Aliyah Burke’s *A Sweet Spot for Love* is a lighthearted, steamy romance featuring a fake engagement trope that brings together a former pro baseball player and a resourceful single mom. While the novel delivers on chemistry and charm, it occasionally falls short of its potential, leaving readers wanting more depth in the story and characters.

**Linc Conner**, a former athlete now running a community center, is a likable hero with a big heart. His dedication to his center and the kids he helps makes him an admirable character. However, his focus wavers when **Emma Henricksen**, a determined and fiercely independent single mother, enters the picture. Emma’s drive to provide for her gifted daughter makes her a relatable and grounded character, balancing the playful banter and attraction between her and Linc.

The fake engagement premise sets the stage for plenty of sparks, humor, and heartfelt moments. Linc’s proposal to play fiancé for the sake of an investor and Emma’s decision to go along with it despite her wariness of relationships create a fun dynamic. Their mutual chemistry is undeniable, and Burke does an excellent job of capturing their sizzling connection.

However, the novel doesn’t dig deep enough into the emotional undercurrents that could have elevated it. While both characters have compelling backstories—Linc’s life post-professional sports and Emma’s struggles as a single mom—their development feels somewhat surface-level. Emma’s hesitations about Linc and her concerns about introducing someone new into her and her daughter’s life are touched upon but not explored in detail. Similarly, Linc’s journey from a “play the field” type to a man ready for commitment happens too quickly, leaving little room for believable growth.

The pacing also feels uneven. While the first half sets up the fake engagement and builds tension well, the resolution comes too quickly and neatly, leaving the climax feeling rushed. Readers who enjoy a more nuanced exploration of the transition from pretend to real love might find this aspect lacking.

Despite these shortcomings, *A Sweet Spot for Love* has its moments of charm and humor. The chemistry between Linc and Emma is its biggest strength, and the playful yet tender moments between them add warmth to the story. Fans of light, trope-driven romances will enjoy the breezy read, even if it doesn’t completely hit a home run.

In the end, *A Sweet Spot for Love* is an enjoyable but imperfect romance. It’s perfect for readers looking for a fun, low-stakes story with plenty of heat and a sweet, satisfying ending.

This book sadly fell short for me. I occasionally do enjoy a good insta love or slow burn but I absolutely don‘t like insta lust or characters who constantly talk about/want sex for absolutely no real reason.
I also don‘t enjoy the third act breakup in books but sadly lots of them still have them for some unknown probably dumb reason but anyways, if it‘s there I need it to be a really good and believable reason why you‘re breaking up rn and not just miscommunication or one of them making assumptions. I honestly don‘t remember anything about this book.

I never turn down the chance to read fake engagements trope. But this just felt a little thin. It wasn't convincing to me. and the humor just didn't hit right.

New to me author Aliyah Burke writes an engaging romance. A fake relationship in a small town setting story that turns into something much more, the writing, plot and dialogue is superb. #ASweetSpotForLove #NetGalley

I unfortunately didn't get to read/review this book, as I was hospitalized for the Spring of 2023. Cleaning it up now to remove it from my feedback loop. I apologize for the lack of review!

I love a fake-dating-turned-real-attraction romcom. Throw in a cute little kid and a professional athlete and you know I'll be hooked.

This book was sweet and cute if a little predictable. It was a slow burn, which I love, and a true heart warmer. I flew through this book, to be completely honest, because sometimes you need something a little familiar with some new twists to give you that cozy romance vibe.

Highly recommended to any romance lover out there!

Fairly predictable rom com but it was still a good read that I enjoyed it. It was also a quick read.

HUUUge improvement from the first book. The characters were stronger, the world building was excellent and I was more invested in the cast of characters this time around. Can’t wait for the next book.

I received this book for free for an honest unbiased review from Netgalley.

I wish more books were this well written. Characters were witty and the setting fantastic.

Linc and Emma's paths unintentionally cross while they are both out at the town's bar. Linc is immediately intrigued by Emma without imagining that she's been a fan of his since the beginning of his pro baseball career. Now that they live in the same town after his pro career ended, their encounters become much more common. Emma is a struggling single mom who wants to ensure the best for her daughter. Linc attempts to pursue Emma but decides to tell an investor in his foundation's project that Emma is his fiancee. This starts to mix reality with what they are faking. It was an entertaining read.

"A Sweet Spot For Love" by Aliyah Burke is a heartwarming romance that combines love, family, and small-town charm. Burke's storytelling is engaging, and the characters are relatable, making their journey to find love all the more endearing. This book is a delightful and sweet read for anyone who enjoys tales of love in a cozy setting.

DNF @ 27%. "A Sweet Spot for Love" by Aliyah Burke has all of the hallmarks of what could have been a successful fake dating/engagement romance. Unfortunately,/ the ball is dropped way too often. The dialogue is either stiff and overly obsessive. I am not loving the non-existent chemistry between main characters Linc and Emma. Linc is exceedingly commanding and not in a good way. When he's not being overbearing, there are no other qualities about him that stand out. Emma has absolutely no self-confidence and is obsessed with her weight to the point that it is potentially triggering. If you have/have had an ED, please do not read this. Emma talks about how frumpy and fugly and fat she is so often that it's literally the only thing we know about her other than the fact that she's a mother and had a horrible, pervy boss at the restaurant where she worked before Linc offered her a job. I can't deal with weight-obsessed characters anymore. It's too depressing and sad. Linc and Emma being together feels like a time bomb of toxicity waiting to go off. Their chemistry and vibe might get better over time, but I don't feel like continuing this story very much.

Thanks to NetGalley, Aliyah Burke, and Entangled for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for my review.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

A Sweet Spot For Love is the second book in the Rock Falls series by Aliyah Burke. I did not read the first book in the series, and was able to fully enjoy the read. Although, I think returning readers will find the returning characters and advanced knowledge of the main characters make the read more enjoyable.

Former pro baseball player Linc Conner knows exactly where his head’s at. Most of the time, he’s completely focused on running his community center and focusing on the kids. But when it comes to single mom Emma Henricksen, Linc can’t see straight. She’s driven, resourceful—not to mention that smart, extra-kissable mouth—and when she’s near, he gets lost in a fog of lust. But he needs her help to convince an investor they’re engaged. Emma’s too busy raising her gifted little girl to have a sex life that’s not battery-operated. Still, how could she resist being engaged to a guy who’s the sexual equivalent of her favorite dessert topped with whipped cream and a cherry, even if it’s just pretend? Emma knows all too well that if something seems too good—or too tempting—to be true, it definitely is. Now it’s a game of pretend with a whole lot of chemistry between the guy who’s used to playing the field—and the woman who opted out of the game long ago. All that’s missing is a curveball.

A Sweet Spot For Love is a cute and fun romance with some great characters. I did enjoy getting to know Linc and Emma, and I thought Greer and the circle of friends were wonderful additions to the story. I liked the center they are both working hard for, and the small town vibes. There was a lot that really worked for me. The slow burn as the faked dating, the cute moments with Greer, the support systems and friendship, and more. I appreciated getting both points of view, and how However, I felt like the romance side was a little off. I felt like the slow burn switch flipped to something else in a weird moment and that rather threw me off. Also, some of the choices and actions seemed a bit out of character for both of them and there were side stories that could have been skipped entirely while others got left behind when they could have made a good addition to the story overall. I also felt like some of the resolution was off a bit as well. I really wanted to love this read. I did enjoy it, but it did not live up to my hopes or expectations for the book.

A delightful read with slow burn to sizzling. Loved the characters,
Many thanks to Entangled and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you soooooo much netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced review copy if this book💗
"I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”



Absolutely amazing!!

This book was honestly adorable. For someone who loves the single mum and dad trope this was something that I knew I was going to love.
Both characters were beautifully written and I felt so connected to them both.
I would however say that some parts I felt were extremely out of the characters personality and for that I felt that the book couldn’t be rated as high as I would’ve liked.

Emma, a devoted single mother, is determined to provide her young daughter Greer with a better childhood than she had. Greer has recently discovered a passion for baseball at the local community center, which poses challenges for Emma in managing her work commitments. Linc, the former professional baseball player who runs the community center, dreams of expanding its reach. When an Investor assumes Linc is a family man, he quickly decides to point out Emma as his fiancée in the crowd, leading to a classic fake dating scenario in a small town with some miscommunication involved. The book features a delightful pairing of a curvy single mother with a former baseball player, and the slow-burn romance beautifully unfolds as the story progresses. Well-developed characters and a close-knit friendship circle add depth to the narrative, while vibrant dialogue and the charming small town setting make it an enjoyable read overall.

A Sweet Spot for Love
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Author: Aliyah Burke
GR: 3.58

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Former pro baseball player Linc Conner knows exactly where his head’s at. Most of the time, he’s completely focused on running his community center and focusing on the kids. But when it comes to single mom Emma Henricksen, Linc can’t see straight. She’s driven, resourceful—not to mention that smart, extra-kissable mouth—and when she’s near, he gets lost in a fog of lust. But he needs her help to convince an investor they’re engaged. Emma’s too busy raising her gifted little girl to have a sex life that’s not battery-operated. Still, how could she resist being engaged to a guy who’s the sexual equivalent of her favorite dessert topped with whipped cream and a cherry, even if it’s just pretend? Emma knows all too well that if something seems too good—or too tempting—to be true, it definitely is… Now it’s a game of pretend with a whole lot of chemistry between the guy who’s used to playing the field—and the woman who opted out of the game long ago. All that’s missing is one helluva curveball…

My Thoughts: This is book number two in the Rock Falls series. The first book is Tinkering with Love. This book can absolutely be read as a standalone book. This follows a classic fake dating in a small town setting with some miscommunication trope built in. I loved that the book features a curvy single mother paired up with a former professional baseball player. This was a slow burn that built up the story.

Emma is a single mother to her daughter Greer, who loves baseball. Emma was a fierce, determined and devoted mother. Linc is a former baseball player and when an investor wants a ‘family man,’ Linc points to Emma as his fake fiancé and so the story begins. Linc was not my favorite in the beginning, but he did grow on me. The characters are well developed, witty banter, with chemistry, and the supporting characters, aka friend group, really enriches the storyline. The author’s writing was creative and flowed well, even at a slow burn.

I wanted something more from the story. Now do not get me wrong, overall, this was a good story, I just wanted something more. I think less sex jokes and more connective chemistry would have added another depth to the story. I would recommend picking up as this was short read.

A fun book that tells the story of some interesting characters. Some parts fell a but flat but I did enjoy it amd a nice ending too