The Fall Line

The Heartwood Series #4

by Meg Riley

I have a secret: I’ve never been kissed.

At least, not before I married the world’s hottest pro skier and world-renowned playboy.

The deal? Stay married until I secure my inheritance and keep my café, and he convinces his sponsors he’s changed his womanizing ways.

Easy… except Jett plays the part of devoted husband a little too well.

He’s sweeter than he lets on. He teaches me how to ski, how to date…

How to kiss.

He’s protective and calls me wife.

Our marriage might be the most meaningful relationship Jett Landry has ever had. And somewhere along the way, what started as a PR stunt has stopped feeling pretend.

Now I’m wondering if the man every woman wants, might actually want me.

The Fall Line is a reformed playboy, marriage of convenience small town romantic comedy with a guaranteed happily-ever after! It is the fourth book in The Heartwood Series and can be read as a standalone.

Genres: Sports Romance, Romance, Sports, Friends To Lovers, Marriage Of Convenience, Slow Burn, Fake Dating

412 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 5, 2026

About the author

Hi! I'm Meg Riley. I'm a Canadian author of small town romance novels set in the heart of the Rocky Mountains! My stories are steamy, spicy, and cute - all of the best flavours of smut!

I live in Calgary, Alberta with my husband and my dog. Writing is currently my side gig - I am a nurse as my day (and night!) job and I feel very lucky to have a job where I can care for others and meet so many interesting humans that inspire me.

Thanks for joining my community of romance readers! I am so happy you're here.

Reviews

[joni ౨ৎ - hiatus]

𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
this cover is so cute & im living for the purple!! my first book by meg and im very excited!! i think it'll be the perfect cozy winter read 🤭💜

✧˖°🎿 ⋆｡˚꩜ 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬
⤷ marriage of convenience
⤷ reformed playboy
⤷ professional skier
⤷ chronic illness rep
⤷ spice lessons

↪ started jan 20

thank u so much to meg for having me on your arc team

[Eloïse van Deutekom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I read this book as a ARC and i haven’t read the other books but i sure will. This book was everything and more. The thing that made this book stand out to me was the disability representation.

Jett and Poppy have always known each other but weren’t close because they were total opposites of each other. But now Poppy needs a marriage to keep her café and Jett has an image that needs some restoration. They become a lot more than just friends very soon.

Jett is a reformed playboy and is a ski talent. He was caught in a scandal and needs some good publicity otherwise he will lose his sponsorship. He does not date because he is scared of love.

Poppy is a hard working café owner who just lost her aunt. Her aunt left the cafe to her in her will but now she has one problem. She has to married to have the ownership over it. My girl has arthritis and struggles with it but doesn’t let it set her back.

From the start I loved the relationship Jett and Poppy had. The moment he found out that she was inexperienced was so sweet. He did his best to make everything extra special for her, even her first kiss. Jeff was so obsessed with Poppy, it was adorable. He fell first and really hard. Cordelia, the cat, was honestly just as obsessed with Jett as we all were whilst reading this book. Also the way he kept calling her ‘my wife’ had my toes curled with excitement.

my favorite quotes were:
“It’s almost painful, the way i love her”
“my pleasure is his aphrodisiac, his undoing”

I rated this book:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

[Nouf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley.


This is my first time reading pro skier romance. I'm used to hockey romance and I kinda like this sport too.

Jett at first seemed quite immature to me but then he started to behave in a manner more appropriate for his age and I kinda started to like him more.

I don't know but it didn't seem like they knew each other since they were kids! And I feel like I know nothing about them either other than she's diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and loves the cafe and he wants to go to the World Cup.

At first i didn't feel any connection between them not even a spark. But after the wedding i started to kinda like them together. And honestly I skipped some of the smut scenes.

I felt so bad for her and what she went through with her diagnosis and i loved how he helped her without making her feel weak.

I liked her writing style and the story was kinda cute but I want to know more about them as characters.

Also her cat ♡♡!!!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in
exchange for an honest opinion.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fall Line was super cute and I really enjoyed the difference of the personalities between Poppy and Jett but how they still meshed so well together as a couple. I always love a fake dating/marriage of convenience trope that turns into true, wholesome love so I was rooting for them from the beginning! Poppy and Jett genuinely brought the best out of each other and as a chronic illness girlie, I saw a lot of myself in Poppy and Jett's willingness to accommodate and adjust his lifestyle without making a big show or being explicitly asked endeared him to me immediately. All people who live with disabilities or illness deserve to find that kind of love and partnership. I would've loved a chapter or two of past interactions between Poppy and Jett rather than them just mentioning it in conversation, but that also may be a nonissue if you read the previous books in this interconnected series, as I have not. Overall, The Fall Line is a solid romance with great chronic illness rep and character growth from the MMC.

Thank you to the author for sending me an early copy!

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute romance book! Poppy and Jett are the literal meaning of opposites attracting and they really were each other's missing piece. It was so fun to see a reformed player fall so hard given his resistance to dating at all. Poppy is one of those characters who is gorgeous inside and out, I really loved how her chronic illness rep is portrayed and how she feels safe enough to be forthcoming with Jett when it comes to her flares and how he cared for her 💜 Jett became such a cat dad it was adorable. Highly recommend if you just want a cosy, feel good read.

Tropes:
🩵 Marriage of Convenience
❄️ Professional Skier
🩵 Reformed Playboy x Virgin
❄️ Spice Lessons
🩵 Chronic Illness Rep
❄️ Reluctant Cat Dad

Thank you so much to Meg Riley for this arc 💜

[Madzieł · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️/5 prosto z mostu, bo wiem że nie zmienię oceny! JA CZUJĘ THE FALL LINE OKAY?!

I będę nadrabiać tę serię, bo warto!
DLA PIÓRA MEG I JEJ BOHATERÓW-

MÓWIŁAM, ŻE KAŻDY TOM OPOWIADA O KAŻDYM Z BRACI LANDRY?

[Nena Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute, fun read, love the playboy troupe and fake marriage and they fall for each other.

Thank you for your review.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fall Line🩵❄️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This slow burn romance really got me captivated, I couldn’t put it down. I loved how it started as a marriage of convenience to then a marriage due to falling in love with each other🫶🏽
Also the way Meg wrote in about the Arthritis was so good, really shows the pain sufferers go through with this.

🩵 Marriage Of Convenience
❄️ Professional Skier
🩵 Playboy x Virgin
❄️ Chronic Illness Rep

[Samantha || Fictionally Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fall Line was actually really cute and fun. I read it in the span of 48 hours, and really enjoyed just how low stakes and Hallmark-esque it was. The story follows Jett and Poppy’s fake marriage as both are in desperate need of a little help from the opposite sex—Jett needs to clean up his image after a disastrous scandal breaks out regarding his “rakish” ways that threatens his only chance at getting to Worlds Championship, and Poppy is required to be married in order to fully own her late aunt’s café which has become her pride and joy. But when faking it for the media turns into real moments, the two have to figure out what is more important to them and if this relationship is worth making it real.

One of my favorite tropes is the fake dating/marriage trope, so when my book club voted for this to be our February pick, I got a little excited. After reading a lot of paranormal and fantasy romances, this was a much-needed palette cleanser and breath of fresh fun air. Jett and Poppy’s dynamic teetered on insta-love territory, but I’m going to go with this being a bit more friends to lovers than not. Jett is originally explained to be a playboy in the midst of a wild scandal, but his personality and actions gave away anything but playboy—cocky yes, but playboy no.

Our main FMC, Poppy, suffers from chronic illness and I loved getting to see that on page. I personally don’t suffer with the same chronic illness she does (arthritis for her) so I can’t fully speak on if the representation was well, but I can say I appreciated seeing it on page and seeing how that played a part in their relationship.

This was my first Meg Riley book, and though there were some pacing and choppiness issues with the writing, I thought this was a pretty good romance. I went into this book for the vibes and that is exactly what I was given. Absolutely entertaining, and I didn’t have to think. Definitely am interested in reading Riley’s future work to see her growth as an author.

[marly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4✨ Such a cozy winter romance! ❄️🤍 I’m usually not the biggest fan of sports romances, but I genuinely didn’t mind the sports theme here and it actually added to the atmosphere and charm of the story. Even though it’s part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone without missing anything important.

The fake marriage trope was executed so well, and it was such a joy to watch their connection grow naturally over time. Their chemistry felt authentic, and I loved seeing their relationship develop step by step. I also really appreciated the representation of a character living with a chronic illness.

The last 20% felt slightly different from the rest of the book, though. Their communication had been healthy and transparent throughout most of the story, so when it suddenly shifted into something more closed-off and borderline toxic, it felt a bit out of character. Because of that, I’m taking off one star.

Still, it’s a heartwarming romance that perfectly matches the Olympic winter vibes from the current moment! 🏔️✨

Thanks @NetGalley for this e-arc!

[Madison📚🌻 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I have read by Meg Riley and I must say I was very impressed. This book was honestly super cute! I am a huge fan of a marriage of convenience love story, and I loved the relationship between Jett and Poppy (and of course Cordelia!). I also enjoyed the fact that there was a good balance of romance and the sport that the MMC participated in. I do wish there had been just a little more information about the sport itself, like how scoring works, but overall I still had a great time reading this book. I will definitely be picking up more books by this author in the future!

Arc provided by publisher via Netgalley

[Stephanie Usherwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was cute! It’s not the kind of book I’m normally drawn to, but I liked it.

🏘️Small town
💍Marriage of Convenience
⛷️Reformed Playboy Pro Skier MMC
🌶️Spice Lessons
😷Chronic illness Rep FMC

Jett’s immaturity as a playboy in the beginning of the book was annoying, but then he became this really sweet, caring husband for Poppy. Poppy has lived her whole life with a chronic illness and Jett really steps up.

If you love a cute small town romance, but a small amount of spice, this is your next read!

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

This book went by so fast, I finished it in one day with a few breaks. The plot was very cute with a little spice! I think both characters had their own struggles so it was nice to see them super each other.

I think the only thing I really wanted to see in this book was a bigger struggle, there were lots of smaller struggles but nothing big that would have truly developed my feelings for the characters.

[The Unrepentant Bookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were so many things I loved about The Fall Line.

The representation of chronic illness genuinely stood out. It’s handled with care, honesty, and realism — no glossing over the hard parts, no turning it into a convenient plot beat. It felt lived-in and thoughtful in a way that really mattered to me.

Then there’s the steam. Very Teach Me vibes — intimate, charged, and rooted in connection rather than just heat for the sake of it. The chemistry builds quietly, and then suddenly it’s everywhere.

And I am forever a sucker for a fake marriage/marriage of convenience, especially when it’s between friends, and he realises far too late that he’s been missing what was right in front of him all along.

He calls her “wife.” His kisses are fire. He knits (why is this so sexy????)

What starts as an arrangement slowly stops feeling fake — in that way that sneaks up on you. Set in a small town, with two people marrying to give each other what they need — her, the chance to keep her family’s café; him, a shot at repairing his reputation and getting back in the air — this one hit emotionally and romantically.

Tender, sexy, and quietly devastating in places. I finished it with that satisfied, slightly undone feeling — always my favourite.

[Kaity · Rating 5 out of 5]

he was so down bad.... ;ppp

[Lb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though Poppy and Jett grew up together and their families were friends this couple really didn't know each other all that well and got to know each other throughout their time together after their marriage.

Likeable lead characters and side characters even though Jett was a party boy you could see that he truly cared about his family and friends and it was sweet to see the softer side of him when he was taking care of Poppy.

Poppy was so innocent but after even a few lessons from her hot new husband the wild cat came out.

I liked how sweet Jett was with Poppy especially when he knew that her arthritis was flaring up he made sure that she was as comfortable as possible.

Easy to follow even though I didn't read the first 3 books I didn't really feel lost with the story.

I thank the author for this arc read and thought it was a cute story I will probably check out the remainder of the series at some point.

book blog: https://elbyslibrary.blogspot.com/202...

*ARC Read *Sports romance (skiing) *childhood friends --> more *fake relationship

*Marriage of convenience *Playboy MMC *Virgin FMC *small town romance *forced proximity

*chronic illness representation *spicy lessons *slow burn *goodgirl/badboy *opposites attract

*part of a series but can be read as a standalone *whirlwind romance

Dislikes:

While this was a cute cozy read with sweet moments I found myself needing breaks from the book and going to other books there were a lot of parts of the story that just dragged on many repetitive thoughts about how they were starting to feel "more" towards each other and surrounding Poppy and her never being kissed... or anything else... yes we get that lets get our couple together!

I felt the book could have been edited down so it wasn't over 400 pages with the story still being just as good (or better) as said before there was a lot of filler with repetitive thoughts and some scenes that didn't really push the story forward in a meaningful way for our couple, I was also not sure what our time frame was at any point due to random time jumps it could be a day or a week or so when is the competition? I don't know.

I would have liked to have gotten to know a bit more than surface level about our couple... it really felt like maybe some of the relationship causing the "spark" between them was off the pages, because I wasn't seeing all that much of one on pages that would cause their relationship to progress so quickly especially since they didn't really seem to know each other that well.

[Alfa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author. All opinions are honest and entirely mine.

Jett is the typical playboy, but not a complete jerk is the first impression I got. Poppy is a sweet, likeable, unproblematic, and hardworking homegirl. The way Poppy describes the dating app experience is unfortunately way too relatable 😭😂. And then there’s Cordelia, a total bundle of adorable menace and cuteness overload 🐱🐾 The interactions between Jett and Cordelia are so precious 🥰💗

I normally don’t trust people who claim they don’t like animals (in this case, cats), and Jett starts off acting like he “doesn’t like cats” and has some nonexistent allergy. But I trust in character development, and I was right to do so. His growing fondness and the way he behaves around her are literally the most classic secret cat-person traits ever (the sneaky affection he shows Cordelia when he thinks Poppy doesn’t notice is the proof, lol) 😏🐈

I really loved Jett’s determination to give Poppy the best relationship experience, even though it was initially a fake one. It shows that Jett is not as shallow as his reputation suggests and that he genuinely cares about Poppy. He’s attentive, patient, and selfless towards her. Although I did expect their first time together to be more romantic, because I thought he would want to make the experience as special as possible for her, it was still nicely executed. I love how Jett, who is supposedly this shallow and immature playboy, turns out to be the most mature and selfless man in this book. Poppy is just as wonderful, and they truly deserve each other 💘💘

However, I feel Jett is still too young and it’s too early to retire from his professional skiing career at only 30. Also, considering how much he valued his brother Grady’s sacrifice to help him become a pro skier in the first place, it feels a little contradictory.
I’ve noticed across the series that the author tends to have one of the main characters give up their aspirations/interests rather than find a way to compromise. I wish the FMCs and MMCs were more willing to fight for middle-ground solutions. On the other hand, I understand that people can’t always have everything they want, it just personally feels like it happens a few too many times here.

That being said, Poppy and Jett’s story is my favourite in the Heartwood Series, and not just because I received an ARC. The storytelling, the character development, and the outcome are nicely done (not to mention the stunning cover!). I really hope that Meg isn’t finished with this universe yet (maybe some spin offs?). I’m looking forward to reading the next books!

Thank you so much to Meg for the ARC! ❤️💫

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Never Been Kissed had skis, that would be this book. Poppy is a sweet, quirky girl with arthritis who loves her quiet routine filled life of managing her chronic illness, her cafe and her friends. She doesn't need anything else. That is until her lawyer walks in and informs her that she needs to be married to fully inherit the building that houses her cafe from her late aunt.

Jett is a playboy, skier extraordinaire who loves his life of no strings fun at night and hitting the slopes during the day. He doesn't want anything else. That is until a scandal threatens to derail his career and the chance to go to the competition of his dreams.

The two hatch a fake marriage scheme that couldn't possibly go wrong. When the lines between reality and fiction blur feelings could get messy.

This book was a lot of fun. I loved the premise for sure. I don't think that I've read a skier romance before. Poppy was sweet and cute, but it seemed farfetched that she'd be 30 and never even been at least touched herself. I can't speak to the chronic illness rep as I don't have arthritis, however having lived with chronic migraine for almost 20 years I do know about the little quirks that a person can have to make life manageable and to try to prevent a flare. She seemed very naive in the beginning, but she grew on me as she became more confident in herself as a woman.

Meanwhile Jett had been banging all the bunnies. In the beginning I didn't like him at all. I didn't see the appeal of a guy who screws anyone and everyone. He has a team of people behind him that want (and honestly need) him to succeed, and he pretty much blows them off so he can do what he wants. How did he get that far in his career? He too grew on me as his relationship with Poppy grew. I loved seeing his softer side and him opening up and showing her that his public face was not who he was at all.

I loved them together though. They both showed how much they each cared for each other, and it was sweet to see their chemistry grow. Jett helped Poppy to gain confidence in herself as a woman. Poppy helped Jett to be vulnerable and that it's okay to open up and let love in. I love how they learned to put the other first.

This book is perfect for people who love marriage of convenience, fake dating, sports romance and opposites attract. This is a great read for right now with the Winter Olympics right around the corner.

Solid 4.5 stars!

ARC provided by NetGalley.

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a real comfort read, so cozy and sweet and super low angst. Soft, charming, and quietly romantic, it leans into the idea that sometimes the person who seems least like your match is the one who fits you best.

Poppy and Jett are complete opposites on the surface, yet their connection feels natural from the start. Jett begins the story as a reformed player with a carefully guarded heart and a public image in need of repair. Poppy is steady, kind, and deeply rooted in her world, running a café while managing life with a chronic illness. Their marriage of convenience starts for practical reasons, but it does not take long for it to turn into something genuine and unexpectedly tender.

I really appreciated the way Poppy’s chronic illness was portrayed. It felt thoughtful and respectful, never reduced to a plot device. Poppy is open about her flares when she feels safe enough to be, and Jett’s response is rooted in care rather than pity. Watching him learn, show up, and adjust without making it about himself added so much emotional depth to their relationship. Their partnership is built on patience and mutual support, which made their romance feel grounded and real.

Jett’s character arc is especially satisfying. His early immaturity and fear of commitment give way to a genuinely sweet and attentive husband who falls first and falls hard. The small moments say the most, from how intentional he is about Poppy’s first experiences to the way he proudly refers to her as his wife. His unexpected transformation into an enthusiastic cat dad only added to his charm and made his softening feel complete rather than rushed. I LOVE ME A CAT DADDY.

The story balances romance with Jett’s athletic career well, keeping the sport present without letting it overshadow the relationship. For someone who likes sports romances light on sports lol, this one worked well. The pacing is quick and easy, making it a one sitting read that never drags.

Overall, this is a cozy, feel good romance with just the right touch of spice. It is warm without being saccharine, emotional without being heavy, and filled with characters who genuinely care for one another. If you are in the mood for opposites attracting, marriage of convenience, and a love story that prioritizes kindness and growth, this one is an easy recommendation.

[tash.bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝓚𝓲𝓼𝓼 𝓶𝓮, 𝔀𝓲𝓯𝓮. 𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓘'𝓵𝓵 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓴𝓼 𝓸𝓯 𝓫𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓪𝓻𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝓮."

Poppy and Jett completely stole my heart and soul <3 I could cry that The Heartwood series is coming to an end, but what a way to finish it off! Kudos to Meg for saving the best for last with this beautiful story and unforgettably perfect characters. This was hands down my fave book in the series, and a fave read so far in 2026! This book had some tropes that I drool over - A reformed playboy, a marriage of convenience, and a virgin FMC who gets spicy lessons.
I was hooked from the first chapter and cursed my responsibilities every time I had to put it down.
My boy Jett had me feral pretty much immediately. His playboy exterior was no match for Poppy, and from their first interaction in the story at a Christmas party my heart was his. I love that although they've been in the same friend circle pretty much their whole lives, they didn't really know each other that well. Their friendship and relationship was a such a sweet build up. They're both in a little trouble - Jett with his reputation and sponsor, and Poppy with her cafe - and getting married will benefit them both. I'm a sucker for a fake marriage and this one was just OMG *chef's kiss*.
Poppy. My sweet innocent Poppy. No seriously very innocent, like never been kissed innocent. She's the most freaking adorable character! Sometimes trying to make a character be quirky doesn't land, but Poppy was perfect, and so cute I couldn't help but just want to put her in my damn pocket and protect her forever. Jett was cocky on the outside but gooey on the inside, this guy made me melt. So thoughtful, kind, and attentive, which is the opposite of what I expected from this playboy pro-skier. His character was such a privilege to read.
These two were such opposites, but because Jett was so amazingly caring when it came to Poppy they worked so well together. And when he finds out just how innocent she is...OOOOWWWEEEE the tension, the spice lessons, the yearning for each other was mmmmmm so good. I love a man who is so turned on he can't contain it ;)
I've never rooted for a fake marriage couple so hard, and these two and their heartfelt story will live rent free in my head for a long time!

[Kyra Legault · Rating 4 out of 5]

Release Date: February 5th 2026
4.5 ⭐️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Alrighty. This is usually not my type of book. I hate virgin stories and I am not a big romance reader, but this book was genuinely so cute and absolutely worth picking up.

I have said it before and I will say it again, romance is not my go to genre. I read the occasional one when I need a break between heavier books, but I have learned that I love Meg Riley. I have only read one of her other books, but I met her at an author event last year and she was so sweet and bubbly. I do not normally gravitate toward romance, but she was so genuinely lovely that I wanted to support her. She is also a local author from Calgary, which made me even more excited to pick this up. I am so glad I did because I really love her writing.

Now onto the book itself. I loved the tension between Poppy and Jett. The slow realization that they both like each other was written so well. I often get frustrated in friends to lovers stories thinking just admit you like each other already, but I never felt that way here. Friends to lovers can be such a hit or miss trope, and Meg absolutely nailed it.

I am not going to lie, I was very hesitant about the virgin aspect. Those stories usually miss the mark for me because the FMC magically goes from knowing nothing to being an expert overnight. That was not the case here. Poppy genuinely did not have a clue, and Jett was patient and supportive rather than weird about it. And yes, he definitely taught her. It took a bit to get to the spice, but once it hit, it hit. The spice was spicing, especially considering the setup.

Jett is introduced as a bit of a playboy, but he ended up being one of my favorite romance MMCs. He is misunderstood, soft where it counts, and incredibly sweet with Poppy. I fully binged this until 12:30 last night because I needed to know what happened to my sweet boy Jett.

If you like small town romance, friends to lovers, and marriage of convenience, I am pretty confident you will love this one.

THANK YOU @megrileyauthor for having me on your ARC team and being able to read and review this for everyone!

[Kesley B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: The Fall Line
Author: Meg Riley
My rating: 4/5⭐️
Spice level: 5/5
Genre: Romance

Tropes:
Friends to lovers
Celebrity & Playboy MMC
Virgin FMC
Marriage of convenience
Fake dating
Chronic illness rep

My Overview:
After Poppy’s aunt died, Poppy now owns Thistle + Thorne, her aunt’s coffee shop. But when the contract said she has to be married before owning the café, Poppy is searching everywhere for a man willing to marry her in less than 3 months.

Jett, the infamous skiier who has the reputation of a playboy gets caught in a scandal. Now, he has to prove to his sponsors that he really isn’t the womanizer that the media shows him to be.

So as Jett understands Poppy’s situation, he understands what he has to do. A marriage of convenience starts between the two, one determined to save her aunt’s coffee shop, the other persistent on winning his reputation back.

My thoughts:
The Fall Line is my first book read by Meg Riley and I think I would try to read some of her other one’s too! The petty banter in this book made me giggle, and it was realistic too! Since I’m not a big fan of spice, I skipped the chapters with smut in it. Honestly, the ten continuous chapters of spice made me think of DNFing it but I think that’s kind of a me problem, since I have friends who would appreciate it. And I am so glad I didn’t DNF it because the ending was sooo cute. The last few chapters were wholesome, and it was like the icing on top. All-in-all, I enjoyed this book and I think that a lot of others would too!

Fav....
Chapter: 49
Quotes:
Though for some reason I don’t have to try as hard when I’m acting like I’m in love with Poppy.
He’s looking at me like he loves this, watching me walk down the aisle. And for a second, I can’t tell if he’s pretending

Chapters with spice:
Chapter 22
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 35
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Please keep in mind that not all the chapters have explicit spice, if the chapter mentions any indication of it, it’s included. Also, not the whole chapter has spice, so it’s best if you skim the pages.

[jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You do something different to me, Poppy."

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Poppy's café is her everything, after her beloved aunt passes away. When hit with an antiquated marriage clause, she resolves to do anything to save Thistle + Thorne - even if that means joining dating apps in the hopes of marrying someone in under 3 months. Enter her friend, Jett - renowned professional skier and playboy, who just so happens to be under public scrutiny after a scandal, just before the event of a lifetime. What better way to fix both their problems, then to get fake-married?

Heartwood has become such a cozy place for me - I love reading about the Landry's, about Wren and Spence, and Poppy, I was so excited for her book! As a cozy cat lady myself, she so drew me in. And Jett as well, you really can't help but like him! He has such a soft spot for Poppy and it becomes so clear that his persona is an act, and I had such a great time reading about their situation slowly becoming more real.

There were so many moments in this book that had my heart (a big one being Moon River at their wedding, I definitely got teary!!) and the way you see Jett fall over the course of their story was so tender. I was rooting for them the whole time & loved Poppy's moments of bravery and vulnerability how she was so unapologetically herself. And that's not even mentioning the spicy lessons - this book really had everything I love! And with the marriage of convenience you expect there to be some form of conflict, and the way it's handled here is done SO well in every aspect - the yearning!! I loved every minute of this and inhaled it in under 24 hours.

Poppy and Jett will have my heart forever!! I think this one might just be my favorite out of this amazing series - you're definitely going to want to read their story!

Tropes & Tags:
⛷️ professional skier x coffeeshop owner
☕ marriage of convenience
💖 playboy mmc
⛷️ spicy lessons
☕ chronic pain rep
💖 dual pov

[I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, thank you so much Meg Riley! 📖]

[Sandra Aranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Coffee and coffee shops. I love cats and knitting. I am weird and quirky. I found my true love later in life. I have a chronic health condition. This book describes so much of me, and if I was younger and owned a cafe it could have been about me!

Poppy is an engaging Main Female Character (MFC) who is independent and accepting of who she is. She struggles with a chronic health condition, Juvenile Onset Arthritis, which impacts her daily life. However, she does not whine about it she survives. Now this is not to say she does not get upset when she hurts yet she sets her environment up for when flares happen. She continues to live as the owner of the coffee shop she inherited from her Aunt. She continues caring for her amazing cat Cordelia. Yet as the story unfolds we see her come to realize there is more to life. That she has missed out on so much. By the end she has grown into a more complete, and happier, version of herself while staying true to who she is.

Jett is a hunky skiing phenomenon who she knew growing up. He is first described as a cocky womanizing sports star. It is shared that he lost his Mom early in life and grew up with the impact of that on him and his family. He is afraid of true relationships as he thinks it will end up in loss. For him as the story unfolds we see him grow as well. He ends up realizing that he can have his skiing and a true love. That love is risky yet so worth it.

Both Poppy and Jett face so many complications on their road to happiness. This is a small town with sports appeal and family/friends. Their journey is one you will enjoy going on with them as you read the book!

The reason I gave it four stars is that towards the end, after a major event, the story stalled and I ended up skimming a chapter or two. My attention wandered. However the Author was able to grab my attention again as it went on towards the climax. Perhaps for you it won’t so I encourage all romance lovers to read this book!

I received a free copy of this book as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fall Line by Meg Riley ended up being such a cozy and enjoyable read for me. Even though it’s the fourth book in the series, it works perfectly as a standalone, which was great since this was my first introduction to the world. There are little nods to previous couples and relationships, but nothing that makes you feel lost. If anything, it just made me curious about the other books.

One of the things I really liked was the small-town atmosphere. The setting feels warm and familiar, with a tight-knit community and plenty of side characters that clearly have their own stories. It definitely gives that “everyone knows everyone” vibe that small-town romances do so well.

The sports element was also surprisingly engaging. I don’t know much about skiing at all, but the way it’s written makes it easy to follow and actually interesting. It adds a fun layer to the story without ever feeling too technical or overwhelming.

At the center of it all are Jett and Poppy, whose relationship starts off as a marriage-of-convenience situation but slowly turns into something real. Watching them spend more time together and gradually learn more about each other was really sweet. Jett has this reputation in the media as a bit of a playboy, but the more you see of him, the clearer it becomes that he’s actually incredibly caring and soft when it comes to Poppy.

I also really appreciated Poppy’s chronic illness representation. Her arthritis is part of her daily life in a way that feels natural and respectful, and the story doesn’t shy away from showing the reality of good days, bad days, and the little ways people adapt. What made it especially lovely was seeing how attentive Jett becomes once he starts noticing the things that help her.

Their dynamic is genuinely adorable, and I loved the little “my wife” moments throughout the book that made their relationship feel playful and affectionate.

Overall, this was a sweet, easy-to-read romance with cozy small-town vibes, a fun sports element, and a really lovable couple. A perfect comfort read.

4⭐️

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick Summary: A hearts a flutter, firsties, NA romance

My Review: The Fall Line by Meg Riley is book #4 in The Heartwood Series. It is scheduled for release on 2/5/26.

About the Book: "The Fall Line is a reformed playboy, marriage of convenience small town romantic comedy with a guaranteed happily-ever after!"

In My Own Words: A female business owner finds herself with one humdinger of a problem. She enlists the help of a friend, who also needs a special favor, to smooth things over. Soon a platonic fake engagement develops into a forever love arrangement.

About the Characters: Poppy and Jett were tops. I loved them! I appreciated that they both had their own issues to work through, yet they supported each other from the start. They had a good chemistry together. I could tell that an attraction was there just from what was said and done. It was the little-big things that did it for me.

My Favorite Scenes (coded, so as to avoid spoilers):

- The Gifting
- Not the First Exactly
- What Happens Under the Stars Stays Under the Stars
- True Confessions
- What Comes After
- The Ahh...

My Final Say: This was such a sweet-cute romance with all the feels included. I loved it! I adored the characters, the opposites attract vibe, the I know who you are energy, the romantic gestures, and all the firsts. This story melted my heart and made me want to read all the other installments that came before it. Let's go!

Other: Readers who enjoy small town settings, good-bad boy turns great stories, and marriage of convenience scenarios will like this novel.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA
Re-read: Yes
Status: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Level: 💕
Format: 📱
Series: Yes
Cover: +

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op), and to NetGalley. Thank you for providing access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to reading the entire series.

[Sara Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as a standalone, not knowing this was the last book in a series. I don’t think you need to read the rest to understand this one, but I’ll tell you what: all I want to do is get my hands on the other books!

I loved this novel! We follow Poppy, a cafe owner who struggles with arthritis, and Jett, a competitive skier looking to win the World Cup. When Jett is involved in a scandal and Poppy needs a husband stat, these two old friends come together. Between nights at home enjoying hot chocolate, horror movies, knitting, and days out on the ski hill, these two realize they have more in common than they think.

Poppy was such a strong FMC. I also love how honest she is. Unlike some other virgin FMC’s who say they want to date but just can’t find the one, Poppy has had no desire to ever date and likes her quiet nights at home with her cats. Same girl! So it was a nice change. Also, as someone who struggles with an autoimmune disease, it is nice to see arthritis accurately represented and the ailments people face everyday from the simplest tasks.

Jett was truly a reformed playboy. I like how he was 100% a jerk, but he does grow as a character. I think he really just needed to find a girl that completed him for him to show his romantic side. I love how he takes care of Poppy when she has a flare up, how he loves her cat, he makes her dinner and shows her how to embrace her sexuality without it being too creepy or in control. He was just what Poppy needed.

I didn’t expect for this story to win me over like it did. By the halfway mark I couldn’t put it down. Now excuse me while I track down the rest of this series and devour them!

*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

[Tiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usually I love the marriage of convince romance trope with my whole soul, the yearning, the forced proximity, the inevitable emotional explosion before feelings are admitted and they get to have a true happily ever after? Unfortunately this one just didn’t quite hit the parts of the trope that make it so much fun to read.

A lot of the drama and intrigue felt like it was happening off camera, which was honestly super frustrating because it just felt like we were missing out on so much that would make us connect to the characters on a deeper level. We didn’t get much depth beyond the surface level stuff, and there was so little backstory and meaningful interaction with anyone outside of the main couple, that it just felt like we were going through the motions.

The whole reformed playboy act happening a few weeks after a major scandal was… funny, but not at all in a good way. I get that the book was going for a whirlwind, staged romance sort of vibe, but surely it could’ve been handled with a touch more realism. None of it felt believable in the slightest way, and yet none of the people around them were really questioning anything either?

Overall, the book was pretty meh for me. It was boring in more places than it should have been, and extremely predictable. There wasn’t much angst, no real obstacles keeping them apart, and no strong driving force pushing the romance forwards.
For characters who have known each other their entire lives and fall in love so quickly while pretending to be married, it actually made things feel less believable that nothing had ever happened between them before.
For me this was a solid 3 stars. It wasn’t unenjoyable, but it also wasn’t at all memorable or left me with all the feelings that romance books usually do.

[Brenna || brennasbookshelf_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fall Line | Meg Riley

*ARC Review* Releasing Thursday, February 5th!
❄️ ⛷️🏔️☕️🏆🐈🧶

𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 #4 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴

5☆

A huge thank you to the @megrileyauthor, and the publisher for this ARC of The Fall Line in exchange for at honest review!

Desperate to keep her Aunt’s legacy and inheritance, Poppy must enter into a marriage to keep her ownership of the café. Enter Jett, playboy skier who’s never been in a meaningful relationship and has an image he desperately needs cleaned up. As the two have known each other since childhood, they both agree their predicaments would be solved if they marry eachother.. only long enough for the lawyers papers to be signed of course. When Jett begins playing the “perfect husband” narrative a little too well, initial boundaries and agreements may be pushed and the feelings may not seem so “pretend” after all.

“𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘑𝘦𝘵𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘗𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘺, 𝘵𝘰𝘰.”

I am so happy to be back in one of Meg’s books - the Heartwood series is such a comfort to me and I have adored every book, and was lucky enough to be an ARC reader for the last 3! Although they can be read as stand-alones, I highly recommend reading the whole series.. plus who doesn’t love 4 brothers?! 😉 When this hit my inbox I dropped everything to go back to Heartwood! I absolutely adored Jett and Poppy (I think they’re my favs🥺) from the beginning of their story and I soaked up their playful banter, protectiveness and always looking out for the best for eachother. Truly the most perfect ending to the sweetest series, one i’m sad to be leaving. 🥺

But! I am very excited to say that I am now on Meg’s permanent ARC team and I could not be more grateful. I am eager to see what she does in future books and i’ll always be such a big fan of her. 🥹🫶🏼

[Chelsea | Mrs Viking Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fake dating ✔️
Marriage of convenience ✔️
Reformed playboy ✔️
Small town vibes ✔️

I was already sat and buckled in. I never stood a chance.

First of all: fake dating is my emotional support trope and this one DELIVERED. A PR marriage that slowly turns into ‘oh no wait this feels real’ is basically catnip, and Jett absolutely commits to the bit in a way that should be illegal. Calling her wife?? Sir. SIR.

Poppy 🥹 I adored her. The disability representation was handled so beautifully - it’s not her whole personality, it’s just part of her, and Jett loving her fully and naturally without trying to “fix” anything?? We love to see it. It felt thoughtful, normalised, and genuinely warm.

Now let’s talk about the “he teaches her” trope because Meg Riley knew EXACTLY what she was doing.

He teaches her how to ski.
He teaches her how to date.
He teaches her how to kiss.
He teaches her… a lot 😏
And every lesson is somehow both soft and hot?? Rude, honestly.

Jett as a hero is top-tier. He’s got that classic “commitment is scary” energy, but it’s rooted in real emotional trauma - losing his mom, watching his dad fall apart, and convincing himself that loving deeply only leads to pain. And watching him unlearn that? Watching Poppy gently crack him open and show him that love isn’t a liability? Chef’s kiss. No notes.

This book is:
• So hot
• So cute
• So emotionally satisfying
• Fake dating excellence
• A romance that sneaks up on you and suddenly you’re like “oh no I care deeply”

If you love marriage of convenience, soft but-protective MMCs, heartfelt growth, and romance that makes you grin like an idiot - The Fall Line is absolutely your sign 💕❄️