Falon Ballard’s first foray into magic realism is everything I didn’t know I needed in a romance novel. She brings her signature banter and character development to this snarky, spicy take on a classic Hallmark romance, and it works. Campbell, a big city attorney wakes up one day to find herself trapped in a charming small town, where everything’s picture-perfect, smiling and friendly. She has a magic wardrobe that provides her clothes, and wakes up every day to perfectly curled hair and a full face of makeup. Her next-door neighbor Ben is the handsome pediatric surgeon that she spurned on her last blind date, and it seems they are stuck together in this town until she can fulfill three important tasks.

As a protagonist, Campbell is a bit hard to like at first, but Ballard writes her in a way that makes you still want to root for her. The romantic tension is palpable, a delicious slow burn. I read it in just a couple of sittings and really enjoyed it. This book will be a big hit with fans of Ashley Poston,

I wasn't sure about this story but not too far in, I ended up really enjoying it and looking forward to how this author was going to give this couple their HEA. It was definitely a very unique twist on a romance which is what threw me at first but I think that Cam's journey to finding and appreciating her true self is what kept me reading. Thank you to Putnam Books for giving me a chance to read this arc early on NetGalley for an honest review.

If you like Schmigadoon or Hallmark movies, Change of Heart is for you. Very sweet, quick read, I wish we would have gotten fuller characterizations of folks outside of the female lead, but an ideal turn your brain off kind of read.

I’ve become a fan of Falon Ballard’s, but this one (unfortunately) missed the mark for me. A big city lawyer gets stuck in a Hallmark movie town, and has to accomplish some tasks to make it back home…it sounds like a book I’d enjoy, but I had a hard time getting into the story. The main character was not likable (and there really wasn’t much backstory to explain it), the love interest felt rushed (and if I read “sweetheart” again I think I might have puked), and the Hallmark-esque storyline felt incomplete. It was a cute read once I got into it, but it just wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be.

This really did not work for me. The main character was unlikeable but in a bad way, not in a way I usually like (just mean and rude to people, self centered). You want to root for the main character, and I found that so hard to do. I liked the concept of being put into a hallmark movie set unexpectedly, but the execution was just really off. You never really got a sense of how or why it made sense for that to have happened, and the twist in the ending was just too painfully cliche. I feel like the author took every stereotype about working women and made it a bad thing, and leaned way too hard into the “love will save you” trope. Just really did not enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

OMG, this was so awful, I don't even want to waste my time giving a review. Suffice to say, I can't believe this was written by Falon Ballard, whose books I've enjoyed so much. The FMC is such a HORRIBLE person, I almost stopped at 15%, that's how much I hated her. But I figured, maybe it will get better - if it's an author I like, I'll give the benefit of the doubt and keep going. Nope. When I got to 17% and the FMC was working at a bookstore (one of her 3 "you have to do this in order to get home" requirements) and she literally had NO IDEA about ANY books or authors whatsoever, that was it for me. She actually says she's a cum laude grad, she can figure it out. Um, you really have no idea who Stephen King is? UGH. Nope, this one was not for me.

📚 Change of Heart by Fallon Ballard 🌸

If you’re craving Hallmark in book form, Change of Heart delivers the cute, sweet vibes you’d expect: a workaholic transported to a whimsical small town with seasonal festivals, quirky townsfolk, and a sprinkle of magic. But sadly, it just didn’t work for me. 😕

The concept had potential, but the plot felt flat, the characters were one dimensional, and I couldn’t connect emotionally. Campbell Andrews, the ambitious lawyer who doesn’t believe in love, had so much room for growth, but her journey didn’t feel earned. And while the setup of "experience true love to return home" sounds charming, the romance lacked the spark I needed. ✨

If you adore light, Hallmark style stories, you might enjoy it, but for me, this one just missed the mark. 🫣 3⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, Fallon Ballard, Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC of this book.

While I enjoyed this book it was very reminiscent of a couple other books. I still had fun following along.

Thank you netgalley for an advanced copy, my opinionss are my own.

Falon Ballard has done it again! A romance mixed with magical realism gives the perfect amount of giddiness while reading. This book made me feel like I jumped into the middle of Hallmark movie and I loved it.

Falon Ballard might be a witch. Everything she writes, regardless of tropes is a home run with me and Change of Heart was no exception. Suspended disbelief isn’t usually my style and I don’t get into many books with mysticism as a main plot. CoH turned that on its head for me. Ballard’s unique voice and humor came through on every page and I couldn’t put the book down. The story’s progression was well done and the character development enhance the impact of the story. I found the ending to be a little rushed and it was the hardest part to believe.

I recommend that romance readers give this a try regardless of how they feel about mysticism, it might surprise them with how much they enjoy it.

✅ After a disastrous blind date (set up by her gradmother), lawyer Campbell (Cam) Andrews wakes up in a Hallmark-esque small town
✅ Dr. Ben Loving, pediatrician, the other half of the disastrous blind date, also stuck in the same small town
✅ all Cam needs to do to get out of this hallmark town is (1) find a job that she’s passionate about (2) help people and (3) experience love
🌶️: yes

This is SO charming, a very enjoyable sexy Hallmark

This is a very sweet love story with Hallmark Christmas movie vibes (though not a holiday story) about finding one’s true passion and self love. Great read!

Interesting premise, but I didn’t care for it. The story follows Cam, NYC fancy lawyer who only goes on dates to appease her grandmother. She goes on a blind date with Ben, and was pretty awful to him. A meddling waitress tries to help but they cut the date short. Next day, both Ben and Cam magically end up in a Hallmark-movie town. In order to go home, they must complete task, including finding love. My issue was with the character development. I felt like Cam didn’t really grow or learn anything, and was hard to root for. Ben was very one note. We really didn’t learn much about him. Plus, you could make a drinking game out of the times Ben calls Cam “sweetheart”. You would have alcohol poisoning. I think this was a miss.

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

So cute! This doesn’t come out until February but I feel like it’s actually a perfect Christmastime book given then Hallmark vibes.

I felt like the end wrapped up a little too well in the end, even for me. 😂

Thank you to netgalley & putnam for an advanced copy of Change of Heart by Falon Ballard.

This book is like cotton candy, super sweet, very fluffy romance. It's going to be perfect for all the readers who love Hallmark Movies. This one is hits like every season hallmark movie.

Cam is a driven corporate lawyer who wakes up in a pastel wonderland town after being a spectacularly bad date the night before. In a wild turn of events, her date from the night before, also ends up in this picture perfect town. They are both tasked with things to do in order to get out of the town of Heart Springs.

It definitely gave the ghosts of Christmas meets Valentine meet cute. I enjoyed Mimi, our puppet master of Heart Springs. She's sweet as a gum drop but doesn't let Cam run over her with her nonsense. I enjoyed the parallels between her and the ghosts of Christmas. She quite literally set Cam on the path of being a better person.

Dr Ben Loving is on his own separate path of discovering how to enrich his life and loving himself as well. The pair become sarcastic and unlikely friends. The push and pull between the pair is cutely frustrating. I loved the tension but I really wanted to smash their faces together like barbies and make them kiss. The pay off is worth the wait though because it's all the more satisfying when things work out.

If you love:

Hallmark movies
Blind dates
Friends to Lovers
Slow burn
Steamy scenes

You should definitely add this to your tbr.

3.5 rounded to 4 stars.. Hallmark movies aren't my jam but this could definitely be for you.

3.5 ⭐️

Change of Heart by Fallon Ballard is a fun, lighthearted read that embraces its Hallmark movie-esque charm—cheese and all! The story follows Campbell, a high-powered, no-nonsense attorney whose life is all business, until she mysteriously wakes up in an idyllic small town with a twist: she can’t leave until she completes a series of tasks.

While some moments veered into cringey territory, I think the over-the-top sweetness was part of the book’s charm. The plot is playful, the setting feels like a warm hug, and it’s the kind of feel-good story that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Another great Falon Ballard book! Loved the growth and depth of the characters. I also loved the unique premise and the ‘Pleasantville’ like town. I would’ve loved more time in the end when they made it back to NYC, but otherwise was a cute read!

Change of Heart by Fallon Ballard (Feb 10, 2025). Thank you @netgalley and @penguin group putman for the arc! Cam, the fmc, was the romance version of the Grinch. She was a successful lawyer but also very rude and brash. Love the character growth that Cam goes throughout the book. And spoiler alert, her heart grows three sizes larger. I really like Ben expect for his use of sweetheart.

Read if you like:
💕magical realism
💕 sassy FMC
💕 lavender honey lattes
💕open door spice

This was a cute Hallmark story, but wasn't as engaging as I had hoped it would be as I love this author.. would be a great read for some but I wouldn't go back to read it again.

This is a cute and sweet story! It reads like a Hallmark movie - starts in the bustling city and she ends up in a quiet, magical town where everyone knows everyone AND everything it seems. I love an open door romance that isn’t too over the top with the smut - it has the plot and some smut! I had never read a Falon Ballard book before, but it won’t be my last! The writing was refreshing and helped me have something light and fun to read during a hectic time of year.