Fallin' Tides

Holly River #1

by Tori Ford

Gilmore Girls meets The Notebook in this small town romance with heart, humor, and heat.

Colt Mitchell was a charity case, taken in by the prominent Sinclair family to keep their star quarterback son on track. After three years under their roof, Colt traded in his broken background for the Marines, dead set on leaving Holly River for good.

Alice Sinclair was a dreamer, growing up in a house that worshipped trophies. Colt, her brother’s best friend, was the only one who truly saw her. When he left, Alice flooded his mailbox with hope—letters he devoured, but rarely answered.

Until the last one arrived.

Now Colt Mitchell is back. And the kid sister he remembers is gone. In her place is a woman on a mission. Alice has three months to turn her childhood home into the bookshop of her dreams, or lose it forever. And Colt’s hellbent on ensuring that happens, because when Colt was deployed, Alice’s letters saved him. And now he’s come home to repay the favor.

But as the two race to finish renovations by the Fall Festival, and the heat between them rises, Colt realizes that the one woman who’s entirely off limits…is the exact one he wants.

Genres: Small Town Romance, Romance, Contemporary Romance

416 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 25, 2026

About the author

Tori Ford is the author of the Holly River series. She also authored nine young adult novels under the name Victoria Scott. Her books have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus, and have been translated and sold in over a dozen countries​. Tori's bestselling title, FIRE & FLOOD, is currently an Amazon Teacher's Pick. ​Her work has been featured by USA Today, BuzzFeed,​ and Good Morning Texas. The author lives in Dallas and loves hearing from readers. Find her on IG, TikTok, and Meta at @heytoriford.

Reviews

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW TO COME💓😘😭!!!!!!! Tori, where do I submit my therapy bill to you??😭



🌺🌴🦋🌿Perfect for fans who loved Nicholas Sparks The Notebook🌺🌴🦋🌿!!!!!!!!

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustaron mucho los capítulos del pasado, en ellos se puede ver como es que empezó su relación y no hablo de una relación amorosa, si no de como forjaron su amistad.

[Jess Hilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy small-town vibes, a charming bookstore, brother’s best friend, and a romance that feels inevitable. 📚🌊 Alice was easily my favorite part of this book. I loved watching her grow into herself, chase her dream of opening a bookstore, and learn to trust herself and her community. The friendships were just as lovely as the romance, and I flew through this in a day.

That said… I wanted the book to treat Colt’s mental health with the same care it treated Alice’s journey. I would have loved to see his healing come from therapy and the people around him alongside the romance, rather than feeling like love alone was enough. That kept this at a 3.5-star read for me, rounded up to 4. 💙

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[hannahwells.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

Fallin’ Tides

Small Town
Brother’s Best Friend
Grumpy x Sunshine
Friends to Lovers
Military MMC
Fall Vibes

Fallin’ Tides is Tori Ford’s first adult novel but her years of writing experience [YA] were evident from the first page. I instantly fell in love with her writing style. It was so easy to get lost in Colt and Alice’s story.

“You always look at the world in perfect lighting, Alice. I envy that.”

I truly enjoyed every page of this book. I cheered for Alice and Colt individually long before cheering for their HEA. The flashbacks to their childhood added so much to the story and I could not stop reading. Tori does a wonderful job balancing cute and cozy while tackling some tougher topics.

If you are in the mood for a cozy small town, second chance romance with lovable characters and a chicken named Pickles, you should grab Fallin’ Tides when it releases 08.25.26

Huge thanks to Tori for allowing me to read an ARC of Fallin’ Tides.

[Sarah | Sarahs.BookCorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

✩5

✦What to Expect✦
•Small town
•Brother’s best friend
•Friends to lovers
•Military MMC
•Grumpy x Sunshine

✦Characters✦
•Alice Sinclair
•Colt Mitchell

✦Fav Quotes✦
“Colt,”
“I’ve got you, baby,”

Colt Mitchell kisses me like he’s starving, like he waited far too long to feed himself and now he’s insatiable.

“You look at me like I’m something you don’t deserve. But you are worthy of me, Colt Mitchell.”

“Alice,”
“I could never leave you.”
“You are my home.”
“You are everything I never allowed myself to want.”

“Anywhere you are, Alice Sinclair, that’s where I’ll be.”

Colt is my forever.

✦Thoughts✦
So dang cute!!!! I will always eat up a small town romance and this one was so good! The cozy fall vibes?! I am so here for it!

Colt and Alice are so good together and I loved seeing their friendship turn into more over time. Alice is a girl after my own heart wanting to open a bookstore, also her friendship group. I loveeddd June and Maggie!

Colt!!! A down bad ex marine?! Yesssss please! He was just so perfect and protective, I loved it!

I am so excited for the next book!

June & Dalton 👀👀

•ARC Read•

✦ Bookish links to follow ✦
Bookstagram • Goodreads • BookBub • Storygraph • Fable

[Amanda Schaeffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small town, friends to lovers and a cozy little bookstore all wrapped in one book, with a sprinkle of spice. I absolutely loved the vibe that Holly River gives off and I wish I could visit!

Alice’s character dynamic was perfection- she over came her fear and followed her dreams of opening a bookstore. With the support from her friends and Colt she was able to follow her dream and watch it come alive.

I felt that Colt’s character arc fell a bit flat for me. He went through so much in his lifetime I wish there was more on his healing journey and rebuilding his life instead of love healing all.

This book was amazing and I can’t wait for the next book to come out!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Tori Ford for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review.

[Summer Clay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you don’t need a book that’s going to emotionally wreck you. Sometimes you just need one that makes you smile…and consume your entire Sunday afternoon. I literally read this book in one sitting. Once I started, I had to know how it ended!

Thank you to Netgalley & Tori Ford for the opportunity to read an ARC of Fallin’ Tides. (All thoughts are my own.)

Fallin’ Tides is such a fun, feel good read. It follows Alice as she returns to her small hometown of Holly River, where she’s reunited with Colt, her brother’s best friend. The brother’s best friend trope absolutely delivered, and there was just enough plot and angst to keep me invested without ever feeling too heavy. The small town, her best friends & the townspeople definitely gave me Gilmore girls vibes. And yes…there’s plenty of romance. ❤️

If you’re in the mood for a sweet romance that’s easy to get lost in and leaves you smiling by the final page, I’d definitely recommend this one.

I already can’t wait to return to Holly River for the next book in the series!

[Heather Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 easy stars!

This book was everything and more in my opinion! I loved everything about this book. The small town and atmosphere, the friendships shown throughout, and of course the love between the two main characters.

I loved Alice so much! She had a dream and a plan and she made it happen (with some help). She was trying so hard to show everyone, especially herself, that she could succeed with her dream of owning a bookstore. And Colt was there with her every step of the way.

And boy did I love Colt! He had a rough childhood and grew up and made the choice to go into the Marines. He came back to Holly River to sell his mother’s house, but sees Alice… and decides to do anything he can to help her with her dream.

Their love grew throughout the book. I loved getting to read some of the letters Alice sent him when he was in the Marines, and the few letters he sent back to her. There were so many sweet moments throughout between them, and I love that they got their happy ending.

Thank you so much Tori Ford for this ARC! I can’t wait for everyone to read this book!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A swoony military MMC, a book-loving FMC, two adorable (and slightly raunchy) best friends, and a “villain” you love to hate?? Say less.
I absolutely devoured this book. I finished it in about 8 hours over the course of a few days because…mom life 😂 but every spare minute I had, I was right back with these characters. I laughed, I swooned, I rooted for them, and I was completely invested in their story.
This book gave me all the small town charm, the grumpy x sunshine tension, the brother’s best friend "we should not be doing this" vibes, and the “Hallmark after dark” energy I always love. It was fun, flirty, and exactly the kind of romance that makes you want to stay up way too late reading “just one more chapter.”
If you’re looking for a cozy, addictive romance with characters you can’t help but love then add this one to your TBR. 💕
Thank you to Tori for the ARC!

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eeekkkk. This book made me giggle and kick my feet, the connection between these two was electric. Not to mention i love a good “my brother’s best friend” trope. The MMC views the world as a dark and negative place, but not when it comes to the FMC - who always sees the best. They compliment each other perfectly, and the uncondidtional love and support they give each other melts my heart. As a hopeless romantic, i absolutely adored this book, the plot and the characters. i love that this book is so genuine, the two characters love one another and figure it out as they go without a third act break up, and let me just say it was so refreshing. I finished this book in a day, needless to say I strongly recommend this book, and I cannot wait for book 2.

[Becca T · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a heartfelt, beautiful book!

I absolutely loved the relationship between Alice and Colt, the friendship that grew into more. Their budding romance while creating a bookshop together was the ultimate book boyfriend moment.

I couldn’t stand Alice’s parents, the pressure they put on her shoulders was just unreasonable! Great character growth shown by Alice was fantastic, can’t wait to read the next book in this series - although I can’t tell whether Maggie’s love interest will be Warren or Grant - so many opportunities!

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title - Fallin' Tides
Pub date - August 25, 2026

4 star read ⭐⭐⭐⭐

- small town
- military MMC
- bookstore owner (I mean who doesn't want to own a bookstore?!)
- brother's best friend
- grumpy vs sunshine
- dual pov
- book one

Colt & Alice

Slow start but the rhythm picked up and after that I couldn't put it down.

Thank you NetGalley & White Rock books for this advanced readers copy of Fallin Tides

[Lisa Penninga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a cute setting with fall vibes, festival planning, and a ladder bookshelf scene that has all the feels! A marine who comes back with a lot of baggage to find closure reunited with his best friend’s sister, and their relationship is filled with a lot of mutual adoration and chemistry! I loved the descriptive details surrounding the town and the creation of the MC’s dream. I struggled with a few characters that felt almost unnecessary, and I would have loved to see each chapter show more with the letters to connect them to the present. Overall, a heartfelt read with a great ending!

[Simone | simonesbookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ Rating: 4 Stars.

✨ The Vibe
Imagine Gilmore Girls meets a cozy Hallmark movie—but with more depth, a bit of spice, and characters that actually feel like real people.

This is the kind of book you pick up on a rainy autumn afternoon with a pumpkin spice latte in hand, and before you know it, you've finished the whole thing with a smile on your face.

📚 What the Book Is About (No Spoilers)
After years away serving in the Marines, Colt Mitchell returns to Holly River determined to help Alice Sinclair—the younger sister of his best friend—save her childhood home.

Alice has just three months to transform the house into the bookstore she's always dreamed of opening, and Colt is determined to make that happen.

As they work side by side preparing for the town's Fall Festival, old feelings begin to resurface, making it harder and harder to ignore the chemistry that's always been there.

🖤 My Reading Experience
This book was exactly what I needed. I've been reading a lot of romantasy, so picking up something this cozy and lighthearted felt incredibly refreshing. That's not to say the story lacks depth, though.

It actually balances the cozy atmosphere with meaningful topics surprisingly well. There are themes surrounding family expectations, abandonment, mental health, and finding your own path, but they're woven naturally into the story without making it feel emotionally heavy.

Colt and Alice completely won me over. From the very beginning, their relationship felt warm, genuine, and believable. They have so much history together that their connection never feels forced, and I found myself rooting for them almost immediately.

The small-town setting was another highlight. It has that comforting feeling where everyone knows each other, people show up when they're needed, and the Fall Festival brings the whole community together. I could easily picture myself wandering through Holly River with a coffee in one hand and a stack of books in the other.

I also absolutely adored June and Maggie. They're exactly the kind of friends everyone deserves—supportive, funny, protective, and always there when it matters most. They added so much warmth and humor to the story.

💭 What Didn't Fully Work for Me
Honestly, there wasn't much that didn't work for me. The story isn't packed with huge twists or devastating emotional moments, so if you're looking for a romance that's going to completely wreck you, this probably isn't it.

Personally, though, I didn't mind that at all. Sometimes you simply want a feel-good romance that leaves you smiling rather than emotionally recovering for three business days. And Fallin' Tides delivered exactly that.

🔥 Tropes & Elements
- Small-town romance
- Brother's best friend
- Childhood friends
- Slow-burn romance
- Cozy fall vibes
- Protective MMC
- Feel-good romance

🫶 Final Thoughts
Fallin' Tides is one of those books that simply feels comforting. It's warm, heartfelt, and full of lovable characters that make Holly River feel like somewhere you'd happily spend a weekend.

If you're looking for a cozy autumn romance with plenty of heart, wonderful friendships, a charming small-town atmosphere, and two characters you'll find yourself rooting for from the very beginning, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try.

Sometimes a book doesn't need huge twists or heartbreaking moments to leave an impression. Sometimes it just needs to make you happy while you're reading it, and this one certainly did.

📢 Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC of Fallin' Tides. As always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

[Zee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dreams really do come at a cost, and none more than what you pour into them. Chasing a dream is rough, comes with setbacks, and teaches you far more than what the end result is worth — at least in my opinion. It demands as much sacrifice as the joy it gives. Alice’s story attests to that.

Alice Sinclair is back in her hometown of Holly River, allegedly to sell the house she grew up in, but armed with a new business plan that becomes her whole dream. She’s spent her life being criticized and patronized by her well-meaning but overbearing parents, and the result is that she has no confidence in her own ability to succeed. It takes a bit of cajoling and an ironclad business plan before her parents agree to let her try, though on a trial run.

Cole Mitchell grew up with the Sinclairs, a second family for a broken boy from a broken home. He’s Alice’s brother’s best friend, and became Alice’s friend somewhere along the way, though not super close due to the age difference (5 years — which is a millennium when you’re young). At 19, he enlists in the Marines and takes off to make something of himself, and Alice writes to him. She never stops, despite the passing of years and the tapering replies of Cole drowning in the horrors overseas. Yet, her letters become Cole’s lifeline, and now that they’re both back in Holly River, he can’t help but start to notice her in a completely different light.

The romance in this was sweet and cozy, and right along with the town’s fall festival, the story unfolds like a warm mug of apple cider. Cole encourages Alice to chase her dream, offering to do any of the carpentry for free, just to feel useful in a town he can’t help but want to run from. Through the weeks and setbacks that follow, the two grow closer until they finally tip over the line.

This story had all the typical microtropes that come with falling in love with your best friend’s little sister — the “bro code,” the feeling of indebtedness that comes with being raised by parents who aren’t yours, etc. It had the feelings of unworthiness on Cole’s part, being someone without a college degree and nothing to show for himself outside his service (in his eyes). We get a glance into the start of his dream towards the end, and I wish we would’ve been able to focus on that a little more.

The other thing that got me was that Cole had built up his fears about how Alice’s parents would react to him wanting to date Alice — and they were justified. Her soft opening night came with some hard truths and positions, both from Cole’s side and Alice’s — Cole’s brother is back after leaving nearly 15 years ago, Alice’s parents can’t help but wonder if Cole had been into their much-younger daughter back then, and their whole relationship, balanced precariously as it is, falls apart.

But sometimes, things need to fall apart to be put together in ways that fit better, and their story is no exception to that rule. I really liked seeing the glimpses of their shared history together, through the letters written by Alice, memories, and then how those tie into present tense. I also loved the side characters so much. Maggie and June are the definition of girls’ girls — they support Alice in everything, and aren’t afraid to smack her with sense when she’s doing something stupid. They’re a huge part of why Alice gets the confidence to open her store in the first place!

I truly enjoyed this start into the Holly River series, and I got really invested in Maggie and June — and who I think are their counterparts! Maggie and Warren are the next book, which has already been announced, but I’m curious to see if June’s book is with who I think it’ll be with!

[LeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 dazzling stars for Alice Sinclair and Colt Mitchell
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh. My. God.

I devoured this book within 24 hours. I feel like this rarely happens for me but I could not put down Fallin' Tides!

I absolutely fell in love with Alice Sinclair. She was so sweet and a little fiesty and just so darn adorable. We get to follow Alice, as she pursues her dream of opening a bookstore. We get to see all the struggles, both external and internal, that she faces. And who better to help this small town cutie build her dream than her brother's best friend who's returned home to tie up some business.

Our MMC, Colt Mitchell, is a sexy as sin former marine. Colt has faced many things over the years and suffers from PTSD. When he returns to Holly River, the last thing he expects to see is the girl he grew up beside. This man (& his brother Warren 🤭) occupied all of my brain space and boy when I say I didn't want him to leave? Please sir, take up all the space. The Micthell brothers are hot, hot, hot 🔥! I loved how much Colt supported Alice in her dream of turning her childhood home into a bookstore. Colt was everything I love in an MMC. He cared for Alice, and I loved seeing them open up to each other about what they were going through over the past 8 years.

Alice's best friend Maggie stole my heart when she entered the scene 3% into the book. I am OBSESSED with that woman 😂! She was hilarious and had me laughing my butt off. And her other bestie June was so cute too. I mean who doesn't love a woman who bakes? I reallly hope she and Dalton will be together 🤞! The cozy vibes were on point! The spice was spicccyyy! Oof these two were lighting my kindle up!

I'm so so excited for Burnin' Tides! I really really hope it's about Maggie and a certain firefighter who stole my heart ❤️‍🔥! If you love small town romances filled with cozy fall vibes, chicken queens, a girl gang that always shows up and hot former marines who know how to make a lady's heart go pitter-pat, then do yourself a huge favor and read Fallin' Tides when it releases on August 25th!

Thank you to Tori Ford, White Rock Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.

[Brooke (The_Brookeshelf_) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colt and Alice immediately won my heart just pages into this book. This story felt completely authentic, while still offering the perfect fall, cozy, small town vibes that feels like you stepped into a Hallmark movie or an episode of Gilmore Girls.

While growing up together, Alice’s resentment towards Colt never pushed him away because he always saw what made her so special, even though this is what others often overlooked. When they reconnect as adults, the dynamics of their past family relationships and the pain they have endured could have been what kept them apart, but they chose to let it propel them forward into growth and healing.

In spite of others lacking faith in her abilities, Alice never gave up on her dreams. She is the definition of resiliency and optimism, always willing to reframe experiences to find the glimmers that still shine through. I find it so sweet that Colt admires this about her and never loses a single ounce of belief in her. Learning about Colt’s history, it would have been so easy to no longer see the good in others or the world, yet Alice was always his bright spot.

Colt would simply burn the world down for Alice, and anyone that threatens her or her dreams never stands a chance against him. He is truly the touch her and die type of MMC, with all the skills learned in the Marines to back in up. While his protective nature exists at his core, he consistently shows Alice respect and highlighted her independence and strength.

Watching their relationship grow over time from childhood to the present was such a naturally developing love story. No longer two kids trying to find their way through the world, but adults who could support one another’s goals and dreams, and show each other what being loved truly means.

I also adored watching the other relationships around them develop. The friendships, siblings, and town members relationships added so many other layers to this story.

Thank you to Tori Ford for access to this ebook. All opinions are my own.

Tropes:
Small town romance
Brothers best friend
Military MMC
Friends to lovers
Grumpy x Sunshine

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 stars

I'm honestly in awe of authors sometimes. The way they manage to take something as complicated as love and translate it into words is incredible. Tori Ford is definitely one of those authors.

Fallin' Tides completely swept me away. Alice and Colt's story was filled with so much yearning, tenderness, and quiet sacrifice that I found myself savoring every single page. Their connection felt beautifully developed, and I loved that the romance wasn't rushed. Instead, it unfolded naturally, making every moment between them feel earned.

And can we talk about the premise? A heroine racing to turn her childhood home into the bookstore of her dreams, with her brother's best friend helping her renovate it? I absolutely adored it. By the end of the book, I was ready to build my own bookstore. Preferably with a carpenter like Colt helping me along the way. 🤭

Colt completely stole my heart. His devotion, his quiet strength, and the way he cared for Alice had me swooning over and over again. The history they shared, especially through Alice's letters while he was deployed, added such an emotional layer to their relationship that made every interaction between them even more meaningful.

I also loved the found family element. Alice's friends were everything you could want from a support system—kind, loyal, funny, and always there when it mattered most. They made Holly River feel like the kind of place you'd want to call home.

This was such a beautiful start to the Holly River series, and I'm already so excited to continue. I have a suspicion about who the next couple might be and if I'm right, I cannot wait. But honestly, even if I'm completely wrong, I'll still be picking up the next book the moment I can.

If you love brother's best friend romances, small towns, bookstores, found family, and enough yearning to make your heart ache, I can't recommend this one enough. 🤎📚🍂

[Jess (smut hut) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fallin Tides by Tori Ford is small town romance with a touch of SPICE (the good kind) done right!

Holly River is the kind of town I'd want to live in. I loved how the story immersed you in the community, from the local festival that helps bring in tourism to the different personalities of the residents who make the town feel alive. Between the nosy neighbors and the slightly inappropriate but harmless restaurant owner, Holly River has so much to offer.

Alice the FMC is sunshine in human form. She's optimistic, determined, and always trying to do the right thing, even while carrying the weight of her family's expectations. Watching her find her confidence and overcome those challenges made her such an easy person to cheer for. You relate to her in so many ways and find yourself wanting the best for her!

Colt is the perfect grumpy hero. Haunted by childhood trauma, he returns to Holly River to finally face his past and unexpectedly sees Alice in a whole new light. Their romance develops at the perfect pace, never rushed, always believable, and filled with the kind of chemistry that makes you want to keep turning the pages. And the fact that he's sweet to her chickens? Instant book boyfriend material.

Travis.......this man raises my blood pressure. Not in the good way

The supporting characters were just as enjoyable. Alice's group of girlfriends Maggie and June are what you are looking for in female friendships! They are supportive, honest, and always there when it matters most. I can't wait to see their stories continue!

Overall everything about this story came together beautifully. It delivered the cozy smalltown charm, heartfelt romance, memorable characters, and emotional growth I was hoping for. The ending left me completely invested in Holly River and counting down the days until the next book in the series.

Thank you for the Early Reader copy, I will now be making all my friends read it on release day!!

[skyeslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You are everything I never allowed myself to want.”

I crave palpable angst in my romances, and Fallin’ Tides delivered in spades. Tori Ford writes with brightness and joy but doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff either. I loved it!

Colt and Alice haven’t seen each other since they were kids. Five years Colt’s junior, Alice always harbored a little crush on her brother’s best friend. But then he went off to the military, and she made it her mission to keep his life as hopeful as she could by sending him letters full of optimism. Even when he stopped responding, she never wavered. But now he’s back, and he can see close up that all the positivity she packed into her letters was used to hide her own pain and loneliness. They aren’t kids anymore, and he’s not staying, but once upon a time, her letters were all he had to get him through the day. The least he can do is help her dreams become a reality before he walks away again. The only problem is, this time when he goes, he’s going to break both of their hearts.
—

this and that:
♡ brother’s best friend
♡ dual pov
♡ friends-to-lovers
♡ grumpy x sunshine
♡ military mmc
♡ opposites attract
♡ open door spice
♡ small town

triggers:
☞ neglectful parenting
☞ PTSD due to military service
☞ mention of addiction (not MCs)
☞ mention of attempted SA

notable quotes:

“There are always things to be happy about if you pay attention.”
_
“You are everything I never allowed myself to want.”
_
“I was searching for you. My whole life, I’ve been searching for you.”
_
Chasing a dream is messy.
_
“I can’t think of a single thing that makes more sense than you.”

—

thank you to Tori Ford for the gifted review copy!
—

♡ find me on Instagram!

[Briana smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

Can you hear someond screaming? How about screaming but the s is silent? Cause my GODDDDDD. This had some serious crack in it. I was CONSUMED by these characters. 😭

Alice was honestly the cutest!! I love the age gap and how she had years to grow up with him seeing him as a bestfriend. Being so close, she was devastated when he joined the military. Girl about ripped my damn heart out when he left🥹 The letters? Sigh, I may have shed a tear.....or 50. She was always that safe space for him and showed him he deserved life even when life was a trainwreck. Her goal to own a bookstore is every girl's dream. With a deadline and complications coming one after the other like domino's this girl was resilient and didn't stop until her dream came true. A proud mom over here😭

Oh Colt. Colt Colt Colt. Our broken little angel boy. Life was hard on him and I want to give him a hug. He needed someone to show he deserves the world and Ali showed him that ×100000. His letters? Broke me. I hate how his confidence was low because he was so damn strong in every way🫂
Colt would drop so fast to his knees they would SHATTER for his girl Alice. He was down baddddd and I was blushing like it was my job🤭 He put his life on pause to help her. Man showed up and showed out. He did his best to push her away thinking he wasn't any good and that shows the man he is. I am in LOVEEEEE.

Baby I needed a fan in between my thighs when these two looked at eachother. The chemistry was HOT. That tension? Chefs kiss. Brothers Bestfriend but also her bestfriend had me folding 😃👍

“I was searching for you. My whole life, I’ve been searching for you.”

Thank you Tori for this beautiful earc🥹
Booksta- romance.with.bri

[Macayla Gilpin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fallin’ Tides by Tori Ford

Coming 8.25.2026

(Advanced Reader Copy)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📚Small Town
📚Childhood Friends to Lovers
📚Brother’s Best Friend

Alice Sinclair is the background sibling, born to two successful business people, but stuck in the shadow of her athletic older brother. The pressure was constantly on her to be perfect. Suddenly her brother's best friend Colt has moved in and she’s living in the shadow of someone she’s not even related to. Colt became a fixture in their life, family dinners, holidays, he was everywhere. When Colt left for the Marines she told him she’d write to him, and she never forgot that promise. Even after he stopped responding and she hadn’t seen him in 8 years. She’s determined to get her dream business off the ground, and suddenly Colt falls right in line with that dream.

Colt Mitchell was the kid from the wrong side of town, with an addict mother and a father who skipped town. He and his brother had to fend for themselves, and his brother ran when he turned 18, leaving him all alone. Thankfully he found himself being taken in by the Sinclair family. They fed him, clothed him and gave him a good life. He opted not to join the family business and chose the Marines. After 8 years in the marines, he had seen unimaginable things and truly felt as if happiness was no longer an option for him. He planned to return to Holly River one last time to settle his mother’s estate and then close that chapter for good. What he didn’t anticipate was running into Alice Sinclair who has become a beautiful woman and certainly isn’t the shy teenager he left behind all those years ago.

#booktok #romancereading #netgalley #bookreview #smalltown

[Clementine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cosy, feel-good autumn read. I'm really enjoying small-town romances at the moment, especially as a break between heavier fantasy books.

The story follows Alice as she works towards opening her dream bookshop, and Colt, her brother's best friend, who returns home after spending eight years in the Marines.

Their love story was beautiful. I especially enjoyed the flashbacks and the letters they exchanged while he was away, which added depth and emotion to their relationship.

"You always look at the world in perfect lighting, Alice. I envy that." Colt
Honestly, me too. Throughout the book, Alice's outlook on life really hit me. I'm more of a Colt myself, and reading Alice's perspective made me reflect on my own way of seeing the world.

The book also touches on mental health without ever feeling overly heavy. I don't want to say too much and risk spoiling anything but I really appreciated how it was handled and how it was incorporated into the story.

Another highlight was the found-family aspect of the story. Alice's friends are amazing. They are supportive, loyal and genuinely fun to read about. The people in the town also make up a wonderful supporting cast and I really hope we get to see more of them in the next books.

Here is a quote that had me laughing, completely out of context: "I have erotic fantasies about your quiche."

The book releases on August 25th, and I'm already excited for the next book in the series coming in March 2027!

If you enjoyed books like Done and Dusted (and the Rebel Blue Ranch series) or Cash (and the Lucky River Ranch series), you'll definitely want to add Fallin' Tides to your TBR.

[Szandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks for the ARC opportunity netgalley. As always, this is an honest, voluntary review.

What a sweet, heartwarming story this was! It's also a perfect autumn read with the theme centred around autumn festivities and of course, don't forget about a bookstore. The whole plot is set in a cute, cozy little town and it's really working so well with the locals as nice supportive characters.

The love between Ali and Colt is so tender and so deep, I was rooting for them so much. The smut was perfect, hot but not overwhelming the story. And again, I just loved the dynamics between these two. It feels like as if during the years they haven't met they nurtured these feelings and once meeting again, they realized just how real all of it was.

My only complain is Ali's parents. There's a very difficult relationship there, going back to her childhood. The way they treated their daughter, defined her whole life and it wasn't addressed and most certainly not confronted at all. I was hoping Ali would stand up for herself against them and have Colt's backing. But it never happened. I also didn't like the way the parents treated Colt - starting with how they stopped caring once they had no use for him - and how it was also just easily brushed under the rug.

But again, Colt and Ali were super sweet. I loved the side characters, especially June and Maggie! (I really hope we get Maggie and Warren's story next!)

I think this is a lovely autumn read for those who like cozy small town romance and friend's to lovers stories.

[Erin Newark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colt’s back in Holly River after an eight-year deployment. He had grown up there with an alcoholic mother so when he was younger his best friend’s parents “adopted” him into their family and treated them as their own. Colt had feelings for his best friend’s sister Alice (who was totally off-limits) and while he was away in the Marines, she continuously sent him letters seemingly happy with how her life was going. Little did Colt know, Alice was slowing drowning with an unsupportive family and dreams that everyone shot down. Now back in town, he was going to make it his mission to give back to Alice and help her create the book store of her dreams. Watch the leaves turn color and the feelings grow deeper as the book store becomes a reality just in time for the town’s fall festival….of course, it wasn’t going to come easy though when an ex-boyfriend stepped in and tried to take everything away from Alice.

Thoughts:
This was such a fun, easy-to-read fall romance. I adored the small-town charm of Holly River! I also really loved to see how Colt and Alice came alive together. They both had so much pent up trauma — Colt with his mother and Alice with her unsupportive family — they both needed each other and the timing of when they came back together couldn’t have been any better. Seeing them build the bookstore from the ground up was so special and watching their relationship rekindle after all those years was truly heartwarming. 💕

Read For:
Best Friend’s Sister
Small Town
Military MMC
Friends to Lovers
Grumpy/Sunshine

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️
3.5/5 🌶️

This was such a fun, heart-warming read! It's a perfect spicy small-town romance with two loveable main characters that have SUCH PALPABLE TENSION in every scene together. Colt and Alice are great together and built such a wonderful relationship throughout the book. They've known each other since they were kids (Alice being 5 years younger than Colt, with them meeting when she was 11 I think?) and I absolutely love how the author includes flashback-esque scenes so we can see how their relationship developed even back then.

It's hard for a brother's-best-friend romance to not come across as pine-y and whiney (if that makes sense), but Tori Ford does an excellent job in this book. Even though Alice had a crush on Colt when they were younger, you really get all of the story and development of their relationship as adults. The friendship as children is just a solid building block for everything else we get in the book.

The book has (minor spoiler) a really (almost too) idealistic and perfect Happily Ever After. Like every single thing goes right for everyone involved, to the point where it felt somewhat saccharine. But I'm all for HEAs and if you're looking for a super sweet book that makes you feel good, this is it!...

Highly recommend for a fun, spicy read! I'm really looking forward to following this author for the next book in the series!!

[Garnet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I am Tori’s assistant, which means she technically signs my paychecks. But I promise you, I would legally adopt these characters for free. Fallin’ Tides is a shot of Fireball with a beer chaser: burning, sweet, and exactly what you need. It is sexy, gorgeous, and incredibly funny (shoutout to Frank for carrying the comedy on his back). Tori managed to build Holly River into the kind of small town you instantly want to move to, populated by people you either want to be best friends with or people you want to fight in a Chili’s parking lot (Travis, count your days. Maggie and I are waiting for you out back). At the heart of it all are Alice and Colt, and their friends-to-lovers story is a slow, painful burn in the absolute best way. Alice is literal sunshine in a cup; she takes her hits with a smile. And Colt? He is so emotionally secure it is utterly swoonworthy. The dual POV pulls you so deep into their heads and hearts that you’ll find yourself cheering out loud for them and actively scheming ways to clear the path for them to just get together already (I’m looking at YOU, Grant!). Fallin’ Tides is relatable and so addictive I literally read it in a single day. Buy it, read it, and then come find me so we can scream about it together. 10/10, no notes.

[Jackie Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some heroes protect the people they love. Colt did that, but what made him unforgettable was how he believed in Alice long before she believed in herself.

Fallin' Tides was such a cozy, heartwarming read that completely stole my heart. Colt was thoughtful, caring, protective, and always encouraged Alice to chase her dreams instead of letting fear hold her back.

Alice was impossible not to love. She cared deeply for everyone around her, and while I wished she had stood up to her parents sooner, watching her find her confidence made her journey even more rewarding.

The chemistry between Colt and Alice was beautiful, and I loved the tension as they tried to decide whether risking their friendship was worth following their hearts.

The bookstore was one of my favorite parts of the story. As someone who loves books, I wished it were a real place because I'd visit all the time.

Between Maggie, June, Dalton, and the welcoming community of Holly River, this book felt like coming home. The emotional goodbye before Colt left for the military even had me tearing up.

If you love small-town romances filled with hope, heart, and wonderful characters, I highly recommend this one.

I received an advance review copy through NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Crista Sedlacek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am honored to be one of the first reviews for this book! You should 100% read this book because I am obsessed. Thank you so much Tori for the ARC!!!❤️❤️

Okay but I am totally in love with Colt and Alice. I binged this book in one day because i couldn't put it down. I teared up more than once but holy crap it was so fricken sweet.
Learning Colts background was so heart wrenching but i'm so glad we learned about his childhood and why he became the man he did. He is an ultimate book boyfriend and Alice is a lucky gal. I actually loved Alice as the FMC. Her strong relationships with her two friends had me so emotional multiple times throughout this book. Strong female friendships are so important in life and i feel like this was such a good empowering trio. All being business owners and trying their best to make it in a small town is hard so having that constant support is so important. LOVE.

Fav Quotes

“Harold bought Mrs. Devonshire some slutty books,” June explains.

“I don’t want my parents’ life. I want our life. I want you. As you are now. And as you will be. That’s what I want. Just you, with me.”

[Natasha Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Tori Ford for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fallin’ Tides is a heartfelt, emotional small-town romance that completely swept me away. It perfectly balances longing, healing, humour, and undeniable chemistry, making it impossible not to become invested in the characters from the very beginning.

The friends-to-lovers and second-chance elements are beautifully woven together, creating a romance that feels both authentic and deeply emotional. The small-town setting is warm and immersive, adding so much charm and making Holly River feel like somewhere you’d happily return to.

Tori Ford’s writing is engaging, heartfelt, and effortlessly draws you into the story. The emotional moments hit hard without ever feeling overdone, while the romance develops at just the right pace, leaving me rooting for the characters every step of the way.

If you love emotional contemporary romance with memorable characters, plenty of heart, and a beautifully crafted small-town setting, this is one to add to your TBR. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next.