I’ve done everything I can to be the best mom for my daughter, including setting my own desires aside. And that desire is named Jason Cunningham.
As a single mom of my seven year old daughter, I’ve gotten used to doing things on my own. I’ve moved on after my husband up and left us on what possibly was the worst day of my life with no way to reach him.
A new town and a new life for me and my daughter, Presley.
That is, until I spy a familiar face from my past. Jason Cunningham. The man who gave me butterflies in college with his dark hair and boyish grin. But he’s not the same guy he was all those years ago. Now, he’s a single parent with no interest in finding love again.
His brewery is contracted with the winery I work at, so we are spending more and more time together, bringing up old feelings I thought was just teenage lust.
Can we be stronger together, even with outside forces threatening to rip us apart? Or will both of our shared determination to be the best parents we can be for our daughters keep us from finding our happiness together?
Authors Note: Welcome back to Ivy Ridge! Can’t Let You Go is a spicy standalone small town romance featuring a single dad and a plus size single mom. While the book is a standalone, it is highly recommended that you read book one and two first. Please be sure to check trigger warnings listed in the front of the book or available on the authors website. Take care of yourself. Your mental health matters more than a book.
Alice Daniels is a born and raised Minnesotan who loves to write books based on the small town she grew up in. Her books are sweet, heartfelt, and sexy, with relatable characters.
As a child, she was an avid fiction reader, which evolved into a deep love for romance novels and the community surrounding them. She recently discovered a passion for putting her ideas into writing and decided to pursue her childhood dream of becoming an author.
She spends time with her family and friends when she’s not writing, especially on the lakes or outdoors in the summer.
Follow Alice on Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads for book updates, teasers, and future releases!
**I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review**
Tropes ✨Single Parents ✨Plus Size FMC ✨Second Chance ✨Only One Bed ✨Small Town ✨Found Family ✨Wine Cellar Rendezvous
I’m going to cut to the chase… This book was absolutely everything. The moment I got the ARC I finished it in a few hours. Fallon and Jason were such a breathe of fresh air. Fallon struggles with confidence due to how her ex treated her and Jason is always there to let her now how he feels about her specifically how she makes him feel. As a fellow plus size girlie, having someone who supports you and motivates you makes a big difference. *tiny spoilers * when they have each other say that they are god parents made my heart melt a little 🥹 10/10 recommend and will read again
Both are single parents trying their best for their daughters… and trying (and failing) to resist the pull that’s still there years later. 👀
Fallon and Jason were college friends with all the mutual crush vibes, but neither made a move—he was waiting too long, she was too scared of rejection. Now, years later, they’re both single parents with mountains of trust issues.
Fallon, girl, I feel you. She felt so raw and real. Abuse doesn’t always start with bruises; it starts with words and degradation. Jason, our resident grump (and for good reason), has a soft side only his daughter gets to see… until Fallon rolls back into town. He’s desperate to push her away, protect his heart, and just be “dad,” while Fallon doesn’t even know who she is outside of “mom.” But these two? They’re moths to a flame. 🔥 One night turns into two, and suddenly… they can’t stay away.
This book had so many heartwarming found-family moments, two little girls plotting for their parents to get married (😭), and the kind of small-town feel you never want to leave.
And listen… I’m devastated that I have to wait until SUMMER 2026 for Thomas’ book because HUH? I just found this series and I need it NOW. 😩 Super curious to see how the Cunningham brothers wrap things up with the plus-size women who fill every void in their hearts. 💕
I love me a good double single parent book! Jason and Fallon's story is so sweet and filled with so many heartwarming moments!
🌻Single dad x single mom 🌻Second chance 🌻Small town romance 🌻Found family 🌻Only one bed
Jason and Fallon knew each other back in college, until one day Fallon disappeared and Jason never got his chance to make his move.
Now here we are years and years later and both of their lives have gone in different, yet similar directions. Jason is the single dad to Lennie and Fallon is the single mom to Presley. Fallon is now in the same town as Jason. They had chemistry once; can that chemistry and attraction still shine through after all these years?
Alice does a great job giving us the chemistry between these characters! You know from the jump that they both want each other, but life is pushing them apart. I loved the moments with the two kids because even their bond was just so special.
Thanks to Alice Daniels and her team for this ARC ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆.5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This is what every second chance book should look like.
Alice takes us through a story of rediscovering happiness, and love that just felt genuine. Both MCs felt so real I found myself rooting for their happiness in every page. I'm very much a second chance trope hater but Alice just did it in the best way.
Tropes: 🌻Dual Single Parents 🛏️Only One Bed 🌻Plus Size FMC ✌🏻Second Chance 🌻Small Town 🍷Fun in the wine cellar
But I do have to say that while I LOVED Fallon and Jason, the real stars of this book are Lennie and Presley, the literal masterminds of this book too.
Top two moments that made me tear up: "Presley climbs out of the car to follow beside me and helps me pick out three separate flowers, one for each of my girls" "No... I mean like, always. Can we stay here forever?"
I was given an ARC of this for my honest review. Below is some spoilers, but right away I'll tell you I loved this book so, so much!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tropes: - Second chance romance - Single mom x Single Dad - Forced proximity - Found family - Only one bed - Grumpy/Sunshine - Small-town romance
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Please check the trigger warnings!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jason is a single father trying to raise his daughter Lennie. He struggles to love again while Lennie's mother battles addiction. He doesn't think he needs to date again.
Fallon is a single mother trying to raise her daughter Presley. She struggles with her self-worth after her ex leaves her during one of the worst times of her life.
Fallon moves to Ivy Ridge, and reconnects with Jason, her friend/crush from college. It takes some time, but they eventually see they are meant to be.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I found the story so relatable. There are times when Fallon struggles with her body, and as a plus-size woman, I know how hard that is sometimes. Jason continuously reminds her just how beautiful she truly is, and in turn, they both learn to trust and love again.
There are talks of addiction, and I had times when it made me pause. I have family with an addiction history so I understood how hard it was for Jason when he thinks about his daughter's mother.
There is talk of a child feeling the like they aren't worthy of their parent. That breaks my heart because as a child I went through the same thing. I just wanted to hug both girls in this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
“Can’t Let You Go” is the third book in a contemporary romance series by Alice Daniels, and it’s a small town second chance romance featuring Jason and Fallon, two people who reconnect after spending years apart, and who both happen to be single parents to their young daughters, Lennie and Presley.
This book is super angsty, because Jason and Fallon both went through a lot of hurt and trauma when it comes to their exes, although it was two completely different situations. They’re both determined to do right by their daughters, and at first, they think this means they can’t form any romantic attachments.
What I loved about Jason and Fallon’s relationship is that they didn’t just fall for each other - since they’re both single parents, they not only knew that the other’s child was part of the deal from the very beginning, but embraced it. I loved that their daughters became best friends, and that the four of them were able to form their own little family - a family they chose.
This book does deal with some heavy topics, so I would definitely check the trigger warnings before deciding to read it, but if you decide to read this book, I promise you will not regret it! Jason and Fallon’s story was beautifully written, and Alice Daniels addresses the harder topics in a way that was very well-done. I’ve been a fan of her writing since her debut novel, and I highly recommend anything she writes!
Is there anything cuter than a single parent romance where their kids become best friends and the parents fall in love? so freaking adorable.
The girls getting so close and wanting to have the other parent be their parent was so sad and happy and sweet and heartbreaking all at once.
This book had everything. All the feels, lots of humour, lots of touching moments, some spicy scenes, some cute moments, some moments where you wanted to beat Brad with a stick, and more. It was hard to see Fallon struggle with confidence but Jason and their friends and families really helped her see how great she was.
Loved the whole thing and can't wait to read other books in the series.
I absolutely love second chance romance, I love the longing and realizing it's always been you. Throw in both being single parents, and I'm all in. Fallon and Jason are both trying to raise their daughters after being in unhealthy relationships. When they meet again and have to work together after years apart, their chemistry starts to burn. They both grow and realize they can learn to love again.
This is a very sweet contemporary romance with no third act breakup and realistic relationship growth over time. I was swept into their story and was only sad that it was over! The supporting characters are fun and want the main characters to succeed. I'll definitely be reading the first two in this series. They can be read as standalones!
I loved this book! Alice Daniels did it again. The story between the main characters was heartwarming and beautiful. I felt connected to the characters while reading and was engaged the entire time.
I ate this book up! Seriously so good! *found family *single mom/dad *forced Proximity
I want to rate it 4.5⭐️ because sometimes it felt like it listed i did this, I did this, I did this, then I did this... it irritates me. BUT... the story was good. I feel like the end was a bit rushed but I really enjoyed everything from the plot to the twists and character development. I will be going back and reading the 1st 2 in this series!
Thank you, Alice Daniels and team for the ARC of Can't Let Go!
Can't Let Go brings together Fallon and Jason in a second-chance romance. I thought the book was a great read, offering relatable themes that deeply connect you with both the main characters. I felt for Fallon and Jason as they navigated the challenges of single parenthood, family commitments, and the guilt of prioritizing their own needs over their children's. Their paths cross again after many years, reigniting a college connection they both thought was gone. Tropes: * Small town charm * Dual single parents * Curvy main female character * Forced proximity * Second chance romance
In this book of the series, Alice Daniels gives you a deeper look into Jason's story and what shaped him into the gruff, devoted dad who would do anything for his five-year-old daughter, Lennie, and his family. While I enjoyed getting to read Fallons story and could relate to many of her experiences, I gravitated towards Jason story. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait for Thomas's story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I was so excited to receive an ARC for this book!! I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books and couldn't wait to read about another Cunningham brother finding his happy ever after!
This gave me everything I wanted in a second chance romance. A small town, single parents who used to be friends and reconnected, a found family who would do anything for the FMC and MMC no questions asked, and an only one bed scenario to push them over the edge.
I didn't want to put this book down and I stayed up late just to see what was going to happen next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I thoroughly loved this book! While, not a second chance romance in regards to they used to know each other - but this romance each gave them a second chance at love! After a divorce, Fallon is single parenting and hustling as an event coordinator. And Jason, a single dad and business *winery* owner isn't sure he can commit to a relationship again after his daughter's mom battled addiction and left them. This sweet story makes you fall in love, with love! What a great edition to this small town series!
You'll like this book, if you love: *Small Town Romance *Found Friends *Finding yourself *Single parent romance *Romance that gets *spicy* ;)
Thank you to Alice for letting me on your BETA and ARC team!
I was given an ARC of this story in exchange for my honest review. ******************** Tropes: Small town, former friends to lovers, second chance, grump versus sunshine, contemporary romance featuring two single parents; plus size FMC, dad-bod MMC ******************** Triggers: Scenes portraying a miscarriage, grief, drug usage (not FMC or MMC.) flashback scene depicting overdose, mentions of parental death from cancer, mentions of teenage drug use and overdose in the context of a police investigation, graphic sexual scenes and adult language ******************** Quote: "...I don't know how to live without you anymore. You are my Sunshine, and you bring so much light to our family." ******************** Synopsis: Fallon and Jason are friends in college--he's a senior, she's a freshman. He's a little shy, working up the nerve to act on his attraction when Brad bulldozes right over him to get to Fallon. Fallon and Brad marry, have a daughter together, while Jason goes on to meet Talia and they have a daughter. Jump ahead ten years and Talia has left Jason and Lennie to chase her addictions, while Brad has walked out on Fallon and Presley without a backward glance. She moves out of the city to live with her mother, unbeknownst that he also lives in the area. Her new job as the events coordinator for a local winery causes her to cross paths with him as the owner of the local craft brewery. Although the attraction between the is palpable, the two of them fight it because of their lingering baggage. A joint business trip, a misunderstanding regarding hotel reservations, and they are thrown together to share a room and a king-size bed, for the weekend. Guess what happens next?? A whole lot of other stuff happens; it's not an easy road to their obligatory happily ever after. You're going to need to read the book for the rest of the story. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. ******************** Notes: Dual, first person POV; clearly delineated chapters; 493 pages; well paced plot; vibrant, likeable characters; natural dialogue; natural character development; descriptive without being repetitive; can be read as a stand alone, but recommend reading the first two in the series. Jason isn't your typical romance hero hard body. He's showing his age and she describes him as being a little soft in the middle. I like that he has a dad-bod. Being plus size, I appreciate that the author shows Fallon's insecurities without making them her main focus. And the spice? It's burn your eReader hot. Jason is a great dirty talker. ******************** Ratings: Movie rating R, 4/5 overall, 4/5 romance, 0/5 violence, 3/5 spice, and 5/5 cover (I love those sunflowers!)
Can’t Let You Go takes us back once again to the charming town of Ivy Ridge, reuniting us with the Cunningham family. This book tells the story of Fallon and Jason. Fallon, whom we met in the previous two books, and Jason, one of the Cunningham brothers.
Thirteen years ago, when they were both at university, Fallon and Jason’s paths crossed. Although they had feelings for each other at the time, fate drove them apart before their story could begin. Thirteen years later, they are both single parents, each with a young daughter of their own. They meet again at the wedding of Josie and Andrew—Jason’s brother, which Fallon is in charge of organising.
As with the first two books in the series, I really enjoyed Can’t Let You Go. I found the story to be full of tenderness, yet also showing the raw vulnerability of the main characters. While I enjoyed Fallon and Jason, the two real stars of this book, in my opinion, are Presley and Lennie. The two little girls are both absolutely adorable, and extremely perceptive about the budding relationship between one mother and the other father.
Fallon is a woman who doesn’t realise how strong and courageous she is on a daily basis. She has managed to stay on her feet after an ordeal that would have crushed many people—and rightly so. She is an excellent mother who cares above all about her daughter’s happiness and wellbeing. I liked that we got a glimpse of her insecurities about her body. Although she has started to accept and appreciate her body, there are times when she finds it harder to love herself, and I think many people can relate to that. This sometimes difficult relationship with her body is not the main focus of the book, but it shows us the ups and downs of her journey and proves that it is possible to learn to love yourself.
As for Jason, we immediately sense that beneath his Mr Grumpy Grumps exterior lies a big heart. He has also been scarred by life. Like Fallon, he is a single parent to a little girl named Lennie. His one and only goal in life is to make his daughter happy despite her mother’s absence. If he has to sacrifice his personal life to achieve this, he will do so without hesitation. I’ve always had a soft spot for grumpy male main characters, so Jason is no exception. I liked his protective side towards Lennie—obviously—but also towards Fallon and Presley.
It was a real privilege to witness Fallon and Jason’s second chance. Now, to be honest, I’m really looking forward to discovering Thomas’ story.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book, but I advise you to check out the trigger warnings. Your mental health matters more than any book.
Many thanks to Alice Daniels for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of Can’t Let You Go. This review is my own. All opinions expressed are mine.
Can't Let You Go is the third book in the Ivy Ridge series by Alice Daniels, but it can absolutely be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. I had not read any of the earlier books before picking this up but having finished it I am keen to remedy that as soon as possible. This is a spicy second chance romance with a lot of heart, following single mum Fallon as she moves to the town of Ivy Ridge with her young daughter Presley. The last thing she expected was to bump into her old college friend/crush Jason and the last thing she needs right now is the complication of a man in her life, especially a single dad. Plus as her cheating ex husband told her over and over, she has let herself go and has nothing to offer. As far as Jason is concerned bumping into Fallon is a surprise and a reminder of the night that he let her get away, but as far as a second chance goes, he needs to focus on his daughter Lennie, he is raising her alone since her mother disappeared down a rabbit hole of substance abuse. Of course as fate, work and their daughters conspire to put them in each other's paths over and over again, sparks begin to fly because the chemistry between this pair is sizzling hot, but both are afraid to let their feelings show, after all they have their daughters to consider. I loved this book so much, both Fallon and Jason were wonderfully real characters and I really appreciated that the author by and large stayed away from the miscommunication trope, instead leaning into tropes like only one bed, which of course is a lot more fun. The chemistry between the pairing was top notch and I loved that the author allowed Fallon to both have moments of doubt as a fuller figured woman, and also moments where she was more confident in her skin, that felt so much more realistic than I have seen in other books, and so much more relatable to women of all sizes and shapes, everyone has an off day now and then where they just don't feel their best. The romance is definitely of the slower burn variety but I do think that makes sense given that it is a second chance romance, as the old saying goes, once bitten twice shy, so for readers looking for spice over story this might not be the best fit. The spice is there and it is well done but it is not the sole focus, there is a lot of tenderness too, not just between Fallon and Jason, or in their interactions with their daughters but also in the support they get from the other characters we meet in the book and it is these characters, along with the quality of the storytelling that I found here that makes me want to circle back and read the rest of the series. 4.5 stars rounded up I read an ARC courtesy of the author, all opinions are my own.
Alice has once again written amazing story!! Can’t Let You Go is the third book in the Ivy Ridge Books and can be read as a standalone. Can’t Let Go is the story of Fallon and Jason who knew each other in college and years later are back in each others lives. The one they have now common is that they are both single parents.
Fallon is a strong women, hard working and excellent mother. She got through a tough situation and was able to land on her feet and give her daughter the best. Fallon like most women has her insecurities when it comes to her body. There are moments that she loves her body and moments that it’s hard to love herself. Fallon’s insecurities with her body was more of second part not the main focus of the story.
Jason is a guy comes of like a grump but has the biggest heart. His main focus is making sure his daughter is happy and safe. Jason does this by sacrificing his own personal life no matter to make sure his daughter life is good.
Alice did a great good writing about the relationship between Fallon and Jason. You can see the chemistry right away when they run into each other years later. Alice did a good job with providing flashbacks of Fallon and Jason’s college time together. Giving the read a glimpse into how their relationship came about. I felt that the pace of the their relationship was good and realistic for two single parents that previous relationships were toxic.
This book does have steamy scenes and they are well written. They aren’t cheesy or awkwardly written. To me there was good number of spicy scenes in the story.
Overall, Can’t Let You Go is a great single parent, second chance romance. With two main characters that likable/ relatable., that is well written and will have you hooked from the first page.
I grabbed this second chance romance specifically because it had a brewery owner in it and was then pleasantly surprised that the FMC is an events manager - both roles that are close to my heart and helped me to really submerse myself in the story.
Fallon and Jason both have small children and want to focus on them to be the best single parents they can be. But they forget that they also need love and happiness, especially after their previous difficult relationships. I enjoyed following their story as they reconnected, after knowing each other in college, and though there were some moments of miscommunication (which is a trope I don’t usually enjoy), this added to their journey of discovery. The juxtaposition of Fallon learning to love herself and find her confidence against Jason shutting himself off from love made me more invested in them as a couple and made me really root for them.
This is the third book in Alice Daniels’ Ivy Ridge series; I haven’t read the others, but I did not need to. I really enjoyed the side characters to this story, however, and now want to go back and read books 1 and 2 so I can hear their stories. The connections of the characters throughout this book really fill out the story and make is so full and satisfying. There is so much love in this book and it shines throughout the story.
Alongside a sweet love story, there is a good level of spice that fits well into the plot. I also really enjoyed the setting of the book. I could easily picture the small town they lived in, the winery and the brewery which added to the vibe for me.
I read this book so quickly - it was so immersed in the story and wanting Fallon and Jason to make their dreams a reality. It was an entertaining, sweet and easy read that I highly recommend!
After her husband leaves her on the worst day of her life, single mom Fallon has put all of her love and attention on her daughter Presley. After moving to be closer to her mother, she is finally at a good place. She loves her job, loves her daughter and is content. She’s not expecting to run into her college love interest Jason and she certainly isn’t expecting the cold shoulder he is giving her. As a single dad to his daughter, Jason refuses to let anyone too close. Especially the woman who broke his heart in college. He is happy focusing on his daughter and his business. The more time they spend together, the more they realize that maybe they don’t have to go this life alone.
This was my first Alice Daniels book but I will definitely be going back to read the earlier books in the series. It is a slowwww burn so if you like fast paced insta love this one won’t be for you. Given what both Fallon and Jason had been through, it was necessary for the story to go slowly and it made for a much more interesting romance. After all the build up to get them together, it did feel like the post “let’s do this” story was rushed a bit, but overall I really enjoyed the story and the characters. Presley and Lennie were so adorable trying to matchmake their parents.
If you like small-town romance, single parent (x2), second chance, plus size FMC and found family, you are going to enjoy this book. Both Fallon and Jason are great characters and a lot of time and care was taken to build the foundation before they let each other in. They are both devoted to their daughters and I loved how that same care went in to caring for each other's daughter as well.
**I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Alice Daniels delivers a heartfelt and emotionally rich story in Can't Let You Go—a beautifully layered romance about healing from heartbreak, navigating single parenthood, and discovering that love can return when you least expect it.
Starting over hasn’t been easy. After being left behind on what should have been one of the most important days of her life, the heroine is focused on one thing: giving her daughter, Presley, the stability and love she deserves. Her own happiness? That’s a sacrifice she’s made without hesitation.
But her carefully rebuilt world starts to shift when she crosses paths with Jason Cunningham—a man from her past who once made her heart skip a beat in college. Only now, he’s not the carefree guy she remembers. He’s a single father himself, guarded and uninterested in love. Or so he says.
Working together through a professional partnership, their old connection rekindles with a new intensity. What once was a college crush grows into something deeper, more complicated—and potentially life-changing. As feelings deepen and the past refuses to stay buried, both must decide whether they can let go of their fears and allow love a second chance.
Can't Let You Go is a tender and engaging read that explores the quiet courage it takes to love again after life has left its mark. Daniels writes with compassion and realism, capturing the emotional weight of starting over while weaving in hope, humor, and heartfelt romance.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – An unforgettable journey of love, parenthood, and redemption. Can't Let You Go is a deeply satisfying second-chance romance perfect for fans of small-town stories and emotionally grounded love.
I received this book as an ARC ********* Spoiler Warnings******
This is the first book I have read from this author and I’m glad to add her to my authors list. I’m such a sucker for small-town romance and single parents. This book is beautiful because this is real life. Being hurt and cautious opening themselves up for heartbreak. Two single parents dealing with guilt of trying to be a good parent. A plus size FMC (I really love a book with a plus size curvy fmc) who is trying to build up her self worth. A man scored with heartache for a lost mother. Raising two girls who have to navigate why they only have one parent.
I will add please read the trigger warnings.
Jason & Fallon reunited after college. Unrequited love on both sides.Fallon works as an event planner after her divorce from her husband and Jason back in his hometown owning a Brewery. Both have friends and business partners in common and have run into each other at a wedding. Jason, no longer being the open and talkative man from his trauma from his daughter's mother , is now grumpy. Fallon, while she deals with being a single mom and healing from her horrible husband while being a realist, still has her sunny outlook for her daughter.
Both are single parents to two adorable girls who have become best friends. Jason is fighting his attraction and Fallon is cautious about opening herself up after her ex husband has cheated and torn her down mentally, emotionally & verbally. A few things happened that I did not expect and I'm happy about it. I don’t want to spoil anything else. I really enjoyed this book and want to read more from Alice Daniels.
Another really great book from this series! I love love love two single parents finding their way to a second chance at love!! For them and their kids!! And this one also is right person wrong time so a little second chance that way! I loved Jason and Fallon! And Lennie and Presley! They are the sweetest little unit!! The entire cast of Ivy Ridge is SO GREAT! It’s a true family, and it’s something that Fallon specifically was looking for and craving and I was so happy to see her and Presley get that!!
I really loved that Jason and Fallon got to reconnect! I loved seeing a glimpse into their friendship in college, and how important they were to each other and how much they really shaped each other in such a short amount of time. Of course they both had A LOT of things happen in their time apart, which all played a much bigger role in their journeys, but seeing them come back full circle and then finally getting to reconcile with each other!!! It was done so well!!
I didn’t love how back and forth they were for a while…don’t get me wrong it did make sense. They were both scared, didn’t want to get hurt, didn’t want to get the girls too involved and then not have things work out…all of the circumstances made sense. But Jason specifically felt too unsure too often and I thought Fallon needed and deserved someone that was all in right away!!
I’m really excited for the last book! I’ll be sad to see these characters go!! I think it’s gonna be a little painful, seeing Thomas struggling with his job throughout the last three books has been tough, but I’m really excited to see his happy ending!
Can’t Let You Go is the third book in Alice Daniels’ Ivy Ridge series, focusing on Jason Cunningham and Fallon Douglas. Both main characters are single parents. Jason’s ex, Talia, left him and their five-year-old daughter Lennie, unable to overcome her addictions to become the mother Lennie needs. Fallon, on the other hand, went through a messy divorce when her ex-husband Brad abruptly leave left her and seven-year-old Presley behind to start a new life. When Jason’s brewery enters a business partnership with the winery where Fallon is a wedding planner, the couple learns they have more in common than they realize.
As it turns out, Fallon and Jason knew each other in college, when a series of missed opportunities kept them from acknowledging their mutual crushes on each other. Now, as adults, both share the need to do the best by their daughters, even it if means sacrificing their own needs and desires. Lennie and Presley become instant friends and tiny matchmakers, insisting that Jason and Fallon are getting married. The girls are cute without being too childish, in that both sound appropriate for their ages. When Fallon’s past rears its ugly head, it will take the support of Jason and the rest of the Cunningham family for Fallon to realize just how lucky (and in love) she really is.
This is my favorite book in the Ivy Ridge series — so far, anyway. As a mom myself, I understand exactly why Jason and Fallon are so hesitant to be together, considering the impact their relationship would have on their little ones. Alice’s writing gets better and better with each book. Also, the wine cellar shenanigans were pretty great, too. ;)
(( minor spoiler ahead! ))
My one note on this book is to read the warnings beforehand. The opening chapter, in which Brad leaves Fallon after she suffers a miscarriage (and he doesn’t even care about what they lost), can be difficult for some to read. Overall, I enjoyed this story, and I’m curious to see how the series wraps up with Thomas’ novel in the future!
Alice Daniels delivers another beautiful story of love and growth. It’s a beautiful double single parent second chance story and the two little girls are definite scene stealers.
Jason is a strong and dependable guy whose primary focus is his daughter, his family and his business. He is knocked off his feet when the girl who got away in college shows up in his small town. As hard as he fights it and tries to convince himself he doesn’t want a relationship he quickly falls hard for Fallon and her daughter.
Fallon’s journey of insecurity as a curvy FMC is extremely honest and relatable. I love a strong and confident curvy FMC but the reality is that’s not the case for a large portion of women so to read honest stories of living with these insecurities is important and it was extremely well handled in this story.
Fallon is building a new life for herself and her daughter after her husband suddenly left. Reconnecting with her college friend opens up new and old feelings.
From the beginning they it was clear Fallon and Jason wanted each other and there were many factors holding each of them back from wanting to give the relationship a go. I enjoyed how they slowly allowed the other in and worked hard at building each other up.
This is a sexy and sweet story that will have you feeling satisfied with a well earnt HEA.
I love Ivy Ridge and can’t wait for the next instalment.
Can’t Let You Go is one of those stories that grabs you by the heart from the very first page and doesn’t let go. It opens with a devastating miscarriage scene that hit especially hard for me, having experienced that kind of loss personally. The author handles it with raw honesty and so much care—it’s heartbreaking, yes, but also deeply validating.
This is a second chance romance filled with slow burn tension and emotional depth. Jason and Fallon were friends back in college, and now, as single parents, they’re brought back into each other’s lives. Jason is emotionally closed off, carrying more grief than he knows what to do with, while Fallon’s warmth and optimism are like a breath of fresh air. I loved how their bond over parenting added such richness to their connection—it wasn’t just romantic, it was real.
The tug and pull between them had me aching. The chemistry is undeniable, and the one bed trope moment? Perfection. Full of tension, hesitation, and that deep longing you feel in your chest. Every glance, every near-touch, every pause is so well done—it’s the kind of slow burn that makes you beg for them to finally just give in.
This book explores grief, healing, and the courage it takes to choose joy after heartbreak. It’s tender, vulnerable, and ultimately hopeful. Some moments were tough to read, but they also made me feel seen—and that’s a gift I’ll never take for granted.
Oh Fallon & Jason. You sweet fools. I loved them so much. I particularly enjoyed that it wasn’t a love at first sight, rather a second chance romance. In previewing the book, I didn’t realize they had history from college. Fast forward years later, and they both find themselves as single parents in the same small town.
I felt for Fallon. Her ex, Brad, was a real douche canoe. What kind of person not only up and leaves his wife but also his kid - no warning….no indication…just cheats and leaves. I was able to identify with her issues of confidence because it’s human. And I am sure all women, plus sized or not, have some negative talk.
Now Jason. Bless your heart. I love you, but WHY ARE YOU THE WAY YOU ARE???? 😂 He could’ve saved his heart a lot of pain if he would have spoken up back in college. Instead, he iced her out and almost forces her into Brad’s arms. All he had to do is give her more of an inkling that he was interested. Oy! But, as they talk about in the book - maybe it was meant to be this way; destiny, if you will.
And if you know ANYTHING about me, you know this was my favorite line from the story: “Instead of putting it back on normally, he puts it on so the bill is backward. Who allowed men to do that? Don’t they know what a backwards baseball cap does to women?��
We're back in Ivy Ridge, everyone! I love this series and its found family so much!
Fallon has moved to Ivy Ridge after an unexpected divorce and is forging a life for herself and her daughter Presley. One unexpected evening though, she runs into her old college crush who's had his own share of troubles in the years since college. Jason is running a brewery and raising his daughter with the help of his family. The last thing he needs (so he thinks) is his old college crush to tempt him on the daily.
The slow burn angst between Fallon and Jason was so well done! Both single parents are focused on putting their children first and not allowing any more upheaval than is necessary in their lives. At the risk of divulging too much personal information, as a child whose mother had very little discretion about partners she introduced to her kids, it was so nice to read about parents who did this right.
Fallon's issues with self-confidence were so very relatable and I loved the way Jason loved her body. With an 'only one bed' work conference, some shenanigans in a wine cellar, and two scheming little girls, this was such a fun trip back to Ivy Ridge.
I'm SO looking forward to Thomas' book. I can't wait for love to hit him the way he pines for and deserves.
Listen, this was my favorite book of this series yet and I have a handful of reasons why, so without giving up too many details I will explain.
On the trigger warning page it brings up two situations I was worried to read about. One of them is miscarriage, as someone who has had multiple losses this can be something that sets me off. However, this is also a topic that is never talked about enough and so easy to feel alone in. The way Alice touched on this topic was so real, respectful, and relatable. I cried reading because I could relate almost too well to the character and her situation.
When addiction is the topic of the story, it’s not written in a judgmental way, but one of love and truly just wanting your loved one to get better. The realities of addiction are scary, but that never means we love someone any less because of their addiction.
Beyond these topics, this books romance was overall just so well done when it comes to two single parents dating it’s hard, it’s messy, it’s beautiful.
Thank you to Alice Daniels and the arc team for allowing me an advanced copy of this book - I knew I had work to put in to read all three in this series within a week before release day and I’m so happy I did.