DNF at 23%. While I appreciated the author’s writing style, the plot felt flat, and I struggled to stay engaged with the story. Thank you for the opportunity!

This book was a miss for me. While I *love* a Hallmark movie, and was so excited to read a book that parodied it, this was lacking something for me. I found the Hallmark small town setting and quirks to be insipid, and have read other books where it was done with more success. I enjoy Falon Ballard, but this was not a book I would recommend.

Campbell, a hardworking lawyer with no time for love, finds herself reluctantly set up on a blind date with Ben, courtesy of her meddling grandmother. After the disastrous date, Cam wakes up in the whimsical town of Heart Springs, a place straight out of a Hallmark movie. To return home, she must complete three tasks—including the seemingly impossible one: falling in love. To her surprise, Ben is also in Heart Springs, setting the stage for a journey that could change everything she thought she knew about love and life.

I absolutely loved the concept of being given a "second chance" to restart your life and rediscover what truly matters. Cam was such a strong and relatable main character, and her transformation in Heart Springs was heartwarming to witness. Ben was the ultimate cinnamon roll—so sweet and sappy—and their dynamic was delightful. The magical realism added a charming twist, and the side characters were all so memorable. My only wish was to learn more about Ben’s backstory. Overall, this is a feel-good read perfect for anyone who loves romance with a touch of magic!

I love this author and I'm honor to be able to review this book. Falon Ballard's, style is evident on the page, it is beautifully written and it grabs you into the alternate reality along with the main characters. The Story starts with the FMC on a blind date with a Pediatrician. But she's not giving it a chance, working on her phone while on the date and ending it early. The waitress doesn't charge them and leaves them with a criptic message.
Campbell (Cam, the FMC) wakes up the next morning and is in an alternate reality, a perfect small town and her blind date from the previews night is there as well, The premise of the book reminded me of the movie Pleasant Ville, just the romance version.

Cam starts as a very unlikeable character, and that's on purpose because she has quite the journey of self descovery ahead of her. By midpoint, she's yearning for a change in her life and a chance at love. The two reluctant main characters turn into friends and their connection feels very real, I loved Ben (MMC) and how tenderly he treats Cam.

I gave it three and a half starts because the premise of the story wasn't for me, the alternate reality and the eeriely perfect small town are not elements I usually look for in the type of romances I read, but that is a personal taste issue. It is a good story and if you like this type of supernatural twist you'll love it.

So, I really loved this one. It read just like a spicy Hallmark movie and I mean that in the best possible way. There were some really cheesy moments in this book, but the author knew it and had the characters make fun of the cheesy moments as they were happening. I legit laughed-out-loud a few times when a character would say the exact thing that was running through my mind.

After a pretty bad blind date, Campbell and Ben wake up trapped in a Hallmark-style town. Campbell is given 3 goals she must meet before she’s able to return to her normal life.

Campbell (aka Cam) started off as totally unlikeable. I wasn’t sure how Ballard was going to get me to fall in love with her, but I totally did and she didn’t even change her personality that much. It was a believable transformation.

Ben was a total “sweetheart” throughout. I feel like we really didn’t get to know him very well, which is one of my only beefs with the book.

The supporting characters were cute, but felt Hallmark-y and temporary so I didn’t really get too attached to them, except for Emma. I loved Emma and am really interested in how her life turned out.

This book was a really cute read and I recommend it if you’re in the mood for something light and feel-good with a little spice. This book releases on February 11, 2025.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Putman Books for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love everything Avalon Ballard has written, and have read everything published to date. It was so excellent just like her others. She’s up there with other names like lynn painter for me. I will read anything she writes. .

2.5 ⭐️ - I loved the premise of this book, but the spice wasn’t there for me. Also, the amount of times sweetheart was used was 🤮🤣 it didn’t seem normal or natural.

An ambitious New York woman who is a lawyer goes on a blind date with a Dr, who is named Dr. Ben Loving. The next morning she wakes up a new town called Heartand. The “grandma” of Heartland gives her three tasks to be able to go back home. The story follows Cam on her journey as she tries to find her love/ passion in life.

I am excited to read other Falon Ballard books because I have heard great things about her books. This one just fell flat for me.

Publishes: Feb 11th, 2025

Thank you Falon Ballard, Penguin Group Putnam & NetGalley for this advanced eARC!

This is my first time reading Fallon and this story was adorable! I didn’t expect the story to take the turn that it did at the beginning but it was the bit of magic that made everything work!

I am simply OBSESSED with anything Falon Ballard writes!!! This book was short and sweet in all of the best ways. I GET Cam’s workaholic nature and how it takes a dramatic change of scenery to make her see that there is more to life. The switch from her fast paced life in New York to the slow nature of Heart Springs is both amusing and revealing. Personally, I would LOVE to visit Heart Springs in all its adorable nature.

Cam cracked me up so much in this book. I loved her bitter attitude and all the things that go wrong for her as a result. Ben is adorable and his patience is everything you want in a love interest. In many ways this book felt that it also had a friends to lovers arc and I adored that.

I loved this book. The setting of Heart Springs is perfect and the characters are relatable. The slow burn is *chef’s kiss*. If I could reread it for the first time again I would. It warmed my heart and reminded me to believe in love and how love changes us for the better. It was just a beautiful story and I cannot say enough good things about it.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a sweet read about a woman essentially living in her own Hallmark movie against her will. I liked the cast of characters among the town. I found the pacing a bit of a struggle at times, but much like our main character, maybe it’s just a reminder to the reader that it’s ok to slow down and enjoy the moment! I prefer some of the author’s other work better, as this sort of magical realism isn’t necessarily my cup of tea… or seasonal latte! #ChangeofHeart #NetGalley

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard is a heartfelt exploration of love, personal growth, and the complexities of second chances. The book offers relatable themes, particularly around self-discovery and emotional healing, with an engaging narrative that keeps readers invested in the protagonist's journey. While the character development is solid, the pacing can sometimes feel uneven, with moments of emotional depth occasionally overshadowed by slower plot progression. The romance, though sweet, follows familiar tropes, which may leave some readers wanting more originality in how the relationship unfolds. Overall, Change of Heart is an enjoyable and comforting read, perfect for fans of romance with a focus on personal transformation.

Falon Ballard’s books never miss for me!! This one was super sweet and I loved the hallmark vibes. I loved the character development. The steamy scenes were also a plus!!

🌟 Probably my favorite Falon Ballard book yet! Change of Heart is a heartwarming story about discovering love within yourself, learning to accept love from others, and finding joy in the everyday moments—though that’s easier said than done.

Campbell, a high-powered NYC attorney, is set up on a date with Ben, a charming pediatric neurosurgeon. It’s the setup for a perfect power couple... except Cam isn’t looking for love—she’s just trying to please her grandmother and secure her spot in the family law firm. But fate has other plans. When both Cam and Ben wake up in the seemingly magical, Hallmark-esque town of Heart Springs, Cam has to figure out how to get back to her real life—with a little help from her own personal fairy godmother and, of course, the possibility of love along the way.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was the hilarious contrast between Cam and the picture-perfect world of Heart Springs. Despite the town's charm—seasonal wardrobes, perfect weather, no one ever getting sick—Cam stays true to herself: cursing, making mistakes, and being her wonderfully real self in a world where everything else is too good to be true.

Ben and Cam are both lovable characters, and their dynamic was such a joy to read. This book felt magical, funny, and full of heart. I can’t wait for others to dive into this delightful romance!

✨ Recommended for fans of:

Second chance romance
Grumpy/sunshine dynamics
Forced proximity
A sprinkle of magical realism

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an advanced copy of the book!

This was my first read by this author, but definitely won't be my last! It's a sweet, fun, steamy Hallmark-esque romcom with a heavy dose of magical realism. The golden retriever MMC goes from McDreamy to McSteamy in the spicy open door scenes. I loved the magical town full of quirky characters, and the overarching themes of belonging, friendship, and community.

Overall Change of Heart has a sweet premise and character building for our girl Cam. Cam is what you'd consider a girlboss, strong independent woman, but throughout the story learns that her career might not be the most important thing in life. I was worried that this would be a "save me strong man" type of story, but luckily Cam keeps her strong attitude throughout.

This has a bit of magic and small town mixed into it along with forced proximity romance. It's a cute story but I did feel like dragged long towards the end. The usage of the word sweetheart also made my eyes roll...... so be warned. While I have enjoyed Falon's previous books I can't say this is my favorite. Still worth the read if you need a little heartwarming this winter!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC.

I loveddddd it!!!! First of all, the dialogue felt like such a real person. I loved Cam. She was so funny and quick and raw. Second of all, the yearning! Ben is perfect (maybe a little too perfect - I wish we explored a little deeper into his issues but NBD) and all the descriptions of him just pained he couldn’t share how he felt I also felt. I just really loved this. Ended the book with happy tears and feeling so uplifted and good! I was in a bit of a reading slump and then read this and it totally got me out of it. Thank you!!

I have never read anything by this author, but I will definitely be looking out for this author! The pace was great and I was hooked from just a few pages in!

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard is a heartwarming story with the magic of small town charm. Campbell Andrews, a no nonsense attorney, finds herself in Heart Springs, a town brimming with romantic cliches and quirky characters. For someone who scoffs at love and fairy tales, it’s her worst nightmare, until she realizes her ticket back to reality hinges on finding true love. This novel is equal parts hilarious and touching, with both witty banter and heartfelt moments. This story is about reevaluating priorities and opening yourself up to unexpected possibilities. Cam’s transformation from workaholic to someone willing to embrace vulnerability and connection makes for a feel good read!

This novel is the perfect Hallmark movie turned on its head - I loved the strong female lead and the premise of a working woman being trapped in an idyllic Town to find love was fun and creative. Ben as the male main character was the perfect match, I admired his optimism and work ethic and how he was able to help Cam throughout the story. This would be the perfect cozy story for a cold winter day or anytime you want to smile and root for the career driven underdog.

Oh, if only I could give this book 6 stars!! I was immediately enthralled by Campbell and her brash attitude. The banter between her and Ben was chefs kiss from the start. The plot was wholly unexpected but I loved every minute of it. This felt like a hallmark movie in book form. The town of Heart Springs, Mimi, and Emma made this book feel charming and magical.

Campbell believed she had everything she could ever want, until her waitress during a blind date basically did a freaky Friday move and brought her to a completely alternate universe, Heart Springs. There, she has to check off 3 things: find something she’s passionate about, be a good member of the community, and experience true love. The adventures she goes on throughout this book are hilarious, wholesome, and borderline emotional. Cam’s inner struggles are so relatable and I found myself connecting to her more and more as I continued reading. This book was so unique, the romance was again, Hallmark certified, and the friendships and magic felt so special. I’m so thankful I was approved to read this ARC. I highly recommend!!!