hero, but we can't forget about everyone else! I love the entire Walker clan! Even if so far we've only got to talk to Beckett on the phone! From Case's amazing wisdom and fathering, to Logan's typical big brother routines and his care for his family, to Reagan and her adorable eccentrics and kind nature with everyone. I also loved Bear, Marcus and his family, Webster, and Megan, whose characters helped make this story the amazing thing of beauty it is!
I honestly loved every second and wanted to reread it the moment I finished. I also find myself feeling homesick for Maple Valley even though it's a fictional town! I honestly can not get my hands on book two fast enough!

Meet the Author
Melissa Tagg, author of Made to Last and Here to Stay, is a former newspaper reporter, current nonprofit grant writer, and total Iowa girl. When she's not writing, she can be found hanging out with the coolest family ever. She's passionate about humor, grace, and happy endings. Melissa blogs regularly at www.melissatagg.com.

I received this book free from the author in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

2 comments:

Rissi said...

With this delightful review, my anticipation went through the roof! All the more excited for my Amazon copy to arrive. Thanks for the exciting review, Abbi. :)

Abbi Hart said...

Rissi-It is worth every ounce of anticipation! I know you'll love it and can't wait to hear your thoughts!

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