You Belong With Me ~ Review

You Belong With Me
Restoring Heritage #1
By Tari Faris

Hannah Thornton doesn't want to let her hometown die nor does she want to see it "upgraded" with a strip mall. But she's just not sure how to convince the rest of the town to see her vision for Heritage - a name that deserves a town worthy of it with links to its heritage. And she is determined to make up for the misdeeds of her mother all those years ago. There is just one problem no one seems to appreciate Hannah's effort to fix things. Not her brother, Thomas nor Luke her best friend that she's crushed on like forever.

Unfortunately for Hannah, her services as a realtor are suffering because she tries to steer her sellers away from buyers who only see progress and razed houses in Heritage's future. But when she learns about a restoration grant that could restore her beloved town to what it once was she is all in. She just needs to come up with a plan that the town council is willing to agree to. And then there is a small matter of raising $10,000 to foot the bill for the required good faith gesture of proving that Heritage is willing to do what it takes to renew itself.

With the help of her friends and her brother's fiancee (who btw is just WRONG for Thomas) a plan to raise funds is put into action. A bachelor auction is the perfect draw to the town's festival sure to bring in a lot of out-of-towners with deep wallets. She has it all planned out. Except Luke refuses to put his name on the list, but what's a girl to do to get her favorite guy's name on the auction block?

Luke Johnson has always felt as if he just didn't belong in Heritage, Michigan. Yeah, being a foster kid since he was 5 years old had a big part in this feeling. And the fact he never got adopted was another. But the biggest issue he has is that Hannah seems to think of him as one of her projects - some stray dog to be pitied and he isn't going to go along with a Luke makeover. But somehow Hannah hasn't gotten the message and left him for someone better.

You Belong With Me is the first book in the Restoring Heritage series and it seems off to a good start. The Thornton family which at present consists of Hannah and Thomas is struggling with the sins of their family which in the long run is having an effect on their present and potentially their futures if they can't see what is going on. This book falls into the contemporary romance genre but there is more to it. There is a bit of mystery surrounding Luke and his past which in the end plays a big role in the path this book takes and its ultimate conclusion. Ultimately this is a story family, community, and finding your place in it. And a word of advice talk - don't let old hurts, fears, and regrets stand in the way of words that need to be said.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Realtor Hannah Thornton has many talents. 

Unfortunately, selling houses isn't one of them. 

When a developer sets his sights on the historic homes in Heritage, Hannah turns to her best friend Luke for help. Will Luke risk his future and confront his past to help her succeed?