This story was absolutely addictive, and a great example of how a simple act of kindness can impact another person’s life in ways you could never imagine. Cole and Everly’s story was full of so much heart, but was witty and funny and sassy and swoon-worthy at all the right moments.

When Cole and Everly first meet on a train line, she’s a homeless 16 year old pickpocket looking for an easy mark so she can get some food in her belly. But there’s something about the sassy youngster that Cole is intensely connected to, and they end up spending the day together. They don’t even exchange names, just call each other Cowboy and Peaches (because Cole works at a peach farm). At the end of the day, Cole unknowingly walks away owning her heart… and she’s stolen his wallet anyway.

Fast forward four years, and Everly (who got her act together thanks to a woman at a homeless shelter) arrives at a Georgia peach farm to work for the summer and her cowboy is her new boss! But now, Cole is a bitter and angry man, nursing a broken heart thanks to his ex-fiancee, and can’t believe he is seeing the thief who stole from him all those years ago. Everly is determined to prove to Cole that she’s changed, and be the friend to him that he was to her all those years ago.

The writing in this story made me feel like I was a part of the story, not just reading it. Little by little, both Everly and Cole break down their walls and develop an easygoing friendship. But with the sexual tension between them, I was just DYING for them to cross that line! When they finally did — WOW! Cole is one sexy cowboy! And how he goes about convincing Everly to return to the farm after The Conflict that causes her to run away was so romantic.

The Line really allows the reader to experience Everly’s journey with her — not just the orphan learning who she is and where she came from, but experiencing first love as she and Cole grow closer. The secondary characters add nicely to the story — I would love, love, love to see Beau and Cody’s story told next! – and the epilogue was absolutely perfect!

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.