I was already a firm fan of Falon Ballard’s before starting Change of Heart and upon finishing it she continues to be an absolute auto buy author for me. I love Ballard’s writing style and her take on magical realism was so much fun.

Change of Heart centres around no nonsense lawyer Campbell. Having made partner at her Grandmother’s law firm at 35 Cam has little time for anything else in her life, and especially no time for blind dates. After a fairly disastrous one with paediatric surgeon Ben, Cam goes home alone and yet wakes up in her own personal hell, in the shape of Heart Springs. The good news? She's not dead. She's just been magically transported to a small town straight out of the Hallmark channel, complete with a meddling mayor, seasonal festivals, friendly townsfolk . . . and a new neighbour in Ben, her date from the night before. Cam really doesn't have time for this, but in order to make it back to her real life, she must fulfil three tasks: find a career she's passionate about, help the community, and find true love!

This was such a fun read that includes:
🩷 magical realism
🧁 small town setting - where everyone knows your business
🩷 the genuinely loveliest MMC in Ben
🧁 a great self discovery journey for Cam
🩷 found family and lovely female friendships
🧁 forced proximity
🩷 slow burn romance
🧁 no third act break (love this!)

I’m a fan of magical realism and loved the setting of Heart Springs. I particularly liked the weird way that time worked and how we got to enjoy all the different seasons. The town Christmas tree and its individual ornaments was particularly special.

Heart Springs really allowed Cam to find out who she was outside of the mould she’d been encouraged to develop into. When we first meet her she’s not really at all likeable, but the more we get to know her the more you understand her. Her character arc and growth was done so well throughout the story and I loved the secret to finding her way home.

The romance worked so well. It’s a real slow burn which worked perfectly to allow Cam and Ben to really get to know one another in Heart Springs. It’s clear early on just how much Ben comes to care for Cam, he really is such a genuinely good guy that you can’t help but root for him but also feel bad that he has to hold back his feelings for so long.

I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it.

Read this book for:
❤️Small town romance
❤️Magical realism
❤️Self-love journey
❤️Forced proximity
❤️Found family
❤️No third breakup act

Synopsis
Campbell Andrews has no patience for romance. To her, love is just another distraction that holds people back from achieving their goals. As a successful lawyer about to make partner at thirty-four in her family law firm Andrews and associates, she has no time for relationships—especially not when they're messy and distracting. But when she wakes up in the small, picturesque town of Heart Springs, she’s thrust into a world of romantic clichés: a small-town mayor who’s a bit too helpful, townsfolk who are way too invested in her love life, and a series of “tasks” that seem designed to push her out of her comfort zone. The most impossible of them all? To experience true love. As Cam struggles to reject the town’s charms and the unexpected sparks of attraction, she starts to question everything she thought she knew about success, happiness, and what it really means to love—and be loved.

My Thoughts
After reading All I Want Is You, I was thrilled to receive an ARC from Falon Ballard because her writing is such a joy to read.
Overall, I absolutely loved the storyline. What's not to love about a workaholic lawyer who goes on a first date with a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon—the sweetest man you’ll ever meet—and after their date, ends up in the charming small town of Heart Springs, thanks to their quirky waitress, Mimi? The chemistry between them was so much fun to watch unfold. I especially loved the slow-burn romance between the two. You could feel the connection building more and more with each chapter, which made their eventual relationship feel all the more satisfying.
I also really enjoyed the character of Emma and her bakery. She was the sweetest, most supportive person Cam could ever meet, and their interactions brought such warmth to the story. Emma was the perfect contrast to the hard-edged lawyer, and I loved seeing Cam soften in her presence.
That said, I did find Mimi a bit too passive-aggressive for my taste. I kept wishing she had more of a "wise, sweet grandma" vibe instead of the slightly sharp edge she had in the book. If her character had leaned more into that nurturing, thoughtful role, I think I would have enjoyed her presence a lot more.
All in all, this book was a total hit for me. Falon Ballard has a knack for creating irresistible characters and romantic tension, and I can't wait to dive into her next release!

I received an e-ARC from NetGalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I just loved this book once I got into reading it I just couldn’t get enough, it’s just a very heartwarming book that makes you realise that we all need to love ourselves before we can love someone else but once we do it’s just amazing too. I just loved this story and the characters it was all just amazing and such a good read that I couldn’t put down.

I would highly recommend reading this book if love a heartwarming book with a great story and characters.

I would like to thank Headline Eternal and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

This book reminded me a bit of Schmigadoon meets a Disney princess movie, and I found it really well done, and original, but then the explicit sex scenes kind of ruined it as it wrecked the style. There were some funny moments, some emotional moments, and overall some heartwarming moments, that made this story really sing. I wouldn’t be able to freely recommend it due to the sex scenes and liberal expletives, and wish the author had toned these down as I feel the book would’ve been one of those that was loved by multiple ages if they had, rather than the current form which is very much just millennial with its reach

“to all the "unlikable" girls: may you find supportive, kind,compassionate partners who aren't threatened, but instead inspired, by your ability to kick serious ass.”

well what a start with this dedication! this book was my first book by falon ballard and it won’t be my last! if u’re in the mood for a light,cozy,fun and very hallmark story well this one’s for u :)

it was a journey to read about cam’s learning process about her life and love because at the start she was a workaholic lawyer who has always putted her work first instead of herself and her needs and it was kinda of satisfying to see how she discovered the meaning of life and love!

a thing i would have loved more to read and get to know was ben the male main character because the chemistry between was very cute and lovely and getting to know more about ben could have been more enjoyable :)

a lot of thanks to headline and netgalley for providing me the e- arc of this cute story in exchange of my honest thoughts.

This book follows Cam after she wakes up in a Hallmark channel style small town, and made to complete three tasks before she can get back to her regular life.

I did really enjoy the premise of this book, and the concept of Cam's character transformation through the story. However, I felt the execution and the reality didn't live up to my hopes. The main romance didn't feel as fleshed out as I would've like, especially given their beginnings, and while the idea of the town and secondary characters seemed great they never truly got a chance to develop and shine.

I like the author's writing style, and would read other books by them, but this particular story just wasn't quite right for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of the book, in exchange for an honest review.

Falon Ballard delivers yet another gem! This story is a delightful blend of romance and subtle magical realism, transporting readers to the picturesque charm of a small town that feels like it’s been plucked from a Hallmark movie.

Campbell Andrews, a driven lawyer who has always put her career above all else, suddenly finds herself whisked away to the serene town of Heart Springs. There, her carefully constructed life is thrown into disarray as she faces challenges that force her to reevaluate what truly matters. With a mission to discover love, community, and passion outside the confines of her demanding job, Cam’s journey is equal parts heartwarming and entertaining. The book sparkles with sharp humor, endearing secondary characters, and a vividly drawn small-town setting that feels impossible not to adore. Watching Cam evolve from a career-obsessed professional into someone who embraces love and connection is both satisfying and uplifting.

That said, while Cam’s personal growth is wonderfully depicted, her romantic relationship with Ben could have used a bit more depth to fully shine. Even so, Change of Heart is a light, feel-good read that’s sure to leave readers grinning and dreaming of their own magical getaway to a town like Heart Springs.

A big thank-you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing this delightful romantic comedy in exchange for my honest review!

I absolutely love Fallon Ballard but I admit at first it took me a minute to get j to this book! I was like really? Can a person be that mean lol! But once I got into it I was hooked. Perfect way to show even the most skeptics of romance can have their hearts opened up by the right person.

I recieved a Advanced copy of this book from Netgalley and loved the synopsis, so made it my next read despite being in the middle of two other books. I started the book really disliking Cam, however over time she really grew on me. There is so many characters that you'll end up liking in this book. However I couldn't rait it any higher then 3.5 stars as nothing really stuck with me and I can't see myself re reading. I would recommend it to anyone wanting a quick read.