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Cozy Creek Collection #3
Fall at once: Roman (Madi & Cole) (Cozy Creek Collection 2)
Herbst-Vibes und (Pumpkin) Spice!
Als ihr Leben in Scherben zerbricht, flüchtet Madi ins gemütliche Cozy Creek. Hier will sie sich ohne Ablenkungen auf sich selbst konzentrieren, während sie ihre Großmutter in deren Bäckerei unterstützt. Doch der attraktive Feuerwehrmann Cole, der sie aus mehr als einer brenzligen Situation rettet, geht ihr plötzlich nicht mehr aus dem Kopf. Als Madis Expertise als Eventplanerin gefragt ist, soll sie ausgerechnet mit Cole das Herbstfest der Feuerwehr organisieren. Eigentlich haben beide der Liebe abgeschworen, doch es wird immer schwerer, das Knistern zwischen ihnen zu ignorieren …
Nirgendwo ist der Herbst schöner als in Cozy Creek!
Wenn es draußen grau und ungemütlich ist, wird es Zeit, sich mit einer guten Herbst-Romance einzukuscheln! In der Kleinstadt Cozy Creek gibt es alles, was das Herbst-Herz begehrt – kleine, süße Coffee Shops mit den besten Zimtschnecken und dampfendem Pumpkin Spice Latte, Spaziergänge durch raschelndes Laub, einen Besuch auf dem Kürbisfeld oder dem Herbstfestival. Freu dich auf magische Herbstatmosphäre und die perfekten Book Boyfriends!
Die Cozy Creek Collection
Band 1: Fall I want von Lyra Parish
Band 2: Fall at once von Nora Everly
Alle Bände der Reihe sind unabhängig voneinander lesbar
Als ihr Leben in Scherben zerbricht, flüchtet Madi ins gemütliche Cozy Creek. Hier will sie sich ohne Ablenkungen auf sich selbst konzentrieren, während sie ihre Großmutter in deren Bäckerei unterstützt. Doch der attraktive Feuerwehrmann Cole, der sie aus mehr als einer brenzligen Situation rettet, geht ihr plötzlich nicht mehr aus dem Kopf. Als Madis Expertise als Eventplanerin gefragt ist, soll sie ausgerechnet mit Cole das Herbstfest der Feuerwehr organisieren. Eigentlich haben beide der Liebe abgeschworen, doch es wird immer schwerer, das Knistern zwischen ihnen zu ignorieren …
Nirgendwo ist der Herbst schöner als in Cozy Creek!
Wenn es draußen grau und ungemütlich ist, wird es Zeit, sich mit einer guten Herbst-Romance einzukuscheln! In der Kleinstadt Cozy Creek gibt es alles, was das Herbst-Herz begehrt – kleine, süße Coffee Shops mit den besten Zimtschnecken und dampfendem Pumpkin Spice Latte, Spaziergänge durch raschelndes Laub, einen Besuch auf dem Kürbisfeld oder dem Herbstfestival. Freu dich auf magische Herbstatmosphäre und die perfekten Book Boyfriends!
Die Cozy Creek Collection
Band 1: Fall I want von Lyra Parish
Band 2: Fall at once von Nora Everly
Alle Bände der Reihe sind unabhängig voneinander lesbar
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 21, 2024
About the author
Nora Everly
33 books1,276 followersSign up for my newsletter: https://www.noraeverly.com/newsletter
Nora Everly is a lifelong bookworm. She started reading the good stuff once she was tall enough to sneak the romance novels off the top of her mother’s bookshelf and it has been non-stop ever since.
Once upon a time she was a substitute teacher and an educational assistant. Now, she’s a writer and stay at home mom to two small humans and one fat cat.
Nora lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and her overactive imagination.
Follow Nora!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authornoraev...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nora.everly/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoraEverly
Nora Everly is a lifelong bookworm. She started reading the good stuff once she was tall enough to sneak the romance novels off the top of her mother’s bookshelf and it has been non-stop ever since.
Once upon a time she was a substitute teacher and an educational assistant. Now, she’s a writer and stay at home mom to two small humans and one fat cat.
Nora lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and her overactive imagination.
Follow Nora!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authornoraev...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nora.everly/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoraEverly
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,847 reviews
October 15, 2025
It’s been a while since Madison Winslow has been back to Cozy Creek, Colorado. But after breaking up with her boyfriend and her grandmother, Gigi, being injured, she sets out to the picturesque small town for distraction to help out her grandmother. But when her car breaks down by the side of the road, Gigi sends out a very attractive firefighter with whom Madi has instant chemistry. But Madi has given up on love and men, so why doesn’t her heart get with the memo that the fire chief is not an option…or is he?
Divorced and wary of love, Cole Sutter has three priorities in his life: his family, his friends, and his job as Cozy Creek’s fire chief. So when his neighbor and good friend, Gigi, asks him to pick up her granddaughter, Cole is not ready for the instant attraction he feels for Madison. No matter how much he tries to stay away from her, it seems as if they keep getting thrown into each other’s paths for a reason, especially when Cole seems to be constantly rescuing her from not only trees but ex-boyfriends at bars. And when a kiss that was supposed to be fake feels very, very real, Cole’s uncertain whether he is going to let his insecurities take the reins of his life or his heart.
For about 50% of the book, I was enjoying the story (even though it’s kinda an insta-love story which I don’t like 😅). Madi was so sweet and seemed perfect for Cole, who was a good dad to his kids and a good person overall. But as the story progressed, it just fell flat for me. There was hardly any character development, only romantic development, and even that lacked any feeling or depth. And, honestly, it has something to do with the writing. 🫣
This felt like a short story, not a full-length novel, since there was hardly any growth or depth in all aspects of the story. Not only that, but there was so much dialogue! Look, I love dialogue as much as the next person; you can tell what a character is like by the way they talk and what they say. But when there is so much of it that is flat, forced, and cheesy/choppy, it does nothing for the story. There was literally line after line of dialogue without a nice break to add some prose, an inner monologue, or an observation, or something by the characters. Heck, there weren't even enough descriptions about the cute town they were living in or the wonder of autumn in the air! It felt like the author was in a rush to get to the spice. Honey, I’m not here for the spice, I’m here for the story! Thank God there wasn’t much of it like the last novel in this series, but if I had to pick which was better writing-wise, it would have to be Fall I Want. This book was just so underwhelming and even a little disappointing.
And that’s what I’ve been seeing and thinking about lately concerning stories that are being published left and right. Don’t get me wrong. I’m so, so happy that reading is “a cool thing to do” nowadays, and I’m so glad it’s so popular, but at what cost? Some people say that BookTok is ruining the publishing industry, and you know what, they’re not wrong. Every now and again, you pick up a book that makes your heart wrench and your soul fly on cloud nine, and you realize how much you love reading stories that make you feel something and even lead you to be a better person. But most of the books that are being published are all for the hype, tropes, and TikTok, not the writing, the story, or the themes. And, believe me, I want to read what is popular on TikTok because of fomo, but I’ll forget about those books in a matter of weeks. I’d say that out of all of the books I’ve read this year, I can’t remember what half of them were about (but that might be due to my memory, because it’s not what it used to be). 😂 And this book will be one of them. Sure, it was sweet at times, and the characters were okay, but it just did nothing for me. It was an okay read.
But don’t let my cynicism stop you from reading this. I’ve always been a little wary of romance novels because I’m not a romantic person by nature, and it’s not till recently that I’ve even been a consumer of romance books/movies, so this is probably just a me thing (it usually is 😉). So if you do decide to read this, I hope you enjoy it! 🧡🍂🎃☕
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
There is a scene where a child gets slapped by their angry mother.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Yes (🌶🌶🌶/5)
#FallatOnce #NetGalley
Divorced and wary of love, Cole Sutter has three priorities in his life: his family, his friends, and his job as Cozy Creek’s fire chief. So when his neighbor and good friend, Gigi, asks him to pick up her granddaughter, Cole is not ready for the instant attraction he feels for Madison. No matter how much he tries to stay away from her, it seems as if they keep getting thrown into each other’s paths for a reason, especially when Cole seems to be constantly rescuing her from not only trees but ex-boyfriends at bars. And when a kiss that was supposed to be fake feels very, very real, Cole’s uncertain whether he is going to let his insecurities take the reins of his life or his heart.
For about 50% of the book, I was enjoying the story (even though it’s kinda an insta-love story which I don’t like 😅). Madi was so sweet and seemed perfect for Cole, who was a good dad to his kids and a good person overall. But as the story progressed, it just fell flat for me. There was hardly any character development, only romantic development, and even that lacked any feeling or depth. And, honestly, it has something to do with the writing. 🫣
This felt like a short story, not a full-length novel, since there was hardly any growth or depth in all aspects of the story. Not only that, but there was so much dialogue! Look, I love dialogue as much as the next person; you can tell what a character is like by the way they talk and what they say. But when there is so much of it that is flat, forced, and cheesy/choppy, it does nothing for the story. There was literally line after line of dialogue without a nice break to add some prose, an inner monologue, or an observation, or something by the characters. Heck, there weren't even enough descriptions about the cute town they were living in or the wonder of autumn in the air! It felt like the author was in a rush to get to the spice. Honey, I’m not here for the spice, I’m here for the story! Thank God there wasn’t much of it like the last novel in this series, but if I had to pick which was better writing-wise, it would have to be Fall I Want. This book was just so underwhelming and even a little disappointing.
And that’s what I’ve been seeing and thinking about lately concerning stories that are being published left and right. Don’t get me wrong. I’m so, so happy that reading is “a cool thing to do” nowadays, and I’m so glad it’s so popular, but at what cost? Some people say that BookTok is ruining the publishing industry, and you know what, they’re not wrong. Every now and again, you pick up a book that makes your heart wrench and your soul fly on cloud nine, and you realize how much you love reading stories that make you feel something and even lead you to be a better person. But most of the books that are being published are all for the hype, tropes, and TikTok, not the writing, the story, or the themes. And, believe me, I want to read what is popular on TikTok because of fomo, but I’ll forget about those books in a matter of weeks. I’d say that out of all of the books I’ve read this year, I can’t remember what half of them were about (but that might be due to my memory, because it’s not what it used to be). 😂 And this book will be one of them. Sure, it was sweet at times, and the characters were okay, but it just did nothing for me. It was an okay read.
But don’t let my cynicism stop you from reading this. I’ve always been a little wary of romance novels because I’m not a romantic person by nature, and it’s not till recently that I’ve even been a consumer of romance books/movies, so this is probably just a me thing (it usually is 😉). So if you do decide to read this, I hope you enjoy it! 🧡🍂🎃☕
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
There is a scene where a child gets slapped by their angry mother.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Yes (🌶🌶🌶/5)
#FallatOnce #NetGalley
September 16, 2025
Set in a cozy small town that is reminiscent of “Gilmore Girls” in the middle of fall, a single father firefighter (who is freshly divorced from his HS sweetheart) and a newly single 30 year old event planner (obsessed with starting a family) meet and fall into insta-love.
I picked up this book because the cover was so cute and I loved the premise of a single dad firefighter - something I’ve never read before. I usually love the single dad trope especially in a small town setting. I also was excited for all of the cozy fall vibes (& this novel definitely delivered on that part). There is also some open door spice.
At the end of the day, this book just wasn’t for me. Fall At Once reads like a Hallmark movie script. If that is your vibe then you will adore this book. I, however, didn’t really feel any chemistry or connection with any of the characters at all. I stopped caring about the dilemmas the characters were going through pretty early on. Most of the character interactions were just them giving eachother paragraphs of advice over and over. None of it felt natural or real. Overall this book has fun ideas but it just missed the mark for me.
My biggest issues were
(potential vague spoilers below):
- one of the biggest taboo subjects for multiple characters (no seriously, this comes up every other chapter) is the fact there is an age gap. Yes, it is an 8 year age gap…but she is 30 and he is 38…
- there is a complete and noticeable lack of diversity of any kind in this entire world
- this truly reads like trad wife propaganda even though the character literally makes that into a joke in the book! Like where were any of these characters on January 6…makes you think!
- the fact (and I really can’t get passed this at all) that a teenager gets physically abused by her mother and it gets excused (“she’s going through a phase” “she didn’t mean it” etc) and brushed under the rug multiple times by multiple people
Thanks to NetGalley & Avon & Harper Voyager for the arc!
I picked up this book because the cover was so cute and I loved the premise of a single dad firefighter - something I’ve never read before. I usually love the single dad trope especially in a small town setting. I also was excited for all of the cozy fall vibes (& this novel definitely delivered on that part). There is also some open door spice.
At the end of the day, this book just wasn’t for me. Fall At Once reads like a Hallmark movie script. If that is your vibe then you will adore this book. I, however, didn’t really feel any chemistry or connection with any of the characters at all. I stopped caring about the dilemmas the characters were going through pretty early on. Most of the character interactions were just them giving eachother paragraphs of advice over and over. None of it felt natural or real. Overall this book has fun ideas but it just missed the mark for me.
My biggest issues were
(potential vague spoilers below):
- one of the biggest taboo subjects for multiple characters (no seriously, this comes up every other chapter) is the fact there is an age gap. Yes, it is an 8 year age gap…but she is 30 and he is 38…
- there is a complete and noticeable lack of diversity of any kind in this entire world
- this truly reads like trad wife propaganda even though the character literally makes that into a joke in the book! Like where were any of these characters on January 6…makes you think!
- the fact (and I really can’t get passed this at all) that a teenager gets physically abused by her mother and it gets excused (“she’s going through a phase” “she didn’t mean it” etc) and brushed under the rug multiple times by multiple people
Thanks to NetGalley & Avon & Harper Voyager for the arc!
August 22, 2024
Looong rambling 😂
Madi (30) had just ended her five-year relationship and decided to stay in her grandma's small town in the meantime. When she got into town, her car broke down, and her grandma called Cole (38), the firefighter chief, to assist her. These two have known each other for years because she used to spend her vacation in this place, and the visits only lessen since she started dating her ex.
Anyway, present time, when they saw each other, instant attraction kicked in, and they were hooked right from the very start. The tension, chemistry, and mutual pining are sooo obvious, and in every interaction, they just fall even harder for each other. 🤭🥰 However, they did try their best to fight it off because they both just got out of relationships.
See, Cole is divorced, but it's only been a rough few months. Unfortunately, he caught his ex-wife and his ex-best friend on their bed, so he decided to end their marriage. Go him! And like I said in the beginning, Madi just got out of her relationship after realizing that her ex was only stringing her along and didn't have any plans to commit to her. 🥺
Despite coming from long-term relationships, these two felt more relieved than sad that it had ended for them. Even though they had moved on from their exes, the harm that was done to them still remains. ☹️
This is why this falls into the slow burn pace because, while they're very much attracted to one another, they were both hesitant to start something as they're unsure whether they're ready or not or if they're finally over their failed relationships. I didn't mind the pace because these two never fail to make me giddy with every interaction. It's so obvious how they both got it so bad. 🤭 They're just so adorable and sweet together. And I love how they're so affectionate and never shy away from showing it. 🥹
I did love this for the most part, but then that problem thrown at the last 20% kind of ruined the mood I was having. Cole has been worried since the beginning about their age gap, his divorce status, his teenagers (15&13), and his ex-wife. He felt he wasn't ready for a more serious relationship, and the insecurities brought about by his ex's infidelity run deeply in him. He does want Madi, and he said he never felt the emotions he's having for anyone else.
Yet, despite this, he still doesn't know what he actually wants; all he knew was that he wants her in his life, but hopefully with no strings atm. He had it in his mind that if she stayed with him, he'd only hold her back and stop her from achieving her full potential and goals in life. Idk, what brought this on, but I'm assuming his ex did really a number on him. He wants them to be casual and exclusive in the meantime and just see where it goes.
So he offered his idiotic plan that they would be together whenever she's in town. He basically asked her to be a booty call whenever she visits. This sounds stupid to the nth degree, but the reason he only offered this was because he's afraid to face his fears and the possibility of getting hurt if he ever puts his heart on the line. And while I do understand his hang-ups, it still doesn't mean I have to like his dumbass plan. 🤷♀️🤦♀️
But Madi's not having any of it. She made a vow not to let anyone string her along again and not to settle for crumbs of affection. She knows her worth and was not willing to be casual. She's not asking for a marriage proposal, just something steady with him. She didn't want to be a FB because she deserved more than that. She told him what she wanted, laid it all in front of him, and put up her boundaries. Totally proud of her at that moment! 👏
They were separated, I think, for two days. By then, Cole and Madi realized what they really wanted and decided to be honest with each other about how they really felt. They finally admitted that they're in love with one another and became on the same page. He apologized for his idiotic idea, and Madi accepted it. She also told him that she's willing to go slowly and at his pace. 🫶
Anyway, I really had fun with the story. 🤭 It made me giggle while I was kicking my feet, and I flipped through the pages so quickly. I enjoyed the writing style and everything in this book. I loved the MCs, Madi's family (grandma, sisters, and mother), Cole's family (kids and siblings), other side characters, and her cats. It's really sweet that almost everyone in this small town is kind-hearted and seemingly genuinely nice. It's just adorable and very much a light read. 💖
I'm not sure if the side characters will have their own books, but I'm really interested in reading them, especially Kenzie and Drew 🤭
Overall, it was a solid read, and now I'm looking forward to the rest of the books in this series. 😍
Book info:
- Small town romance
- Age gap (8)
- Single dad
- Cat mom
- Instant attraction
- Meddling family members 😂
- Slowburn
- No cheating, actual OPD
- No V (both months for them, and H's not a hoe 🥳)
- Separation (two days)
- HFN (in a relationship)
- Bonus epilogue (1 yr later, engaged)
Notes:
- There's no OPD, but Madi's ex appeared for them to have "closure", the audacity, and to tell her that he's engaged to another local. He has been emotionally cheating on her for the last 10 months, but the jerk keeps saying he's not a cheater because he never slept with the OW and has only been texting her. He didn't want to commit to Madi for the last five years, but it only took him less than a year to propose to his now fiancee. 🙄 Stupid, what a freaking twat.
- Cole's ex-wife appeared as well, but she's already married to his ex-best friend. They have a co-parenting setup; that's why she goes to his house to drop off their teenagers. And although she doesn't have any rights, she still gave her unsolicited comments about how Madi is too young for Cole. Seriously, idk, where their exes got their audacity. 30 isn't young anymore, so I don't understand why Cole and his ex-wife were so obsessed with the 8 year age gap.
- Cole has only ever been with his ex-wife; and as he said, "a player he is not". 🫶 It made me happy that the MMC isn't a hoe, because they're so freaking rare. 💖
- This is me being greedy, but Madi's dream was to get married and have kids. And as a reader, I really wanted to see her have that. It's all she's ever wanted since she was a kid. So in my mind, I expected the epilogue or bonus epilogue to be years later, with her finally having her dreams come true and Cole making it happen. But that didn't happen at all. 🤷♀️
Madi (30) had just ended her five-year relationship and decided to stay in her grandma's small town in the meantime. When she got into town, her car broke down, and her grandma called Cole (38), the firefighter chief, to assist her. These two have known each other for years because she used to spend her vacation in this place, and the visits only lessen since she started dating her ex.
Anyway, present time, when they saw each other, instant attraction kicked in, and they were hooked right from the very start. The tension, chemistry, and mutual pining are sooo obvious, and in every interaction, they just fall even harder for each other. 🤭🥰 However, they did try their best to fight it off because they both just got out of relationships.
See, Cole is divorced, but it's only been a rough few months. Unfortunately, he caught his ex-wife and his ex-best friend on their bed, so he decided to end their marriage. Go him! And like I said in the beginning, Madi just got out of her relationship after realizing that her ex was only stringing her along and didn't have any plans to commit to her. 🥺
Despite coming from long-term relationships, these two felt more relieved than sad that it had ended for them. Even though they had moved on from their exes, the harm that was done to them still remains. ☹️
This is why this falls into the slow burn pace because, while they're very much attracted to one another, they were both hesitant to start something as they're unsure whether they're ready or not or if they're finally over their failed relationships. I didn't mind the pace because these two never fail to make me giddy with every interaction. It's so obvious how they both got it so bad. 🤭 They're just so adorable and sweet together. And I love how they're so affectionate and never shy away from showing it. 🥹
I did love this for the most part, but then that problem thrown at the last 20% kind of ruined the mood I was having. Cole has been worried since the beginning about their age gap, his divorce status, his teenagers (15&13), and his ex-wife. He felt he wasn't ready for a more serious relationship, and the insecurities brought about by his ex's infidelity run deeply in him. He does want Madi, and he said he never felt the emotions he's having for anyone else.
Yet, despite this, he still doesn't know what he actually wants; all he knew was that he wants her in his life, but hopefully with no strings atm. He had it in his mind that if she stayed with him, he'd only hold her back and stop her from achieving her full potential and goals in life. Idk, what brought this on, but I'm assuming his ex did really a number on him. He wants them to be casual and exclusive in the meantime and just see where it goes.
So he offered his idiotic plan that they would be together whenever she's in town. He basically asked her to be a booty call whenever she visits. This sounds stupid to the nth degree, but the reason he only offered this was because he's afraid to face his fears and the possibility of getting hurt if he ever puts his heart on the line. And while I do understand his hang-ups, it still doesn't mean I have to like his dumbass plan. 🤷♀️🤦♀️
But Madi's not having any of it. She made a vow not to let anyone string her along again and not to settle for crumbs of affection. She knows her worth and was not willing to be casual. She's not asking for a marriage proposal, just something steady with him. She didn't want to be a FB because she deserved more than that. She told him what she wanted, laid it all in front of him, and put up her boundaries. Totally proud of her at that moment! 👏
They were separated, I think, for two days. By then, Cole and Madi realized what they really wanted and decided to be honest with each other about how they really felt. They finally admitted that they're in love with one another and became on the same page. He apologized for his idiotic idea, and Madi accepted it. She also told him that she's willing to go slowly and at his pace. 🫶
Anyway, I really had fun with the story. 🤭 It made me giggle while I was kicking my feet, and I flipped through the pages so quickly. I enjoyed the writing style and everything in this book. I loved the MCs, Madi's family (grandma, sisters, and mother), Cole's family (kids and siblings), other side characters, and her cats. It's really sweet that almost everyone in this small town is kind-hearted and seemingly genuinely nice. It's just adorable and very much a light read. 💖
I'm not sure if the side characters will have their own books, but I'm really interested in reading them, especially Kenzie and Drew 🤭
Overall, it was a solid read, and now I'm looking forward to the rest of the books in this series. 😍
Book info:
- Small town romance
- Age gap (8)
- Single dad
- Cat mom
- Instant attraction
- Meddling family members 😂
- Slowburn
- No cheating, actual OPD
- No V (both months for them, and H's not a hoe 🥳)
- Separation (two days)
- HFN (in a relationship)
- Bonus epilogue (1 yr later, engaged)
Notes:
- There's no OPD, but Madi's ex appeared for them to have "closure", the audacity, and to tell her that he's engaged to another local. He has been emotionally cheating on her for the last 10 months, but the jerk keeps saying he's not a cheater because he never slept with the OW and has only been texting her. He didn't want to commit to Madi for the last five years, but it only took him less than a year to propose to his now fiancee. 🙄 Stupid, what a freaking twat.
- Cole's ex-wife appeared as well, but she's already married to his ex-best friend. They have a co-parenting setup; that's why she goes to his house to drop off their teenagers. And although she doesn't have any rights, she still gave her unsolicited comments about how Madi is too young for Cole. Seriously, idk, where their exes got their audacity. 30 isn't young anymore, so I don't understand why Cole and his ex-wife were so obsessed with the 8 year age gap.
- Cole has only ever been with his ex-wife; and as he said, "a player he is not". 🫶 It made me happy that the MMC isn't a hoe, because they're so freaking rare. 💖
- This is me being greedy, but Madi's dream was to get married and have kids. And as a reader, I really wanted to see her have that. It's all she's ever wanted since she was a kid. So in my mind, I expected the epilogue or bonus epilogue to be years later, with her finally having her dreams come true and Cole making it happen. But that didn't happen at all. 🤷♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Nora Everly, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC. The following is my honest review.
So here’s the thing: Fall at Once was just not it for me. And that’s a bummer, because I love fall books cozy vibes, autumn atmospheres I’m into it. But this one? It felt less like curling up with a blanket and more like wrestling with one that won’t stop static clinging to you.
The writing style was my biggest hurdle. The dialogue read way too juvenile for characters in their 30s, and instead of letting the romance breathe through those deliciously small, human moments, the narrative leaned hard on telling rather than showing. That shortcutting flattened the emotional beats and made the central relationship feel more like a construct than a connection.
The insta-attraction between the leads didn’t feel earned, and the obstacles keeping them apart were more contrived than compelling. And the spice scenes…bestie, I was peeking through my fingers like it was a horror movie. Not the intended effect.
At the end of the day, the prose landed more cheesy than charming, which undercut both the characters and the romance. I can see this working for readers who want a lighter, campier rom com tone, but if you’re looking for layered character work and tension that builds organically? This one’s probably going to feel as flat for you as it did for me. One star, and I’m standing by it.
So here’s the thing: Fall at Once was just not it for me. And that’s a bummer, because I love fall books cozy vibes, autumn atmospheres I’m into it. But this one? It felt less like curling up with a blanket and more like wrestling with one that won’t stop static clinging to you.
The writing style was my biggest hurdle. The dialogue read way too juvenile for characters in their 30s, and instead of letting the romance breathe through those deliciously small, human moments, the narrative leaned hard on telling rather than showing. That shortcutting flattened the emotional beats and made the central relationship feel more like a construct than a connection.
The insta-attraction between the leads didn’t feel earned, and the obstacles keeping them apart were more contrived than compelling. And the spice scenes…bestie, I was peeking through my fingers like it was a horror movie. Not the intended effect.
At the end of the day, the prose landed more cheesy than charming, which undercut both the characters and the romance. I can see this working for readers who want a lighter, campier rom com tone, but if you’re looking for layered character work and tension that builds organically? This one’s probably going to feel as flat for you as it did for me. One star, and I’m standing by it.
December 26, 2025
Just okay but
missing that sprinkle sprinkle
✨ whoever said this if full of spice was straight up lying!
✨🍂🧡🍂✨🍂🧡🍂✨
Maddie temporarily moves to her grandma’s small town to escape the commitment-phobic ex-boyfriend. Gma’s neighbour is a conveniently handsome & divorced fire chief 👨🏻🚒 Cole is just getting over his own heartbreak and is definitely too old for her *not really but okay* He keeps rescuing her out of trouble & she brings more levity to his stale life 🍂✨
I really enjoyed the single dad trope in this one since it’s not often a story includes teenage kids. The moments between Maddie and the kids were well done especially the moments of connection over divorced parents.
Favorite moment: sexy firefighter calendar photoshoot 📸
Admittedly, I have some problems reading slow burn contemporary romance. Unless the plot is interesting or high stakes I lose interest in the relationship problems that are not truly problems. I especially lost respect for Cole during the 3rd act break up because how could he let his little insecurities hurt Maddie that much. Not enough grovelling!
Smut was okay but nothing to write home about lol
⭐️ 3.5
contemporary romance
single dad
cat lady fmc
age gap
drama with ex-relationships
cozy small town
HEA
✨🍂🧡🍂✨🍂🧡🍂✨
Maddie temporarily moves to her grandma’s small town to escape the commitment-phobic ex-boyfriend. Gma’s neighbour is a conveniently handsome & divorced fire chief 👨🏻🚒 Cole is just getting over his own heartbreak and is definitely too old for her *not really but okay* He keeps rescuing her out of trouble & she brings more levity to his stale life 🍂✨
I really enjoyed the single dad trope in this one since it’s not often a story includes teenage kids. The moments between Maddie and the kids were well done especially the moments of connection over divorced parents.
Favorite moment: sexy firefighter calendar photoshoot 📸
Admittedly, I have some problems reading slow burn contemporary romance. Unless the plot is interesting or high stakes I lose interest in the relationship problems that are not truly problems. I especially lost respect for Cole during the 3rd act break up because how could he let his little insecurities hurt Maddie that much. Not enough grovelling!
Smut was okay but nothing to write home about lol
⭐️ 3.5
contemporary romance
single dad
cat lady fmc
age gap
drama with ex-relationships
cozy small town
HEA
October 14, 2025
Newly single firefighter and single dad Cole is reunited with his neighbors granddaughter Madi. Madi is fresh off of a long term relationship and coming back to Cozy Creek to help her grandmother run her bakery.
For a 250 page book, this really managed to not only have a million plot points and also an insane amount of dialogue. Got some real chatterboxes over here. Hallmark lovers will love this cutesy little fall themed romance. It’s quick, it’s fun, it’s fine. You’ve probably read this book before and will probably like this one too.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the advanced copy!
For a 250 page book, this really managed to not only have a million plot points and also an insane amount of dialogue. Got some real chatterboxes over here. Hallmark lovers will love this cutesy little fall themed romance. It’s quick, it’s fun, it’s fine. You’ve probably read this book before and will probably like this one too.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the advanced copy!
October 27, 2025
Absolutely adorable for fall!
- Small town romance
- age gap / he’s got 2 kids & a nasty ex
- firefighter
- fall festival / hallmark vibes
- 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️/5
***the one thing about this book is that I’ve seen some people market it as a tall girl romance and the heroine is 5’6” or 7”… I don’t consider that tall. It’s just average really? Idk I’m 5’9” and that’s usually the cut off fo tall pants 😂😂
- Small town romance
- age gap / he’s got 2 kids & a nasty ex
- firefighter
- fall festival / hallmark vibes
- 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️/5
***the one thing about this book is that I’ve seen some people market it as a tall girl romance and the heroine is 5’6” or 7”… I don’t consider that tall. It’s just average really? Idk I’m 5’9” and that’s usually the cut off fo tall pants 😂😂
October 26, 2025
🔥🚒❤️🥰
🧑🚒 Bookish Thoughts
This was a sweet and cheesy romcom that felt like it was straight out of a Hallmark movie. I was smiling through most of it because it was just so sweet and so cozy. My favorite part of the entire book was Gigi. She was hilarious and absolutely stole every scene she was in 🤣
This is the perfect fall read! I’ll definitely be continuing the series.
🔥 What to Expect
• Firefighter romance
• Single dad MMC
• Sunshine FMC
• Fake dating
• Small town
_ _ _
⭐ Final Score: 3.75 stars
📅 Pub Date: October 28, 2025
📝 Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
🧑🚒 Bookish Thoughts
This was a sweet and cheesy romcom that felt like it was straight out of a Hallmark movie. I was smiling through most of it because it was just so sweet and so cozy. My favorite part of the entire book was Gigi. She was hilarious and absolutely stole every scene she was in 🤣
This is the perfect fall read! I’ll definitely be continuing the series.
🔥 What to Expect
• Firefighter romance
• Single dad MMC
• Sunshine FMC
• Fake dating
• Small town
_ _ _
⭐ Final Score: 3.75 stars
📅 Pub Date: October 28, 2025
📝 Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
December 7, 2025
Cringe. 2nd hand embarrassment. Adult content written in a very juvenile way. Zero depth. Insta love. And just absolutely a waste of my time.
The cover deceived me😭
The cover deceived me😭
September 29, 2025
✨🍂Fall at Once - four stars🍂✨
“I feel like I was in love with someone that didn’t exist and that my life for the last five years was a lie. How do you get over something like that?”
Finally a book I like outta of this series (I’ve only read 3 but still…). I think some fall books purely exist for fall “vibes” and the plot gets thrown out the window because who wants to read a book with plot anyways!! So a little side note for some authors, I DO! This one has plot and great characters, along with character development.
”There is no place I’d rather be than here with you.”
Tropes
🧡firefighter
🍂small town
🧡single dad
🍂healing each others hearts
🧡grumpy x sunshine
”She fits me to perfection. Like she was made to be with me.”
Madi is fresh out of a five-year long relationship, (which ended in him cheating). In hopes to get her life back on track and to help her grandmother run her bakery she goes to Cozy Creek. As she’s driving her mother’s ancient pink bug, it breaks down. Thankfully, she’s able to pull over and wait for assistance, said assistant is in the form of the chief of Cozy Creek. Also known has her grandmother’s neighborhood and her childhood crush, Cole. But he doesn’t stop rescuing her from there…a tree climbing disaster and ex at the bar. So when she’s sees an opportunity to help him, she can’t say no. But can they contain the sparks flying that can potentially turn into a wildfire?
”Gigi was always what I wanted to be when I grew up.“
“I feel like I was in love with someone that didn’t exist and that my life for the last five years was a lie. How do you get over something like that?”
Finally a book I like outta of this series (I’ve only read 3 but still…). I think some fall books purely exist for fall “vibes” and the plot gets thrown out the window because who wants to read a book with plot anyways!! So a little side note for some authors, I DO! This one has plot and great characters, along with character development.
”There is no place I’d rather be than here with you.”
Tropes
🧡firefighter
🍂small town
🧡single dad
🍂healing each others hearts
🧡grumpy x sunshine
”She fits me to perfection. Like she was made to be with me.”
Madi is fresh out of a five-year long relationship, (which ended in him cheating). In hopes to get her life back on track and to help her grandmother run her bakery she goes to Cozy Creek. As she’s driving her mother’s ancient pink bug, it breaks down. Thankfully, she’s able to pull over and wait for assistance, said assistant is in the form of the chief of Cozy Creek. Also known has her grandmother’s neighborhood and her childhood crush, Cole. But he doesn’t stop rescuing her from there…a tree climbing disaster and ex at the bar. So when she’s sees an opportunity to help him, she can’t say no. But can they contain the sparks flying that can potentially turn into a wildfire?
”Gigi was always what I wanted to be when I grew up.“
July 15, 2026
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
for a book titled fall at once, this was not necessarily as autumnal as i would have hoped; overall, this was just ok, but a good start to my fall vibes as once fourth of july is over, it's basically fall in my mind!
for a book titled fall at once, this was not necessarily as autumnal as i would have hoped; overall, this was just ok, but a good start to my fall vibes as once fourth of july is over, it's basically fall in my mind!
September 18, 2025
Summary
When a newly single woman moves back to her hometown, she doesn’t plan on falling for the charming firefighter next door. But between small-town fall festivals, late-night rescues, and his adorable daughter, she starts to wonder if love is worth the risk—especially when it shows up all at once.
﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒
Tropes & Themes
Small Town Romance
Age Gap Romance
FireFighter
Single Dad Romance
﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒
My Thoughts
I loved the premise of this book. Small town, single dad, who is also a firefighter??? Yes please. I wasn’t completely obsessed with the dialogue between the characters. I felt like the conversations weren’t realistic? Just word vomiting all over the place But that being said I do love the ambiance of the book, which is what kept me reading.
﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒
🤍 I want to give a huuugeee thank you Netgalley, Nora Everly, Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. 🤍
﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒
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When a newly single woman moves back to her hometown, she doesn’t plan on falling for the charming firefighter next door. But between small-town fall festivals, late-night rescues, and his adorable daughter, she starts to wonder if love is worth the risk—especially when it shows up all at once.
﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒
Tropes & Themes
Small Town Romance
Age Gap Romance
FireFighter
Single Dad Romance
﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒
My Thoughts
I loved the premise of this book. Small town, single dad, who is also a firefighter??? Yes please. I wasn’t completely obsessed with the dialogue between the characters. I felt like the conversations weren’t realistic? Just word vomiting all over the place But that being said I do love the ambiance of the book, which is what kept me reading.
﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒
🤍 I want to give a huuugeee thank you Netgalley, Nora Everly, Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. 🤍
﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒
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October 2, 2025
The cringe was too much.
November 7, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for providing an ARC of Fall At Once by Nora Everly in exchange for honest feedback.
What a cute and cozy fall read! This story pertly captures the feeling of falling in love when you least expect it. The characters felt a bit more real and relatable than in the first book of the series. They were genuine and mature with real-life struggles that made their connection feel earned rather than rushed and over the top. The writing style was emotional and raw with just the right amount of spice.
I just adore the small town holiday romance vibe - it always gives the story an extra layer of charm. If you like emotional slow burns with heart and depth, this is an excellent pick! I’m excited to continue this series.
What a cute and cozy fall read! This story pertly captures the feeling of falling in love when you least expect it. The characters felt a bit more real and relatable than in the first book of the series. They were genuine and mature with real-life struggles that made their connection feel earned rather than rushed and over the top. The writing style was emotional and raw with just the right amount of spice.
I just adore the small town holiday romance vibe - it always gives the story an extra layer of charm. If you like emotional slow burns with heart and depth, this is an excellent pick! I’m excited to continue this series.
October 25, 2025
Boy meets girl except boy and girl have in fact met- many years ago and in a twist of fate (or a kindly Grandmother and her orthopaedic accident) are brought together again. Maddie freshly single and in need of a life change is presented with the opportunity to help her Grandma Gigi in her bakery while Gigi’s ankle injury heals. Maddie jumps at the chance to change up her scenery and gain some much needed distance and perspective. Did she know this perspective would involve a handsome newly divorced firefighter chief dad? Heck no but here he is and is as sweet as a pastry from Gigi’s Cozy Creek Confectionary. Beyond their obvious differences (the age gap that both he and others question plus their respective previous-current personal lives and their responsibilities) they’re gaga over each other. Will these sweet feelings be enough to bring them both the happily ever after they so desperately want or will it be what drives them apart? This is a cute fall read with references to Gilmore Girls which I loved and Cozy Creek could definitely give Stars Hallow a run for its money in the charm, quirky and warm towns people and small town vibes department. Both Maddie and Cole have had it rough but have a chance to have it all if they just have faith in each other but mostly in themselves. Best Grandma ever goes to Gigi- we could all be so fortunate to have someone like her in our lives guiding us and catching us when we fall.🍁
October 3, 2025
4 ⭐️
⋆˙⟡ tropes ⟡˙⋆
☕️ small town
🌞 grumpy x sunshine
🍂 single dad
🚒 firefighter x party planner
🥐 bakery setting
🐈⬛ age gap
👵🏻 meddling grandma
⋆˙⟡ thoughts ⟡˙⋆
this was cute!!! i had a great time with this one!!! the tropes immediately drew me in and the story itself was fun. was it cheesy? yes but in the best way. it’s a short and sweet read that’s perfect for the fall season. i love cole and madi as individuals and together as a couple. can we also give a moment to gigi, madi’s meddling grandma. i love her and how she wants the best for madi. she was great with his kids as well which made my heart happy. it’s a comfort read for sure.
⋆˙⟡ synopsis ⟡˙⋆
madi went to cozy creek for two reasons, a recent breakup and to help her grandma run her bakery. her grandma’s firefighter neighbor keeps rescuing her — from the side of the road from a tree to a steamy kiss in the bar because of her ex. as a party planner, she steps up to work with him on preparations for cozy creek fire brigade’s fall fundraiser. sparks soon fly but both have been hurt from love.
⋆˙⟡ tropes ⟡˙⋆
☕️ small town
🌞 grumpy x sunshine
🍂 single dad
🚒 firefighter x party planner
🥐 bakery setting
🐈⬛ age gap
👵🏻 meddling grandma
⋆˙⟡ thoughts ⟡˙⋆
this was cute!!! i had a great time with this one!!! the tropes immediately drew me in and the story itself was fun. was it cheesy? yes but in the best way. it’s a short and sweet read that’s perfect for the fall season. i love cole and madi as individuals and together as a couple. can we also give a moment to gigi, madi’s meddling grandma. i love her and how she wants the best for madi. she was great with his kids as well which made my heart happy. it’s a comfort read for sure.
⋆˙⟡ synopsis ⟡˙⋆
madi went to cozy creek for two reasons, a recent breakup and to help her grandma run her bakery. her grandma’s firefighter neighbor keeps rescuing her — from the side of the road from a tree to a steamy kiss in the bar because of her ex. as a party planner, she steps up to work with him on preparations for cozy creek fire brigade’s fall fundraiser. sparks soon fly but both have been hurt from love.
Read
September 25, 2025DNF @ 30 pages in.... I have no words.
"The cozy creek fire brigade" might be the worst most cheesy thing I've ever read... the writing in this was so basic and almost childish? Idkkk. I don't dnf quick often but I could tell from the first 15 pages the writing was toooo immature for me.
"The cozy creek fire brigade" might be the worst most cheesy thing I've ever read... the writing in this was so basic and almost childish? Idkkk. I don't dnf quick often but I could tell from the first 15 pages the writing was toooo immature for me.
November 10, 2025
For heavens sake. How many times am I going to buy a book simply because of the beautiful fall cover? Fell for it again.
September 17, 2026
⭐️⭐️.5
Unfortunately this one didn’t work for me. I almost DNF’d around the halfway point, but since it was a TBR jar pick I decided to keep going and see if my feelings changed.
They really didn’t😅 Nothing was necessarily terrible, but the whole book just felt kind of meh to me and I never really connected with the story or characters.
It wasn’t bad, just not one that worked for me personally.
Unfortunately this one didn’t work for me. I almost DNF’d around the halfway point, but since it was a TBR jar pick I decided to keep going and see if my feelings changed.
They really didn’t😅 Nothing was necessarily terrible, but the whole book just felt kind of meh to me and I never really connected with the story or characters.
It wasn’t bad, just not one that worked for me personally.
September 18, 2025
I received a free copy of, Fall at Once, by Nora Everly, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book three in the, Cozy Creek collection. Madi has come to town to help her grandmother. Madi is so immature, I could not with her at all.
September 18, 2025
Fall At Once had the fall vibes, but sadly the character development wasn't there.
Cole is a single dad, a firefighter, and an all-around good guy. He enjoys taking care of others. I felt like his relationship with Madi was rushed, almost like insta-love. I wish we could have seen their relationship develop more.
I did enjoy how Cole's kids were like wingmen. However, I feel like a lot of the dialogue was unrealistic and cheesy.
Fall At Once was a quick read and definitely had some cute moments, but I probably wouldn't read it again.
Cole is a single dad, a firefighter, and an all-around good guy. He enjoys taking care of others. I felt like his relationship with Madi was rushed, almost like insta-love. I wish we could have seen their relationship develop more.
I did enjoy how Cole's kids were like wingmen. However, I feel like a lot of the dialogue was unrealistic and cheesy.
Fall At Once was a quick read and definitely had some cute moments, but I probably wouldn't read it again.
November 28, 2025
I really enjoyed this. I was a bit nervous that I wouldn't enjoy it as much as the first book because it was written by a different author. However, I'm glad they maintained all the cozy vibes!!
October 7, 2024
Childish. In their 30s but they talk and act like they’re teenagers. She compared him to a tater tot and he said it was the nicest compliment that he’s ever received. Zero stars.
November 4, 2025
This is getting one star only because of the beautiful sprayed edges, otherwise it would be 0
October 27, 2025
Playful and cozy, Fall at Once is a sweet, small town love story, with a smidge of heat. Wouldn’t necessarily label as instalove…more insta attraction then within 3 months feelings of love. There was some ex drama on both ends, though Cole comes with major baby mama drama too. Madison is a sweetheart who is going through a breakup. We meet her ex, briefly thankfully, he was a jerk. Cole and Madi become friends, yet feelings start building as they spend more time together. The small town stuff is cute, just wish we met more quirky townies, but didn’t make me want to move there asap any less.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC, my thoughts are mine only in this review
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC, my thoughts are mine only in this review
September 7, 2026
3.5⭐️
If you crave a book with cozy, Gilmore Girls, autumnal vibes, small town romance with spice, cinnamon scented with a bit of sugar, this one might be it for you.🍂🥮☕️ i loved the vibes, the easiness of the story and the way it made everything feel like a Hallmark movie🧡
If you crave a book with cozy, Gilmore Girls, autumnal vibes, small town romance with spice, cinnamon scented with a bit of sugar, this one might be it for you.🍂🥮☕️ i loved the vibes, the easiness of the story and the way it made everything feel like a Hallmark movie🧡
October 19, 2025
i'm gonna punch a wall 🤺🤺🤺
November 18, 2024
1.40⭐️
I really wish I DNF’d this book. The dialogue was cringeworthy and so unrealistic. I could t believe the characters were in their 30’s with how childish they were. Seriously, the kids in this book acted more mature than the adults did.
Even though this book is less than 300 pages (the Kindle version at least) it took me forever to get through because I had to take breaks after every other chapter.
I want an apology for wasting my time with this book. Would not recommend at all.
I really wish I DNF’d this book. The dialogue was cringeworthy and so unrealistic. I could t believe the characters were in their 30’s with how childish they were. Seriously, the kids in this book acted more mature than the adults did.
Even though this book is less than 300 pages (the Kindle version at least) it took me forever to get through because I had to take breaks after every other chapter.
I want an apology for wasting my time with this book. Would not recommend at all.
September 6, 2025
I guess if you like insta love, you might like this for a cozy fall read? I, however, hate insta love. And that was this. The whole book they wouldn't shut up about how amazing and beautiful the other person is. They started banging practically immediately. It was all just cringe to me.
This was only about 250 pages, but it felt longer than 600 page books I've read.
This was only about 250 pages, but it felt longer than 600 page books I've read.
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