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Falling #3

Fear of Love

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Lydia Ellis has had enough of heartbreak. After years of trusting the wrong people and being left to pick up the pieces, she’s shut the door on love for good. Her focus is turning Fusion Weekly into the most successful magazine in the city. No distractions, especially not in the form of a brooding ice rink owner with a chip on his shoulder and eyes that see right through her.

Landon Boone doesn’t have time for nonsense, and certainly not for a headstrong journalist with opinions as loud as her heels. Since his father left, Landon has spent most of his life taking care of everyone else—his brothers and now his own ice rink. He’s gruff, guarded, and perfectly fine with being alone. That is, until Lydia walks into his rink and disrupts everything he thought he knew about himself. She thinks he’s rude. He thinks she’s infuriating.

They clash from the start—too different, too stubborn, too set in their ways. Cold stares soften into stolen moments, and sarcastic jabs turn into something more. As old wounds resurface and long-held fears get in the way, Lydia and Landon are forced to ask is love worth the risk? Or are some hearts better off guarded?

404 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 18, 2025

181 people are currently reading
1089 people want to read

About the author

Kenadee Bryant

3 books274 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
Profile Image for Samantha.
83 reviews33 followers
September 17, 2025
Thank you so much to Kenadee and team for this ARC copy 💖
Another stunning book!
Had a blast reading this and love these characters! Lydia and Landon are perfect for each other!

Mateo remains favourite character and I am incredibly excited for his book which is next in the series and unfortunately the last book, so a bittersweet moment🥲

But I'll be reading Kenadee's work for the foreseeable future so I'm excited to continue to follow her author journey!

🏒enemies to lovers
🏒grumpy ice rink owner
🏒dual pov
🏒spicy
🏒no third act breakup
🏒protective MMC

Profile Image for Naylah.
54 reviews1 follower
September 16, 2025
Rating: 4.5⭐
Spice: 3🌶️
FMC: Lydia Ellis
MMC: Landon Boone

Oh my Landon. You were such a grumpy guy at first, and I loved it. But then the longer I read on the sweeter you became and you melted my heart along with it. The way he took care of Lydia after the bachelorette party made me smile so big. He has such a heart of gold, and he also felt like the biggest teddy bear 😍 How can you not fall in love with him? 🥹

Both characters were really struggling with love, -obviously when you read the title- because of their pasts, and I felt so bad when I learned about Lydia’s. But the love between them became so strong and hard to ignore. Falling in love is easy, but actually opening yourself up to someone isn’t and I totally understood why they both were struggling, definitely Lydia.

There were enough switches between sweet, fun, emotional, and spicy time throughout the book, and it really kept me hooked. The tension between them was through the roof from the start, the banter between all characters was so hilarious and then all the other moments between Landon and Lydia, but also the moments with all the other characters were absolutely perfect.

This story felt really realistic, and I ate up every second of it. I couldn’t put the book down, and this one was definitely my favorite of the three in the series. I’m not saying the fourth won’t change my mind because Mateo is everything tbh. In every single book, he is so damn funny, and I can’t wait to read his own love story.

Thank you Kenadee Bryant for an ARC opportunity. I really appreciated it and was very grateful to be able to read and review Fear Of Love early 💕

Tropes:
🩷 enemies to lovers
🩷 grumpy x sunshine
🩷 he falls first
🩷 found family
🩷 friends with benefits
🩷 banter
🩷 protective mmc
🩷 dual first person pov

Quotes:
'I hated how much I wanted her. I hated how much I couldn’t stop.'
'Like hell I was going to let some idiot steal my girl.'
“You’re not stubborn. You’re independent. And that’s what I love about you.”
”That mouth is going to get you in trouble” - “There are ways to shut me up”
’For the first time, I felt loved, seen, and cared for. It was because of Landon Boone that I no longer feared love.’
Profile Image for Andrea.
127 reviews1 follower
September 13, 2025
I swear this series just keeps getting better and better! Another fun, spicy, cute, and emotional addition to the Falling Series. Dare I say, this might be the spiciest one yet—and I ATE IT UP!! As always, Kenadee writes spice immaculately. But beyond that, I was hooked right from the dedication: “For those that never felt good enough. You are and always will be.” I knew from that moment that Kenadee was going to make me emotional (and probably cry).

I absolutely loved Lydia and Landon. From the very beginning, the banter and tension between them had me giggling and too stunned to speak. Watching them go from enemies to each other’s favorite person was so sweet it made my heart ache in the best way. The chemistry and spice were incredible, but honestly, I adored their tender moments even more. Both carry emotional scars, but as they open up and share their pasts, they give each other the love and care they’ve always deserved. They’re just so perfect for one another.

I also loved the found family aspect. The friend group introduced in Fear of Falling continues to grow and shine, and this book showcased that beautifully. I loved seeing Josie and Wyatt move into the next chapter of their relationship, and watching Tasha and Trevor grow closer since their books. And of course—our sunshine golden retriever Mateo stole every scene he was in! It’s so heartwarming to see this group navigate life together, becoming stronger and closer with every book. I can’t wait for Mateo’s story next!

Overall, this is officially my favorite in the series, and I highly recommend it.

Thank you, Kenadee Bryant, for letting me be part of your ARC team! You never fail to make me smile, laugh, giggle, and get emotional with your words.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
19 reviews
September 8, 2025
Fear of Love by Kenadee Bryant is book 3 in the Falling series.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was a fun, light-hearted read. The banter and the tension were good. I haven't read the other books in the series yet, and I feel like I should have before reading this one. I'd like to go back and read the series from the start to get a better understanding of character dynamics and to see the MCs slow burn and teasing from the start. All the characters are loveable, but I really enjoyed seeing the found family relationships that surround Evelyn and her boys.

I would have liked to see a few more chapters in Landon's POV, I like a book more if it's closer to an even spilt when it's a duel POV. But that is my personal preference.

I'm looking forward to reading Mateo's book and seeing the strong woman who can handle all that goldern retriever energy.

Thank you so much for the ARC! I really appreciate being part of the team!! 🥰
Profile Image for Janie Long.
78 reviews2 followers
October 14, 2025
Tropes I loved:
👊 Enemies to Lovers
🔥 Friends with Benefits
❤️ Found Family
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
💘 He Falls First
🎤 Great Banter
👀 Dual POV

I loved the tension between the main characters and their chemistry was amazing! I completely believed in their love story. There was just the right amount of spice and it started off strong with a friends-with-benefits setup (one of my absolute favorite tropes 😍).

There were also some amazing found family moments sprinkled throughout, and the bachelorette party scene had me laughing out loud because it felt so real and relatable 😂

This was the third book in the series, and now I definitely want to go back and read the others to learn more about this fun, tight-knit friend group and their love stories. 🩷

Thank you to author Kenadee Bryant for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Profile Image for Madison.
486 reviews14 followers
September 7, 2025
I am an absolute simp for Landon. Good god this man can do no wrong❤️‍🔥

I thoroughly enjoyed his and Lydia’s story, it was beautiful. Both characters had been burned by love in the past and to watch them overcome this was so lovely.

They had the best sexual chemistry, the spicy scenes were spicing. But more than that they had a great relationship, I adore them both.

This whole series is found family and I love it so much! If you want hockey romance with men who are obsessed with their women and the greatest girl gang ever then this is the series for you! 🩵💜🩷

I can’t wait for Mateo’s book, he’s such a lil cutie 😍

Thank you Kenadee for the ARC!
Profile Image for Sandy.
350 reviews3 followers
September 18, 2025
Omg LANDON !!!!! ok I think so far - this was my fav (still waiting on Mateo’s book) but to date by far the best installment!

Landon’s mouth 🫣 ummm OK SIR! Lydia and everything revealed for her! Ugh my heart broke because we finally got to understand why she is how she is. Still she shows up and does her absolute best for every single one of them.

I loved the Enemies to Lovers trope for them —- it was epic ! Absolutely devoured this between work and kids sports ..

Addicted ! So said I finished it .
Profile Image for sads.
443 reviews5 followers
September 8, 2025
3.5 — it was cute but felt way too rushed 👩‍🦯 execution could’ve been better and the characters didn’t really feel developed
Profile Image for Jahnvi .
52 reviews4 followers
December 22, 2025
Definitely my favorite book in the series!! And I love Mateo!!!!! ❤❤
Profile Image for Cass.
48 reviews2 followers
October 28, 2025
ARC Review - Thank you for allowing me to read this book early as an ARC reader. I am so thankful and I loved every second of this read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5 spice – Kenadee stepped up the game with the spice for this book. Between how much spice we got & for the level of spice. She turned our grumpy MMC into a man in the bedroom, and wow… freaky Landon is officially my favorite. 🔥

✨ Tropes & Vibes:
• Enemies-to-Lovers / Hate Banter
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• Ice Rink Owner MMC
• Dual POV
• Protective MMC / Boss Babe FMC
• Forced proximity & so much tension

The dedication: “for those that never felt good enough. You are and you always will be. And if you’ve ever secretly dreamed of the grumpy older brother?”

If you’re ready for tension, banter, and swoon-worthy moments, this one’s going to deliver.

💙 Lydia (FMC): CEO. Boss babe. Independent, guarded, stubborn (but would say “not stubborn, independent” 😉). Fierce, funny, and so easy to root for.

🖤 Landon (MMC): Grumpy, protective, oldest brother who took on that role when his dad left. He’s caring, overly protective of his family, and has been crushing hard on Lydia (but won’t admit it).
He notices everything about her. But he hides it behind banter and grumpiness, but she’s his Blondie, his bane of existence… and his everything.

🔥 The tension was there from page 1. It went from the banter and hating each other to the sexual tension everyone could see and feel!
😂 The humor had me cackling: the banter, Mateo’s flirting, the zoo (iykyk), the paint class… all perfection.
❤️ Mama Evelyn. She knows everything, sees everything, and my heart adored her.

Fear of Love is a story of stubborn hearts learning to trust, to let go, to love fiercely. Both Lydia and Landon struggled with past relationships and love, causing them to guard their hearts. But when you find the right person, you start to wonder if you’ve ever really been loved before.

And honestly? I saw myself in Lydia. I am JUST as stubborn and guarded and “I’m independent not stubborn” like her. That hesitation to be vulnerable, even when you know you need to say something. The battle between body, mind, and heart. Choosing silence when we shouldn’t, only to deal with the consequences later. But by doing so you’re hurting him and ourselves by not saying what needed to be said. Kenadee captured that feeling so beautifully.

🏒💋 Oh, and we can’t forget about Mateo… he stole the show every time he was around (but do we expect anything less!?)

I loved catching up with Josie & Wyatt, Trevor & Tasha, and Bryton & Mila. Mateo always showed up to flirt with the girls and causing chaos. He’s such a gold retriever and the biggest heartthrob and being the star QB in Uni!

Final thought: The love in this book was too much in the best way. Fierce, messy, unforgettable. 💯



✨ Quotes ✨
• “Like hell I was going to let some idiot steal my girl.”
• “She’s the bane of my existence.”
• “I hated how much I wanted her. I hated how much I couldn’t stop.”
• “You’re not stubborn. You’re independent. And that’s what I love about you.”
36 reviews1 follower
September 19, 2025
I am so happy to have read this as an ARC member! I love the writing style of Kenadee Bryant - it’s refreshing, very sweet and naughty at the same time! I love that it celebrates friendship, love, trust and respect. Lydia has such a great personality and am really glad she has her ever after with Landon that’s been teasing since Fear of Intimacy! I am so in love with the series and can’t wait to see Matteo’s book soon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Rae Jordan.
42 reviews3 followers
October 16, 2025
✨ARC REVIEW ✨

Fear of Love by Kenadee Bryant

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Rae’s Rating: 💀💀💀💀

This was absolutely precious. I was kicking my feet and giggling so much. I love me, a grumpy man and a stubborn independent QUEEN. The dynamic was literally *chef’s kiss* I am FERAL for the hate-to-love dynamic. Landon was grumpy and cold and Lydia was stubborn and feisty and they clashed and fought constantly and I was obsessed! The characters were truly the strongest part of the book and I have never loved a found family more in my entire life. The girls were close-knit, supportive, and chaotic. They all had very unique personalities and they loved each other like they were actual sisters. And the guys?! The brotherhood, the loyalty, the playful teasing and banter. I loved them so much. And the way they all worshipped their women?! On my knees for men who love and worship their women. And honestly… I won’t even lie, my favorite character was Matteo. I love that golden retriever flirt with my whole heart. He was sweet, goofy, flirtatious, and he lived to torture his brothers and I am already counting down the days until his story! I cannot wait for him to get a taste of his own medicine and I already know he will be an absolute simp for his girl. Give. Me. Now. 🤞

The story primarily focused on Lydia and Landon’s relationship and normally I want an additional plot outside the romance, but I was so invested in their story and their individual growth. Due to a traumatizing past, Lydia is afraid of opening up, trusting someone with her heart, and, of course, afraid of love. Grumpy Landon has always been interested in Lydia and the two of them begin a friends with benefits situation to deal with this… mutual attraction. But Lydia is reluctant to give him her trust and heart. Which naturally, frustrates Landon especially after he willingly opens up about his own baggage. What started as a secret physical relationship slowly starts evolving into real feelings and neither one of them want to be the one to admit it first. Lydia’s trust issues causes some serious conflict in the developing relationship and forces her to address and deal with her past trauma or risk losing Landon forever.

The spice? Was it the spiciest I’ve ever read? Definitely not. But y’all know I am a FIEND for a man with a dirty mouth. Lydia, who is so used to being the one who is always in control, being utterly dominated by Landon. When he told her to get on her knees? I was down there with her- 🥵 It was giving the “fuck it” trope and I was OBSESSED. But their relationship wasn’t just spice. It was companionship, conversation, quality time. Stolen glances, secret touches, sneaky meetings. It was secret and delicious. The scene at the zoo had me literally tearing up because it was just so damned cute and sweet. It felt like a real date even though they couldn’t be open about their relationship.
It takes a lot for me to enjoy and become invested in a simple contemporary romance but I absolutely adored this. I love a grumpy man who is soft for him girl and I love a woman who is used to being in control being absolutely RUINED by her man. It was hot and tense and I squealed and blushed way more than I care to admit. I will absolutely be reading EVERYTHING Kenadee Bryant writes from now on.

Thank you so much to Naughty Nook PR and the absolute icon herself, Kenadee Bryant for trusting me with your story ♥️✨
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
329 reviews32 followers
September 19, 2025
Enemies, Ice, and Everything Nice

Dedication: For those that have never felt good enough. You are and you always will be. And for those that have always wanted the grumpy older brother.

Lydia (FMC): 29 • Owner of Fusion Weekly Magazine • Stubborn Workaholic • Wine Lover • High Heel Are A Must • Boss Lady Era • Former Foster Kid • Heavily Guarded Heart •
Landon (MMC): 30 • Owner & Coach at Hockey Haven • Grumpy • German Shepherd Energy • Addicted to Coffee • Secret Cat Lover •

Tropes:
🥅 Enemies to Lovers
📰 Nicknames
🥅 Hockey Romance
📰 No Third Act Breakup
🥅 Found Family
📰 Secret Relationship
🥅 Text Messages
📰 Cats as Therapy
🥅 He Falls First
📰 Team Shenanigans
🥅 Fierce Girl Gang
📰 Banter as Flirting
🥅 Low Angst

Rating: 🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛🐈(4⭐️)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️(praise, dirty talk, 👅, impact play, hair pulling, hand necklaces, 🐫, crawling)
T/W: foster care (referenced), absentee parent (referenced), fighting/violence (referenced), police (on page), jail (on page), hospital scenes (on page), broken bone (on page)

If you love your romance with a side of icy banter, blistering tension, and just enough sweetness to melt a grumpy man’s heart, Fear of Love is going to skate straight into your favorites. Lydia and Landon start off like a puck and a goalie—constantly clashing, refusing to let the other score. She’s a boss babe determined to prove she doesn’t need anyone. He’s the broody rink owner with walls thicker than the boards around the ice. Sparks fly from their very first face-off, and the chemistry is hotter than an overtime playoff goal.

What I adored most was watching those walls come crashing down. Landon may look like a gruff enforcer, but once you see his cinnamon roll center, he’s impossible not to love. (The way he takes care of Lydia after the bachelorette party? 😍 SWOON.) Lydia’s journey takes longer. Her fear of letting people in felt raw and real but when she finally opens her heart, it’s beautiful in a way that lingers long after the final page.

Add in the laugh out loud banter, the unforgettable girl gang chaos (the painting class, the zoo, the bachelorette antics—pure gold), and the found family warmth that threads through the whole series, and you’ve got a story that balances spice, humor, and heart like a perfect power play. Seeing couples from earlier books felt like reuniting with old teammates, and of course, Mateo continues to steal every scene like the golden retriever QB star he is. I’m counting down the days for his story.

Kenadee Bryant nailed the tension, the tenderness, and the triumph of two people learning to trust love again. This series just keeps getting better. I’d call this one an absolute game winner.

I received an ARC copy and wanted to leave an honest review.
Profile Image for Shelby Hicks.
103 reviews1 follower
September 18, 2025
•KENADEE BRYANT. Just when I thought your books could get no better, you give us Fear of Love. And for this book. I HAVE NO WORDS because words cannot begin to even describe this masterpiece that you have written in Lydia and Landon’s story. Throughout this story you made me FEEL SO SEEN, SHATTERED ME, LOVED, CRY (happy tears), LAUGH (so hard), and of course SWOONING almost the entire time. You really outdid yourself with this story and I could not be more proud of you. Thanks for reminding me why your easily one of MY FAVORITE AUTHORS and why if you write I WILL WRITING IT.

•LYDIA ELLIS. Your walls at first almost seem, to an outsider, almost impenetrable but when you let people in you are so EASY to love and root for. In your character, I felt the MOST SEEN I have ever been seen in a book character. What truly made me feel seen was when you say, “it was easier to only rely on myself than others. There was less of a chance for them to disappoint when they left. Because they always bailed after so long.” Because for me, I am the EXACT SAME WAY. But what I loved most about you was your ability to acknowledge it and get the help that you needed to be a better partner and human. You definitely taught me a thing or two that I could do to help me not feel this way and for that I thank you!

•LANDON BOONE. You are officially my FAVORITE GRUMP. I love it so much how much you just “HATE” our girl, but trust me we all know how you really feel about our girl. And it certainly is not hate, but dare I say LOVE?! Because the way that you are here for and take care of our girl throughout the story is EVERYTHING. Now, we need to talk.There were definitely two times in this book that I wanted to scream and yell at you, “HOW COULD DO THAT?” or “HOW COULD YOU CALL HER THAT?” I know that you had your reasons for it, so you're excused because by the end, you more than made up for it with our girl. So I couldn’t stay mad at you long, because we both know you could NEVER upset me in the end.
And Kenadee, when you said Landon would be KINKER, YOU DID NOT LIE. I was SAT for all the kinkiness that Landon brought to the table, it was SO HOT. I’d let him give me a throat necklace or command me ANY day of the week.

•Scenes I LOVED the most:
-THE NAKED PICNICS! DYING
-Him telling HER TO BEG?! STOP.
-The painting class?! Will live rent free in my head everyday from now on.
-SHE CRAWLS?! I will just leave that right there.
-A THROAT NECKLACE?! GOD THAT’S HOT.
-THE BACH PARTY?! ICONIC and just solidified why this girl group is my FAVORITE.
-My first loves getting MARRIED?! FINALLY!
-Mila and Bryton?! YAY!

•Lastly, MATEO. I got so much of MY BOY and yes I call him MY BOY because he is and has been my FAVORITE character in this series since the first day I laid eyes on/read his name. I would probably fight anyone that claims this man as theirs, because of course, I SAW HIM FIRST. At this point, I need his story more than I need to breathe at this point. Because trust me when I say this, EVERYONE will know about this book because shouting from the roof tops (aka social media) screaming/freaking out about it. So I apologize in advance because I will be a menace to society.
Profile Image for myTBRcorner .
33 reviews
September 19, 2025
✨💖ARC REVIEW: FEAR OF LOVE💖✨
By: @kenadeebryantauthor

Tropes:
🏒 Enemies to Lovers
🏒 Sport Romance
🏒 Spicy/ 18+
🏒 Found Family
🏒 No Third-Act Breakup
🏒 He Falls First
🏒Dual POV

𝘽𝙡𝙪𝙧𝙗: 
Lydia Ellis has had enough of heartbreak. After years of trusting the wrong people and being left to pick up the pieces, she’s shut the door on love for good. Her focus is singular: turning Fusion Weekly into the most successful magazine in the city. No distractions, especially not in the form of a brooding ice rink owner with a chip on his shoulder and eyes that see right through her.

Landon Boone doesn’t have time for nonsense, and certainly not for a headstrong journalist with opinions as loud as her heels. Since his father left, Landon has spent most of his life taking care of everyone else—his brothers and now his own ice rink. He’s gruff, guarded, and perfectly fine with being alone. That is, until Lydia walks into his rink and disrupts everything he thought he knew about himself. She thinks he’s rude. He thinks she’s infuriating. 

They clash from the start—too different, too stubborn, too set in their ways. Cold stares soften into stolen moments, and sarcastic jabs turn into something more. As old wounds resurface and long-held fears get in the way, Lydia and Landon are forced to ask themselves: is love worth the risk? Or are some hearts better off guarded?

𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:
This book is what I would describe as a palate cleanser...something I would recommend after finishing a heavy book series or if you're in a reading slump & just want a nice, fun, cozy read. It's got banter, comedy, a bit of angst mixed with spice🔥.

Love the sexual chemistry between the two leads. I felt it's a bit rushed but then again, I've only read this book & not the previous books in the series. And apparently, things happened between them before this book.

I love the banter & camaraderie of the whole gang. The girl gang, I would say is crazier than the males. The MMC, being the oldest in the group is the most serious and is very protective of everyone he loves. The FMC is sassy and witty and I love her relationship with the MMC's younger brother. It definitely makes me want to continue the series to find out more about the rest of the gang.
Profile Image for Samantha.
495 reviews
January 9, 2026
Love Landon and Lydia’s romance so much and I really like the sexual tension between Landon and Lydia and love the girls friendship group Josie, Tasha, Milan and Lydia. And love the guys friendship group Wyatt, mateo, Landon, Bryson and Trevor. Love that Lydia owns her own magazine called fusion weekly and Josie works with Lydia. And I really like that Lydia gets along with her employees Josie, nick, and susie. And love that this book had some funny moments and love Evelyn Wyatt, Landon and mateo mother so much. Landon owns the hockey haven rink for kids to practise and love that Landon is good with kids. Love that Landon and Lydia are friends with benefits and love it when he takes care of Lydia when she is drunk and love that Landon took care of his two brothers Wyatt and Landon when there biological dad left. Wyatt, Trevor, Bryton are part of the Toronto knights hockey team. Love the spicy scenes between Landon and Lydia, and love it when Landon calls Lydia blondie and good girl. And love it when Landon take care of Lydia when she is drunk and I really like that Landon and Lydia open up to each other about there past and past relationships and Lydia has her walls up because of her past being in foster care and her mother being a drug addict. And love that Landon and Lydia are seeing each other secretly but there friends kind of already know. Love that Wyatt and Josie are getting married in this book. Evelyn Wyatt, mateos and Landon mother is dating Wyatt’s coach Steven Barnum. I hate Jared Lydia’s cheating ex fiancee and Landon biological dad in the book. And I can’t wait to read mateo book next in this series and I just love kenadee Bryant writing so much I didn’t want this book to end and I just love this hockey series and I cried near the end and I just love the friendship between the guys and girls in the book and love that bryton proposed to mila at the end of the book. And love that Wyatt and Josie, Trevor and Tasha, bryton and mila and Landon and Lydia are all in this book and while on vacation in Australia with their friends Landon and Lydia kiss which the friends don’t know about.

Spicy
Dual PoV
Sports romance
Grumpy older brother
Enemies to lovers
Stubborn magazine owner
Found family
No third act break up
Protective MMC
Under 390 pages
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lindsey Adams.
1,110 reviews22 followers
September 23, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book is definitely written for anyone who ever wanted to give up on love and then found your perfect match! Kenadee Bryant has made so many people feel seen in Fear of Love, book 3 in her Falling series. Every book in this series is amazing, but something stood out in this book and pulled me in. I swooned, laughed, cried, blushed, and kicked my feet while reading this book. In this book we have a determined, yet closed off FMC, who meets her match with our grumpy MMC. Be ready to root for these two!

Lydia is done with feeling less than. She believes that everyone eventually leaves, so why depend on anyone but yourself. So she gives all her energy to making her magazine a publishing success. I loved her girl boss attitude! However, it is easy to understand that growing up as a foster kid could jade her heart towards love. I wanted to wrap her in a giant hug multiple times while reading. Her trouble with accepting love didn’t just stem from romantic partners, but life in general.

Landon is a grump that you can’t help but love. He has thick walls built up around his heart, but slowly you start seeing those chip away as he and Lydia get to know each other. I absolutely love when two broken people find healing with each other and learn that their cracks helped define who they are. However, Kenadee raised the bar with our MMC in this book! She held back nothing and increased everything!

Each book also brings an amazing found family to every story! I love the vibes every couple has brought to the group and can’t wait for more! It is a vital theme through all of Kenadee’s books and one that I love. Family is who you chose! This book was an amazing read and validated so many people who have gone through hardship. You are worthy, you are enough, and anyone who can’t see that isn’t worth your time!

As always, review any author notes before reading.

What to Expect:
🏒Enemies to Lovers
🩷Grumpy Ice Rink Owner
🏒Protective MMC
🩷Grumpy Older Brother
🏒Magazine Owner FMC
🩷Found Family
🏒Ice Hockey Romance
51 reviews
October 19, 2025
ARC Review

So when Kenadee told me that the series only gets better she was not lying.
Book 3 is definitely my favorite.
I am obsessed with Landon and loved the sorry between him and Lydia.
Although side note Trevor might still be top of the boyfriend list in the series for me and oh wait dont forget about Wyatt... well darn they are all pretty great in their own way.

And I haven't forgotten about the ladies of this series, I loved how each one was relatable in their own way. Lydia, however, is strong independent and keeps her past hidden she does what she believes is best for her, but how long can one person keep that weight? I loved how we got to know her and how we saw her grow. She was such a strong character from the beginning, and when we learn who she is and what she keeps hidden, it solidified the strength of her character

We all build up walls some higher and thicker than others but with the right person those wall fall and thats exactly what happened with Landon and Lydia

Oh and we got another elevator scene in this book, only this time we got some heat

I definitely recommend reading the books in order if you want to give this series a go. It was the best decision I made when I got this ARC and Kenadee convinced me in a single message that it was the way to go, as written and intended. Although this book can be read as a standalone but warning if you do, you are going miss out on the characters back stories, their growth and journeys to this point. I laughed, cried and celebrated with these characters throughout the series because I got to know them. Its the reason why I adored the side couple that we got in the end of this book and I am 100% hands down excited for book 4. I knew early on that Mateo would get a book. How do I feel about our favorite side character getting a book? Well I am super happy of course. I am however a tiny bit worried its going to be weird as he is the little brother of the group, the golden retriever MMC we all love and have a soft spot for (how could you not) so I have both high hopes and minor concerns 🤭
Profile Image for Brittney.
41 reviews
September 18, 2025
🌸Fear of Love ARC Review🌸
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have been not so patiently waiting for this book, and it did not disappoint. 💕 I love this series and these characters so much. From the very first page, I realized just how much I missed being with this group. The banter between Landon and Lydia was off the charts. 🔥


Lydia- Our confident and independent queen. 👑 She’s strong and self-assured, but underneath it all, she carries insecurities. She’s the type who always does everything herself—the definition of a workaholic. But what I loved most was seeing those rare, vulnerable moments. 🥹 She’s built walls around her heart because of past relationship traumas, and as much as she wants to open that part of herself up, she doesn’t quite know how. Even in Fear of Falling, she struck me as guarded, and I was always curious about her past. Getting to see more layers of her here was everything. ✨

Landon- Another one with walls built high—our grumpy king. 👑 He had to grow up fast, stepping into the role of man of the house when his father left, taking care of his brothers and mother. That weight shaped him into someone fiercely protective of his family and always putting others first. But what I adored most about him was how patient he was with Lydia. 🥹 He never tried to push, never asked her to be anything other than herself. He simply let her be—and that made their connection even more powerful. Landon just raised the bar again. Bare minimum? Nah, he's elite.

@kenadeebryantauthor has done it again with Fear of Love. I’m OBSESSED. 😍 With the couples. With the friendships. With the family that the @kenadeebryantauthor built through these stories. Every page made me fall harder, not just for the romances, but for the bonds between everyone. It’s one of those worlds you just never want to leave. 🫶

If you love:

🏒enemies to lovers
🏒ice hockey romance
🏒 dual pov
🏒spicy
🏒no third act breakup
🏒protective mmc
🏒found family

You’re going to want to add this to your TBR immediately.

Fear of Love releases 9/18.

Thank you to @kenadeebryantauthor and @naughtynookpr for giving me this ARC. I am forever grateful. I can’t wait for what’s next.

#fearoflove #kenadeebryant #arcreview #bookcommunity #bookstagram
Profile Image for Pritomsreeta Borah.
62 reviews
September 15, 2025
Thank you, Kenadee Bryant, for the ARC copy!!!

🤩🤩🤩🤩

I swear this series just keeps raising the bar! Fear of Love was another swoony, heartfelt, and spicy addition to the Falling Series, and I devoured it in one sitting. Kenadee Bryant once again nailed the mix of heat and heart. From the first page, I was completely hooked—especially with that beautiful dedication that hit right in the feels. I knew this was going to be an emotional ride (and yes, I teared up more than once).

I absolutely adored the new couple, [insert protagonists’ names here]. Right from the start, their banter had me grinning and the tension had me glued to the pages. Watching them shift from guarded strangers to each other’s safe place was just the sweetest thing ever. The chemistry was off the charts, but the vulnerable, softer moments between them truly stole my heart. Both characters carry their own emotional baggage, yet the way they open up and heal together felt so raw and beautiful.

I also loved how the “found family” theme keeps growing stronger. The friend group we’ve come to love really shines here, and it was wonderful seeing how they rally around one another. I especially enjoyed the glimpses of [other side characters] as they move forward in their own lives. And of course, [pet’s name, if any, like Mateo] once again stole every scene—pure sunshine! It’s so rewarding to watch this group grow closer with each book, and I’m already counting the days for the next installment.

Overall, Fear of Love has officially become my favorite in the series so far. It’s tender, spicy, and full of heart. I highly recommend it if you’ve been following the Falling Series or just want a romance that will make you swoon and feel deeply.

Profile Image for Rachel.
140 reviews1 follower
September 24, 2025
This was an emotionally rich and satisfying romance that dives into themes of vulnerability, healing, and learning to let love in. The story follows Lydia, whose fear of love is portrayed with nuance and authenticity, making her internal journey just as compelling as the romantic plot. The chemistry between Lydia and Landon is undeniable from the start, and their transition into something deeper unfolds with care and intention. Bryant captures those small, emotionally charged moments in a way that makes their connection feel both believable and deeply felt.

One of the novel’s strengths lies in its emotional honesty. The characters aren’t perfect, they make mistakes, pull away, and struggle to communicate but that’s exactly what makes their growth feel genuine. The pacing allows room for that growth without dragging; the emotional arcs unfold naturally, giving each character space to work through their fears without feeling rushed or overly drawn out.

The supporting cast adds another layer of charm to the story. The sense of found family is strong throughout the entire series, and I loved getting to see the different sides of everyone’s relationships. It was especially rewarding to catch up with previous couples and see them happy and living their lives.

The romantic tension is well-developed, with just the right amount of slow burn and emotional payoff. The intimacy scenes are steamy yet meaningful, always grounded in the emotional stakes of Lydia and Landon’s journey.

Kenadee Bryant writes with heart, and her characters feel lived-in and real. This was a compelling love story with emotional depth and a satisfying conclusion. I cannot wait to read Mateo’s book and to see how this series concludes.
Profile Image for Laura.
120 reviews1 follower
October 15, 2025
Fear of Love is the third book in the Falling series, which is a series of standalone romances.



I loved this book. If Fear of Falling (The first book in the series) was sweet, Fear of Love was sweet and spicy. The book follows Lydia and Landon as they navigate a hate-to-love situation. And boy was it a ride worth reading.



Landon is this guy with a very hard external shell, but cares so deeply for his family that he would do anything for them. Seeing him come out of his shell and start to show his true personality was fun to read. Going into this book, I didn’t think an MMC could come close to beating Wyatt, but boy, was Landon close. Lydia has a lot of self-worth issues and has to face her past if she wants a future with Landon. Reading these characters heal each other was so heartwarming.



Other than reading and falling in love with Landon and Lydia’s love story, another reason I loved this book a lot was that we got to see a lot of the other characters. That may not be to everyone's taste, but as someone who reads mainly series, I often find that when reading a standalone series, my enjoyment dims a lot in the later books due to leaving the characters I had grown attached to in the first book I read in that series. Although this book was definitely Landon and Lydia’s book, we still saw enough of the other couples to keep me happy and engaged.



Not to mention having a lot of Mateo in this book, who always makes me crack a smile. I can’t wait to read his book next year.



Kenadee Bryant is definitely an author I will be keeping an eye out for in the future, and I can’t wait to see what she comes out with after Mateo’s book.



Thank you Kenadee Bryant for an ARC opportunity.



Tropes:

🩷 enemies to lovers

🩷 grumpy x sunshine

🩷 he falls first

🩷 found family

🩷 friends with benefits

🩷 banter

🩷 protective mmc

🩷 dual first person pov


22 reviews
September 9, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ & 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

So I read Fear of Falling and fell in love with Jose and Wyatt immediately.
I read Fear of Intimacy and realised I'd been quietly shipping Tasha and Trevor from the SECOND they met.
What I didn't realise while reading about these two beautiful couples was how much I NEEDED Lydia and Landon!

👠 Lydia Ellis is THE Boss Babe! She's a total baddie and doesn't need a man. ESPECIALLY NOT the grumpy, sometimes rude older brother of her best friend's boyfriend. Lydia has a rapidly growing magazine to run and the best friend group turned found family a girl could ask for. What she needs is to work on her empire and ignore Mr broody, however no matter where they are they seem to be drawn to each other, like an invisible string is holding them close.

🏒 Landon Boone lives everyday like the weight of the world is on his shoulders. After doing everything he could to help his single mum raise his 2 younger brothers from a young age, Landon was no stranger to hard work. He just wants to run his Hockey rink, Support his family and watch his brothers rule the sports world, Mateo dominating the college football field as star QB and Wyatt captaining his Pro hockey team through another demanding season. Nothing could've prepared his world to be turned on its axis by the tiny firecracker that isn't afraid to tell Landon exactly how it is.

With them both carrying years of heartache and pain, they have a lot to work through and fight for. The biggest being their Fear of Love.

Also a moment for our main man Mateo!! I’m so deeply obsessed with him! I love love love Mateo and his love for life! Can’t wait for his book!!

Thank you Kendee for the read!!
Profile Image for Frauke_The_Bookworm.
31 reviews3 followers
September 15, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️ (open door)

First of all, a huge thank you to Kenadee for letting me read this ARC. I was (and still am!) so honored—I literally screamed when I got it. (Very professionally of course)

This book was such a fun, heartwarming, swoony read from start to finish. The cover is gorgeous, but what’s inside is even better. The writing just flows so easily, and I felt like I was right there living alongside the characters. It’s the kind of story that pulls you in and doesn’t let go, and I loved every second of it.

Now let’s talk about the characters because oh my gosh—they were everything. Each one felt so unique and real, and I loved seeing how they grew throughout the story. But Landon and Lydia? Absolutely stole my heart. Their chemistry is perfection, and their banter had me grinning like an idiot. You know when you read a couple and think, yep, they just make sense together? That’s them. They balanced each other so beautifully, and I couldn’t get enough.

Their romance was the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. The open-door scenes added so much passion, but what I loved most was how deeply emotional their relationship felt. They didn’t just fall in love—they learned to trust, to open up, and to grow together. It gave me all the warm, fuzzy feelings while also making me a little teary at times (in the best way!).

This story made me laugh, swoon, and even clutch my chest a couple of times. It’s one of those books I’ll be thinking about for a long while, and I already know I’ll be recommending it to anyone who asks me for a good romance rec. I can’t wait to see more readers fall in love with Landon and Lydia the way I did.
Profile Image for Stephanie Cormack.
6 reviews
October 12, 2025
This book was everything I wanted for Landon Boone’s story. As the eldest Boone brother, Landon has carried the weight of responsibility for years, stepping into the role of both brother and father to Wyatt and Mateo. He’s gruff, guarded, and so used to putting everyone else first that he’s convinced there’s no space in his life for his own happiness. But beneath that grumpy exterior is a man with a fiercely loyal, soft heart that only a select few get to see. Then there’s Lydia. Her story broke me. Her whole life has been a revolving door of people walking in and out, never giving her the steady love she’s always needed. She’s smart, hardworking, and an absolute force when it comes to her career but her past has left her scarred and you feel that wound in every page. My heart broke for her; I just wanted to shake her, hug her, and tell her she was worthy of everything good coming her way. 💕

The two of them together? Sparks. Their banter is relentless, sharp-edged. Every fight was foreplay, every glance charged. And when they finally gave in… WOW. The chemistry was explosive. Landon’s dirty mouth was perfection 🤭 and the spice level fit them so well intense, emotional, and hot. What I loved most, though, is that this wasn’t just about desire. It was about healing about a man who never thought he could have more than responsibility learning he deserves love too, and a woman who thought she was not worth staying for finally realizing she’s everything someone could want.

I laughed and I cried hard for this book. Landon and Lydia’s story is my favourite by far
Profile Image for ReadMeRough.
95 reviews4 followers
September 7, 2025
Fear of Love by Kenadee Bryant is a sizzling, heartfelt hockey romance that balances spice, banter, and real emotion perfectly. 🏒🔥💖

Lydia, a magazine chef with a painful past, and Lando, a protective hockey coach with big brother energy, have the kind of chemistry that leaps off the page. Their teasing banter (Blondie 😏) and their “enemies-to-lovers but not really” vibe had me hooked — full of I-hate-how-much-I-want-you energy. ⚡️

Lando completely stole my heart: protective, dominant, caring, and the kind of hero who melts you when he ties skates for a kid or teaches a little girl to play hockey because boys told her she couldn’t. 🥹💪 Pair that with his filthy mouth and possessive streak, and… yeah, I was gone.

The friendships made this book even better — the girl gang moments had me laughing (the painting class scene + drunk shenanigans?! 😂 pure gold) and the family vibes with his brothers gave the story extra heart.

And while the spice hits early and often, the story has real depth — especially when it comes to Lydia’s journey of trust and healing.

If you love:
✨ Hockey romances
✨ Friends-with-benefits that turn into more
✨ Dominant heroes + praise kink
✨ Strong found-family vibes
✨ Banter that makes you laugh out loud
…then you need this book.

Kenadee Bryant balances humor, spice, and heart so beautifully. Lydia and Lando’s story gave me everything I wanted, and now I need Mateo’s book ASAP. 🙏
Profile Image for Kaylila.
159 reviews6 followers
September 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This is the 3rd book in an interconnected series and it did not disappoint! We follow Lydia and Landon who are friends/family with the characters from the first 2 books. Lydia is a workaholic that struggles with letting people get close. Landon is a grumpy father figure to his brothers and has a hard time trusting women don’t have ulterior motives in their relationships. They start their interactions with bickering and insults but nothing stops the tension between them from growing. I loved watching them both grow together in this book and watching the sexual tension build into a love that will last. Kenadee Bryant does a good job in her books of creating characters that you can relate to while making each of them completely different from the other characters. I felt I could relate to Lydia in many aspects even though her background wasn’t like mine. The feelings she felt however were where I felt my soul connect to her. I also loved the continuation of the love stories from the other books since they are Lydia and Landon’s friends. It was a nice touch to still give us their story without the book focusing on them. I’m excited to read Matteo’s story! It’s going to be so good because I just love Matteo! Overall, I enjoyed this book so much and this is becoming a favorite series of mine!
Profile Image for Erika.
10 reviews
October 2, 2025
ARC Review
I have been waiting for this book and this couple since day 1
I have loved Landon and Lydia since they met in book 1 and I could not wait till we finally got to their story!!

I loved how each character’s backstory was told and we got to see both of these characters in a whole new light, I loved how fatherly Landon is and seeing how devoted he is to his mom and brothers just warmed my heart. We learned in book 1 from Wyatt about their family history but hearing it from the brother who stepped up gives a whole new light and more emotions to this story.

I loved that we got to learn more about Lydia and find out why she is so guarded. Hearing what she went through and how she was able to come out of it and make an amazing life for herself is truly inspiring but also explains why opening her heart was so hard for her.

I loved the found family and all the chaos this group gets into and I think with each book I fall more in love with all this character that by the end of this one I was sad to get to the last page!
I feel in book 1 they were really close friends but by this book they are really family.

These characters will make you laugh, cry, swoon and all the emotions in between.

This is by far my favorite book in the series and I am not ready for the series to be over.


5 stars all the way!
Profile Image for Erin Collins.
676 reviews22 followers
October 8, 2025
✨🔮🌞🌕🍄🌕🌞🔮✨

ARC REVIEW

Fear of Love - Kenadee Bryant

5/5⭐️

📚📚📚
This series could do me no wrong truly! This one is 100% my favorite of all! Landon is a top tier book boyfriend from the start! The grumpiness to protectiveness to how spicy he gets… he just has it ALL! Lydia I just adored!! That woman is a total independent Baddie that is so relatable in my opinion. This one was filled with all the tension instantly and the banter omg had me giggling so hard!! Once these two opened their hearts up I had all the butterflies. It was just to good! I loved seeing past characters and can’t wait for what’s next. Without giving to much away for this one, I highly recommend adding to your tbr!

📚📚📚
If you like to read:
- New Adult
- Enemies to lovers
- No third act break up
- Protective MMC
- Ice hockey romance
- Found family
- Dual POV
… You should definitely check this out

📚📚📚

Thank you so much for sending me a copy for an honest review in my own words. #giftedcopy

QOTD✨ what traits do you love your FMCs to have? Or what’s the weather like near you today?

#books #booklover #smut #booknerd #bookfriend #bookish #booklovers #bookishcommunity #bookloversunite #instabook #bookporn #bookphotography #reviews #igbooks #ilovereading #smutty #bookaddiction #bookhoader #hotnsexy #fortheloveofbooks #bookrecs #yummy #givemeallthebooks #readingthepainaway #booktok
Profile Image for Tara.
70 reviews1 follower
September 8, 2025
This may just be my favorite girl gang read ever. When I say this book takes the top prize in the found family category, I truly mean it. I have never felt more wrapped up in a group of friends than I did while reading Kenadee Bryant’s upcoming release, Fear of Love.

At its heart, this story belongs to Landon and Lydia, two stubborn, boneheaded enemies who act like they can’t stand each other. She thinks he’s infuriating. He swears she’s impossible. But when their clash of wills turns into a spark? Oh, it burns.

He's always put everyone else first, even if it meant giving up on his own dreams. She's never had anyone to look out for her. Together? Their banter is combustible, and when it finally explodes into passion, you’ll be fanning yourself and cheering them on.

What really takes this story to the next level is the friend group. Josie, Tasha, Mia, and Lydia had me laughing out loud with the situations they managed to stumble into, often with a little “help” (or mischief) from Wyatt and Landon’s mom, Evelyn, who was usually the one egging them on.

If you love found family, laugh-out-loud banter, and enemies who can’t fight their chemistry, this book needs to be on your TBR immediately.
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