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This Guy: MM Small-Town Romance (Wood Hollow Stories, Book 1)

Lane Hayes and Nick J Russo
4.6 / 5.0
Published: 2026

Description

Silas is a man who has traded the high-stakes intensity of professional football for the quiet, predictable rhythm of life in Wood Hollow. As a devoted single dad, his world revolves around his daughter and the local community, leaving little room for spontaneous romance or complicated entanglements. He has everything under control until an unexpected arrival shakes up his orderly existence, challenging his long-held belief that he is better off solitary. This charming small-town romance perfectly blends the grit of a former athlete with the warmth of a cozy, close-knit setting. The chemistry between the leads is undeniable, proving that even two people who seem like complete opposites on paper can find a rhythm that feels uniquely right. Readers will fall for the heartfelt dynamic of this single-dad story, which balances humor with genuine emotional stakes. Whether it is the slow-burn tension or the sweet, domestic moments that make the heart flutter, this story captures the essence of finding love when you least expect it. Join Silas as he learns that opening his heart is the bravest play he has ever made. This is a delightful start to a series that promises plenty of laughter, heart, and enduring connections.

Customer Reviews

Top 3 from Amazon
C
Carol
April 22, 2026

Could a sweet, summer fling turn into more?

RATING 4.5 STARS This Guy is the first book in the Wood Hollow Stories series by Lane Hayes. This is a single dad, sports (football) romance. Silas Anderson is thirty six years old and is a pro football player for Los Angeles. It’s his final game before his retirement. He’s playing great but the game didn’t end the way he envisioned it. He felt he went out with a less than stellar ending. He needs to get out of the city to try to figure out what’s next in his life so takes the offer of a team mate that owns a house in Wood Hollow, Vermont he isn’t using. Some small town peace and quiet is just what he needs. Except he hadn’t planned on arriving the night before a blizzard. Or getting caught in that blizzard. Or getting rescued by the hot lumberjack that lives next door. Cooper McMurry is forty one years old. He runs the lumber mill in Wood Hollow and is single dad to two kids from a previous marriage, ages nine and eleven. The kids spend one week with him and one with their mom, shared custody. Cooper has to admit the new guy next door is easy to look at but also so obviously from the big city, with no idea how to handle a Vermont storm. Especially when he ended up rescuing him from certain hypothermia. These two become friends first. Silas falls in love with Wood Hollow. He makes friends, enjoys walking down the street, saying hello to people he actually recognizes. He becomes close with Cooper’s kids and even closer with Cooper. Their relationship is just for the…
L
Lisa K.
March 29, 2026
Verified Purchase

Good book

This was a really good first book in a new series. I love small town and single dad stories, so I was excited to read this. It definitely didn't disappoint. I received an advanced copy and voluntarily gave my honest review.
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Danielle C.
March 25, 2026

Could it be real?

This Guy By: Lane Hayes Could it ever be real? 📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚 What if two people that on paper make no sense but somehow they do? Silas is on the outside of a 15 year pro football career. Cooper is a dad, a ex husband and a business owner but what starts as friendship and neighbors feels like it could be so much more. This was my first book from this author but definitely not my last. Definitely well put together, great character development and I wanted so much more. The author writing is flawless, and the words are so captivating, the plot had so many twists and turns and none that I was expecting, and many shockingly intimate I have become a huge fan of this author. The author writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some have quick witted story lines that are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills. Authors Blurb: The football star, the lumberjack, and a small-town love story… Silas Not to sound dramatic, but I can’t decide if I’m a hot mess, a has-been…or both. There’s nothing quite like being in the spotlight at my lowest point. I could use a break from LA and my agent just for a little while. But Vermont in the middle of a blizzard? Probably not a…