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The Heartwood Series #4
The Fall Line
Not yet published
Expected 5 Feb 26I 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.
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.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 5, 2026
22 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Meg Riley
4 books62 followersHi! 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.
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January 27, 2026𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── 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
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
January 23, 2026
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:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
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:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙑𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙀𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝘾𝙤-𝙤𝙥 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨!
-SPOILER ALERT-
Started: 01/21/2026 - 3:00 P.M.
Ended: 01/24/2026 - 9:29 P.M.
The Fall Line is actually one of the first ARC I received through Netgalley, and I requested it without any prior knowledge about the Author Meg, and the fact that this is actually the last book of the an entire series. But my goodness, did this book satisfied something I didn't even know I was missing about Romance Books, and I just need to tell everyone about it because y'all are really gonna miss out big time if you don't read this once it's officially released.
𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝘾𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧:
- So starting off, let's first give some appreciation for the cover art of this book, because one reason why I clicked this book among lists of titles on netgalley in the first place, is the fact that I was charmed by the Hallmark-esque and Romcom vibes of the cover. From the title font and size, up to the meaningful Northern Lights with Snow Background, the cover perfectly captured the vibes you can expect when reading the book.
𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚:
- Now this is just a little nitpicky feedback of mine but I think its worth mentioning, but one thing that kinda bothered me though is that there are some Chapters which kind of ended abruptly, and gave an awkward transition to the next chapter. Take it for example in Chapter 1 (Jett's POV), the chapter was so short and it abruptly ended with the interviewers question to Jett regards certain "allegations" without Jett answering, like I legit tried to reopen and close my device and wifi for over 20 minutes because I thought the rest of the Chapter was not loading, before realizing that that's all there is to the said chapter.
𝙈𝘾𝙨' 𝙍𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝘿𝙮𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙘:
- Now, besides the obvious Fake Marriage tension, and misunderstanding of feelings we can expect between the MCs. It is so fascinating to me how Meg Riley was able to showcase the character depth of Poppy being an inexperienced girl, due to her being diagnosed of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis during her pre-teens leading her to be sheltered and isolated most of her life, all while promoting the character growth of Jett with how he patiently guided and urged Poppy to break out of her shell slowly but surely.
- I just love how Jett is portrayed in this book as this arrogant womanizer athlete who is always snarky with the media and plays with woman in the public, but is honestly the greenest flag when he is with Poppy. There are so many heartwarming scenes in this book that made me realized how low I've set the bar for my other Romance MLs because what do you mean that even though in their heads, Poppy and Jett knew that they consented on just acting all lovey dovey on their fake marriage, Jett still made it his life mission to make sure that all Poppy's Relationship Firsts (First Kiss, First Date, etc.) is sacred and special?!
- Lastly, I love how Meg Riley builded up the sexual intimacy between Jett and Poppy slowly, rather than just throwing spicy scenes at the readers. The way that Jett gradually introduced Poppy to intimate pleasure within a long timeline and observe her reactions every time to see if she's uncomfortable in any way, is just so hot and endearing for me. I love that we were shown this gradual progression of Poppy opening up her feelings to Jett, and slowly showing him her vulnerabilities/insecurities to him because she is now trusting him with her heart. IT'S JUST SO REALISTIC AHHHHH I JUST LOVE IT.
𝙋𝙡𝙤𝙩:
- Now, this book has Fake Marriage as its' main trope, but the MCs relationship progression is actually Childhood Friends - Fake Marriage - Lovers, which btw do so much wonders to the tension between the MCs AHHHHHH. But, the reason why I rated this book 4 stars rather than full 5 stars despite how much I enjoyed it is that, I was kind of confused about the whole childhood friends status of Jett and Poppy from start to finish, because during the first few chapters I was made to believe through Poppy's POV that she and jett were never really closed to begin with, even though she grew up alongside the Landry Brothers, because Jett always hangs out with the popular kids while Poppy has no friends because she was always in and out of the hospital, and then they were eventually further estranged when Jett started to compete on Skiing Professionally and became kind of a celebrity. However, on Jett's POV he always talks about how Poppy and him were the closest during their childhood, hence why he knows all the little things about her.
- Like it just doesn't add up and is a little confusing, so when I finished the book and I realized that us readers were not properly shown a flashback of their childhood moments together, which would have tied up all these loose threads between them, it was kinda unfulfilling for me because I wasn't able to appreciate the heavy influence Poppy had on Jett's life outside the relationship they created on the current timeline.
Ultimately, I'm so glad that through this ARC I was able to discover Meg Riley and The Heartwood Series, because best believe that I will now read the other 3 books now!!! READ THIS BOOK NOW!
-SPOILER ALERT-
Started: 01/21/2026 - 3:00 P.M.
Ended: 01/24/2026 - 9:29 P.M.
The Fall Line is actually one of the first ARC I received through Netgalley, and I requested it without any prior knowledge about the Author Meg, and the fact that this is actually the last book of the an entire series. But my goodness, did this book satisfied something I didn't even know I was missing about Romance Books, and I just need to tell everyone about it because y'all are really gonna miss out big time if you don't read this once it's officially released.
𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝘾𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧:
- So starting off, let's first give some appreciation for the cover art of this book, because one reason why I clicked this book among lists of titles on netgalley in the first place, is the fact that I was charmed by the Hallmark-esque and Romcom vibes of the cover. From the title font and size, up to the meaningful Northern Lights with Snow Background, the cover perfectly captured the vibes you can expect when reading the book.
𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚:
- Now this is just a little nitpicky feedback of mine but I think its worth mentioning, but one thing that kinda bothered me though is that there are some Chapters which kind of ended abruptly, and gave an awkward transition to the next chapter. Take it for example in Chapter 1 (Jett's POV), the chapter was so short and it abruptly ended with the interviewers question to Jett regards certain "allegations" without Jett answering, like I legit tried to reopen and close my device and wifi for over 20 minutes because I thought the rest of the Chapter was not loading, before realizing that that's all there is to the said chapter.
𝙈𝘾𝙨' 𝙍𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝘿𝙮𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙘:
- Now, besides the obvious Fake Marriage tension, and misunderstanding of feelings we can expect between the MCs. It is so fascinating to me how Meg Riley was able to showcase the character depth of Poppy being an inexperienced girl, due to her being diagnosed of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis during her pre-teens leading her to be sheltered and isolated most of her life, all while promoting the character growth of Jett with how he patiently guided and urged Poppy to break out of her shell slowly but surely.
- I just love how Jett is portrayed in this book as this arrogant womanizer athlete who is always snarky with the media and plays with woman in the public, but is honestly the greenest flag when he is with Poppy. There are so many heartwarming scenes in this book that made me realized how low I've set the bar for my other Romance MLs because what do you mean that even though in their heads, Poppy and Jett knew that they consented on just acting all lovey dovey on their fake marriage, Jett still made it his life mission to make sure that all Poppy's Relationship Firsts (First Kiss, First Date, etc.) is sacred and special?!
- Lastly, I love how Meg Riley builded up the sexual intimacy between Jett and Poppy slowly, rather than just throwing spicy scenes at the readers. The way that Jett gradually introduced Poppy to intimate pleasure within a long timeline and observe her reactions every time to see if she's uncomfortable in any way, is just so hot and endearing for me. I love that we were shown this gradual progression of Poppy opening up her feelings to Jett, and slowly showing him her vulnerabilities/insecurities to him because she is now trusting him with her heart. IT'S JUST SO REALISTIC AHHHHH I JUST LOVE IT.
𝙋𝙡𝙤𝙩:
- Now, this book has Fake Marriage as its' main trope, but the MCs relationship progression is actually Childhood Friends - Fake Marriage - Lovers, which btw do so much wonders to the tension between the MCs AHHHHHH. But, the reason why I rated this book 4 stars rather than full 5 stars despite how much I enjoyed it is that, I was kind of confused about the whole childhood friends status of Jett and Poppy from start to finish, because during the first few chapters I was made to believe through Poppy's POV that she and jett were never really closed to begin with, even though she grew up alongside the Landry Brothers, because Jett always hangs out with the popular kids while Poppy has no friends because she was always in and out of the hospital, and then they were eventually further estranged when Jett started to compete on Skiing Professionally and became kind of a celebrity. However, on Jett's POV he always talks about how Poppy and him were the closest during their childhood, hence why he knows all the little things about her.
- Like it just doesn't add up and is a little confusing, so when I finished the book and I realized that us readers were not properly shown a flashback of their childhood moments together, which would have tied up all these loose threads between them, it was kinda unfulfilling for me because I wasn't able to appreciate the heavy influence Poppy had on Jett's life outside the relationship they created on the current timeline.
Ultimately, I'm so glad that through this ARC I was able to discover Meg Riley and The Heartwood Series, because best believe that I will now read the other 3 books now!!! READ THIS BOOK NOW!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"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!
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!
January 21, 2026
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from Author
"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! 📖]
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! 📖]
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you, Meg Riley, for the opportunity to read the ARC of The Fall Line!
All of the thoughts below are my own.
I have been patiently waiting for Poppy and Jett's story since The Ex Project, and it was all so worth it!
Poppy is a small town cafe owner, which she inherited from her late aunt. Unfortunately, the clause in the deed prevents her from becoming a rightful owner unless she gets married. Enter Jett Landry, a playboy proskiier and Poppy's lifelong friend. Jett gets involved in a scandal that tarnishes his already less-than-stellar reputation and threatens his involvement in the World Championship. What's the best way out of their situations? A fake marriage! Except that the more time they spend together, the less fake their marriage becomes.
This was such a heart-warming, wintery read! I loved both of the MCs, and I appreciate that, despite Poppy being a virgin, she wasn't completely clueless about sex, and her lack of experience was justified by her chronic illness, which was represented with a lot of care.
Jett was a great MMC. He demonstrated significant personal growth, ultimately realising that love is what matters most in his life. He was so protective of Poppy and became a reluctant dad to her car, Cordelia.
The physical aspect of their relationship didn't feel rushed, and I was worried that Jett, being a playboy, might push Poppy into things she wasn't ready for, but that wasn't the case at all! He was so gentle and careful with her, always showing great care when she was experiencing an arthritis flare-up.
And the amount of "my wife"?? SWOON!
I only wish there were more moments with Poppy and Jett after they realized their feelings for each other.
All in all, it was such a sweet read with likeable MCs, and I'm eagerly waiting for what's coming next from Meg Riley!
All of the thoughts below are my own.
I have been patiently waiting for Poppy and Jett's story since The Ex Project, and it was all so worth it!
Poppy is a small town cafe owner, which she inherited from her late aunt. Unfortunately, the clause in the deed prevents her from becoming a rightful owner unless she gets married. Enter Jett Landry, a playboy proskiier and Poppy's lifelong friend. Jett gets involved in a scandal that tarnishes his already less-than-stellar reputation and threatens his involvement in the World Championship. What's the best way out of their situations? A fake marriage! Except that the more time they spend together, the less fake their marriage becomes.
This was such a heart-warming, wintery read! I loved both of the MCs, and I appreciate that, despite Poppy being a virgin, she wasn't completely clueless about sex, and her lack of experience was justified by her chronic illness, which was represented with a lot of care.
Jett was a great MMC. He demonstrated significant personal growth, ultimately realising that love is what matters most in his life. He was so protective of Poppy and became a reluctant dad to her car, Cordelia.
The physical aspect of their relationship didn't feel rushed, and I was worried that Jett, being a playboy, might push Poppy into things she wasn't ready for, but that wasn't the case at all! He was so gentle and careful with her, always showing great care when she was experiencing an arthritis flare-up.
And the amount of "my wife"?? SWOON!
I only wish there were more moments with Poppy and Jett after they realized their feelings for each other.
All in all, it was such a sweet read with likeable MCs, and I'm eagerly waiting for what's coming next from Meg Riley!
January 16, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
January 19, 2026
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 💕❄️
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 💕❄️
January 24, 2026
𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤: The Fall Line by Meg Riley (ARC)
𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
Sports romance
Slow burn
Emotional angst
Forced proximity
Protective MMC
“I shouldn’t want you, but I do” energy
Healing through connection
👀 𝐌𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
I honestly didn’t expect The Fall Line by @ to hit me this hard.
I picked it up thinking it would be a fun, slightly angsty sports romance… and then suddenly I was emotionally invested, stressed, smiling like an idiot, and lowkey heartbroken all at the same time. 🥹🫶🏻
The dynamic between the main characters is EVERYTHING. It’s that delicious mix of tension and vulnerability where they clearly want each other, but life, fear, and a whole lot of unspoken stuff keep getting in the way. The banter feels natural, not forced, and when things turn serious — it hurts in the best way. You can feel how much they matter to each other even before they fully admit it themselves.
What I loved most is how emotionally grounded the story feels. The characters aren’t perfect. They mess up. They shut down. They push people away when things get too real — and that makes them feel painfully human. Their growth doesn’t happen overnight, and that slow burn makes every small moment hit harder.
And the pacing? Chef’s kiss. It’s not rushed, but it’s never boring. There’s always something pulling you forward — a look, a memory, a near-confession. The tension just keeps building until you’re like, please just TALK to each other already. 😭🫦
Thanks to the author for believing in me and sending over this ARC! 🥹🩷
𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
Sports romance
Slow burn
Emotional angst
Forced proximity
Protective MMC
“I shouldn’t want you, but I do” energy
Healing through connection
👀 𝐌𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
I honestly didn’t expect The Fall Line by @ to hit me this hard.
I picked it up thinking it would be a fun, slightly angsty sports romance… and then suddenly I was emotionally invested, stressed, smiling like an idiot, and lowkey heartbroken all at the same time. 🥹🫶🏻
The dynamic between the main characters is EVERYTHING. It’s that delicious mix of tension and vulnerability where they clearly want each other, but life, fear, and a whole lot of unspoken stuff keep getting in the way. The banter feels natural, not forced, and when things turn serious — it hurts in the best way. You can feel how much they matter to each other even before they fully admit it themselves.
What I loved most is how emotionally grounded the story feels. The characters aren’t perfect. They mess up. They shut down. They push people away when things get too real — and that makes them feel painfully human. Their growth doesn’t happen overnight, and that slow burn makes every small moment hit harder.
And the pacing? Chef’s kiss. It’s not rushed, but it’s never boring. There’s always something pulling you forward — a look, a memory, a near-confession. The tension just keeps building until you’re like, please just TALK to each other already. 😭🫦
Thanks to the author for believing in me and sending over this ARC! 🥹🩷
January 26, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
I like to start off that I am forever grateful to Stephanie Archer for posting an arc sign up for Love on Call. I was relatively new to arc sign ups and I may of signed up for way to many at one time and got overwhelmed. But I’m so happy that I picked yours out of the lot to actually take on!!
When I was reading Love on Call I couldn’t believe it was debut novel. I instantly fell in love with characters and after the first book I was really hoping the second book was going to be Jet and Poppy’s book. But you had me waiting to the last book and it sure didn’t disappoint!!
The way you protrade autoimmune disease was so well done. I am grateful I don’t have to struggle myself. But I have people that are super close to my heart that do! It’s the invisible disorders that no one ever understands, so thank you!!
Jet and Poppy are by far my favourite characters of the bunch. They had the best chemistry and banter. The way that Jet took care of Poppy without having to say anything was what every girl dreams of in a panther! Then you have Poppy who just see the real you and the mask you put in for others! I just LOVE them!! 💕
Thank so much for having me on your arc team since the beginning! I can’t wait to see what next you have in store for us! You will forever be on my comfort list of books to read! They just bring me so much joy! 🥹 💞
☕️ Tropes ☕️
Sport Romance
Ex-Playboy
Marriage of Convenience
He falls firsts
Spicy Lesso
Thank you @megrileyauthor for the arc
🌶️🌶️/5
I like to start off that I am forever grateful to Stephanie Archer for posting an arc sign up for Love on Call. I was relatively new to arc sign ups and I may of signed up for way to many at one time and got overwhelmed. But I’m so happy that I picked yours out of the lot to actually take on!!
When I was reading Love on Call I couldn’t believe it was debut novel. I instantly fell in love with characters and after the first book I was really hoping the second book was going to be Jet and Poppy’s book. But you had me waiting to the last book and it sure didn’t disappoint!!
The way you protrade autoimmune disease was so well done. I am grateful I don’t have to struggle myself. But I have people that are super close to my heart that do! It’s the invisible disorders that no one ever understands, so thank you!!
Jet and Poppy are by far my favourite characters of the bunch. They had the best chemistry and banter. The way that Jet took care of Poppy without having to say anything was what every girl dreams of in a panther! Then you have Poppy who just see the real you and the mask you put in for others! I just LOVE them!! 💕
Thank so much for having me on your arc team since the beginning! I can’t wait to see what next you have in store for us! You will forever be on my comfort list of books to read! They just bring me so much joy! 🥹 💞
☕️ Tropes ☕️
Sport Romance
Ex-Playboy
Marriage of Convenience
He falls firsts
Spicy Lesso
Thank you @megrileyauthor for the arc
January 15, 2026
“I haven’t always thought of myself as husband material, but falling in love with you has fundamentally altered my DNA.” 🩵
I absolutely loved everything about The Fall Line! It is easily Meg Riley’s best book yet! Poppy and Jett were unbelievably cute together. I love that Jett taught Poppy how to ski, among other things, and truly brought out a new side of her. And Jett, despite being cocky and confident, was so sweet and caring toward Poppy! I also loved the explanation of the title of the book and how it fit into the story!
Marriage of convenience/fake relationship is one of my all-time favorite tropes! I always love when things start out as fake and the main characters don’t have real feelings toward each other but over time things start to become real! It truly gets me every time and this book was no different!
It is bittersweet to know that this is the final book in the Heartwood series, but I can’t wait to see what Meg has in store for us next!
If you’re looking for a small town rom-com featuring marriage of convenience, reformed playboy, spice lessons, and chronic illness representation, then be sure to check out The Fall Line when it releases on February 5th!
Thank you so much to Meg Riley for the advanced copy!
I absolutely loved everything about The Fall Line! It is easily Meg Riley’s best book yet! Poppy and Jett were unbelievably cute together. I love that Jett taught Poppy how to ski, among other things, and truly brought out a new side of her. And Jett, despite being cocky and confident, was so sweet and caring toward Poppy! I also loved the explanation of the title of the book and how it fit into the story!
Marriage of convenience/fake relationship is one of my all-time favorite tropes! I always love when things start out as fake and the main characters don’t have real feelings toward each other but over time things start to become real! It truly gets me every time and this book was no different!
It is bittersweet to know that this is the final book in the Heartwood series, but I can’t wait to see what Meg has in store for us next!
If you’re looking for a small town rom-com featuring marriage of convenience, reformed playboy, spice lessons, and chronic illness representation, then be sure to check out The Fall Line when it releases on February 5th!
Thank you so much to Meg Riley for the advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I absolutely devoured The Fall Line. I’m a complete sucker for fake dating/marriage of convenience, and Poppy and Jett had me hooked FAST. Their dynamic is everything — the slow shift from friends to something dangerously real, the tension simmering under every interaction, the way Jett is just fully, helplessly obsessed with his “wife”… I ate it up.
The chronic illness representation was a standout and felt so thoughtfully handled. Poppy’s experiences were written with care and honesty, and I loved how Jett never rushed her, never pushed, only supported. Their romance builds in a way that feels intimate and earned, balancing cozy small-town warmth with seriously spicy payoff.
That said, the pacing wobbled a bit — the beginning took some time to settle, and I occasionally wished certain emotional beats or drama-heavy moments had been shown more on-page instead of happening in-between scenes. More of those connective moments would’ve made their bond hit even harder.
Still, this was such a fun, heartfelt, swoon-worthy winter binge with heat, tenderness, and major “my wife” energy.
Thank you to Meg Riley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The chronic illness representation was a standout and felt so thoughtfully handled. Poppy’s experiences were written with care and honesty, and I loved how Jett never rushed her, never pushed, only supported. Their romance builds in a way that feels intimate and earned, balancing cozy small-town warmth with seriously spicy payoff.
That said, the pacing wobbled a bit — the beginning took some time to settle, and I occasionally wished certain emotional beats or drama-heavy moments had been shown more on-page instead of happening in-between scenes. More of those connective moments would’ve made their bond hit even harder.
Still, this was such a fun, heartfelt, swoon-worthy winter binge with heat, tenderness, and major “my wife” energy.
Thank you to Meg Riley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is probably one of my favorite friends to lovers books that I have read in the past year. Mainly because they are so cute together and their friends falls naturally in the love and that can be hard sometimes with friends. But Poppy and Jett have all the chemistry fit for a sweet and sexy book.
Firstly Poppy is a myriad of different things: strong, sweet, driven and I loved how Meg Riley wrote in her character dealing with an arthritis condition that flared up with physical activity. And as someone who deals with something very similar I applaud that so much!
And our guy Jett; the skier pro who is super cocky and gets knocked down a few pegs when he is close to losing the only sponsor he has left.
The fake marriage part is super cute and reading as Jett falls deeper and deeper for his friend is adorable! It kept me turning pages all night as I watch him morph from immature playboy to ultimate husband. There is something very sweet about Jett, that really redeems him from his playboy ways.
And without spoiling it, did I cry at the end reading the super emotional chapter? Yes, yes I did!
Firstly Poppy is a myriad of different things: strong, sweet, driven and I loved how Meg Riley wrote in her character dealing with an arthritis condition that flared up with physical activity. And as someone who deals with something very similar I applaud that so much!
And our guy Jett; the skier pro who is super cocky and gets knocked down a few pegs when he is close to losing the only sponsor he has left.
The fake marriage part is super cute and reading as Jett falls deeper and deeper for his friend is adorable! It kept me turning pages all night as I watch him morph from immature playboy to ultimate husband. There is something very sweet about Jett, that really redeems him from his playboy ways.
And without spoiling it, did I cry at the end reading the super emotional chapter? Yes, yes I did!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a really sweet book! I requested this ARC before I knew it was the last in its series, and it only left me wondering about the three books before this one!
I loved this marriage of convenience that Poppy and Jett had, and especially the way he treated her inexperience. I also felt that Meg Riley handled Poppy's chronic illness with a lot of care, as did Jett! It was heartwarming to see how understanding he was, and always there for her, never judging or rushing her into anything.
The only reason for my four star rating is that there were a couple of things that I couldn't quite believe, like how the public was so instantly accepting of their fake marriage, with how rushed it all was. I would have liked it if they'd had more trouble making people believe their act, but at the same time I found their quickly growing feelings (when no fans or reporters were around) very sincere. The little hobby exchange part was my favourite!
Overall, I recommend this if you're looking for a cute, wintery book to breeze through! I'll definitely be checking the previous books in the series.
I loved this marriage of convenience that Poppy and Jett had, and especially the way he treated her inexperience. I also felt that Meg Riley handled Poppy's chronic illness with a lot of care, as did Jett! It was heartwarming to see how understanding he was, and always there for her, never judging or rushing her into anything.
The only reason for my four star rating is that there were a couple of things that I couldn't quite believe, like how the public was so instantly accepting of their fake marriage, with how rushed it all was. I would have liked it if they'd had more trouble making people believe their act, but at the same time I found their quickly growing feelings (when no fans or reporters were around) very sincere. The little hobby exchange part was my favourite!
Overall, I recommend this if you're looking for a cute, wintery book to breeze through! I'll definitely be checking the previous books in the series.
January 26, 2026
"haven't always thought of myself as husband material, but falling in love with you has fundamentally altered my DNA."
I just finished reading this book and I loved it! I loved Jett's character, and appreciated his character growth throughout the book. I am definitely a fan of the cocky,
confident MC and I enjoyed reading from his POV.
I also appreciated the fact that Poppy & Jett were dealing with real life issues, and weren't "picture perfect" characters. They were very relatable and real, which Ioved.
I will say, I was anticipating a little more drama and tension, maybe another "scandal" to get some some going. I don't know, maybe that's toxic but I truly enjoy a good dramatic fight, and make up. But, that never did happen.
However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book regardless & loved it, regardless!
This book is also the last book in her completed Heartwood series, which I did not realize. So, I will definitely be going back to the beginning to read the side characters stories.
Thank you, Meg Riley & NetGalley for the opportunity to read & review this book!! I have enjoyed every minute of this story!
I just finished reading this book and I loved it! I loved Jett's character, and appreciated his character growth throughout the book. I am definitely a fan of the cocky,
confident MC and I enjoyed reading from his POV.
I also appreciated the fact that Poppy & Jett were dealing with real life issues, and weren't "picture perfect" characters. They were very relatable and real, which Ioved.
I will say, I was anticipating a little more drama and tension, maybe another "scandal" to get some some going. I don't know, maybe that's toxic but I truly enjoy a good dramatic fight, and make up. But, that never did happen.
However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book regardless & loved it, regardless!
This book is also the last book in her completed Heartwood series, which I did not realize. So, I will definitely be going back to the beginning to read the side characters stories.
Thank you, Meg Riley & NetGalley for the opportunity to read & review this book!! I have enjoyed every minute of this story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2026
3 ⭐️
Read if you ❤️
⛷️ long-term friends to lovers
⛷️ marriages of convenience
⛷️ he teaches her
⛷️ chronic illness representation
⛷️ “my wife”
⛷️ clingy cats
⛷️ 💦👖 x2
⛷️ 🌶️🌶️
I deeply enjoyed the plot of this book. The concept was fascinating and kept my attention most of the time. But the pacing and slow burn of it just didn’t hit for me. The constant going back and forth of them both under the impression that they weren’t a good fit and there was no way the other harbored the same feelings got repetitive, and just plain unnecessary at a certain point.
It’s a good read, don’t get my wrong, but the build up kinda drags on, it takes a long while (circa 30%) to get to the actual starting point of the main plot, and every moment after drags on but also skips forward in some places that doesn’t make much sense. I wanted to see more continuation within the duality of their POVs.
You might find yourself skimming pages unintentionally from time to time.
Thank you to Meg Riley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read if you ❤️
⛷️ long-term friends to lovers
⛷️ marriages of convenience
⛷️ he teaches her
⛷️ chronic illness representation
⛷️ “my wife”
⛷️ clingy cats
⛷️ 💦👖 x2
⛷️ 🌶️🌶️
I deeply enjoyed the plot of this book. The concept was fascinating and kept my attention most of the time. But the pacing and slow burn of it just didn’t hit for me. The constant going back and forth of them both under the impression that they weren’t a good fit and there was no way the other harbored the same feelings got repetitive, and just plain unnecessary at a certain point.
It’s a good read, don’t get my wrong, but the build up kinda drags on, it takes a long while (circa 30%) to get to the actual starting point of the main plot, and every moment after drags on but also skips forward in some places that doesn’t make much sense. I wanted to see more continuation within the duality of their POVs.
You might find yourself skimming pages unintentionally from time to time.
Thank you to Meg Riley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Fall Line surprised me in a good way. Going in, I expected a pretty standard sports romance, but it turned out to have more emotional depth than I anticipated. The skiing setting is used really well, and the sense of risk, both on and off the slopes, adds tension to the story without feeling forced.
The characters feel grounded and flawed, especially in their fear, ambition, and pressure to succeed. The romance develops steadily, built on shared experiences and quiet support rather than instant attraction. I appreciated that it took its time and let the connection grow naturally.
There are moments where the pacing slows, particularly in the middle, but the emotional payoff makes up for it. The balance between personal growth and romance felt right, and neither completely overshadowed the other.
Overall, The Fall Line is a thoughtful, character-driven romance with a unique setting. It’s a good pick if you enjoy sports romances that focus more on emotional connection and personal stakes than constant drama.
The characters feel grounded and flawed, especially in their fear, ambition, and pressure to succeed. The romance develops steadily, built on shared experiences and quiet support rather than instant attraction. I appreciated that it took its time and let the connection grow naturally.
There are moments where the pacing slows, particularly in the middle, but the emotional payoff makes up for it. The balance between personal growth and romance felt right, and neither completely overshadowed the other.
Overall, The Fall Line is a thoughtful, character-driven romance with a unique setting. It’s a good pick if you enjoy sports romances that focus more on emotional connection and personal stakes than constant drama.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Poppy inherits her aunt's cafe, but thanks to an outdated town law, she has to be married to maintain ownership of the building. Jett's playboy image is costing him sponsors. Could a marriage of convenience be just the thing to solve both their problems?
Read if you like:
-Sports Romance
-Marriage of Convenience
-Chronic Illness Rep
-Lessons
The Fall Line was good but didn't get me really excited to continue reading. I really enjoyed the chronic illness rep and the lessons Jeff offered Poppy, our virgin FMC. Those where the highlights of this book for me. But I struggled with why Poppy picked Jett for their marriage of convenience. They were in the same friend group but not really friends, or at least that's how I interpreted the set up. And there was no initial chemistry between them either; no spark. I'm sure the right person will love it, but I just wanted a little more to Poppy and Jett's before relationship.
Read if you like:
-Sports Romance
-Marriage of Convenience
-Chronic Illness Rep
-Lessons
The Fall Line was good but didn't get me really excited to continue reading. I really enjoyed the chronic illness rep and the lessons Jeff offered Poppy, our virgin FMC. Those where the highlights of this book for me. But I struggled with why Poppy picked Jett for their marriage of convenience. They were in the same friend group but not really friends, or at least that's how I interpreted the set up. And there was no initial chemistry between them either; no spark. I'm sure the right person will love it, but I just wanted a little more to Poppy and Jett's before relationship.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dear god did I love this book. I spent most of it giggling, squealing, and kicking my feet! Jett had been down bad for Poppy for years and didn't even realise! I was hooked from the Secret Santa scene. And as someone with early onset arthritis I really appreciated the chronic illness rep in here, it felt so honest.
The caretaking in this book was amazing. Poppy and Jett could read each other so effortlessly, knowing when the other needed help and being there for each other. And can we just talk about the fact that he wanted her first kiss to be perfect? And when it happens? Butterflies. Watching their feelings evolve and the little ways they showed them was beyond beautiful.
This book was SO hard to put down and when the conflict happened I let out an audible 'noooooo'. The ending was perfection and the epilogue even more so. Excuse me while I go and buy the rest of the series immediately.
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley
The caretaking in this book was amazing. Poppy and Jett could read each other so effortlessly, knowing when the other needed help and being there for each other. And can we just talk about the fact that he wanted her first kiss to be perfect? And when it happens? Butterflies. Watching their feelings evolve and the little ways they showed them was beyond beautiful.
This book was SO hard to put down and when the conflict happened I let out an audible 'noooooo'. The ending was perfection and the epilogue even more so. Excuse me while I go and buy the rest of the series immediately.
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC gifted in exchange for review
Even though it’s a part of a series, this book can be read as a standalone which I did.
One of my favorite tropes in the world is marriage of convenience, I’m an eldest daughter what do you expect??
At first I wasn’t sold on Poppy and Jet, but by 20% in, I was so invested in these two characters. The chronic illness representation was great. Poppy, sweet baby angel that she is, really has such a huge impact on the people around her and she genuinely has no idea. Jett, our playboy with a heart of gold and soft marshmallowy center was absolutely obsessed with his wife and I ate that up. Watching these two fall in love had me sobbing more often than I care to admit. God knows I love a patient man and that’s exactly what Jett was. I wasn’t a huge fan of Wren and how she spoke to Poppy about Jett, even though i know she was just trying to protect her. Anyway, this was such a heart warming read and the spice was top tier, 15/10 no notes.
Even though it’s a part of a series, this book can be read as a standalone which I did.
One of my favorite tropes in the world is marriage of convenience, I’m an eldest daughter what do you expect??
At first I wasn’t sold on Poppy and Jet, but by 20% in, I was so invested in these two characters. The chronic illness representation was great. Poppy, sweet baby angel that she is, really has such a huge impact on the people around her and she genuinely has no idea. Jett, our playboy with a heart of gold and soft marshmallowy center was absolutely obsessed with his wife and I ate that up. Watching these two fall in love had me sobbing more often than I care to admit. God knows I love a patient man and that’s exactly what Jett was. I wasn’t a huge fan of Wren and how she spoke to Poppy about Jett, even though i know she was just trying to protect her. Anyway, this was such a heart warming read and the spice was top tier, 15/10 no notes.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A cute, quick read—perhaps the definition of a whirlwind romance—with some quiet, tender moments in there, too. I loved watching Jett and Poppy’s relationship blossom and bloom. There were instances when I was told things about their relationship, both regarding the past and in the present, that I wish I’d been shown instead, but with it being a shorter book, it’s understandable. Poppy’s relationship with her best friend, Wren, was a standout to me, and the fact that she had a great (albeit small) support system from the get-go, that Jett seamlessly joined (cue butterflies fluttering). Jett’s found family in his management team infused the story with lots of heartwarming moments too.
All in all, The Fall Line is a fun, friends-to-lovers, marriage of convenience story with a lot of heart!
3.75/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
All in all, The Fall Line is a fun, friends-to-lovers, marriage of convenience story with a lot of heart!
3.75/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Poppy ha dedicado su vida a cuidar el café que heredó de su tía y a mantener un equilibrio delicado con su salud y sus rutinas. Todo cambia cuando descubre que para conservar el lugar que ama debe casarse en un plazo imposible. Sin experiencia en el amor y con poco tiempo se ve obligada a abrir una puerta que siempre mantuvo cerrada.
Jett es una estrella del esquí con un talento indiscutible y una reputación que amenaza con destruir su carrera. Un escándalo mediático lo obliga a desaparecer del foco público y regresar a su pueblo natal para replantear sus decisiones.
Cuando sus caminos vuelven a cruzarse lo que comienza como una solución práctica se transforma en una convivencia cargada de tensión silencios incómodos y una atracción que ninguno esperaba.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Jett es una estrella del esquí con un talento indiscutible y una reputación que amenaza con destruir su carrera. Un escándalo mediático lo obliga a desaparecer del foco público y regresar a su pueblo natal para replantear sus decisiones.
Cuando sus caminos vuelven a cruzarse lo que comienza como una solución práctica se transforma en una convivencia cargada de tensión silencios incómodos y una atracción que ninguno esperaba.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5/5 ⭐️
NetGalley ARC
This was my first read from Meg Riley but I will certainly go back and read the other books from this series. I could not put this book down and read it in a day.
The Fall Line follows Poppy and Jett. Poppy is a young woman desperate to save her café whilst also living with a chronic illness. Jett is a professional skier and total playboy. They both need a marriage of convenience for their own reasons and find themselves falling for real during their fake marriage.
Poppy is an inexperienced FMC which I find can be a bit hit or miss depending on how it handled. But I found it worked really well in this context and made sense for her character and her lifestyle.
The way Jett falls for Poppy felt really special and I loved every minute of reading them come together.
This is a great read and I’m eager to catch up on the rest of the series.
NetGalley ARC
This was my first read from Meg Riley but I will certainly go back and read the other books from this series. I could not put this book down and read it in a day.
The Fall Line follows Poppy and Jett. Poppy is a young woman desperate to save her café whilst also living with a chronic illness. Jett is a professional skier and total playboy. They both need a marriage of convenience for their own reasons and find themselves falling for real during their fake marriage.
Poppy is an inexperienced FMC which I find can be a bit hit or miss depending on how it handled. But I found it worked really well in this context and made sense for her character and her lifestyle.
The way Jett falls for Poppy felt really special and I loved every minute of reading them come together.
This is a great read and I’m eager to catch up on the rest of the series.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
5/5 ☆
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for review.
Friends, I absolutely loved this one. The Fall Line is #4 in a series of interconnected standalone novels and you don’t have to read the others before reading this one.
I felt all the feelings and even though these kinds of romance are totally predictable, I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.
The connection between Poppy and Jett was heartwarming and sweet. The way they looked out for each other, saw beyond what everyone else sees in each other, and took care of each other was so sweet.
This was my first book by Meg Riley and now I want to read the rest of the series, and I look forward to what she writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with Jett and Poppy. ❤️❤️
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for review.
Friends, I absolutely loved this one. The Fall Line is #4 in a series of interconnected standalone novels and you don’t have to read the others before reading this one.
I felt all the feelings and even though these kinds of romance are totally predictable, I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.
The connection between Poppy and Jett was heartwarming and sweet. The way they looked out for each other, saw beyond what everyone else sees in each other, and took care of each other was so sweet.
This was my first book by Meg Riley and now I want to read the rest of the series, and I look forward to what she writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with Jett and Poppy. ❤️❤️
January 25, 2026
First things first. I love Jett and poppy. I loved their characters and I actually loved them together.
This book had everything it needed to be fantastic, and all the troupes I like:
-sports romance
-marriage of convenience
-opposites attract
-he teaches her *everything*
-small town, close knit friends/family
But it just did not do it for me. I did not like the absence of every other character in this series. And the timeline of the whole thing was weird. It says “in the last few weeks” so many times, but they’ll reference something that happened the day before. And the climax of the book left me wanting because it ended up being unnecessary.
Overall, I read this really fast and it was an easy read. Spice was well done. Enjoyable but I don’t know if I’ll seek out authors other books.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Very grateful for the ARC that was provided by the publisher via Netgalley 🙌🏽
This book had everything it needed to be fantastic, and all the troupes I like:
-sports romance
-marriage of convenience
-opposites attract
-he teaches her *everything*
-small town, close knit friends/family
But it just did not do it for me. I did not like the absence of every other character in this series. And the timeline of the whole thing was weird. It says “in the last few weeks” so many times, but they’ll reference something that happened the day before. And the climax of the book left me wanting because it ended up being unnecessary.
Overall, I read this really fast and it was an easy read. Spice was well done. Enjoyable but I don’t know if I’ll seek out authors other books.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Very grateful for the ARC that was provided by the publisher via Netgalley 🙌🏽
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Absolutely loved this small town, dual POV, marriage of convenience between two friends who find themselves needing one another in order to help achieve goals that mean so much to them.
I loved the disability rep (Poppy has juvenile idiopathic arthritis and Jett has chronic pain from a sports injury). Heartfelt, spicy and full of tons of great friend group cameos, this was an easy binge read that kept me invested from start to finish.
It was also my first book in the Heartwood series and can definitely be read as a standalone. I highly recommend it for fans of authors like Stephanie Archer and her Queen's Cove series. Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!
I loved the disability rep (Poppy has juvenile idiopathic arthritis and Jett has chronic pain from a sports injury). Heartfelt, spicy and full of tons of great friend group cameos, this was an easy binge read that kept me invested from start to finish.
It was also my first book in the Heartwood series and can definitely be read as a standalone. I highly recommend it for fans of authors like Stephanie Archer and her Queen's Cove series. Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!
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