Keri Ford – In the Hay

Book 3 in the Uninhibited in Apple Trail, Arkansas, series.



Two strangers visiting Apple Trail. When they get together will they put in roots in this small town or go back to their lives?
It’s been a White Picket Fence life for Nicolette. Charming, but tedious. She graduated high school, raring to go. Nothing is ever as easy as it seems though. The fear of being stuck in a rut, living a dull day-to-day life keeps Nicolette from settling on a career, despite her six years of college. When the chance arrives for her to housesit, she takes opportunity by the horns for a little playtime. She would experience life and find something that would make her happy.
Drew knows exactly what he wants. To run the family construction business. Too bad his dad doesn’t think he’s ready. They make a deal. Drew will help his cousin put up a new fence and after he’s learned hard work, the construction business is his. Drew’s not sure learning how to string fence line together will see him suitable for a career of paper pushing, but he’ll do it.
When Drew meets the wanna-be-free-spirited Nicolette, his determined thoughts of what he’s always worked for begins to sway. Nicolette’s finding the fun in life. But their relationship is temporary. A week tops.


Well, the blurb tells it all, kind of. It is the longest novella I have read by Keri Ford so far, almost 160 pages in .lit. I very much liked it.
Nicolette has been a good girl all her life, doing what her mothers wants her to do. And now she is free for a while in Apple Trail, housesitting and dogsitting. She is determind to do all those things she never did as a kid and have fun. Climb up a watertower, make a mudslide, skinny dipping, and even having an affair. And for that last one, she connects with Drew. He isn’t into relationships, as he is focused on his future, which will be way too busy for a commitment. If only he can please his father enough. So a weeklong fling while he is in Apple Trail, is just the thing. Even though the work he is doing for his cousin is physically heavy and exhausting, he will be sure to have enough energy left to have a good time with Lette.
Just a week. But they both start feeling more for each other pretty soon, and Drew is spooked by that. Lette is not, she wants to go for it, see where it leads. But when the job is finished, Drew goes home.


I really liked this book a lot. Nicolette is just so true a character, someone you can relate too. She is an innocent but willing to have fun. I loved that she read up on the internet on sex, and romance. She is not afraid to be silly, she goes for it.

Keri Ford has a very distinct writing style I have come to love. She uses plain language, open and honest, and just so very real. You could meet those people she writes about. Yes, there is a fair amount of sex in her books, but not too explicit or excessive for my tastes. Drew is a talker, but it never becomes sordid. I liked the two of them together.

I am looking forward to reading the next one. So far, the books are getting better and better.

9 stars.