BEHIND ENEMY BYLINES by KATHLEEN FULLER is a most enjoyable romance novel, with an assortment of interesting characters, that takes place in the small town of Clementine and revolves around The Clementine Times, its future and the people who work there. Sebastian Hudson is the owner, editor and publisher and is determined to honour his benefactor and father figure, Buford Wilson, by running the paper the same way he did.
When Jade Smith,who broke his heart ten years ago, is sent by her boss to encourage Seb to sell to him, things get really interesting…….
Add to the mix a spoilt trust fund kid who is sent to Clemetine by her father in order to grow up, and ends up on a newspaper route in the mountains and feeding pigs at her stepmother’s, a spring hoedown, a betrayal, the arrival of Jade’s foster brother which forces her to come clean about her past and take stock of her behaviour, and much more, and you have a really entertaining read!
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely ny own.

Behind Enemy Bylines by Kathleen Fuller is a delightful story about a small town romance.

Jade Smith has been assigned to bring the Clementine Times into the fold of the bigger newspapers. But owner Sebastian Hudson is having none of it. And especially since Jade is an ex-girlfriend doing the asking.

I loved this rom-com. Lots of great dialogue, and interesting history between Jade and Seb. Along with Jade's foster brother. Add in Kalista, the spoiled trust fund kid who is sent to spend the summer with her step mother in nowheresville Clementine. There are a lot of lessons to be learned.

The characters were interesting and well written. A sweet clean romance that unfolds with engaging dialogue and a compelling supporting cast.

I voluntarily reviewed a complementary ebook which was I received through NetGalley. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

This heartwarming story is set in the South, beginning in 1995, when Jade Smith resigns from her accounting position at a local newspaper in Little Rock, Arkansas, to accept a better offer at a newspaper in Atlanta, Georgia. Without much explanation, she leaves behind Sebastian Hudson, a reporter she had been dating.
Having grown up in the foster system, Jade took the position in Atlanta for two important reasons: the higher salary would enable her to adopt her young foster brother. Fast forward ten years—Jade’s adoption plans have not materialized, and now her boss wants her to travel back to a small town in Arkansas to convince the owner of the local paper to sell. That owner is none other than Sebastian, her former boyfriend. Their reunion is far from joyous; in fact, both are reluctant to be in the same vicinity as each other.
The small town of Clementine soon realizes that Sebastian and Jade share a tumultuous history, and the townsfolk make every effort to facilitate a reconciliation. Meanwhile, we also meet Kalista, a young high school graduate from Los Angeles. She has been sent to Clementine by her wealthy father to spend the summer with the first of her four stepmothers. Living a privileged and somewhat spoiled life, Kalista finds herself confronted with unexpected challenges—her phone has been turned off, and she has no access to her credit cards. She is expected to live on a farm and get a job. Kalista adds an interesting twist to the story when the only job available is delivery of newspapers in the early morning hours.
This is a charming small-town story that has many twists and turns along with surprises. I found it hard to put down until the last page was turned. When I see a book by Kathleen Fuller, I know I’m in for delightful, fun read!
I received a compliment copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

This was such a delight to read!
Wonderful characters that had charm and humor and yes even a serious side to them.
Fuller has done a fantastic job in making these characters realistic, unique and relatable.
I hated to say goodbye to Jade and Seb. I really enjoyed in getting to know them. I thought they were made for each other lol.
They tickled me pink lol.
I couldn't put this story down until it was finished. I read up into the wee hours of the morning but this book was so worth it.
5 stars for a job well done! I highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

This was a heartwarming story about second chances and redemption. I loved the characters and their development and growth. The plot was well-paced and captivating. I highly recommend this clean and wholesome read. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

this book felt like we were learning about a couple of main characters but then we also got to see so much more of the others too. it never took over but the side characters and community all held their own within the plot too. and id definitely want more from them if any future books came to light...
this book gives us Sebastian and Jade. they new each other, possibly loved each other once upon a time. but Jade cant believe in love, definitely not at that point in her life. for all life has told her is that trust noone,believe noone when they care and be your own hero. and she also cant stop until she finally finds that safety she has never had. the safety those who should have always given it never really did. so she left. she left Sebastian. she had to. she felt there was no other choice for her. but in doing so she doesn't even give Sebastian the chance to understand.
now years later Sebastian is in the small community working for a small paper that seems to be feeling smaller all the time,especially on the funds front. but hes held out on selling out and he is determined to keep doing so. he doesn't quite know how but he wont give up.
Jade is near what she feels is mere touching distance of making it. and for her this is it, the final hit, the security she has always craved. she works for a big media company now. and there is just a teeny sticking point(she doesn't know yet) its that she has to go and persuade
the owner of a small town paper to sell. yup, you guessed it folks this is Sebastian paper.
she thinks she can do it. easy. she doesnt feel anything. but Sebastian does...and really so does she and she always did. can she be honest. can they be honest. and can the community group together to offer a sliiiight wiggly helping hand for them both.
this book was full of charm and just goodness. i felt i was being taught something along the way from the chracters. just the pure goodness that echoed off the pages. i loved this book.

This book had it all for me and that was it. I had to read this to see what it was all about. I was not disappointed and enjoyed the content. Enjoyed this book. I want to find more of her books.

Kathleen you wrote such a fun book with this! I can’t wait to recommend this book to people. It was marvelous!

This story was super heartwarming and all about second chances. The characters were great, and I loved seeing them grow. The plot kept me interested the whole way through, and it was just a really fun romcom to read. I’d totally read it again!

Love love loves this book!!!!! Quirky and funny met with Hallmark movie vibes. And a little bit of a 90s movie Meg Ryan esq story.

If you are looking for a closed door romance than look no further. The story was very well thought out and full of cute moments!

This book centers on Sebastian and Jade, two people with a complicated past. Once close—maybe even in love—Jade walked away, shaped by a life that taught her not to trust or rely on anyone. She left Sebastian without explanation, chasing the safety and security she never had.

Years later, Sebastian is running a struggling small-town newspaper, refusing to sell out despite financial strain. Jade, now working for a big media company, is sent to convince the paper's owner to sell—only to find it’s Sebastian.

Their reunion stirs up old feelings, though Jade insists she’s moved on. But can they be honest with each other now? Can the tight-knit community offer them the support they didn’t know they needed?

While focused on Sebastian and Jade, the book also beautifully highlights the side characters and the warmth of the community. Full of heart and quiet wisdom, it’s a story about healing, connection, and second chances. The reader is left wanting more from this world.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

A cute book ! I have read all of Kathleen Fullers books and this was absolutely adorable ! This has a 1990’s-20’s era to it and movie vibe very creative . I highly recommend it when it is released
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers

It's one of those books where everything is 100% chaotic. I loved every detail. As the plot progresses, you understand the characters' actions—even if they were stupid. Here we follow two people who believe in different ways of love—and that's beautiful.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the eARC.

Behind Enemy Bylines was a fun trip to the recent past. Just far enough back that technology was really starting to become a thing and our world wasn’t yet dominated by computers and cell phones. Two primary characters, Jade and Sebastian, are the key storytellers, although there are a few secondary characters who create some nice subplots as well. I enjoyed how the stories intersected and served to enhance the other perspective. As the story unfolds, I found myself thinking about how often hindsight is twenty-twenty. If Jade could only trust and appreciate how amazing Sebastian was, her path would likely have looked very different. And yet, that is the way of choices and decisions we make. It made me so very thankful for second chances. There were some awkwardly painful moments, but they were just perfect to draw out Jade and bring in Sebastian a little closer. I am glad all worked out as everyone learned the value of family, honesty, and community.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

This was such an entertaining that I finished in a few hours.
A well written story that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
The characters draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
They are realistic and very well developed.
I really enjoyed the writing style. I found myself hooked, turning the pages.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Loved this second chance romance by one of my favorite authors, Kathleen Fuller. She jumps seamlessly from Amish fiction to Romantic fiction.
It’s 1995, and Jade falls for Sebastian. But she has a tough upbringing and can’t trust that this relationship will last. Fast forward ten years, Jade and Sebastian come together for work and things start getting interesting.
I wish I could visit the small town of Clementine! Many thanks to the author, Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
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This one was cute! Behind Enemy Bylines has all the small-town feels with a throwback newspaper twist. Jade and Sebastian have that second-chance spark, and the little community details made me smile. Totally gave me cozy weekend-read vibes.

That said, I was hoping for a bit more drama or tension in the big moments—it stayed pretty mellow all the way through. Still, it’s sweet, easy to read, and left me feeling warm and fuzzy.

If you like small-town romance with low angst and a nostalgic touch, this is a nice one to curl up with. Three stars from me!

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the ARC!

I enjoyed this book a lot. I like books that focus on the written word, in this case newspapers. I like seeing characters grow, as is the case with Kalista. It's fun having a really amazing person who sees beyond the persona people try to present, as Tyler does. Add in someone getting caught doing something sneaky and having to hide under a desk and it gets even more zany. I liked it.

Along with all that, there are a lot of hurts from the past that need to heal so people can move on. I appreciated the emphasis on second chances and restored relationships. My only gripe with the book was the title. I thought it was misleading. I thought there was going to be a battle between the two journalists with witty, zinging headlines going back and forth. I shouldn't have assumed that from the title but it's what came to mind when I read it.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Coworkers who begin dating are separated abruptly by life's circumstances and their own choices. After 10 years, Jade Smith and Sebastian Hudson are thrust back together when her boss asks her to approach Sebastian about the small-town newspaper that Sebastian owns and operates. The paper, like so many in small towns, is suffering from reduced advertising, online competition, and changing ways that people take in their news. Because they parted on cloudy terms, Sebastian is not sure how to interpret her motives. Jade puts up a wall because of her upbringing and all of its uncertainties. She is hard to approach and sometimes does a 180 turn in conversations and relationships.
The cast of minor characters add to the depth of the story. I found the story to move right along.

What a sweet redemption story! The author weaves a tale that leaves you cheering for the leading characters. Well done!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

When you need a light hearted read to lift your spirits this book will fit the bill! Such a fun read from Kathleen Fuller. I give it 5 stars. I received a review copy of this book and am writing this review voluntarily.

Kathleen is one of my favorite authors! This story definitely fits in with one of her great, easy to read, wholesome stories! I highly recommend you check this one out.