Tanner and Mary-Beth was the couple since they were little kids and had made plans in high school. But when he was offered full scholarship to another school he took it. And Mary-Beth thought he left without saying good bye. 10 yrs later they meet up and together they figure out the whole mess and find the truth but both wondering if their live is strong enough for round 2.

If You Hold Me by Ciara Knight was a delightful read. Until the very end I wasn’t sure how the story would end but was pleasantly surprised. Tanner and Mary-Beth had to overcome parental lies and differing dreams to even come to the place of being friends again. I truly enjoyed it!

I love the Sugar Maple series of an adorable, small town in which the fab five and ‘town elders’ help each other. Now is Mary Beth’s opportunity in If You Hold Me. Her former high school football jock and love, Tanner returns home to help his mother on the farm following his father’s death. Mary Beth and Tanner broke each other’s hearts ten years ago; yet there are still so many questions – why, can they try again, can they make it work, should they?

Ciara Knight, again, fills us with the joy of possibilities for hope and love. Another of Ms. Knight’s independent, strong female character, Mary Beth, looks and searches for the truth. She has built her own life as the ‘coffee whisperer’ by herself. Now, she and Tanner must figure it out, to decide what is important. Holding her back is her inability to ‘create’ a special coffee flavor for Tanner. For reasons important to her, she relates her inability to find the flavor Tanner likes with their relationship. If she cannot please Tanner with the ‘right’ coffee flavor; then, their relationship cannot ‘make’ it.

Tanner, too, must find what is important now that he has returned to Sugar Maple after an injury that ruined his football career during college. He still loves Mary Beth but blames her for their breakup all those years ago. Neither realized there were others manipulating their lives behind the scenes.

You will love the book as much as the others in the series. I appreciate the 'clean' aspect of their HEA. All the previous characters surface from time to time so we know how their lives are progressing. I am looking forward to Jackie’s romance next!

If You Hold Me is like a sweet and enjoyable walk through a small town in Tennessee with your best friends. The book, which is part of Ciara Knight’s Sugar Maple Series, follows characters Mary-Beth and Tanner and their pain from their past break-up.
Mary-Beth is a young small business owner who was is taking care of her teenage brother in the town she grew up in. She is single and though denies it, still never gotten over Tanner, who was a football star and current college coach living in another state. To her shock, he shows back up in Sugar Maple and the pair have to come to terms with their bad break up and the painful lies that kept them apart.
The book is full of endearing moments, small town values and the importance of friends and community. The love story has a real feel. The characters are written so well, you are pulled in to their emotions and relationships. A perfect book for a weekend read or to lose yourself in.
( I received an advanced copy of this book for my honest review. #netgalley #IfYouHoldMe )

If you like Hallmark movies, you’ll love this novel!

With its heart-warming friendships and sweet as pie romance, there’s a lot to like!

Mary-Beth is as southern as they come and a Coffee Whisperer to boot. Tanner is a former small town hero with a task at hand- bringing the family farm back to its glory days.

While there are still some loose ends left untied, the novel is best read with a cup of joe and a fall day... or just whenever you need a sweet treat.

Ciara Knight writes sweet romances that are engaging and just the right fit for a light read. When I first loaded this book onto my Kindle, I was unexpectedly surprised, and pleasantly so. It tickles me that the last two books I read took place in towns with Maple in the names.

Mary-Beth is the so-called Coffee Whisperer of Sugar Maple, Tennessee. Her former boyfriend, Tanner McCadden, has come back to town after his father's death to help run his family's farm. The problem for Mary-Beth is that she can't figure out what kind of coffee hits Tanner's sweet spot. There is a lot of water under the bridge where their relationship was to where it is now. Underlying all the angst between them are lies and deceptions that have kept them apart for years--lies told by both sets of parents and deliberate deceptions meant to at odds.

What I didn't realize when I started reading this book is that is the fourth book of a series, but that doesn't make it any less readable or enjoyable. I don't feel like I have missed anything by not reading the other books first. I think the focus on Mary-Beth and Tanner provides enough background to make the plot quite understandable. If You Hold Me is written well enough that it could be a stand-alone novel.

So here's the scoop: the characters are relatable, the plot lines are believable, the setting is charming, and the outcome is extremely satisfying, giving this book four solid stars.

Author Collective 20 and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A delightful story of love healing old wounds and growth! It is best read with your favorite beverage in honor of the "Coffee Whisperer" (who also "reads" tea drinkers). It continues a series of a wonderful town that bands together to support its inhabitants. This time it is the story of the "Coffee Whisperer" and the former hometown football hero. Read it and discover the warmth of enjoyment within!

I did receive an ARC via Netgalley but I freely give my honest review.

I received an ARC from the author and the publisher, Author Collective 20, through NetGalley for an honest review. Tanner and Mary-Beth were a couple when they were in high school and had made plans but the plans they made never happened.
Mary-Beth moved back home after college and opened, Maple Grounds coffee shop and was known as the Coffee Whisperer. When her parents decided they were going to move, she decided she would raise her young brother so he could stay where he was. Now he is a senior with straight A's and plays football. Tanner moves back home to save the family farm and he and Mary-Beth have a rocky start when they meet again. The coach of the football team gets done so her brother asks Mary-Beth to ask Tanner to coach them because he was the star when she was in high school. At first, she said no, but as her brother called her par-sis because she was both a great parent and a wonderful sister, there wasn't anything she wouldn't do for him.
Tanner was finally convinced to step in as the coach and as Mary- Beth got together again, they learned what really happened when they were in high school. Parents always think they are doing the right thing but it doesn't very often work out the way they think it will. As Tanner and Mary-Beth moved forward, they learned a lot about each other and Mary-Beth found an old engagement ring and discovered Tanner was going to propose to her when they were young. One thing Mary-Beth said and it isn't the exact quote is, I am glad you didn't propose to me back then because it wouldn't have worked out because back then she would have been just the shadow of his shine but because they went separate ways, she found out what she could do and created her own shine. I think that is something young people should think about.
I enjoyed their story, all that they went through, all that they did with their life, and how coming home can awaken so many things.

If You Hold Me by Ciara Knight is the fourth book in the Sugar Maple series. That is if you don’t count the 1940’s Christmas prequel book.. Certainly, it is the fourth of the Fabulous Five to receive a happily-ever-after. From beginning to end Mary-Beth’s story is a clean feel-good story of love, trust, football and second chances.

Coffee is more to my interest then reality shows to football but this story makes it all a great read. I love my visits to the Tennessee small town as well as most of the people in it. I really thought that If You Hold Me couldn’t surpass my favorite If You Cherish Me but it did. I might even can say I like football now besides having a greater appreciate for those who mold and guide the young people who play. I always have appreciated the coffee and those brewing whisperers.

Need a smile then I highly recommend If you Hold Me as well as the entire Sugar Maple series. Life is not perfect there but it is incredibly good.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mary Beth and Tanner were high school sweethearts planning to continue their relationship at College. Fate stepped in, with a little help from their parents, and he got a scholarship to Notre Dame to play football.

Flash forward 10+ years, she runs a coffee shop in their home town and is guardian to her 17 year old brother, who is a football phenomenon in his own right. Tanner returns home after his father's death to help his mom run the family farm.

He's asked to coach the town football team headed for a major championship. Can they get past the old hurts and disappointments to forge a new relationship? I recommend reading to find out. You'll be glad you did!

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.