Fall Me Maybe is part of the Cozy Creek Collection, featuring six standalone books by six different authors. This is the first book I've read in the collection, and it didn't disappoint.

About this book: In this sweet small-town romance set in Cozy Creek, Colorado, Luanne Billings navigates the ups and downs of modern dating, trying to find The One through a dating app. However, her disastrous dates lead her to form an unexpected connection with Noah, a ride-share driver with a mysterious past. As she becomes more intrigued by Noah's dry humor and guarded nature, she starts to question whether her true happily ever after might be found in the front seat of his car instead of on her dating app.

I love Cozy Creek (in Colorado)!! There's nothing like a good book bringing back good memories and evoking positive emotions. Cozy Creek's festivities reminded me of my hometown and the annual Fall Festival. This book has me ready to risk it all and move to a small town that actually experiences the fall season.

This is the second book I've read by Lacey Hatcher, and she does a great job of developing the story and characters. It's a slow burn, but in a way that's engaging. Noah is a bit of a grump, but he has the best nicknames for Luanne (who prefers to go by Lu), all involving the word "Lu," and it never gets annoying or old. There was a twist/shocking moment that I saw coming, and I was ready to throw hands to defend Lu! I'm glad it all worked out. The epilogue had me all like 🥹🥹.

Remember to Live. Love. Laugh.

P.S. I am so excited that I found a book easter egg! How amazing would it be for the worlds of Kirby Falls and Cozy Creek to come together?

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Take it or Leaf It by Laney Hatcher was such a delightful escape! With the triple-digit heat where I live, I loved getting lost in the cozy, fall vibes of Kirby Falls, a charming small town that felt like a warm hug. The atmosphere perfectly complemented the slow-burn romance, making this book an absolute joy to read. 

 

The town of Kirby Falls was wonderfully depicted as a welcoming, loving, and open community. Will, the ex-professional baseball player, is back in his hometown working on the family farm. He’s a bit grumpy, trying to find his path and happiness, which made him a complex and compelling character. Then there’s Becca, who landed in Kirby Falls to escape her past. Despite everything she’s been through, she remains a ray of sunshine. Her warmth and resilience made me want to be her friend! 

 

The character development was spot-on, making Will and Becca relatable and real. I loved the addition of a dog 🐶 in the story—it added an extra layer of heart to the book. And let’s talk about Will! For a grump, he does so many sweet and caring things, not just for Becca but also for his family and their farm. Hello, new book boyfriend! Plus, there’s just something about a guy who wears his hat backward and looks good doing it. 🥵 

 

This book had just the right amount of spice, nothing too overwhelming but enough to keep the romance sizzling. I am already looking forward to book 2! If you’re looking for a cozy fall read with a heartwarming small-town romance, Take it or Leaf It is a must-read! 

 

Be sure to check out the prequel novella Love 'em or Leaf 'em to get to know Jordan and Chloe. 

First, let me say that this is the first book I’ve read in the Will Trent series but the 2nd book I’ve read by Karin Slaughter. I don’t feel like I missed anything starting with book 12 in a series or not seeing the show. Also, hi, I am the problem because who starts a series at the 12th book! 🤦🏾‍♀️ 

 What I’ve learned reading a KS book, is that she is going to give you all of the details, front story, back story, side story, and character development then drop some twists on you. This made for a lengthy read with various characters, stories, and intertwined messiness.  

 

Speaking of characters, throw this whole family away because whaaat?? The whole family is a mess, has a secret or two, and is guilty of something. Even Mercy (rip) was guilty of some things. However, I did love Faith (can Faith have her own series?) Once all sides of the story and characters were built up and established, the ball dropped and rolled. The twists came out swinging. Overall, this was a solid 3-star read even if it was long. What I’ve learned is that I am not a long-chapter kind of reader. I’d rather have 100 short chapters than 20 long chapters. 

 

Lastly, If you’re going to read a KS book then take a moment to read any content warnings and then decide how to proceed. Don’t blame the book and author if you don’t read the content warnings. 

I didn’t pay much attention to what this was about before reading it—lesson learned. The title and cover were intriguing, so I figured, why not? That’s where the excitement ended. I love psychological thrillers, but reading about influencers, especially mom influencers, is not for me. Honestly, I didn’t like any of the characters. Meredith and Aspen/Riley, the main characters, are mom influencers, and their mentor-mentee relationship turned into a best friendship then a fight, but it wasn’t convincing or engaging. Riley’s husband and the bratty kids were equally unlikable (kids are not for me). 

The fake, carefully curated perfect influencer life is real, I’m sure, and that’s depicted well in the book, along with one of the kids' health issues (not acurately depicted). If the point of the book was to make everyone unlikeable, then great job—it worked. If that wasn’t the point, then yikes on bikes. Two stars because I finished it. 

This is the third of the 6 books I’ve read in The Arranged Hearts Series. I’d give it a solid 3.5 stars ⭐️. There was a lot I enjoyed. I liked the references to faith and the prayers they prayed separately and together. Kachelle is a strong, intelligent (Pediatric Orthodontist!) black woman and I loved this positive portrayal. Jacob is an author and illustrator and his sister was pretty funny! They shared so many sweet moments throughout the book and Jacob really had some great book-husband moments. I won’t spoil it but my favorite moment was in the hospital with the two families. 😭 

 

This was a very sweet and typical love story I suppose all love stories don’t need dramatics or something over the top (good or bad). It was a nice love story with a HEA. 

I enjoyed Mint and Murder even more than the last book, which says a lot because I really love this series! I listened to the audiobook and thought Nicole Scott did an excellent job with the narration. She brought the characters to life and made it easy to distinguish between them. 

Sam Jones, Gina, and Annabelle are such a hoot, and I love their dynamic when they're all together. I also really enjoy it when Sam switches into her former actress role—I'd love to see more of that or learn about her time in Hollywood in future books! 

As always, I highly recommend this series and author to anyone looking for a cozy mystery. It's the perfect palate cleanser between romance and thriller books. 

PS - We still don’t like the sheriff! 

 Savory Love" by Gia Ash is a delightful short read set in the charming cowboy town of Bandera, Texas. This 72-page novella centers around Alex, a 6'2" former NYC chef, and Riley, his high school sweetheart, as they navigate a second chance at love on a Texas ranch. The story offers a satisfying mix of spice, romance, and character development, making it a quick and enjoyable palate cleanser. 

As a second-chance romance with a small-town and cowboy/rancher vibe, the novella effectively blends these elements with a multicultural romance twist. Despite the brevity of the story, both Alex and Riley come across as strong and likable characters, with enough chemistry to keep readers engaged. However, the story could have benefited from a bit more character development. Extending the length to about 100 pages would have added some depth without losing the novella's concise appeal. 

Overall, "Savory Love" is a sweet, succinct read that is perfect for those looking for a quick romantic escape.