A brother’s best friend, single dad, kind of childhood friends to lovers and set in a small town resort area. This was such an easy, enjoyable read. There were some rushed parts but I loved the characters and couldn’t stop reading.

Ah, this is exactly the book I love to read!!!

It sucked me in right from the start, and made me not want to put it down.

Maren and Joe just make sense. As do Anders and Lucy. And you can't forget Rogers.

The fishing aspect wasn't something I thought I'd enjoy. The author did a really good job of explaining it just enough to educate you but not bore you.

Yes, read this book!!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a great read for someone looking for a low stakes romance with main characters who are both kind, mature, rational adults. I loved the ND rep in the MMCs daughter - I haven't read a book with that representation in a child and thought it was really well done. There are some great tropes - brothers best friend, childhood friends, single dad, etc.

I am a fishing girlie so that was fun!

The spice sort of hits out of nowhere after not a ton of relationship development and emotional development/tension. Somewhere between 2.5-3 peppers on the heat level.

I wanted to connect more to the characters' relationship, and when things get lovey dovey without the buildup I don't feel that connection. I also did not love the random creepy man side plot but I generally don't like creepy men so that tracks.

After working for the Park Service and losing out on a promotion to her ex-boyfriend Maren is ready for a fresh start. When she ends up inheriting a bait shop back home, Maren heads to Wisconsin where she runs into her brother’s best friend . After serving in the military and the dissolution of his marriage, single dad Josiah is back in the Midwest focusing on his family. As Maren and Josiah work together reestablishing the bait shop feelings develop not just between the two, but between Maren and Josiah’s children as well. Will there be a future for them after all?

This was a sweet romance with an ode to the outdoors. I especially appreciated the autistic representation of Josiah’s daughter, which we need more of. Both Maren and Josiah and their own pasts and issues they needed to work through, but they do it together. A true real life testament of romance!

I absolutely LOVED this book!! I loved the small town setting in Wisconsin and all the fishing and lake vibes. I fell head over heels in love with the characters--Joe, Maren, the kids Anders and Lucy, and of course, Rogers the dog. This book was romance perfection for me. The romance felt real, they communicated like adults (I hate the miscommunication trope) and there was no third act breakup. The dual POV worked perfectly. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and highly recommend it! A perfect Fall read as well.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book for my honest review.

I really enjoyed Catch and Keep. The main character Maren grew up spending summers at a campground in Wisconsin and loving to fish. When her current boyfriend proposes to her she runs away to that familiar campground. While she is there she connects with her brother's best friend Joe and his children. I loved the characters of this book including Maren's best friends and their significant others.

I grew up in NE Wisconsin I really tried to get a sense for where the campground and lake was located. Something in the beginning of the book made me think NW Wisconsin, but the family always went to Green Bay to shop or go to the airport which would be farther than going into the Twin Cities. Honestly that is my only criticism because this was a great read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
• listened on audio as well (I did like the narration of both MC’s)

“You’re a catch, too, Joe. You’re my catch.”

🐟 Fishing is a main plot
• ex military man + ex married
• single dad
• his ex sucks, I could not imagine a parent like that
• autism rep (one of his children) + also really good autism rep!
• mc’s in their late 20s/30s
• no third act break up (although there is a conflict with her brother)
• small town

This book is really wholesome and cute, even though I’m not a fisher it was still fun to hear what it’s like from someone who does fish for fun and with good intentions.

My only complaint is the “my brothers best friend” was talked about too much, we get ittt it’s forbidden. It doesn’t need to be said more than at least 3 times.

Thank you NetGalley - publishers for arc. All opinions are my own.

Loved this read. Great fully formed characters, a wonderful setting and a truly wonderful happily ever after. Maren is trying to figure out what her next move is after her life blows up. She broke up with her ex, who turned out to be a jerk of the highest order. He really had no idea who she was and what she wanted. He stealthily stole the job she wanted, proposed in a way that was everything she didn’t want and wanted her to be the opposite of who she was. He was “the man” after all and what he wanted, thought and knew was more important to anything she felt. She packed up her car and headed to her happy place. She had inherited an old shop and apartment and figured she’d renovate and figure out her next move. Upon her return she finds Josiah Cole and his two amazing children are back in town. He is her brother's BFF and was her childhood crush. They’ve both been warned by her brother to stay away from each other, but for very different reasons. Her brother is the guy who thinks he is the smartest in any room he is ever in. The things he feels and says about her are atrocious. It's a wonderful story about love, life, moving forward acceptance, and most of all, finding home. The ending was so incredibly sweet and filled with love that I was a little sad when I finished it. Really enjoyed the entire book.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I like Maren and Joe’s story. She fell first years ago and Joe had no clue. After they both have life changing events they end up on the resort they both grew up going to. Maren had no intention of making her feelings known to Joe but slowly they spend more time together. Even though I like their story I actually like Maren’s relationship with Joe’s kids just as much.

Believe or not there are three “villains” in the story. Two are written well where they are doing just enough…evil? Mean/wrong things? that works. Joe’s ex wife though…I think it went a little far. I can understand Kylie having trouble relating to her kids but to pretty much write them off and not even try? I know it’s not unheard of, there are plenty of terrible parents out there but compared to our other villains she is more extreme. With Joe and Maren being close to perfect parents it does level it out but I think meeting a little more in the middle is more believable.

I did enjoy Catch and Keep. Kylie may have gone too far to the dark side but there is plenty of good happy parts to keep the story an overall happy read.

✅ Maren, 33, recently single, on hiatus from her job & Josiah (Joe), 38, former marine, single dad to 2 kids, runs his family’s resort
✅ brother’s best friend
✅ dual POV
✅ cute dog
🌶️: yes, and in the first 2/3rd

I simply adore Erin Hahn’s books. I will read whatever she writes because they’re swoony, heartfelt, and so easy to get immersed into her world. I’m not an outdoorsy person but I was ready to be after Catch and Keep!

4.5 stars

I was so ready to escape into a romance. With eyes wide open, a new author is upon me :) But wait! Erin Hahn isn't new to me; I read Friends Don't Fall in Love last year and liked her take on writing romance. I'm more psyched than ever to dive in.

Maren is a female angler and isn't one to back down under pressure. She has just broken off her engagement and quit her job. She heads to WI to collect an inheritance. When she arrives, the winds of fortune have turned in the name of Joe Cole. He is a resort owner and recently found himself as a single dad. She's not looking for a relationship, but it seems one has found her.

This is fun, romantic, and heartwarming. It's not all light and fluffy. A few serious themes were thrown in to shake things up to take it a little deeper. I loved the chemistry between Maren and Joe and wish them a lifetime of happiness if they choose that path.

I would pick this up for romance readers that like more than just HEA. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an early copy.

Erin Hahn knows how to write a solid romance with real, well-rounded characters. And that’s why I’ll keep reading anything she writes.

Catch and Keep is an excellent palate cleanser, with cozy lakeside vibes. The main characters know how to communicate, so there’s no frustrating miscommunication trope here. I could tell Hahn did her research because the autism representation was very well done. I loved the cameos from past characters, but (for those who haven’t read her past works, don’t worry) this can definitely be read and enjoyed as a standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What an easy & lighthearted romantic read! 😍🩷
•
•
Single & hot dad, Joe, owns the local resort in Northern Wisconsin where Maren retreats to after turning down her long-time boyfriend’s proposal. Joe welcomes Maren with open arms & enjoys that she is truly a breath of fresh air. Well, except Joe’s best friend & Maren’s brother, Liam. 🙃
But, that’s just brothers for you!
The romance between Joe & Maren is easy, while also having plenty of spice 🌶️ in their relationship as well. I was actually left wanting MORE! They also have a slow burn for sure & while I don’t typically enjoy slow burns, it worked so well for them!
I also enjoyed the banter between her & her friends during the few text messages where they discuss their life & what’s going on with each other.
Joe and Maren together fit like puzzle pieces. She's the outdoorsy fishing expert, who has been fishing her entire life & he's part-time bartender/maintenance guy/resort owner.
I enjoyed the scenes with Joe’s kids SO much! You could tell how easy it was for Maren to love them like her own, which I also thoroughly enjoyed. Also, A DOG! Need I say more?!
•
“"You're a catch, too, Joe. You're my catch." -Maren
•
"I have been in love with you since the first morning you showed up at my house and made Anders lunch. Maybe that doesn't sound romantic, but you need to believe me when I say it is.
It's the most romantic thing I've ever experienced in my life. You paid attention. You noticed and you didn't wait for an invitation. You just came over and filled the hole I didn't even realize was there. For my kids, sure, but in me as well." - Joe 😍😍

CATCH AND KEEP is a cute romance featuring a single dad and his friend's little sister who grew up to be hot.

Maren flees her boyfriend's public marriage proposal and returns to a lake in Northern Wisconsin where she used to spend time as a kid. A kind man left her his bait shop; it needs a lot of work but she's motivated to fix it up (and avoid her day job of park ranger, especially considering she lost out on a promotion to her now ex, who'll be her new boss). It doesn't hurt that Joe's nearby.

I really enjoyed this one while I was reading it, and it was a fast read, but I didn't quite fall for these characters (if that makes sense). I think maybe I needed a bit more plot - some things were tidied up perhaps too quickly or easily. To be sure, Joe's kids are incredibly cute, and there's nothing wrong with easy. I'd read an adult romance by Erin Hahn again.

I liked both narrators' performances (Zura Johnson and Michael Norman Johnson).

This book was so super cute. I am so glad that I had the chance to read it. Erin Hahn really is such a wonderful romance author. This book had me in my feels the entire time.

Tropes! So Many of the best tropes.

This book is great for fans of:
✨Single Dad
✨Slow burn
✨Brother’s Best Friend
✨Rejected proposals.

A very special thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Friends don’t fall in love… or do they? I really enjoyed Built to Last and Friends Don’t Fall in Love because I loved reading both Lorelei’s and Shelby’s love stories, so jumped at the chance to read the next in the series - plus we got to see both couples as their happy endings continue in Catch and Keep! This time it was their BFF Maren getting her happy-after-ever. After her boyfriend stole her promotion and stupidly proposed very publicly, Maren has returned to her happy place in Northern Wisconsin to try and restore the cabin and bait shop that her fishing mentor willed to her. Also back in Wisconsin is her childhood crush, Josiah, now a single father of two children and helping run his family’s lake resort. She just used to be his best friend’s little sister, but she’s all grown up now and her own person, and he used to be the local heartstopper, but is now struggling to find some life balance. The attraction as adults is instant, but they’re just friends now - at least that’s what they keep telling themselves. Joe doesn’t want to hold Maren back in life, weighing her growing fishing tour business down with his messy single-father life, so has friendzoned himself, while Maren doesn’t want to disrupt Joe’s hard-won balance with his family life. But when friendship turns to friends-with-benefits, and Maren seamlessly fits into his little family of three, neither one is prepared. Because friends don’t fall in love, right? Sexy, steamy, and sweet, with lovable characters, Catch and Keep is friends-to-lovers at its best.

4.5 stars!

Maren and Josiah are made for each other. I loved this story, the banter and the connection between Maren, Josiah and his kids. The way that Maren cares for Lucy and Anders was so tender and real.

My one qualm is that I really wish the Bryce story line was a little more compelling - he needed to be put in his place in a way that had more emphasis, or left out completely. I know it came to a head with Liam, but Liam's storyline would have been fine with his connection to Joe.

Also the "how's your stomach?" in the epilogue was all I needed to know that these two have the kind of love that everyone hopes for.

Will be reading more from Erin Hahn!

All the tears! Almost didn't stick with this one but boy oh boy am I glad I did.

I've been a big Erin Hahn fan since reading You'd Be Mine but haven't been able to fall in love with the adult stories she's put out until now. Maren and Joe have known each other forever (brother's best friend, yes please) so when they reconnect as adults they fall into a relationship that you just can't help but root for.

Also I'm completely biased since I live in Wisconsin but any story that mentions Spotted Cow is a win for me.

Meddling friends and family members, adorable kids, real life problems and great chemistry - this one is a win for any fan of contemporary romance!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

🎣 Book Review 🎣

Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn
🎣
If you want to read the sweetest love story ever, this is the one for you. Maren and Joe are perfect for each other, and their relationship progresses from friendship to love completely naturally. Joe is a single dad and is endlessly patient with his kids, especially his daughter Lucy who is autistic. Maren is a fisherwoman and takes Joe’s son Anders under her wing, and she’s so cute with him. The kids were adorable and totally stole the show. This book is tender, absolutely heartwarming, and will make you fall in love with fishing and Wisconsin. It’s about friendship, complicated family situations, following your dreams, and finding true love. I adored it!
🎣
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🎣
Read if you like:
▫️brother’s best friend
▫️he was a Marine
▫️single dad
▫️small resort town
▫️dual POV
🎣
Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and Erin Hahn for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.