Compelling Story of Small-Town Competition | Review of His Hometown Girl

About the Book (from the author's website)

He'd always managed to best her…

Jodi Chapman will do whatever it takes to get top care for her autistic son. If that means going home and convincing local farmers to sell their land, so be it. Even if her biggest opponent, childhood rival Daniel Gleason, is equally determined to convince farmers to buy into his co-op plan. And he's not playing fair.

Facing off against Daniel is the last thing Jodi wants. The attraction that's always fueled their competitiveness is as strong as ever and just as distracting. But with both their futures on the line, and years of distrust between them, how can they ever be on the same side?

My Rating

Spring

My Review

This is a sweet summer read about a single mom wanting to provide the best for her young son. Jodi's path takes her back to her hometown...and brings her face to face with her childhood sweetheart, who is now the enemy of her goals. I enjoyed seeing how their competition plays out, especially since the stakes are so high for both of them (her son's future and his community's way of life), and they both make compelling points for why their particular offer is the best one for the farmers of Cedar Bay.

The story felt well balanced between the budding romance (growing in the midst of thorny words and circumstances) and the two main characters' careers and priorities. The secondary characters, especially Daniel's sister and father, add extra layers of emotion and complications. And while I don't necessarily agree with the suggestion that happiness is of utmost importance, I did find a lot to love with Daniel and Jodi's ultimate choices. There are also some thoughts about parenting (approaches, mind-set, etc.) that could lead to good discussions/pondering.

From tender moments between a guy, a girl, and her little boy, to cringe-worthy moments in the heat of their competition, His Hometown Girl has it all. The small-town setting and the challenges the characters face make this an interesting read till the end.

*With thanks to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.*