Change of Heart is about a high powered, career focused attorney (Cam) who gets stuck in a small town after a bad date with three objectives to get home, including experiencing true love. Sound familiar? Well it sounded familiar to Cam too and she studies "Hallmark" movies to help her figure out how to accomplish her objectives and get home with the help of her cute next door neighbor...

This is a rom-com that doesn't take itself too seriously and is an interesting twist on the contemporary romance. Still full of Ballard's ability to create interesting characters with good chemistry it is definitely going to be a fun one for this valentine's season!

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for the advanced e-copy of this book.

Campbell is a total workaholic lawyer with zero time for love. So, when she gets set up with Ben, she straight-up tells him she’s not interested, spends the date answering work emails, and bails. But the next morning, she wakes up in a small-town dream (nightmare?) straight out of a Hallmark movie—complete with a magical closet that picks her outfits. Not the vibe she’s intentionally bringing to the party!

Turns out she’s stuck in Heart Springs until she completes three tasks, including, of course, finding true love. And wouldn’t you know it—her neighbor is Ben from the date she ditched. You’d think that would be hella awkward, but the more time they spend time together, feelings develop, and Campbell starts to let her walls down.

This book is magical realism done right, with a touch of humor, heart, and just the right amount of spice. It’s all about self-discovery, falling in love (with yourself and someone else), and maybe giving Hallmark movies a second chance? For fans of A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston, this is a fun, lighthearted read that will go down like cotton candy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Publishing for this eARC!

Campbell Andrews knows what she wants and only makes time for her job. She goes on dates to appease her Grandmother, but has zero interest in them. When she has a date with Dr. Ben Loving their waitress leaves them a little note on their check that both of them brush off. The next morning Cam wakes up in an idyllic Hallmark-esque town called Heart Strings. And in order for both Cam and Ben to get home, Cam has to compete three tasks given to her by that same waitress from their disaster of a date.

I enjoyed this one! Very predictable, but I think that made it a very cute romcom with a Hallmark vibe. This is my second book from Falon Ballard, and I plan on reading more!

If you're a fan of Sarah Adams and Erin Sterling you will love this Magical Realism Romance story from Falon Ballard!! Shout out to Netgalley, Falon + Penguin Group Publishing for the amazing eARC!

What To Expect:
⭐ Magical Realism - Think Stuck in a Hallmark Town
⭐ Single POV
⭐ Blind Date to Friends to Romance
⭐ Low spice but enough to support the story!
⭐ A list of three tasks to go home

My Thoughts:
This is my 2nd book from Falon and while I know this book has mixed reviews I actually really enjoyed it. It was really nice to have a romance story with a different plot line. While magical realism can seem over done or fake this felt a bit more believable.

I enjoyed the back and forth between Campbell and Ben. I really liked the story growth between them as they go from bad blind date to friends and beyond. I loved even more seeing Campbell go from a workaholic and if she is anything like most lawyers close to burning out. Her journey from high strung lawyer to finding joy in living life was so lovely. I wish thought we had gotten to see more about Ben. I know we get the general level of who ben is and what he does but not as deep about him as we do Campbell.

That said the main characters are well developed, outside of Ben there aren't any plot holes that make the story feel lacking. The third act breakup I wish didn't exist in romance but it does and there is one. The secondary characters are a hoot! You will love them just as much as the main characters!

All in all I enjoyed this! I'm looking forward to circling back and reading the others from Falon!

Synopsis:
Campbell Andrews despises exactly three things in incompetence, tardiness, and love stories. Making partner at her law firm at thirty-four, she has no time for anything or anyone else. And certainly no respect for those who choose love over work. That is, until she wakes up in Heart Springs—her own personal hell.

The good news? She's not dead. She's been magically transported to a small town straight out the Hallmark channel, complete with a meddling mayor, seasonal festivals, and friendly townsfolk. Cam can't stand it, but in order to make it back to her real life, she has to fulfill three tasks . . . most importantly, she has to find true love. It seems impossible. But anything's possible with a Change of Heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book!

This was my first Fallon Ballard book, and I’ll admit, I was initially drawn in by the gorgeous, colorful cover and intriguing excerpt. Beyond that, I went in mostly blind—and ended up having a really fun time with this one!

The plot is quirky and unique, leaning into magical realism with its alternate Hallmark-esque town reality. It’s definitely a departure from my usual reads, but I think this book delivered exactly what it intended to. It’s not a sweeping love story or a high-stakes drama; instead, it’s fun, silly, smart, and unapologetically cheesy—in the best way possible.

Our FMC, Campbell, starts off as an unlikable ice queen workaholic, and it’s clear from the outset what kind of journey she’s going to embark on. But honestly? That predictability is half the fun. Watching her growth and transformation kept me entertained. The MMC, Ben, is sweet and likable, though his character and the romance itself don’t dive too deep. Still, the love story is secondary to the hilarity and charm of the town itself, which steals the show with its quirks and colorful characters.

This book is a light, easy read and serves as a perfect palate cleanser after heavier stories. It’s silly, funny, and a delightful good time overall. While I understand why some readers might not connect with it, I found it refreshing and enjoyable for what it was: a whimsical escape.

If you’re in the mood for something lighthearted and sweet, with just the right amount of humor and charm, Change of Heart is worth picking up!

obviously picked this one immediately because of the amazing cover! and I wasn’t disappointed! it was a perfect grumpy sunshine story with a hint of magic. the grumpiness of the main character was starting to bug me, which is why it was only 3.5 stars for me, but I still enjoyed it!

What an unexpected story! I was genuinely surprised by the surrealist storyline and the journey Cam undertook to discover what she truly wants out of life and how to find love. The story was hilarious, and the town of Heart Springs was both charming and mysterious. I definitely recommend it and am eager to read more from Fallon Ballard.

I literally feel like I’m being pranked. How is this book written by the same author as Lease on Love, Just My Type & All I Want is You?! I am a Falon Ballard STAN, but this was not what I was expecting. Imagine a cheesy Hallmark movie where logic is thrown out the window but with spice. That is this book.

The plot is unique, and I didn’t mind the characters all that much but I was mostly bored. Some of the spicy scenes were so long I started skimming them just to get through. I don’t want to bad mouth this book because maybe it’s just not for me, but I really expected more from the author who’s brought me to tears with literally every book she’s written. Here’s to hoping this was just a writing experiment and her next book is as fantastic as all her others. I still love you Falon!

Cam is a very driven lawyer. She inherited her drive from her Grandmother. But she isn't happy. Enter Dr. Ben Loving who is her blind date (Grandmother was meddling in her life again) During their date Cam ignores him and works through their date. The next day she wakes up in Heart Springs a perfect town with perfect people in it and Dr. Ben Loving. Cam is given several jobs but is really terrible at them all. Until she is paired with Emma from the bakery. She slows down, stop being a workaholic and be nice. She is set up on a few dates while at Heart Springs. And she's given tasks. Maybe she will even be happy.
This book has classic Hallmark movie vibes. City gal goes to a small town and it was very cute. I received my copy from Penguin Random House Putnum via netgalley and this review is my opinion only.

Falon Ballard tackles magical realism in this Hallmark movie-esque story. Campbell Andrews is a headstrong, devoted lawyer, who doesn't have time for a relationship. To appease her grandmother and appear like the heir to her grandmother's law firm, Campbell goes on a blind date with Ben, a kindhearted pediatrician. When the date takes a turn for the worse, the two wake up the next day in a fictional town, and have to fulfill a series of tasks to return home.

This book might be a little challenging to start, as Campbell is set up as a terrible character, but the payout for her character growth will be satisfying to readers. The relationship between Campbell and Ben is sweet, and perfect for fans of reverse grumpy/sunshine.

The premise of Change of Hart is fun—a no-nonsense lawyer, Campbell Andrews, wakes up in a Hallmark-style small town where she must find true love to return to her high-powered life. Heart Springs is full of seasonal festivals, quirky townsfolk, and that magical small-town charm, but for Cam, it’s a nightmare.

Unfortunately, while the setup is intriguing, the execution fell flat. Campbell’s transformation felt forced, and her harsh personality made it hard to root for her. Ben, the love interest, lacked depth and seemed to exist solely to help Cam change rather than having his own compelling story. Their chemistry didn’t feel believable, leaving the romance underwhelming.

Fans of cozy, predictable romances might enjoy the lighthearted, whimsical vibe, but it wasn’t a hit for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 – A cute concept with potential, but the characters and romance didn’t deliver.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Putnam for my free review copy.

Books by Falon Ballard are an auto read for me. However this one was a little too Hallmark channel movie for my liking. It’s possible that being an overworked lawyer that doesn’t love her job myself made this a little too close to home for me, but it really just felt like a storyline that has been done enough before.

She will still be an auto read for me in the future.

This is a cute, quick romcom read with a good dose of magical realism. Unfortunately, nicknames are my least favorite trope and this one has heavy use of them and it definitely made it hard to get invested in the MCs.

Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for the eARC. Publishing Feb. 10th.

Campbell is a workaholic who is working at her family law firm. She has no time for love. So when she gets set up with Ben, right off the bat she tells him she doesn’t have time for this and goes on her phone during the date to answer work emails and leaves quickly.

The next morning Campbell wakes up in a different house and everything is different from her hair and makeup, which were already done, up to the most awesome closet ever. In this closet, the outfits change and the closet picks out outfits for you. Who wouldn’t want that?!

She is definitely not in New York anymore. She appears to be in a small town very similar to Stars Hallows or a Hallmark movie type of small town. She goes to the coffee shop where she meets Mimi (the waitress from the night before). Mimi lets her know she is actually in Heart Springs and she has three tasks she needs to complete in order to go back home. One of them is to find true love.

Her next-door neighbor is Ben, who was her date from the night before. They become quick friends and I love that you can see both of them developing natural feelings for one another. Campbell had great character growth as the story progressed. At first, she wanted no part of the town, and then she ended up making many friends there. Emma was one of my favorites. She is such a genuine friend to Campbell.

This is a perfect magical realism story filled with finding yourself and some spicy romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am a huge Falon Ballard fan! I flew through this book. It's a quick and fun read perfect for Valentine's Day! However, this was a little too Hallmarky for my liking. It was a little too predictable and hokey. Campbell is super unlikeable in the beginning and is then told she has to change everything about herself to come out of this town and back to reality. (not great messaging there). Ben felt more like a tool to get her to realize her misguided stance than an actual person and character with flaws etc. I wish he had more of a reason to be in Heart Springs than to help Campbell. My one huge pet peeve here was how many times the term 'sweetheart' was used. It was often used sarcastically in the beginning then eventually a term of endearment, but I just cringed every time it was said. I wish I had a count of how many times it was overused. While this book wasn't for me, it will definitely be a hit for a certain crowd. I will continue to read this author because every other book before this one was a 5-star read for me.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 2/11!

Cam and Ben have a horrid first date - Cam is not interested and does not want to see him again, despite being set up with him. Much to her consternation, she finds herself in a parallel universe with him the next morning! This fantasy-lite romance book propels Cam and Ben together to solve the mystery of their situation, and figure out how to get home.

I find myself at a crossroads with this review, as I absolutely adore this author’s writing. She is an auto-buy author for me, and I absolutely adore the characters she develops, and the lessons she teaches me on the page. I find myself tired of the fantasy/romance books that have arisen in the last few years, and personally, this is literally the 4th one I’ve accidentally picked up in the past 60 days (I don’t read previews or plot summaries before reading! This is my own fault, I know!). Having to learn the premise of the fantasy world, the rules, etc. I think takes away from the book itself, and I found myself a little exhausted by it in the first 25% of the book. The last part won me over, including the characters, and I really enjoyed this book. If you’re a fan of Ashley Poston (specifically A Novel Love Story), or other of this author’s books, I’d highly suggest this read!

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This is a small town, fairytale, romance.

Cam is a busy and prestigious lawyer too busy for anything in life. She goes to an obligatory blind date set up by her grandmother. She tries to get through the date ASAP but her elderly waitress has something else in store for her.

She wakes up the next day in a pleasantville like town where everything seems perfect. She is stuck in this town and realizes she is here with her previous blind date.

I enjoyed the blooming friendships and some of the character development. It was a feel good quick read with little to no surprises.

After a bust of a blind date (that Campbell didn’t want to attend in the first place) lands her in a small town straight out of a hallmark movie, Cam has no choice but to work through a series of unexpected tasks in order to make it back home.

Change of Heart blends magical realism and humor into an entertaining story of Cam’s journey from workaholic to girl in love. Between the challenges she required to complete to the handsome neighbor Ben and the charming side characters, this book was full of things to love.

I loved Cam’s journey and couldn’t get over the sweet moments of growth she had along the way. Ben was such a great support to her and honestly said some of the most perfect things.

I was really excited about this one - I loved another one of Fallon Ballard’s novels and was really looking forward to connecting to the characters in her newest book. Unfortunately, Change of Heart didn’t quite do it for me this time.

Change of Heart tells the story of workaholic and cynical Campbell, who goes on a blind date with Dr. Ben Loving (yes, that’s really his name). Cam is so self centered that she takes this date as an opportunity to get free food and be on her phone. The next day, though, she wakes up in a magical Hallmark movie-esque town where nothing makes sense. Oh, and Ben is also there. Stuck. Until they both fulfill some specific and nearly impossible tasks.

To be completely honest, the characters fell flat to me. I know Cam is meant to be a love cynic, but she just came across as completely mean and miserable. Ben was kind of boring. This man has no personality and apparently only wants to make Cam happy.

I didn’t buy their love story one bit. I like to play the game where I guess whether or not book characters stay together after the book ends - Cam and Ben do not pass, easily. There was no real chemistry between them, even if Ben calls Cam “sweetheart” every other sentence.

I really liked the idea for this book - it’s making fun of the cheesiness of the classic Hallmark rom-coms, but in the best way - but it just didn’t do it for me. It dragged on, the characters weren’t personable, and the romance wasn’t believable.

Thank you to Fallon Ballard, the publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC.

Thank you penguin group Putnam for this ARC opportunity.

I have historically been a huge fan of Falon Ballard novels however, this novel was a struggle for me. I did not really see any depth of character development and the story did not grab me. I like the small town feel and the premise of the novel though. it was a struggle to get through however, I was glad that I pushed through. I do like the light hard and I am very glad that the FMC found what she was looking for. If you were a fan of Falon Ballard or a more lighthearted, read this may be for you.