Twenty-eight-year-old Kate Delaney left New Falls, Tennessee, heartbroken but determined to be a successful screenwriter. She?s spent the last ten years in LA, but is back in town, fifty pounds lighter, California hotter, and she?s written The End on a screenplay, which is movie magic in the making. Just one problem?a nerve-nuking thief runs-off with her laptop, attached USB back-up, and the contents of her underwear drawer?and as if that wasn?t enough, the heartbreaker from ten years ago just walked through the door with a sheriff?s badge and looking more hormone-carbonating than ever.

Quentin Taylor likes the new and improved Kate, but to be honest, his feelings aren?t new. When a teen-aged Kate bloomed, her older brother Reese established a no-look, no-touch, no-anything else rule. Quentin figured it was the anything else that worried him most. Attractive then, now she was irresistible, and he needed to know one thing. Was touching her still off-limits?

Despite a meddling, matchmaking mother, a gossiping dispatcher/receptionist with an obsession for orange, and a small-town burglar who steals thimble collections, garden tools, and underwear, Quentin and Kate search for her missing script and try not to fall for each other as they get Lost in New Falls.

I was pleasantly surprised by Lost in New Falls. It uses some familiar plotlines – girl in love with brother’s best friend, best friend can’t go after girl because of brother, grown up girl has self-esteem issues from childhood but still has hots for the best friend, best friend is commitment shy but still has hots for girl too. Somehow, though, Marks manages to keep her story fresh and entertaining. The interactions are funny and charming, the cast of characters is quirky but believable, and the plot flows smoothly and quickly. She manages to infuse the mystery over the thefts with just the right amount of intrigue to keep it interesting while not short-changing the love story.

Both Quentin and Kate have their issues but when they get together it is amusing and fun. There is a lot of back and forth between the two, but you can’t really blame there. There is a lot of long-held hurt on Kate’s side and Quentin has been burned severely by his ex. But it is very entertaining to watch them dance around each other and then when they finally give in it just made me smile. I loved these two together and found the ending to be quite satisfying.

I’m also looking forward to future potential stories out of this small town. The secondary characters were just as much fun as Kate and Quentin, and I think there is a ton of potential for other romances.  I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for the next book by Cherie Marks.