Welcome, book friends!
To listen to my real-time reaction to these books, you can check out the full episodes on The Bookmarks ‘n Blankets Podcast on your favorite podcast platform or listen below.
I’d love to know your thoughts on any of these books if you’ve read them. I invite you to hop over to my Instagram or X (aka Twitter), where you can comment.
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There’s something magical about reading romance novels in the autumn. The crisp air, cozy blankets, and warm drinks create the perfect backdrop for falling in love with new characters and heartwarming stories. Whether it’s a slow-burn love story set in a small town or a heartfelt second-chance romance, autumn romances just hit differently.
This season, I’ll be diving into some of the best fall-themed love stories and sharing my real-time reactions—capturing every swoon, sigh, and sweet moment as they happen. Join me for all the feels, and maybe you’ll discover your next favorite cozy romance!
My Reaction to 3 Newly Released Romance Books
My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade
GR Rating: 4.18
My GR Rating: 5
Format: Kindle Unlimited Digital ebook
Subgenre: Clean | Christian Romance
Spice: Rate G – None, Closed-Door
Read more on GoodReads
GR Description: Kate Donovan is burned out on work, worn down by her dating relationships, and in need of an adventure. When her grandmother asks her to accompany her to Redbud, Pennsylvania, to restore the grand old house she grew up in, Kate jumps at the chance.
Upon her arrival in Redbud, Kate meets Matt Jarreau, the man hired to renovate the house. Kate can’t help being attracted to him, drawn by both his good looks and something else she can’t quite put her finger on. He’s clearly wounded–hiding from people, from God, and from his past. Yet Kate sets her stubborn heart on bringing him out of the dark and back into the light… whether he likes it or not.
When the stilted, uncomfortable interactions between Kate and Matt slowly shift into something more, is God finally answering the longing of her heart? Or will Kate be required to give up more than she ever dreamed?
My Review:
This was my first time reading a Becky Wade book, and I absolutely loved it. The writing was clear and easy to follow, with just the right amount of depth and emotion, without any overly flowery prose. I completely fell in love with Matt and Kate and didn’t want their story to end.
I adored the small-town atmosphere and the cozy feeling this book gave me, especially while reading it in the fall. It’s the perfect read for the autumn season, and the descriptive details really brought it to life.
I also loved getting to know the side characters, especially the group of senior friends. They added some truly funny and heartwarming moments that made the story even more enjoyable.
I appreciated the gentle faith elements woven into the story, with characters discussing God, trusting His plan, and seeking His guidance. Themes of grief, loss, and death were also explored, along with the importance of forgiveness—both of others and of oneself. At its core, the story was about having faith and trusting in God’s plan.
The romance in this book was a slow burn, but it was absolutely worth it. This isn’t just a surface-level romance or romcom. While there are some light-hearted and funny moments, the story delves deeper into both Kate and Matt’s lives. Their emotions are raw and authentic, and we get to explore their pasts, how those experiences shape them in the present, and why they interact the way they do. I loved watching these two lovable characters grow and evolve, and the character development throughout was fantastic.
This is a sweet, clean romance without any spice or profanity, making it all the more heartwarming.
It’s easily one of my favorite romances of the year. The story truly captured my heart, and though I wish there were more books about this couple, it’s a standalone. I absolutely fell in love with this book and highly recommend it. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
If you want to listen to all of my thoughts and get my real-time reactions to this book, listen to the episode above.
The Rule Book by Sarah Adams
GR Rating: 3.93
My GR Rating: 4
Format: Physical Book & Audiobook – Narrators: Hathaway Lee and Will Damron
Subgenre: Sports Romance
Spice: Rated R – Open-Door
Read more on GoodReads
GR Description: Nora Mackenzie’s entire career lies in the hands of famous NFL tight end Derek Pender, who happens to be her extremely hot college ex-boyfriend. Nora didn’t end things as gracefully as she could have back then, and now it has come back to haunt her. Derek is her first client as an official full-time sports agent, and he’s holding a grudge.
Derek has set his sights on a little friendly revenge. If Nora Mackenzie, the first girl to ever break his heart, wants to be his agent, oh, he’ll let her be his agent. The plan is simple: make Nora’s life absolutely miserable. But if Derek knows anything about the woman he once loved—she won’t quit easily.
Instead of giving in, Nora starts a scheme of her own. But then a wild night in Vegas leads to Nora and Derek in bed the next morning married. With their rule book out the window, could this new relationship save their careers and spark the romance of a lifetime?
My Review:
This was my second Sarah Adams book, and while I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as The Cheat Sheet, it was still a fun and sweet romance. I appreciated the author’s note at the beginning, pointing out which chapter to skip for readers who want to avoid the open-door bedroom scene. However, there was more profanity in this book compared to the first, which I felt took away from the story a bit. I also wasn’t a fan of some of the feminist commentary, as I didn’t agree with certain messages.
Overall, I enjoyed getting to know Nora and Derek better. I remembered Derek from The Cheat Sheet and didn’t particularly like him then, but this story takes place two years later, and it’s clear he’s matured since the last book. He’s no longer the typical cocky NFL player with an arrogant attitude. Instead, he’s sweet, kind-hearted, and really endearing, which made me appreciate his character more this time around.
As for Nora, her tough childhood and family struggles explain a lot about her personality. She’s strong, independent, and ambitious, holding her own in a male-dominated industry, and she’s great at what she does. I really loved the dynamic between her and Derek—their banter was sharp and fun, and the romance felt swoony, spicy, and heartfelt. The deeper emotional moments and character growth were also a nice touch.
That said, I could’ve done without the constant descriptions of how hot Derek was from Nora’s perspective. It became repetitive, and all the lusting after him got a little tedious after a while. We get it—he’s hot!
I have to admit, I was disappointed to see this author shift from closed-door romances to open-door scenes. She was one of the few romance authors I could rely on for clean, spice-free stories, so it’s unfortunate for those of us who prefer closed-door love stories that she’s taken a different direction.
I was also a bit disappointed that this book used a similar romance trope as the first one. The Cheat Sheet had a fake dating plot, and this time it was a fake marriage. While I do enjoy these tropes, I was hoping for a more distinct storyline. There was also a hint of enemies-to-lovers, which isn’t my favorite trope, but it was tolerable since the characters didn’t truly hate each other—they were just dealing with past hurts. I did appreciate that there was plenty of communication between them though, which added depth to their relationship.
That said, one of the highlights of the book was reuniting with Nathan, Bree, and the football player friend group. I love these characters, and it was such a treat to see them make appearances throughout the story!
Even though this second book fell a bit short of my expectations, I still really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who loves sports romances. I plan to keep reading more from this author and am definitely interested in exploring her backlist, which I know is sweet and clean.
If you want to listen to all of my thoughts and get my real-time reactions to this book, listen to the episode above.
Coming Home to Starr’s Fall by Kate Hewitt
GR Rating: 3.97
My GR Rating: 4 (4.5)
Format: NetGalley ARC – Digital ebook
Subgenre: Clean | Cozy, Small Town Vibes
Spice: Rated G – None, Closed-Door
Read more on GoodReads
GR Description: Welcome to the town of Starr’s Fall, where Autumn can feel like it goes on forever, and two people have a chance to fall in love… The leaves are falling, with a crispness to the air, along with the scents of coffee and pumpkin spice, past a half-empty street of shuttered storefronts and a bandstand that has seen better days…
Just like the whole town of Starr’s Fall, thinks Laurie Ellis – as she and her beloved dog Max head to collect the store keys. Maybe she has seen better days, too, but she’s certainly ready for a new start—and to leave her past behind. Still Laurie wonders whether she made a terrible mistake in coming to lovable but shabby Starr’s Fall. Will she even find customers for her pet store and bakery, never mind a community to welcome and accept her?
Not according to Joshua Reilly, the handsome but grumpy manager of the bookstore across the road, who claims he’s never heard of anything so ridiculous as a bakery for dogs.
But Laurie remains stubbornly undeterred. She’s starting over, right here. Not least because she has another secret reason for being here… one she isn’t telling anybody, at least not yet, as it involves her own tragic past.
What she doesn’t yet know is that a clue to the mystery is hidden deep in Joshua’s bookstore. And he doesn’t yet realize that Laurie herself might be the key to mending his own battered heart… for Laurie and Joshua and the whole town, it’s going to be a fall to remember.
My Review:
I absolutely loved this fall romance! It was my first time reading this author, and I’m definitely planning to pick up more of her books. I also noticed that this is the first installment in a series, and I can’t wait to dive into the second book next spring.
While it wasn’t quite a five-star read for me, it was very close. One of the standout aspects of this story is the cozy autumn atmosphere and the small-town vibes. If you enjoy Gilmore Girls or The Good Witch, you’ll definitely appreciate the setting. It captures that comforting sense of community and found family perfectly!
I really enjoyed getting to know Laurie and Joshua. Both of them have tumultuous childhoods that have shaped who they are today. Even though their stories are quite different, they share feelings of loneliness and abandonment, making it difficult for them to trust others. Laurie grew up in the foster system and is trying to find her biological mother, which is a significant subplot in her life. Hearing her heartbreaking story was tough, but I loved watching Laurie face her struggles and emerge stronger on the other side.
On the other hand, Joshua had a difficult relationship with his father after losing his mother during his teenage years. With his father now gone, he grapples with feelings of resentment and guilt. Together, both characters help each other navigate their deep, raw emotions and traumatic pasts. I appreciated how the story balanced fun, light-hearted romcom moments with serious, profound romance.
I also adored the side characters and the sense of community in this sleepy small town in New England. Set during the autumn season, it’s perfect for this time of year. The vivid descriptions really drew me into the story, and I especially loved the fall festival element.
This is a sweet, clean romance with no profanity or spice. Although the story took an unexpected turn toward the end, it still concluded in a satisfying way. We also meet a few new characters who will be more central in the second book, and I’m excited to learn more about them in the future.
This book was such a delightful surprise—I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did! It was sweet, charming, and captivating. If you enjoy the grumpy/sunshine romance trope, you’ll definitely enjoy this one. I highly recommend it!
If you want to listen to all of my thoughts and get my real-time reactions to this book, listen to the episode above.
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Bonus: A Novella & Short Story
Autumn in Sycamore Park by C.P. Ward
GR Rating: 3.97
My GR Rating: 3
Format: Digital ebook
Subgenre: Novella
Spice: Rated G – None, Closed-Door
Read more on GoodReads
GR Description: Having fled a relationship and a previous life she would rather forget, young teacher Jennifer Stevens throws herself into a demanding new job at Brentwell Primary. Charged with marshaling a group of unruly eight-year-olds to the autumn harvest festival, her only solace is the peace of nearby Sycamore Park.
As the evenings draw in and the leaves begin to fall, will new friends, delicious autumn treats, and a possible new man on the orange-tinted horizon help Jennifer finally come to terms with her past and begin to look forward into the future?
Autumn at Sycamore Park is another delightful romantic comedy from CP Ward, author of several popular seasonally themed novels. Set against a backdrop of warm autumn days, it offers everything fans of CP Ward’s other books have come to love: laughter, friendship, good times, and a hint of newly discovered love.
My Review:
This novella was a disappointment. I expected a sweet autumn romance, but there was hardly any romance to be found. I nearly DNF’d it around the 40% mark because it felt more like contemporary fiction. The romance doesn’t really kick in until about 60% of the way through, which I think is too late for a story like this. It wasn’t quite what I thought it was going to be.
The first half was slow and somewhat dull and boring, and I struggled to connect with the characters, some of whom I found quite annoying. There were several subplots that I didn’t care about either. However, the second half did become more interesting, which prompted me to finish the book.
I should note that this is a very British story. Set in England, it uses a lot of British slang and terms, which made me stop reading a few times to look up their meanings. Additionally, I didn’t appreciate how plus-size characters were portrayed; I found it insulting and disrespectful. It’s easy to see why many reviewers have labeled this author as fatphobic.
Ultimately, it was just an okay story. I did enjoy the seasonal descriptions of the weather, the park with its changing leaves, and the harvest festival. I also appreciated that it was a clean read without any spice or foul language. But aside from that, it felt lackluster. I won’t be continuing with this novella series, nor do I think I’ll read more from this author. Personally, I don’t recommend this novella, but if it sounds appealing to you, maybe give it a try. You might enjoy it more than I did, but there are definitely better fall romances out there.
If you want to listen to all of my thoughts and get my real-time reactions to this novella, listen to the episode above.
Second Chance With the Enemy Neighbor by Ashleigh Quinn
GR Rating: 4.26
My GR Rating: 4
Format: Digital ebook
Subgenre: Short Story | Clean, Sweet Romance
Spice: Rated G – None, Closed-Door
Read more on GoodReads
GR Description: The nerdy bookworm and the jock never work out, right?Ten years ago, Tyler was the star football player who broke my heart. As soon as high school ended, I left my hometown and never looked back.
But then an accident brings me back, and guess who’s living next door?
Yep – Mr. Perfect with his chiseled abs and charming smile.
As much as I want to hate him, old feelings start bubbling up and I’m terrified he’ll hurt me again.
Can we put aside our differences and give this second chance a shot?
My Review:
This was my first experience reading this author, and I’m thrilled to say I enjoyed this short story so much that I can’t wait to read more from her. It’s such a sweet, swoony fall romance that perfectly captures the essence of the season, giving you all the autumn feels. I loved the vivid descriptions that drew me deeper into the story.
I appreciated that it’s a clean, closed-door romance with no spice or profanity, making it short and easy to read in one sitting.
Getting to know Emily and Tyler as they reunited after a decade was a joy, and I loved the dual perspective that allowed the story to unfold in a fun way. There were plenty of funny moments mixed with heartfelt ones, creating a charming and delightful light-hearted romcom. I definitely recommend it!
Additionally, there’s a trilogy of full-length novels available on Kindle Unlimited, set in the same small town. I’m excited to check those out soon. I’m so glad I stumbled across this author—I really enjoyed her writing!
If you want to listen to all of my thoughts and get my real-time reactions to this short story, listen to the episode above.
