' . William Clark IV never anticipated being back in his hometown. At least, not until he had a long and successful career as a pitcher in the major leagues. He couldn't have foreseen his career-ending injury right out of the gate or the painful return to his family's apple farm in rural North Carolina. What started as an effort to get back on his feet turned into nearly a decade of going with the flow. Now the grumpy farmer is stuck in a resentful rut. He's bitter and bearded, and baseball is a sore spot that never stops aching--not when his well-meaning neighbors keep reminding him of everything he lost. ' , . Becca Kernsy never expected to fall in love with a town. To be fair, she'd never had much luck with men either. But the tiny hamlet of Kirby Falls completely blindsides this city girl and makes her ache for something she's never had before: a place to belong. The residents are quirky and lovable. The setting is picturesque perfection. And it doesn't hurt that she keeps running into Will Clark and his faithful dog. Getting a reluctant smile out of the handsome farmer becomes her favorite pastime. But pretty soon, her innocent crush gets out of hand. Becca ignores the looming expiration date on her trip down south, and like a helpless cliche, she finds herself falling hard for the man she met on vacation. ' . Through small-town adventures and increasingly friendly outings, Will starts to remember the hometown he once loved. The only missing piece is the tourist who's headed back to the city at the end of her stay. The one packing up and taking his heart on a six-hundred-mile journey home. Book #1 in the Kirby Falls small-town contemporary series follows the steamy romance between a grumpy former professional athlete and the sunshiney tourist he can't seem to resist. 'Take It or Leaf It' is a full-length romantic comedy filled with humor, heat, and a guaranteed happily ever after.