Originally published on Tales to Tide You Over

Falling for Leigh is a lovely story about two people old enough to have complications in their lives from past relationships and thwarted hopes. Neither comes from a traditional upbringing and both want a family, but their plans are very different.

Leigh intends to adopt after she’s proved incapable of carrying a child to term, the heartbreak of that discovery having broken up her marriage to her childhood sweetheart. Logan had an unexpected child with a girlfriend and has been her primary parent, but all of a sudden he’s facing losing custody of his daughter because his now ex-girlfriend wants to move across the country.

Neither path is straightforward. The steps required for each plan may make any new relationship impossible, especially with Leigh firmly tied to her home town and Logan ready to hop a plane to California if that’s what it takes to stay in his daughter’s life.

It’s an odd story because, while they fall in love on the page, there is not much denial of their state either to themselves or to each other. They face the fact that outside forces mean their attraction, no matter how strong, is impossible and attempt to maintain their distances to minimize the inevitable heartbreak. They have no delusions, no willingness to pretend the outside world doesn’t exist, but at the same time, they hold out hope for the rare chance that they might possibly work. This offers a poignant tension because I wasn’t able to root for them with a clean conscience since other lives hung in the balance.

Another important aspect is the leading man’s profession. Logan is a writer who comes to the small town for distraction-free writing. It doesn’t quite work out that way as the title takes a literal turn in the very beginning. I am a writer myself, so I’m nervous about portrayals as they often don’t ring true. Logan seemed a bit stereotypical at first but when we learn what is driving him and see him interact with the world, the obvious answers no longer match. He turns out less of a stereotype than a writer desperate to complete his book for all sorts of very solid reasons.

Falling for Leigh offers many poignant moments, some chuckles, and a rich story with interesting characters (some only on the page for a moment but that’s all they need). I enjoyed this one a lot, especially once I connected with Logan and let my doubts about his profession fade away.

This was my first Harlequin Heartwarming story (a sweet rather than sensual romance) and I’ll be keeping an eye out for more titles in the imprint.

P.S. I received this title from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review. ( )

4 STARS

Good story. At first look Logan Walters does not sound like a guy you would like. Then you saw his other side.

Logan Walters is a writer with writers block. He came to a small town to try and get his book done. He is frustrated with maybe loose his daughter. He had joint custody but his ex has moved his daughter to Hollywood. He ends up breaking his hand by helping Leigh Norris.

Leigh Norris is divorced. She owns a daycare out of her house. She wants to adopt a baby since she can't have children. She feels guilty for knocking Logan off her ladder. So she is helping him type his notes after her day care is closed.

I liked the small town feeling of the book. Logan was made to feel like he could belong there fast. He had some fans in town. Leigh had never heard of him before. I loved the town. This is the first book in this series that I have read.

I cared for these characters, I laughed and cried with them. I would read more about Brookhollow and see these characters again.

This is a fast emotional clean romance. I did not put the book down till I had finished.

I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Harlequin. I agreed to give honest review about the book. ( )