Books & Spoons Review: That Thing You Do by Maria Geraci

Allie Grant doesn’t believe in second chances. She does, however, believe in the power of a permanent paycheck. So when a tipster reports that the soon-to-be demolished senior center in her hometown is haunted, Allie hightails it to Whispering Bay to get the scoop that could secure her dream job at Florida! magazine. What she finds, though, is far scarier than any ghost. Cue her ex-boyfriend, sexy construction foreman Tom Donalan.

When Tom catches Allie poking around his construction site, he quickly realizes his former high school flame is just as feisty as ever. And, heaven help him, her irresistible, mile-high legs still take his breath away. But Tom isn’t about to delay the building’s demolition because of a silly ghost story.

With neither of the stubborn exes backing down from their opposing positions, sparks fly. And, underneath the surface, the fire of their old attraction burns as hot as ever. When strange things start happening with increasing frequency around town, even a tough skeptic like Tom is tested. The question is, can Allie and Tom stop fighting long enough to get to the bottom of Whispering Bay’s ghost problem—and the more important matter of mending their broken hearts

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This story touched my heart. It is filled with small town atmosphere, family connections, second chances, teenage angst, and love in all forms. And it all started with a ghost story.
Allie is trying to settle down in life, and reach her next life goal, full time job with benefits, after all, thirty is right here. She is sassy, and smart, loyal and kind, long legged beauty, journalist, waitress, and in trouble: she needs this article to get the full time job.
Tom is all around a good man. He is successful in his career, he is a great father, kind man with a big heart, and hot as all get out. The connection between Tom and Allie is bittersweet. The history they have is heartbreaking, and now the sexual tension is so tight, you can feel it in the air. They seem like the couple you want to cheer on, to do anything to make it work out.
The story is filled with compelling characters. I loved that they were so real, they had problems, nothing was perfect, but their life was like it is, some great things, with some failures, some heartbreak, some happiness, overall satisfying lives of the chances given to you. This tender story made me smile, it made me sigh, and it gave me some tears, and the tale will surely stay with me for a time
~ Five Spoons!