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Garnet Valley #1
Who the Heart Chooses
Not yet published
Expected 23 Oct 26He’s my former best friend and my husband of convenience, but he’s not the man that got me pregnant.
One year into my nursing program, two little pink lines alter my reality.
Add on that the baby’s father wants nothing to do with us and I no longer have healthcare coverage, and well?
I start to panic.
Enter Easton Buckley—Mr. Dependable, lineman with great health benefits, and a stubborn streak that pays off when he convinces me to marry him so my baby and I can be taken care of.
The problem is, Easton and I haven’t been on good terms for years, and neither of us has attempted to fix it.
Yet now I’m living with him, forced to see him shirtless, and wondering why hearing him call me his wife is making my hormones even more wild.
Then I figure out his secret.
And there’s no stopping the flood of emotions and unresolved feelings that come up.
I’m scared to fall for Easton. I don’t want him to be a mistake like every other love interest in my life.
But what if the reality is, you can’t help who your heart chooses to love? Even if they could be the one to break it once and for all?
One year into my nursing program, two little pink lines alter my reality.
Add on that the baby’s father wants nothing to do with us and I no longer have healthcare coverage, and well?
I start to panic.
Enter Easton Buckley—Mr. Dependable, lineman with great health benefits, and a stubborn streak that pays off when he convinces me to marry him so my baby and I can be taken care of.
The problem is, Easton and I haven’t been on good terms for years, and neither of us has attempted to fix it.
Yet now I’m living with him, forced to see him shirtless, and wondering why hearing him call me his wife is making my hormones even more wild.
Then I figure out his secret.
And there’s no stopping the flood of emotions and unresolved feelings that come up.
I’m scared to fall for Easton. I don’t want him to be a mistake like every other love interest in my life.
But what if the reality is, you can’t help who your heart chooses to love? Even if they could be the one to break it once and for all?
Audible Audio
Expected publication October 23, 2026
About the author
Harlow James
45 books1,711 followersHarlow James is a wife and mom who fell in love with romance novels, so she decided to write her own.
NOW, she is a full time author!
Her books are the perfect blend of heartwarming, addictive, and steamy romance. If you love stories with strong females, found family and friend groups, and plenty of emotion and steam with a guaranteed Happily Ever After, then Harlow is your new best friend.
When she's not writing, she can be found travelling, reading every romance novel she can find time for, laughing with her husband and kids, watching re-runs of FRIENDS, and spending time cooking for her friends and family while drinking champagne or a blended margarita.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarlowJamesA...
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Newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/b2x1q8
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Harlow-James/e...
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/harlo...
Website: https://harlowjamesauthor.com/
NOW, she is a full time author!
Her books are the perfect blend of heartwarming, addictive, and steamy romance. If you love stories with strong females, found family and friend groups, and plenty of emotion and steam with a guaranteed Happily Ever After, then Harlow is your new best friend.
When she's not writing, she can be found travelling, reading every romance novel she can find time for, laughing with her husband and kids, watching re-runs of FRIENDS, and spending time cooking for her friends and family while drinking champagne or a blended margarita.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarlowJamesA...
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/49499...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harlowjames...
Newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/b2x1q8
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Harlow-James/e...
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/harlo...
Website: https://harlowjamesauthor.com/
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Review of advance copy received from Author
TRULY, if Harlow James writes it, I’m reading it! Solid start to a new series. I can’t wait for more! - Full review coming soon
October 15, 2026
Thank you to The Smuthood Inc for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
He’s my former best friend and my husband of convenience, but he’s not the man that got me pregnant. One year into my nursing program, two little pink lines alter my reality. Add on that the baby’s father wants nothing to do with us and I no longer have healthcare coverage, and well? I start to panic. Enter Easton Buckley—Mr. Dependable, lineman with great health benefits, and a stubborn streak that pays off when he convinces me to marry him so my baby and I can be taken care of. The problem is, Easton and I haven’t been on good terms for years, and neither of us has attempted to fix it. Yet now I’m living with him, forced to see him shirtless, and wondering why hearing him call me his wife is making my hormones even more wild. Then I figure out his secret. And there’s no stopping the flood of emotions and unresolved feelings that come up. I’m scared to fall for Easton. I don’t want him to be a mistake like every other love interest in my life. But what if the reality is, you can’t help who your heart chooses to love? Even if they could be the one to break it once and for all?
Lennon has always felt adrift in the world and I really appreciated that while she has her life mostly together, growing up hasn’t changed that feeling. Just because you’re an adult, doesn’t mean you know what you’re doing. I think she handles everything with such grace. She takes things in her stride and goes along with them, doing her best to continue on how she desires. There were a few moments where I wanted to shake some sense into her but she’s clearly someone who has strong emotions. They can be massively overwhelming and generally, she handles them well. There were just a few occasions where they swarm her and she doesn’t think rationally. But that, perhaps, is why I enjoyed her character. She isn’t perfect by any means which only makes her more real.
Easton is an absolute sweetheart and anyone who has someone like him by their side is incredibly lucky. In fact, he rather reminded me of my own boyfriend. He feels so deeply and grows to be so protective of his best friend and her baby. I couldn’t help but swoon. The way he is so attentive and determined to help in any way he can - reading baby books, learning whatever he can get his hands on - only solidifies what a wonderful guy he is. Do I wish we could have gotten to know him and his desires a little more? Yes. However, what we do see still felt like enough.
I love the marriage of convenience trope. There is always more that can be done with it which means I can feel each story is unique and get excited to read it. The plot is fun, offering peaks and troughs that kept me engaged from start to finish. I loved how deeply emotional everything was - facing both events of the past and the uncertainty of the future. James did such a stellar job in balancing the harder moments with those that offered more levity. Time just flew by reading this. As with small town vibes, we have quite a large cast but I liked that the majority of them were friends and family. It meant that they played a role beyond just breezing in and out, instead making an impact on the characters and contributing to the unfolding plot. I would have liked to explore some relationships a little more but hopefully we see more of those in future instalments of the series! Like with any marriage of convenience stories, the romance is great. Filled with yearning and fighting feelings, I was hooked and desperate to see what was going to happen. Would they, won’t they?! Add in the spice and how deliciously hot and tender it was. Wow. The ending felt perfect. I had hoped for a bit more detail considering all we went through in the book, but James did such a brilliant job bringing their story to a close.
Overall, Who the Heart Chooses is a brilliant marriage of convenience romance you do NOT want to miss.
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Thank you again to The Smuthood Inc for an advanced copy of this book.
He’s my former best friend and my husband of convenience, but he’s not the man that got me pregnant. One year into my nursing program, two little pink lines alter my reality. Add on that the baby’s father wants nothing to do with us and I no longer have healthcare coverage, and well? I start to panic. Enter Easton Buckley—Mr. Dependable, lineman with great health benefits, and a stubborn streak that pays off when he convinces me to marry him so my baby and I can be taken care of. The problem is, Easton and I haven’t been on good terms for years, and neither of us has attempted to fix it. Yet now I’m living with him, forced to see him shirtless, and wondering why hearing him call me his wife is making my hormones even more wild. Then I figure out his secret. And there’s no stopping the flood of emotions and unresolved feelings that come up. I’m scared to fall for Easton. I don’t want him to be a mistake like every other love interest in my life. But what if the reality is, you can’t help who your heart chooses to love? Even if they could be the one to break it once and for all?
Lennon has always felt adrift in the world and I really appreciated that while she has her life mostly together, growing up hasn’t changed that feeling. Just because you’re an adult, doesn’t mean you know what you’re doing. I think she handles everything with such grace. She takes things in her stride and goes along with them, doing her best to continue on how she desires. There were a few moments where I wanted to shake some sense into her but she’s clearly someone who has strong emotions. They can be massively overwhelming and generally, she handles them well. There were just a few occasions where they swarm her and she doesn’t think rationally. But that, perhaps, is why I enjoyed her character. She isn’t perfect by any means which only makes her more real.
Easton is an absolute sweetheart and anyone who has someone like him by their side is incredibly lucky. In fact, he rather reminded me of my own boyfriend. He feels so deeply and grows to be so protective of his best friend and her baby. I couldn’t help but swoon. The way he is so attentive and determined to help in any way he can - reading baby books, learning whatever he can get his hands on - only solidifies what a wonderful guy he is. Do I wish we could have gotten to know him and his desires a little more? Yes. However, what we do see still felt like enough.
I love the marriage of convenience trope. There is always more that can be done with it which means I can feel each story is unique and get excited to read it. The plot is fun, offering peaks and troughs that kept me engaged from start to finish. I loved how deeply emotional everything was - facing both events of the past and the uncertainty of the future. James did such a stellar job in balancing the harder moments with those that offered more levity. Time just flew by reading this. As with small town vibes, we have quite a large cast but I liked that the majority of them were friends and family. It meant that they played a role beyond just breezing in and out, instead making an impact on the characters and contributing to the unfolding plot. I would have liked to explore some relationships a little more but hopefully we see more of those in future instalments of the series! Like with any marriage of convenience stories, the romance is great. Filled with yearning and fighting feelings, I was hooked and desperate to see what was going to happen. Would they, won’t they?! Add in the spice and how deliciously hot and tender it was. Wow. The ending felt perfect. I had hoped for a bit more detail considering all we went through in the book, but James did such a brilliant job bringing their story to a close.
Overall, Who the Heart Chooses is a brilliant marriage of convenience romance you do NOT want to miss.
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Thank you again to The Smuthood Inc for an advanced copy of this book.
October 10, 2026
ALC Review
Book one of the new Harlow James series, Who the Heart Chooses, is a story of two childhood best friends, who plan to strike up a marriage of convenience by way of a delicious slow burn.
Lennon and Easton are a story of friendship on the path to love, tied up with a marriage of convenience. When Lennon learns she is pregnant and worried about her health coverage, and Easton is looking for a way to work closer to his home, they strike a deal. Lennon gets Easton’s insurance, Easton gets to stay put because of his burgeoning family. Easy, right?
Harlow has crafted this story with tenderness and character evolution. I felt invested in Lennon and Easton instantly — the flashbacks and present timelines are so compelling and add depth to both characters, while filling in critical moments of their timelines.
Andi Eloise shines as Lennon — and what I love so deeply about her performance is that the FMC is far from perfect and even more so, has had to learn from misstep after misstep; not in a clumsy way, but in a way a woman navigates her early adulthood with independence and the resolute determination to find her place.
Andi’s voice is a kaleidoscope of emotion as Lennon discovers her life has been forever altered, right at the time she feels her life has finally given her some purpose. As she and Easton reintegrate themselves into each other’s day to day, it is evident by way of Andi’s performance, than Lennon has some blooming, impassioned feelings toward her former best friend.
Also, Andi voices many significantly important secondary female characters. Her voiced for Lennon and Easton’s moms are so good, and Lennon’s sisters are vastly different and Andi’s differentiation showcases her range and durability as an actress worthy of your ears.
Connor Crais is Easton, and I immediately loved that Easton was the one who was left to pick up the pieces after their friendship dissolved. His pining for Lennon as a teenager grows into something fierce and protective as an adult, and Connor does such a great job at showing that leap of maturity and still giving so much emotional depth to those different stages.
Connor’s subtle raspiness is so at home in Easton’s overall demeanor — he is patient, steadfast, and deeply invested in caring for Lennon and her unborn baby. These are the type of roles that suit Connor so well, for me, as an audiobook listener. I could visually picture this hard working, blue collar man propositioning his pregnant friend in the bar. Connor is the right choice for Easton, no question.
This is the first audiobook that features Andi and Connor on duet narration — and their voices are beacons for each other in this Garnet Valley landscape. The tones found in both of their voices is so complimentary and distinct — neither one over or under performing the emotion and spice.
Book one of the new Harlow James series, Who the Heart Chooses, is a story of two childhood best friends, who plan to strike up a marriage of convenience by way of a delicious slow burn.
Lennon and Easton are a story of friendship on the path to love, tied up with a marriage of convenience. When Lennon learns she is pregnant and worried about her health coverage, and Easton is looking for a way to work closer to his home, they strike a deal. Lennon gets Easton’s insurance, Easton gets to stay put because of his burgeoning family. Easy, right?
Harlow has crafted this story with tenderness and character evolution. I felt invested in Lennon and Easton instantly — the flashbacks and present timelines are so compelling and add depth to both characters, while filling in critical moments of their timelines.
Andi Eloise shines as Lennon — and what I love so deeply about her performance is that the FMC is far from perfect and even more so, has had to learn from misstep after misstep; not in a clumsy way, but in a way a woman navigates her early adulthood with independence and the resolute determination to find her place.
Andi’s voice is a kaleidoscope of emotion as Lennon discovers her life has been forever altered, right at the time she feels her life has finally given her some purpose. As she and Easton reintegrate themselves into each other’s day to day, it is evident by way of Andi’s performance, than Lennon has some blooming, impassioned feelings toward her former best friend.
Also, Andi voices many significantly important secondary female characters. Her voiced for Lennon and Easton’s moms are so good, and Lennon’s sisters are vastly different and Andi’s differentiation showcases her range and durability as an actress worthy of your ears.
Connor Crais is Easton, and I immediately loved that Easton was the one who was left to pick up the pieces after their friendship dissolved. His pining for Lennon as a teenager grows into something fierce and protective as an adult, and Connor does such a great job at showing that leap of maturity and still giving so much emotional depth to those different stages.
Connor’s subtle raspiness is so at home in Easton’s overall demeanor — he is patient, steadfast, and deeply invested in caring for Lennon and her unborn baby. These are the type of roles that suit Connor so well, for me, as an audiobook listener. I could visually picture this hard working, blue collar man propositioning his pregnant friend in the bar. Connor is the right choice for Easton, no question.
This is the first audiobook that features Andi and Connor on duet narration — and their voices are beacons for each other in this Garnet Valley landscape. The tones found in both of their voices is so complimentary and distinct — neither one over or under performing the emotion and spice.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Who the Heart Chooses
Author: Harlow James
Series: Garnet Valley, Book 1
Narrators: Connor Crais & Andi Eloise (Duet Narration)
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Spice: 2/5 Chili Peppers
Format: Audiobook | ALC Review
I absolutely loved this book! Harlow James is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors, and this story was such a fantastic start to the Garnet Valley series!
We follow Easton and Lennon, former best friends who unexpectedly find themselves in a marriage of convenience when Lennon becomes pregnant by another man who wants nothing to do with her or the baby. Easton steps up without hesitation, and let me tell you, THIS MAN!
Easton was everything! Protective, dependable, and giving off the sweetest golden retriever energy. The baby isn’t even his, but that doesn’t matter to him. The way he shows up, takes care of Lennon, and puts her needs first absolutely melted my heart. I loved him from beginning to end!
Now, the only reason this wasn’t a full five-star read for me was Lennon. I really struggled with her character in the beginning. Some of her actions frustrated me, and I felt she came across as a little entitled. I honestly had a hard time rooting for her at first. HOWEVER, I have to give Harlow James credit because Lennon’s character growth was beautifully done! Her redemption arc felt genuine, and by the end, I actually really liked her. Watching her mature, work through her feelings, and recognize the things she needed to change was one of the strongest parts of the story.
The pacing was fantastic, and the slow burn was PERFECT! I loved watching Easton and Lennon’s relationship develop and those unresolved feelings finally come to the surface. Nothing felt rushed, and the emotional buildup made everything so much more satisfying.
Another thing I absolutely adored was the found family aspect! We’re introduced to so many characters and families throughout Garnet Valley, and I loved the world Harlow is building. You can already see the potential for future stories, and I cannot wait to continue this series!
Let’s talk narration!
Connor Crais and Andi Eloise were absolutely fantastic! Their performances brought so much emotion and personality to these characters. The duet narration was perfectly executed, and the audiobook made an already wonderful story even better. I highly recommend experiencing this one on audio!
Overall, this was such a solid, heartfelt romance filled with beautiful character growth, a swoon-worthy hero, an amazing found family, and a perfectly paced slow burn.
Harlow James continues to impress me, and I am SO excited to see where this series goes next!
Final Rating: 4.5 Stars | Spice: 2 Chili Peppers
Highly recommend, especially if you love protective golden retriever heroes, marriage of convenience, slow-burn romance, and found family!
Thank you to Harlow James for the complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
Author: Harlow James
Series: Garnet Valley, Book 1
Narrators: Connor Crais & Andi Eloise (Duet Narration)
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Spice: 2/5 Chili Peppers
Format: Audiobook | ALC Review
I absolutely loved this book! Harlow James is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors, and this story was such a fantastic start to the Garnet Valley series!
We follow Easton and Lennon, former best friends who unexpectedly find themselves in a marriage of convenience when Lennon becomes pregnant by another man who wants nothing to do with her or the baby. Easton steps up without hesitation, and let me tell you, THIS MAN!
Easton was everything! Protective, dependable, and giving off the sweetest golden retriever energy. The baby isn’t even his, but that doesn’t matter to him. The way he shows up, takes care of Lennon, and puts her needs first absolutely melted my heart. I loved him from beginning to end!
Now, the only reason this wasn’t a full five-star read for me was Lennon. I really struggled with her character in the beginning. Some of her actions frustrated me, and I felt she came across as a little entitled. I honestly had a hard time rooting for her at first. HOWEVER, I have to give Harlow James credit because Lennon’s character growth was beautifully done! Her redemption arc felt genuine, and by the end, I actually really liked her. Watching her mature, work through her feelings, and recognize the things she needed to change was one of the strongest parts of the story.
The pacing was fantastic, and the slow burn was PERFECT! I loved watching Easton and Lennon’s relationship develop and those unresolved feelings finally come to the surface. Nothing felt rushed, and the emotional buildup made everything so much more satisfying.
Another thing I absolutely adored was the found family aspect! We’re introduced to so many characters and families throughout Garnet Valley, and I loved the world Harlow is building. You can already see the potential for future stories, and I cannot wait to continue this series!
Let’s talk narration!
Connor Crais and Andi Eloise were absolutely fantastic! Their performances brought so much emotion and personality to these characters. The duet narration was perfectly executed, and the audiobook made an already wonderful story even better. I highly recommend experiencing this one on audio!
Overall, this was such a solid, heartfelt romance filled with beautiful character growth, a swoon-worthy hero, an amazing found family, and a perfectly paced slow burn.
Harlow James continues to impress me, and I am SO excited to see where this series goes next!
Final Rating: 4.5 Stars | Spice: 2 Chili Peppers
Highly recommend, especially if you love protective golden retriever heroes, marriage of convenience, slow-burn romance, and found family!
Thank you to Harlow James for the complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Marriage of convenience + childhood best friends + a slow burn that's chef's kiss 🤌📖
Book one of a new series that had me hooked!
Lennon's world flips when she finds out she's pregnant while still pushing through nursing school. The baby's father wants nothing to do with her, and she suddenly has no healthcare coverage. Then her best friend Easton Buckley steps in. 👀
He wants to work closer to home. She needs insurance. So they strike a deal: Lennon gets Easton's coverage, and Easton gets to stay put for his growing family. What could go wrong? 😏
✨ What I loved:
💛 Lennon's growth! Watching her discover what she's capable of when life throws her the unexpected was my favorite part.
🏡 The found family! Garnet Valley is full of characters and families I adored, and you can already see the potential for future stories. I cannot wait to keep going with this series!
🎧 The audio, narrated by Connor Crais and Andi Eloise, was amazing!
things to know
Duet narration, dual pov, accidental pregnancy, “not his baby”, “my wife”, marriage of convenience, friends to lovers, small town romance, he falls first, lineman mmc x nurse fmc, no 3rd act break up, angst
Book one of a new series that had me hooked!
Lennon's world flips when she finds out she's pregnant while still pushing through nursing school. The baby's father wants nothing to do with her, and she suddenly has no healthcare coverage. Then her best friend Easton Buckley steps in. 👀
He wants to work closer to home. She needs insurance. So they strike a deal: Lennon gets Easton's coverage, and Easton gets to stay put for his growing family. What could go wrong? 😏
✨ What I loved:
💛 Lennon's growth! Watching her discover what she's capable of when life throws her the unexpected was my favorite part.
🏡 The found family! Garnet Valley is full of characters and families I adored, and you can already see the potential for future stories. I cannot wait to keep going with this series!
🎧 The audio, narrated by Connor Crais and Andi Eloise, was amazing!
things to know
Duet narration, dual pov, accidental pregnancy, “not his baby”, “my wife”, marriage of convenience, friends to lovers, small town romance, he falls first, lineman mmc x nurse fmc, no 3rd act break up, angst
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Easton has touched me a million times before, but this touch feels different.”
💍 Marriage of Convenience • 🩷 Childhood Best Friends to Lovers • 🥹 He Falls First • 🏡 Small Town • 🤰 Accidental Pregnancy (Not His Baby) • 🫶 It's Always Been You • 🏠 Forced Proximity
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5
📖 Who the Heart Chooses by Harlow James | Garnet Valley Series #1
🎧 Duet Narration: Connor Crais & Andi Eloise
🎧 Listened at 1.3x speed
OMG!!! 🥹😍 I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK!!
Best friends to lovers, he falls first, AND a marriage of convenience?! SIGN ME UP! 💍❤️
Easton Buckley, you absolute sweetheart!! 🥹 A man who steps up for a baby that isn't even his, gives her his last name, and has been holding on to feelings for YEARS?! MY HEART! 😭❤️
This was ridiculously cute, full of heart, sweet moments, chemistry & all the feels! The duet narration made it even better! I was smiling like an idiot through so much of this book. 😂
Such a great start to a new series! I'm already ready for the next one! 😍📚
⚠️ Always check trigger warnings.
🎧 Thank you to The Smuthood & Harlow James for the ALC in exchange for my honest review! 🩷
💍 Marriage of Convenience • 🩷 Childhood Best Friends to Lovers • 🥹 He Falls First • 🏡 Small Town • 🤰 Accidental Pregnancy (Not His Baby) • 🫶 It's Always Been You • 🏠 Forced Proximity
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5
📖 Who the Heart Chooses by Harlow James | Garnet Valley Series #1
🎧 Duet Narration: Connor Crais & Andi Eloise
🎧 Listened at 1.3x speed
OMG!!! 🥹😍 I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK!!
Best friends to lovers, he falls first, AND a marriage of convenience?! SIGN ME UP! 💍❤️
Easton Buckley, you absolute sweetheart!! 🥹 A man who steps up for a baby that isn't even his, gives her his last name, and has been holding on to feelings for YEARS?! MY HEART! 😭❤️
This was ridiculously cute, full of heart, sweet moments, chemistry & all the feels! The duet narration made it even better! I was smiling like an idiot through so much of this book. 😂
Such a great start to a new series! I'm already ready for the next one! 😍📚
⚠️ Always check trigger warnings.
🎧 Thank you to The Smuthood & Harlow James for the ALC in exchange for my honest review! 🩷
Review of advance copy
Another fantastic read from Harlow James-what a way to begin a series. One thing I love about this authors writing, is how easily invest lost in the story and relate to the characters she gives us. There is such a realistic, raw emotional aspect that always has me captivated and coming out the other side with a smile on my face. This one is no different! I truly enjoyed this book, it was such a wonderful journey for both Lennon and Easton.
This was slow burn goodness at its finest! Years of longing, missed opportunities, and best friends who had a falling out! This played out perfectly. They were always meant to be—just on their own timeline.
After finally getting her life to a good point, Lennon is thrown a curveball. I loved her character so much-she is fiercly independent and strong, but self aware enough that she recognizes when she messes up. Her whole journey to finding herself and being the best version she can be was wonderful to watch.
Easton! Oh my, that man is up there with some of my favourite HJ book boyfriends. The way he stepped up and was there for Lennon each step of the way made my heart happy. He was swoony, patient, support and done pretending Lennon didn’t mean the world to him, and he took every opportunity to show her.
The character development and dynamic between these two was so well done. Nothing was rushed or out of place, just organically rebuilding a friendship and changing their relationship in all the best ways.
I like how wonderful the family and friends are-really elevated Lennon and Easton and the life their were building.
I got to do an immersive read- the audiobook was absolutely fantastic, highly recommended. Done in duet by Connor Crais and Andi Elise-these two really brought the experience up another level. They compliment each other so well, and I easily saw this play out with all the emotions and got lost in the story. I didn’t want to stop listening.
I loved meeting the Riley siblings, and Garnet Valley is another small town I would love to visit. I can’t wait to see what HJ has in store for the rest of these books!
5⭐️
**thank you to the author for the copy of this book. This review and its opinions are my own
This was slow burn goodness at its finest! Years of longing, missed opportunities, and best friends who had a falling out! This played out perfectly. They were always meant to be—just on their own timeline.
After finally getting her life to a good point, Lennon is thrown a curveball. I loved her character so much-she is fiercly independent and strong, but self aware enough that she recognizes when she messes up. Her whole journey to finding herself and being the best version she can be was wonderful to watch.
Easton! Oh my, that man is up there with some of my favourite HJ book boyfriends. The way he stepped up and was there for Lennon each step of the way made my heart happy. He was swoony, patient, support and done pretending Lennon didn’t mean the world to him, and he took every opportunity to show her.
The character development and dynamic between these two was so well done. Nothing was rushed or out of place, just organically rebuilding a friendship and changing their relationship in all the best ways.
I like how wonderful the family and friends are-really elevated Lennon and Easton and the life their were building.
I got to do an immersive read- the audiobook was absolutely fantastic, highly recommended. Done in duet by Connor Crais and Andi Elise-these two really brought the experience up another level. They compliment each other so well, and I easily saw this play out with all the emotions and got lost in the story. I didn’t want to stop listening.
I loved meeting the Riley siblings, and Garnet Valley is another small town I would love to visit. I can’t wait to see what HJ has in store for the rest of these books!
5⭐️
**thank you to the author for the copy of this book. This review and its opinions are my own
October 11, 2026
💗📚 Through the Heart Chooses by Harlow James 📚💗
Just when I think I’ve found my new favorite Harlow James book, she comes out with another one that completely steals my heart! 🥹💗
After finding out she’s pregnant and the baby’s father wants nothing to do with her, Lennon turns to the one person from her past who has always been there for her: Easton. 🫶🏻
Easton is the definition of a compassionate, caring man. 🥹 He comes up with a marriage of convenience so Lennon can be added to his health insurance, but these two former best friends soon find themselves facing feelings that have been there all along. And let’s just say things get more than a little heated! 🥵🔥
My favorite part of this story was watching Lennon’s growth throughout the book. She discovers so much about herself and what she’s capable of when life throws her some unexpected, life-changing circumstances. I loved seeing her find her strength and navigate everything in front of her. 💗
This is the FIRST book in the Garnet Valley series, and if the rest of the series is anything like this one, we are in for an AMAZING time! I’m already excited to see what Harlow has in store for us next! 😍📚
A huge thank you to @harlowjames for this ALC/ARC! 💌
🎧 Through the Heart Chooses releases October 23, and trust me, it is FANTASTIC on audio!
Just when I think I’ve found my new favorite Harlow James book, she comes out with another one that completely steals my heart! 🥹💗
After finding out she’s pregnant and the baby’s father wants nothing to do with her, Lennon turns to the one person from her past who has always been there for her: Easton. 🫶🏻
Easton is the definition of a compassionate, caring man. 🥹 He comes up with a marriage of convenience so Lennon can be added to his health insurance, but these two former best friends soon find themselves facing feelings that have been there all along. And let’s just say things get more than a little heated! 🥵🔥
My favorite part of this story was watching Lennon’s growth throughout the book. She discovers so much about herself and what she’s capable of when life throws her some unexpected, life-changing circumstances. I loved seeing her find her strength and navigate everything in front of her. 💗
This is the FIRST book in the Garnet Valley series, and if the rest of the series is anything like this one, we are in for an AMAZING time! I’m already excited to see what Harlow has in store for us next! 😍📚
A huge thank you to @harlowjames for this ALC/ARC! 💌
🎧 Through the Heart Chooses releases October 23, and trust me, it is FANTASTIC on audio!
October 14, 2026
I absolutely LOVED this one! 🖤 Easton and Lennon had me hooked from the beginning. The marriage of convenience, years of unresolved feelings, and all the angst made this such a good read.
Easton had me swooning! The way he showed up for Lennon and her baby without hesitation said everything about the kind of man he was. Watching these two navigate their complicated history and slowly find their way back to each other had me feeling ALL the emotions. I was rooting for them the entire way! 🥹❤️
Connor Crais and Andi Eloise were fantastic on audio and brought so much emotion to their story.
A swoony, emotional romance with a dependable MMC, plenty of feels, and a love story I absolutely adored! 🎧🖤
Easton had me swooning! The way he showed up for Lennon and her baby without hesitation said everything about the kind of man he was. Watching these two navigate their complicated history and slowly find their way back to each other had me feeling ALL the emotions. I was rooting for them the entire way! 🥹❤️
Connor Crais and Andi Eloise were fantastic on audio and brought so much emotion to their story.
A swoony, emotional romance with a dependable MMC, plenty of feels, and a love story I absolutely adored! 🎧🖤
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I completely love it! I listened to the audiobook and read the eARC, and the voices truly brought the characters to life. The book was simply *Chef's Kiss!*
I’m so delighted that Easton was consistently there for Lennon, even during the toughest times in their lives. Plus, I appreciated how he ensured he was always working in town, so he wouldn’t have to leave his girls alone. This book made me laugh and fall in love with the families. I can’t wait to explore the rest of the series!
Thank you for this amazing opportunity to read the eARC, and I am happy to provide my honest review in return.
I’m so delighted that Easton was consistently there for Lennon, even during the toughest times in their lives. Plus, I appreciated how he ensured he was always working in town, so he wouldn’t have to leave his girls alone. This book made me laugh and fall in love with the families. I can’t wait to explore the rest of the series!
Thank you for this amazing opportunity to read the eARC, and I am happy to provide my honest review in return.
October 14, 2026
Loved this first book in Harlow’s new series, Garnet Valley! Friends to ex best friends to fake partners to lovers! I loved the banter between our MCs and the yearning from our MMC. Their chemistry was hot and I had such a good time with this book.
The duet narration was incredible and brought these characters to life even more.
Thank you for letting me be on the review team for this book!
The duet narration was incredible and brought these characters to life even more.
Thank you for letting me be on the review team for this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
If Harlow James writes it, I'm going to read it, and Who the Heart Chooses was such a beautiful introduction to the new Garnet Valley series!
Garnet Valley is a small Tennessee community not too far from Blossom Peak, and I absolutely love the way Harlow continues to intertwine her worlds. The Riley family is at the heart of this community, with their great-grandmother having founded Garnet Valley Community College, and with five Riley siblings, I already know there are so many stories waiting for us.
And longtime Harlow James readers get a special treat right from the beginning: Elodie from Blossom Peak!
The story opens in high school with Lennon Riley, Easton Buckley, and Elodie as an inseparable trio. Easton moved to Garnet Valley from Texas and quickly became best friends with Lennon, with Elodie eventually completing their little group. But Easton has been secretly pining for Lennon for years.
Then comes prom night.
Easton thinks he's finally going to tell Lennon how he feels...and that's ALL I'm saying. You need to experience what happens next for yourself!
Fast-forward ten years, and the childhood best friends who had once been inseparable have barely spoken.
Easton was raised by a single mom and went to work as a lineman right out of high school. He makes good money, but after a decade of long hours and constantly traveling for work, he's ready to stay home and build a life for himself.
Lennon has spent those same years living almost like a vagabond, traveling around the country without ever really finding the place where she belongs. She returns home and after a short term boyfriend, she finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. She needs stability and health insurance.
Easton learns that having a family could allow him to stay closer to home for work.
Enter one very convenient marriage.
What follows is a beautiful, slow-burn journey from childhood best friends, to estranged friends, to a marriage of convenience, forced proximity, and eventually something much more.
Although, let's be serious...this slow burn has been burning for Easton since he was probably seven years old.
Easton Buckley is SO swoon-worthy. He doesn't just agree to marry Lennon. He treats her like his wife. He considers himself the father of her baby even though the baby isn't biologically his, and he steps into that role with so much love and certainty.
But what I loved most was that Easton never tries to force Lennon into feeling what he feels. He gives her room to grow, figure out what she wants, and come to her own conclusions. Watching them learn to finally open up to each other and accept their feelings was such a beautiful part of their story. You don't just want these two together. You genuinely want this little family to succeed.
And yes, the spice is there! It's about a 3/5 for me, with a few very good scenes, but the emotional connection between Easton and Lennon remains the heart of the book.
The audiobook is performed in duet narration by Connor Crais and Andi Eloise, and they don't simply read this story. They ACT it.
Connor Crais was phenomenal at bringing out all of Easton's complexity, especially that longing and yearning he's carried for Lennon for so many years. Andi Eloise beautifully captures Lennon's vulnerability while also showing her growth and those moments of self-realization as she begins to understand what she truly wants.
This is absolutely one I'd recommend on audio, or even better, as an immersive read where you follow along with the physical book or e-book while listening. These performances really bring Easton and Lennon to life.
I also loved all the little connections back to Harlow's other books. Seeing Elodie again, getting a little Hart Winery Easter egg, and knowing she's still living her HEA made my reader heart happy. Harlow has such a wonderful way of bringing everything full circle while still allowing a new series and its characters to stand on their own.
Who the Heart Chooses made me fall for Easton and Lennon while also making me excited about an entire community of characters we haven't even gotten to know yet.
Garnet Valley, I'm ready for you.
Thank you to Harlow James for providing me with an ALC. All opinions are my own.
Garnet Valley is a small Tennessee community not too far from Blossom Peak, and I absolutely love the way Harlow continues to intertwine her worlds. The Riley family is at the heart of this community, with their great-grandmother having founded Garnet Valley Community College, and with five Riley siblings, I already know there are so many stories waiting for us.
And longtime Harlow James readers get a special treat right from the beginning: Elodie from Blossom Peak!
The story opens in high school with Lennon Riley, Easton Buckley, and Elodie as an inseparable trio. Easton moved to Garnet Valley from Texas and quickly became best friends with Lennon, with Elodie eventually completing their little group. But Easton has been secretly pining for Lennon for years.
Then comes prom night.
Easton thinks he's finally going to tell Lennon how he feels...and that's ALL I'm saying. You need to experience what happens next for yourself!
Fast-forward ten years, and the childhood best friends who had once been inseparable have barely spoken.
Easton was raised by a single mom and went to work as a lineman right out of high school. He makes good money, but after a decade of long hours and constantly traveling for work, he's ready to stay home and build a life for himself.
Lennon has spent those same years living almost like a vagabond, traveling around the country without ever really finding the place where she belongs. She returns home and after a short term boyfriend, she finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. She needs stability and health insurance.
Easton learns that having a family could allow him to stay closer to home for work.
Enter one very convenient marriage.
What follows is a beautiful, slow-burn journey from childhood best friends, to estranged friends, to a marriage of convenience, forced proximity, and eventually something much more.
Although, let's be serious...this slow burn has been burning for Easton since he was probably seven years old.
Easton Buckley is SO swoon-worthy. He doesn't just agree to marry Lennon. He treats her like his wife. He considers himself the father of her baby even though the baby isn't biologically his, and he steps into that role with so much love and certainty.
But what I loved most was that Easton never tries to force Lennon into feeling what he feels. He gives her room to grow, figure out what she wants, and come to her own conclusions. Watching them learn to finally open up to each other and accept their feelings was such a beautiful part of their story. You don't just want these two together. You genuinely want this little family to succeed.
And yes, the spice is there! It's about a 3/5 for me, with a few very good scenes, but the emotional connection between Easton and Lennon remains the heart of the book.
The audiobook is performed in duet narration by Connor Crais and Andi Eloise, and they don't simply read this story. They ACT it.
Connor Crais was phenomenal at bringing out all of Easton's complexity, especially that longing and yearning he's carried for Lennon for so many years. Andi Eloise beautifully captures Lennon's vulnerability while also showing her growth and those moments of self-realization as she begins to understand what she truly wants.
This is absolutely one I'd recommend on audio, or even better, as an immersive read where you follow along with the physical book or e-book while listening. These performances really bring Easton and Lennon to life.
I also loved all the little connections back to Harlow's other books. Seeing Elodie again, getting a little Hart Winery Easter egg, and knowing she's still living her HEA made my reader heart happy. Harlow has such a wonderful way of bringing everything full circle while still allowing a new series and its characters to stand on their own.
Who the Heart Chooses made me fall for Easton and Lennon while also making me excited about an entire community of characters we haven't even gotten to know yet.
Garnet Valley, I'm ready for you.
Thank you to Harlow James for providing me with an ALC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🤰 Pregnancy Romance
💍 Marriage of Convenience
💞 Former Best Friends
💔 Friends to Strangers to Lovers
🏡 Small Town Romance
👷♂️ Lineman MMC
👩⚕️ Nursing Student FMC
🛡️ Protective MMC
🤍 He Steps Up
🥹 Emotional Romance
🏠 Forced Proximity
🔥 He Falls First Energy
💋 Unresolved Feelings
🤫 Hidden Feelings
❤️ It’s Always Been You
👀 Living Together
💍 He Calls Her His Wife
🍼 Another Man’s Baby
👨👩👧 Found Family
😮💨 Angst and Longing
❤️🔥 Second Chance Energy
🎧 Audiobook
❤️ Happily Ever After
Narrators: Connor Crais | Andie Eloise
Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Who The Heart Chooses was such a sweet, emotional and heartfelt start to the Garnet Valley series, and Easton and Lennon completely pulled me into their story.
Lennon’s entire life changes when she discovers she is pregnant while still trying to make it through nursing school. The baby’s father wants nothing to do with either of them, she suddenly has no healthcare coverage, and she is left trying to work out how she is supposed to handle everything on her own.
Then Easton Buckley steps in.
Easton was once Lennon’s best friend, but somewhere along the way their friendship fell apart and neither of them ever really fixed what happened between them. Despite all of that history, when he realises Lennon is struggling, he offers her something completely unexpected. Marriage.
Easton has a stable job, great health insurance, and absolutely no intention of standing back while Lennon tries to carry everything by herself. What starts as a practical marriage of convenience quickly becomes a whole lot more complicated when Lennon moves in with him and all those unresolved feelings they have ignored for years start coming straight back to the surface.
And honestly, Easton was exactly the kind of MMC I love.
He is dependable, protective and quietly determined to take care of Lennon without ever making her feel like she is a burden. The way he steps up for her and her baby, even knowing the baby is not his, made it almost impossible not to fall for him. There is something about a man choosing to be there simply because he wants to be that gets me every single time.
I also really loved the history between Easton and Lennon because there was so much sitting underneath their marriage from the very beginning. They were not strangers suddenly falling for each other. They were two people who had once meant everything to each other, lost that connection, and never completely dealt with what happened.
Watching Lennon slowly realise there might be more behind Easton’s actions than simple loyalty was one of my favourite parts of the story. Once his secret comes out, all those old emotions, misunderstandings and feelings they have been avoiding finally start bubbling over.
Their chemistry was so good too. The forced proximity, seeing Easton around the house, hearing him call Lennon his wife, and that constant awareness of everything they had never said gave their relationship so much tension.
What I loved most though was that underneath the romance, this really felt like a story about choosing someone. Easton chooses Lennon even when things are messy and complicated. He chooses her baby. He chooses the life they could build together. And Lennon has to decide whether she can finally trust that someone might actually stay.
Who The Heart Chooses gave me marriage of convenience, former best friends, unresolved feelings, a protective hero and plenty of emotional moments, and I loved watching Easton and Lennon find their way back to each other.
Such a gorgeous beginning to the Garnet Valley series and I am definitely excited to see where Harlow James takes this family next.
💍 Marriage of Convenience
💞 Former Best Friends
💔 Friends to Strangers to Lovers
🏡 Small Town Romance
👷♂️ Lineman MMC
👩⚕️ Nursing Student FMC
🛡️ Protective MMC
🤍 He Steps Up
🥹 Emotional Romance
🏠 Forced Proximity
🔥 He Falls First Energy
💋 Unresolved Feelings
🤫 Hidden Feelings
❤️ It’s Always Been You
👀 Living Together
💍 He Calls Her His Wife
🍼 Another Man’s Baby
👨👩👧 Found Family
😮💨 Angst and Longing
❤️🔥 Second Chance Energy
🎧 Audiobook
❤️ Happily Ever After
Narrators: Connor Crais | Andie Eloise
Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Who The Heart Chooses was such a sweet, emotional and heartfelt start to the Garnet Valley series, and Easton and Lennon completely pulled me into their story.
Lennon’s entire life changes when she discovers she is pregnant while still trying to make it through nursing school. The baby’s father wants nothing to do with either of them, she suddenly has no healthcare coverage, and she is left trying to work out how she is supposed to handle everything on her own.
Then Easton Buckley steps in.
Easton was once Lennon’s best friend, but somewhere along the way their friendship fell apart and neither of them ever really fixed what happened between them. Despite all of that history, when he realises Lennon is struggling, he offers her something completely unexpected. Marriage.
Easton has a stable job, great health insurance, and absolutely no intention of standing back while Lennon tries to carry everything by herself. What starts as a practical marriage of convenience quickly becomes a whole lot more complicated when Lennon moves in with him and all those unresolved feelings they have ignored for years start coming straight back to the surface.
And honestly, Easton was exactly the kind of MMC I love.
He is dependable, protective and quietly determined to take care of Lennon without ever making her feel like she is a burden. The way he steps up for her and her baby, even knowing the baby is not his, made it almost impossible not to fall for him. There is something about a man choosing to be there simply because he wants to be that gets me every single time.
I also really loved the history between Easton and Lennon because there was so much sitting underneath their marriage from the very beginning. They were not strangers suddenly falling for each other. They were two people who had once meant everything to each other, lost that connection, and never completely dealt with what happened.
Watching Lennon slowly realise there might be more behind Easton’s actions than simple loyalty was one of my favourite parts of the story. Once his secret comes out, all those old emotions, misunderstandings and feelings they have been avoiding finally start bubbling over.
Their chemistry was so good too. The forced proximity, seeing Easton around the house, hearing him call Lennon his wife, and that constant awareness of everything they had never said gave their relationship so much tension.
What I loved most though was that underneath the romance, this really felt like a story about choosing someone. Easton chooses Lennon even when things are messy and complicated. He chooses her baby. He chooses the life they could build together. And Lennon has to decide whether she can finally trust that someone might actually stay.
Who The Heart Chooses gave me marriage of convenience, former best friends, unresolved feelings, a protective hero and plenty of emotional moments, and I loved watching Easton and Lennon find their way back to each other.
Such a gorgeous beginning to the Garnet Valley series and I am definitely excited to see where Harlow James takes this family next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Amazing Story & Narration🎧Gripping & Heartfelt!
Who the Heart Chooses
Garnet Valley Book 1
By: Harlow James
Narrated by: Connor Crais, Andi Eloise
Harlow James welcomes you to Garnet Valley with a fabulous novel, a small-town romance that grips your attention and heartstrings alike, holding them firmly throughout the entire book. The first book of the series is Lennon and Easton’s story, and what a start it is, with not only getting their story but meeting some amazing characters along the way, ones I am looking forward to seeing again. Lennon and Easton were childhood friends, besties, whose feelings for one another morphed into something more, but they just couldn’t get on the same page back then, and it broke their friendship apart. But life has a funny way of working things out, especially if they are meant to be, even in situations you never imagined. After traveling and enjoying life, Lennon returned home and started school to become a nurse, and is in her final years of her studies. Easton became a linesman and took jobs out of state to avoid seeing Lennon, whom he could not stop thinking of, but he was tired of being away from home and wanted to work locally, except those with families got those jobs. Lennon, who has proven to not have the best judgement in men once again, when she went to her boyfriend of several months to tell him about their accidental pregnancy and he told he wanted nothing to do with that, amongst other things. Determined to do it on her own, and worked it out where she’d fast-track the nursing program, finish the clinical part before the baby came, and take the tests after, so she could complete it on time. Her one obstacle was not having money or insurance. Easton has been missing Lennon and has been thinking of ways to find his way back into her life and good graces again, and came up with a plan that would benefit them both. A marriage-of-convenience, frenemies-to-lovers romance that will melt your heart, it was great watching these two reconnect. Easton worked his magic, and once Lennon stopped resisting, it was great to see their relationship grow stronger and into something that was meant to be: true love. This gem of a story has the perfect balance of drama, angst, witty banter and dialogue, charming and heartwarming moments, profound emotions, and steamy romance. As always, the writing, plot, and world-building are fantastic, as are the character growth and development. Harlow James, thank you for another fabulous story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧And for the fabulous audiobook listen performed in duet by the superbly talented Andi Eloise and Connor Crais, who did an amazing job bringing the characters to life. I loved how they took each role and made it their own, sounding believable and just as I imagined the characters would sound. Both were naturals in their roles and nailed it as the two leads, grasping every facet of their personalities, and Eloise’s Lennon was perfection, from her insecurities to her strength and determination, and Crais was just as amazing as Easton, a determined man with a heart and swoon. Both were fantastic at voicing and performing the roles of the side and secondary characters, too, young and old. Their expressive delivery conveys all the characters’ emotions, making you feel each one. These two are an ideal pairing, with voices that complement each other beautifully and a captivating performance that is enjoyable to listen to and keeps you fully engaged with the story and dialogue from start to finish.
Who the Heart Chooses
Garnet Valley Book 1
By: Harlow James
Narrated by: Connor Crais, Andi Eloise
Harlow James welcomes you to Garnet Valley with a fabulous novel, a small-town romance that grips your attention and heartstrings alike, holding them firmly throughout the entire book. The first book of the series is Lennon and Easton’s story, and what a start it is, with not only getting their story but meeting some amazing characters along the way, ones I am looking forward to seeing again. Lennon and Easton were childhood friends, besties, whose feelings for one another morphed into something more, but they just couldn’t get on the same page back then, and it broke their friendship apart. But life has a funny way of working things out, especially if they are meant to be, even in situations you never imagined. After traveling and enjoying life, Lennon returned home and started school to become a nurse, and is in her final years of her studies. Easton became a linesman and took jobs out of state to avoid seeing Lennon, whom he could not stop thinking of, but he was tired of being away from home and wanted to work locally, except those with families got those jobs. Lennon, who has proven to not have the best judgement in men once again, when she went to her boyfriend of several months to tell him about their accidental pregnancy and he told he wanted nothing to do with that, amongst other things. Determined to do it on her own, and worked it out where she’d fast-track the nursing program, finish the clinical part before the baby came, and take the tests after, so she could complete it on time. Her one obstacle was not having money or insurance. Easton has been missing Lennon and has been thinking of ways to find his way back into her life and good graces again, and came up with a plan that would benefit them both. A marriage-of-convenience, frenemies-to-lovers romance that will melt your heart, it was great watching these two reconnect. Easton worked his magic, and once Lennon stopped resisting, it was great to see their relationship grow stronger and into something that was meant to be: true love. This gem of a story has the perfect balance of drama, angst, witty banter and dialogue, charming and heartwarming moments, profound emotions, and steamy romance. As always, the writing, plot, and world-building are fantastic, as are the character growth and development. Harlow James, thank you for another fabulous story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧And for the fabulous audiobook listen performed in duet by the superbly talented Andi Eloise and Connor Crais, who did an amazing job bringing the characters to life. I loved how they took each role and made it their own, sounding believable and just as I imagined the characters would sound. Both were naturals in their roles and nailed it as the two leads, grasping every facet of their personalities, and Eloise’s Lennon was perfection, from her insecurities to her strength and determination, and Crais was just as amazing as Easton, a determined man with a heart and swoon. Both were fantastic at voicing and performing the roles of the side and secondary characters, too, young and old. Their expressive delivery conveys all the characters’ emotions, making you feel each one. These two are an ideal pairing, with voices that complement each other beautifully and a captivating performance that is enjoyable to listen to and keeps you fully engaged with the story and dialogue from start to finish.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you soso much to Harlow James for giving me this ARC! I genuinely had a really good time reading Who the Heart Chooses! I'm a sucker for friends-to-lovers, especially when the MMC has been secretly in love with the FMC for years, so I was already pretty interested in Lennon and Easton's story, even just from the tropes on The Smuthood website
Lennon and Easton were childhood best friends, but things between them got complicated, and they eventually drifted apart. Ten years later, Lennon finds out she's pregnant, and her boyfriend wants nothing to do with her or the baby. Easton, who's literally been in love with this woman for YEARS, decides the best solution is to marry her. Like, dude, you've been waiting for this opportunity your entire life, don't act like it is the only option 😭
Anyway, onto Easton, I just really liked him. I mean, this man is... I mean, he's protective, patient, and genuinely just wants Lennon to be happy. DON'T TELL ME THAT WE DON'T WANT A MAN LIKE THAT! MOVING ON!! The way he was willing to step up for her and the baby, despite knowing she didn't feel the same way about him (or at least that's what he thought), was probably my favorite thing about him. I also liked that their history actually played a big part in their relationship instead of being something that was only mentioned a couple of times.
Lennon, on the other hand, definitely tested my patience a little. 😭 I liked how independent she was and how determined she was to finish nursing school, but sometimes I just wanted her to stop overthinking everything. I understood why she was hesitant to depend on someone else, but Easton was making it VERY obvious how much he cared about her.
Also, can we talk about the Rileys?? I loved their dynamic, because we have the constant teasing, the family dinners, and the camping trip were so just entertaining. Not gonna lie, Blair had me laughing at some of her comments, and I liked that the side characters actually felt like part of the story rather than just being there in the background.
The romance itself was really cute, and the tension between Lennon and Easton was GOOD. I liked the little moments when they started getting comfortable around each other again, especially because Easton had been wanting something more for so long. And when things finally got spicy, I definitely wasn't complaining. :))
My only real issue was that the back-and-forth got a little repetitive toward the end. I felt like some of their problems could've been solved with one proper conversation, and I was getting a little impatient waiting for Lennon to figure out what she wanted.
But overall, this was a solid 4-star read and I honestly am so eager to read the rest of the series when it comes out <33
Lennon and Easton were childhood best friends, but things between them got complicated, and they eventually drifted apart. Ten years later, Lennon finds out she's pregnant, and her boyfriend wants nothing to do with her or the baby. Easton, who's literally been in love with this woman for YEARS, decides the best solution is to marry her. Like, dude, you've been waiting for this opportunity your entire life, don't act like it is the only option 😭
Anyway, onto Easton, I just really liked him. I mean, this man is... I mean, he's protective, patient, and genuinely just wants Lennon to be happy. DON'T TELL ME THAT WE DON'T WANT A MAN LIKE THAT! MOVING ON!! The way he was willing to step up for her and the baby, despite knowing she didn't feel the same way about him (or at least that's what he thought), was probably my favorite thing about him. I also liked that their history actually played a big part in their relationship instead of being something that was only mentioned a couple of times.
Lennon, on the other hand, definitely tested my patience a little. 😭 I liked how independent she was and how determined she was to finish nursing school, but sometimes I just wanted her to stop overthinking everything. I understood why she was hesitant to depend on someone else, but Easton was making it VERY obvious how much he cared about her.
Also, can we talk about the Rileys?? I loved their dynamic, because we have the constant teasing, the family dinners, and the camping trip were so just entertaining. Not gonna lie, Blair had me laughing at some of her comments, and I liked that the side characters actually felt like part of the story rather than just being there in the background.
The romance itself was really cute, and the tension between Lennon and Easton was GOOD. I liked the little moments when they started getting comfortable around each other again, especially because Easton had been wanting something more for so long. And when things finally got spicy, I definitely wasn't complaining. :))
My only real issue was that the back-and-forth got a little repetitive toward the end. I felt like some of their problems could've been solved with one proper conversation, and I was getting a little impatient waiting for Lennon to figure out what she wanted.
But overall, this was a solid 4-star read and I honestly am so eager to read the rest of the series when it comes out <33
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Each book that Harlow writes gets better than the one before. I haven't read or listened to all of Harlow's books (yet) but I have listened to the last couple of series, and I have loved each book so very much. I was so excited to see we were getting a whole new series from her. I am a sucker for a friends to lovers romance, and this one was one of the best ones I have listened to lately. I'm a huge fan of Connor Crais. I just love his performances with all the characters. This was the first time I have heard Andi Eloise in a full audiobook (I have heard her as a side character in a multi-cast audio before), and I really loved her work in this story. She was just wonderful and I really look forward to hearing more from her in the future.
Easton has been pretty much in love with Lennon for as long as he can remember, but they have also been best friends. He didn't really think that she saw him as anything more than friends, but he was going to take a chance on prom night and ask her to prom because neither one of them had a date...or so he thought. He got all dressed up and when he went to her house to ask her, her low life ex-boyfriend had wormed his way back into her life and he was taking her. So Easton stepped back and needless to say, prom night didn't go as anyone had planned. This led to some tension and anger from Lennon towards Easton and their friendship was very strained for a long time.
Then 10 years later, Lennon finds herself pregnant and alone. Easton finds out and does what anyone who is pretty much in love with his girl best friend would do. Proposes marriage of convenience of course. This would help Easton stay closer to home with his job as well. Lennon soon starts to see Easton in a much different light, and it doesn't take long for her feelings for Easton to become so much more. Lennon is determined to finish her nursing education, but she was so scared that this pregnancy was going to cause her to pause that. With the help of Easton and both of their families, she has the help that she needs to get it all done.
I think my favorite thing about this book was that Easton fell first and so hard for Lennon. He didn't care that he wasn't the baby's father. He just wanted to be there for both Lennon and the baby. He supported her and lifted her up when she didn't think she could do it. I loved it when these two finally accepted their relationship and their future together.
I can't wait to see what comes next in Garnet Valley.
Easton has been pretty much in love with Lennon for as long as he can remember, but they have also been best friends. He didn't really think that she saw him as anything more than friends, but he was going to take a chance on prom night and ask her to prom because neither one of them had a date...or so he thought. He got all dressed up and when he went to her house to ask her, her low life ex-boyfriend had wormed his way back into her life and he was taking her. So Easton stepped back and needless to say, prom night didn't go as anyone had planned. This led to some tension and anger from Lennon towards Easton and their friendship was very strained for a long time.
Then 10 years later, Lennon finds herself pregnant and alone. Easton finds out and does what anyone who is pretty much in love with his girl best friend would do. Proposes marriage of convenience of course. This would help Easton stay closer to home with his job as well. Lennon soon starts to see Easton in a much different light, and it doesn't take long for her feelings for Easton to become so much more. Lennon is determined to finish her nursing education, but she was so scared that this pregnancy was going to cause her to pause that. With the help of Easton and both of their families, she has the help that she needs to get it all done.
I think my favorite thing about this book was that Easton fell first and so hard for Lennon. He didn't care that he wasn't the baby's father. He just wanted to be there for both Lennon and the baby. He supported her and lifted her up when she didn't think she could do it. I loved it when these two finally accepted their relationship and their future together.
I can't wait to see what comes next in Garnet Valley.
October 15, 2026
Harlow FREAKING James! Girl, you have outdone yourself with this one! I loved our Blossom Peak folks and though I never thought they could be topped, I jumped in with both feet and trusted that you would make Garnet Valley come to life. And boy, did you!
I don’t even know where to begin with this review. I guess I will start with saying that I simultaneously never wanted this book to end but also DESPERATELY wanted to find out how it ends. I wish I could read it a million times over.
Ava and Bruce gave me parenting goals and further illuminated the future I hope to have when my kids grow up. This family (and Owen and Easton’s family too!) warmed my heart in a way that is so incredibly important and so equally hard to describe. The humor, the affection, the love, they all jump off the page and wrap you up in a nice big hug.
Getting to know Elodie’s home town and the incredible people that call it home was so delightfully special!
I LOVED the reference to my favorite region in the whole world- the Smokies deep in Tennessee! As a native to the area, I am thrilled to see such a beautiful depiction of the place that inspired the landscape of Easton and Lennon’s story.
And speaking of our main characters, what a beautiful story of friendship, redemption, and the true meaning of love! Not only is their history complex but they both have some pretty big challenges dropped in their laps. The way they come together is incredible. The yearning is intense but so is the spice!
There is so much raw honesty in this book and I love how Harlow beautifully intertwines real life with swoony, dream-worthy romance.
I cannot wait to see what is next for the folks in Garnet Valley! Give me all the copies of this one!
Also, 5 stars is not enough. Not at all. 1,00? Maybe? That’s close at least. Well done Harlow James, well done.
Connor Crais and Andi Eloise absolutely crushed this one! No surprise there! I knew their narration of this would be incredible and I was so right! I loved getting to hear from both Connor and Andi at the same time in each chapter. This totally brought them to life even more! Their perfect narration combined with the author’s incredible writing makes it feel like you aren’t just reading or listening (or both!) but actually part of the story.
Thank you to Harlow James for the opportunity to read and listen to this title in advance of its release.
I don’t even know where to begin with this review. I guess I will start with saying that I simultaneously never wanted this book to end but also DESPERATELY wanted to find out how it ends. I wish I could read it a million times over.
Ava and Bruce gave me parenting goals and further illuminated the future I hope to have when my kids grow up. This family (and Owen and Easton’s family too!) warmed my heart in a way that is so incredibly important and so equally hard to describe. The humor, the affection, the love, they all jump off the page and wrap you up in a nice big hug.
Getting to know Elodie’s home town and the incredible people that call it home was so delightfully special!
I LOVED the reference to my favorite region in the whole world- the Smokies deep in Tennessee! As a native to the area, I am thrilled to see such a beautiful depiction of the place that inspired the landscape of Easton and Lennon’s story.
And speaking of our main characters, what a beautiful story of friendship, redemption, and the true meaning of love! Not only is their history complex but they both have some pretty big challenges dropped in their laps. The way they come together is incredible. The yearning is intense but so is the spice!
There is so much raw honesty in this book and I love how Harlow beautifully intertwines real life with swoony, dream-worthy romance.
I cannot wait to see what is next for the folks in Garnet Valley! Give me all the copies of this one!
Also, 5 stars is not enough. Not at all. 1,00? Maybe? That’s close at least. Well done Harlow James, well done.
Connor Crais and Andi Eloise absolutely crushed this one! No surprise there! I knew their narration of this would be incredible and I was so right! I loved getting to hear from both Connor and Andi at the same time in each chapter. This totally brought them to life even more! Their perfect narration combined with the author’s incredible writing makes it feel like you aren’t just reading or listening (or both!) but actually part of the story.
Thank you to Harlow James for the opportunity to read and listen to this title in advance of its release.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Marriage of convenience, childhood best friends, friends to lovers, and a slow burn that is absolutely worth the wait!
NOT HIS BABY!
I am absolutely in love with Harlow James's new series! The first book had me hooked from the very beginning, and I already know Garnet Valley is going to be a favorite of mine.
Lennon's life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers she's pregnant while working her way through nursing school. With the baby's father wanting nothing to do with her and her health insurance suddenly gone, she's left wondering how she's going to make everything work. That's when her childhood best friend, Easton Buckley, steps in.
Easton wants a job that allows him to stay closer to home, and Lennon desperately needs health insurance. Their solution? A marriage of convenience that benefits them both. But when friendship starts turning into something more, things get a whole lot more interesting.
What I loved most:
Lennon's character growth. I loved watching her find her strength, embrace the unexpected, and realize just how capable she truly is. She was such an easy character to root for.
Lennon and Easton's relationship. One word YEARNING! There is just something about a man who steps up without hesitation, especially when the baby isn't even his. The history, the friendship, the chemistry, and the way their feelings slowly developed had me completely invested.
The found family and small-town atmosphere. Garnet Valley already feels like a place I never want to leave. The characters, the friendships, and the family connections made this story even more special.
Connor Crais and Andi Eloise did an incredible job bringing these characters to life. The duet narration made the entire experience even better!
I am completely obsessed with this new world Harlow James has created, and I cannot wait to see what happens next, especially with Nora and Sloane! I have a feeling their stories are going to be just as amazing, and I am so ready for more of Garnet Valley!
Tropes and things to know:
- Marriage of convenience
- Childhood best friends to lovers
- Accidental pregnancy
- "Not his baby"
- "My wife"
- He falls first
- Slow burn
- Small-town romance
- Found family
- Lineman MMC and nurse FMC
- Dual POV
- Duet narration
- No third-act breakup
- A little angst and plenty of heart
NOT HIS BABY!
I am absolutely in love with Harlow James's new series! The first book had me hooked from the very beginning, and I already know Garnet Valley is going to be a favorite of mine.
Lennon's life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers she's pregnant while working her way through nursing school. With the baby's father wanting nothing to do with her and her health insurance suddenly gone, she's left wondering how she's going to make everything work. That's when her childhood best friend, Easton Buckley, steps in.
Easton wants a job that allows him to stay closer to home, and Lennon desperately needs health insurance. Their solution? A marriage of convenience that benefits them both. But when friendship starts turning into something more, things get a whole lot more interesting.
What I loved most:
Lennon's character growth. I loved watching her find her strength, embrace the unexpected, and realize just how capable she truly is. She was such an easy character to root for.
Lennon and Easton's relationship. One word YEARNING! There is just something about a man who steps up without hesitation, especially when the baby isn't even his. The history, the friendship, the chemistry, and the way their feelings slowly developed had me completely invested.
The found family and small-town atmosphere. Garnet Valley already feels like a place I never want to leave. The characters, the friendships, and the family connections made this story even more special.
Connor Crais and Andi Eloise did an incredible job bringing these characters to life. The duet narration made the entire experience even better!
I am completely obsessed with this new world Harlow James has created, and I cannot wait to see what happens next, especially with Nora and Sloane! I have a feeling their stories are going to be just as amazing, and I am so ready for more of Garnet Valley!
Tropes and things to know:
- Marriage of convenience
- Childhood best friends to lovers
- Accidental pregnancy
- "Not his baby"
- "My wife"
- He falls first
- Slow burn
- Small-town romance
- Found family
- Lineman MMC and nurse FMC
- Dual POV
- Duet narration
- No third-act breakup
- A little angst and plenty of heart
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶️🌶️/5
Childhood friends to strangers to lovers
Marriage of convenience
It’s always been you/“my wife”
Accidental pregnancy/not his baby
Forced proximity
ARC read, thank you to the author and Smuthood PR for the early copy.
This book has so much to love and it’s so well done. Lennon and Easton are destined to be together, even if they both had to go through a lot before finding their way back to each other.
When Lennon finds out she’s pregnant, has no medical insurance, and the father doesn’t want anything to do with her or the baby, and Easton wants to be able to work closer to home, it seems like the most natural thing in the world for them to get married!
Easton is everything you could want in a MMC. He’s a devoted, protective, walking green flag who has been in love with Lennon since they were teenagers but always missed out on his opportunity to tell her how he felt.
Lennon is slightly chaotic but getting her life together before she gets pregnant, and is also utterly oblivious a she’s literally the only person who didn’t know that Easton was in love with her!
The character development is brilliant. They both went on such a journey over the course of the book, especially as we have the flashbacks of what went wrong in the past and all the opportunities they missed to get together.
Seeing the way Easton continuously showed up for Lennon, even when she was trying to keep him at arm’s length, absolutely melted my heart. There is nothing he won’t do for her, he always puts her first, and he believes in her unconditionally, giving her the strength to believe in herself.
This is a super slow burn but there’s so. Much. Pining! Easton’s a giver in every context and the bedroom certainly doesn’t disappoint. The spice is definitely worth the wait, and you could see all their walls coming down once they finally crossed that line.
I loved getting to meet a whole new cast in Garnet Valley (although I loved the little cameos from the Blossom Peak gang!), and I can’t wait to see more of them in future books.
🌶️🌶️/5
Childhood friends to strangers to lovers
Marriage of convenience
It’s always been you/“my wife”
Accidental pregnancy/not his baby
Forced proximity
ARC read, thank you to the author and Smuthood PR for the early copy.
This book has so much to love and it’s so well done. Lennon and Easton are destined to be together, even if they both had to go through a lot before finding their way back to each other.
When Lennon finds out she’s pregnant, has no medical insurance, and the father doesn’t want anything to do with her or the baby, and Easton wants to be able to work closer to home, it seems like the most natural thing in the world for them to get married!
Easton is everything you could want in a MMC. He’s a devoted, protective, walking green flag who has been in love with Lennon since they were teenagers but always missed out on his opportunity to tell her how he felt.
Lennon is slightly chaotic but getting her life together before she gets pregnant, and is also utterly oblivious a she’s literally the only person who didn’t know that Easton was in love with her!
The character development is brilliant. They both went on such a journey over the course of the book, especially as we have the flashbacks of what went wrong in the past and all the opportunities they missed to get together.
Seeing the way Easton continuously showed up for Lennon, even when she was trying to keep him at arm’s length, absolutely melted my heart. There is nothing he won’t do for her, he always puts her first, and he believes in her unconditionally, giving her the strength to believe in herself.
This is a super slow burn but there’s so. Much. Pining! Easton’s a giver in every context and the bedroom certainly doesn’t disappoint. The spice is definitely worth the wait, and you could see all their walls coming down once they finally crossed that line.
I loved getting to meet a whole new cast in Garnet Valley (although I loved the little cameos from the Blossom Peak gang!), and I can’t wait to see more of them in future books.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🧡 𝙒𝙃𝙊 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙍𝙏 𝘾𝙃𝙊𝙊𝙎𝙀𝙎 — 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙅𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 🧡
Sometimes, between the darker, heavier reads that emotionally flatten you, you need a book that wraps itself around your heart… and reminds you why you fell in love with romance in the first place. 🥹❤️
And Harlow James delivered exactly that with Who the Heart Chooses.
Childhood best friends, years of unresolved feelings, a marriage of convenience and one very important little detail… the baby isn’t his. 👀 But Easton? He’s stepping up anyway, because apparently this man has decided that “I’m just a man, standing in front of a woman, asking her to marry me so I can take care of her” is a perfectly reasonable way to handle things. Sir. THE FEELINGS. 🥹
I absolutely loved watching Lennon and Easton find their way back to each other. The flashbacks, the history, the slow-building realisation that sometimes your person has been right there all along… it made their journey feel wonderfully genuine.
🎧 And the audio? An absolute treat!
Connor Crais and Andi Eloise brought this story to life beautifully. Andi captured Lennon’s vulnerability, determination and complicated emotions, while Connor gave Easton that steady, protective, quietly devoted energy that made my heart do all sorts of ridiculous things. Their voices complemented each other perfectly, making this such an immersive listen.
Easton is the kind of man who doesn’t just say he’ll take care of you… he shows you. And honestly? That’s the green flag energy we love to see. 🧡
A beautiful, feel-good romance with a delicious slow burn, heartfelt moments and just enough spice to keep those AirPods working overtime. 😂🎧
Harlow James gave me the perfect breather between my heavier reads, and I closed this one with a full heart and a massive smile.
Sometimes the heart knows exactly where it belongs… even when it takes the characters a little longer to catch up. 🧡📚
#HarlowJames #WhoTheHeartChooses #AudiobookLove #ConnorCrais #AndiEloise
Sometimes, between the darker, heavier reads that emotionally flatten you, you need a book that wraps itself around your heart… and reminds you why you fell in love with romance in the first place. 🥹❤️
And Harlow James delivered exactly that with Who the Heart Chooses.
Childhood best friends, years of unresolved feelings, a marriage of convenience and one very important little detail… the baby isn’t his. 👀 But Easton? He’s stepping up anyway, because apparently this man has decided that “I’m just a man, standing in front of a woman, asking her to marry me so I can take care of her” is a perfectly reasonable way to handle things. Sir. THE FEELINGS. 🥹
I absolutely loved watching Lennon and Easton find their way back to each other. The flashbacks, the history, the slow-building realisation that sometimes your person has been right there all along… it made their journey feel wonderfully genuine.
🎧 And the audio? An absolute treat!
Connor Crais and Andi Eloise brought this story to life beautifully. Andi captured Lennon’s vulnerability, determination and complicated emotions, while Connor gave Easton that steady, protective, quietly devoted energy that made my heart do all sorts of ridiculous things. Their voices complemented each other perfectly, making this such an immersive listen.
Easton is the kind of man who doesn’t just say he’ll take care of you… he shows you. And honestly? That’s the green flag energy we love to see. 🧡
A beautiful, feel-good romance with a delicious slow burn, heartfelt moments and just enough spice to keep those AirPods working overtime. 😂🎧
Harlow James gave me the perfect breather between my heavier reads, and I closed this one with a full heart and a massive smile.
Sometimes the heart knows exactly where it belongs… even when it takes the characters a little longer to catch up. 🧡📚
#HarlowJames #WhoTheHeartChooses #AudiobookLove #ConnorCrais #AndiEloise
October 13, 2026
***ARC/ALC Review***
Hellooo new Harlow James series! Lennon and Easton are childhood best friends turned strangers that find themselves in a marriage of convenience. Of course this marriage of convenience is proposed by Easton, because heck yes our MMC has been in love with his best friend since their teen years. It’s just a bonus that acquiring a wife and kids is what he needs at his job to get some leverage. And Lennon is in a bind when she falls pregnant with another man’s baby who doesn’t want anything to do with her or their child, and she’s left scrambling to figure out how she’s going to finish nursing school all without healthcare. Enter, the uber protective MMC that just wants to take care of her and her baby.
I swear, once these two finally gave into their feelings for one another they were sickeningly, squealing, kick-your-feet cute. But up until that point I was just screaming at my kindle during the prologue and flash back scenes when Lennon is frustratingly unaware of Easton’s feelings, and also too scared to risk losing him in her life so she consistently friendzone’s him over and over again. The beauty of this tumultuous start to their friendship, and essentially their marriage, is that we really don’t get a third act break of up at all.
Cannot recommend the audiobook enough. Andi Eloise was exactly how I was hearing Lennon in my head. She was so light, and brought depth to her anger and frustration as well her softer side. And Connor Crais brings such a realness to his performances. He never seems overdone, but he knows exactly where emphasis is needed. Overall, this was a great start to a new series, and I would totally pick this one up in you enjoy the childhood friends to lovers, not his baby, marriage of convenience, and small town romance tropes. Will 100% be reading more from the Garnet Valley series as they come out!
Thank you again to Harlow James and The Smuthood for the advanced ebook and audiobook!
Hellooo new Harlow James series! Lennon and Easton are childhood best friends turned strangers that find themselves in a marriage of convenience. Of course this marriage of convenience is proposed by Easton, because heck yes our MMC has been in love with his best friend since their teen years. It’s just a bonus that acquiring a wife and kids is what he needs at his job to get some leverage. And Lennon is in a bind when she falls pregnant with another man’s baby who doesn’t want anything to do with her or their child, and she’s left scrambling to figure out how she’s going to finish nursing school all without healthcare. Enter, the uber protective MMC that just wants to take care of her and her baby.
I swear, once these two finally gave into their feelings for one another they were sickeningly, squealing, kick-your-feet cute. But up until that point I was just screaming at my kindle during the prologue and flash back scenes when Lennon is frustratingly unaware of Easton’s feelings, and also too scared to risk losing him in her life so she consistently friendzone’s him over and over again. The beauty of this tumultuous start to their friendship, and essentially their marriage, is that we really don’t get a third act break of up at all.
Cannot recommend the audiobook enough. Andi Eloise was exactly how I was hearing Lennon in my head. She was so light, and brought depth to her anger and frustration as well her softer side. And Connor Crais brings such a realness to his performances. He never seems overdone, but he knows exactly where emphasis is needed. Overall, this was a great start to a new series, and I would totally pick this one up in you enjoy the childhood friends to lovers, not his baby, marriage of convenience, and small town romance tropes. Will 100% be reading more from the Garnet Valley series as they come out!
Thank you again to Harlow James and The Smuthood for the advanced ebook and audiobook!
Review of advance copy
Easton and Lennon’s story was SO beautiful! What a great start to a new series in Garnet Valley! A story of childhood best friends, finding their way back to each other, and discovering that sometimes the love you’ve been looking for has been right there all along!
EASTON!!! This man completely melted my heart! Give me the gorgeous blue collar guy with a heart of gold and a dirty mouth and I am there! Although he had buried his true feelings for her for so long and genuinely had unresolved hurt for it all, the way he showed up for Lennon when she needed someone, even after everything that had happened between them, EVERYTHING! He was ready to step up and take care of her and her baby without hesitation. The way this man loved her, wanted to protect her, and was willing to do whatever he could for her and the baby had me SWOONING!
Lennon, the girl trying to find herself while dealing with so many feelings down deep of being the mess up, not being enough. And an unexpected pregnancy changes everything. I loved watching Lennon work through everything and slowly realize she didn’t have to carry the weight of everything on her own. She deserved to be loved, supported, and cared for, AND that she is enough and seeing her find that with Easton was just beautiful.
The marriage of convenience and ALL that yearning?! The slow burn was SO good, the emotions were so real, and when you add in the spice?! These two were HOT together! Again, this man’s mouth!!!
Add in all the characters, both their families, the love and support, can't wait to get to know them more!
This is such a heartfelt, swoony story, and I loved every minute of Easton and Lennon finding their way back to each other. If you love childhood best friends, marriage of convenience, unexpected pregnancy, a delicious slow burn, and a man who is ALL IN for his woman and her baby, you need to read this book!
Rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️
🌻Thank you to Harlow James and The Author Agency for my arc!
EASTON!!! This man completely melted my heart! Give me the gorgeous blue collar guy with a heart of gold and a dirty mouth and I am there! Although he had buried his true feelings for her for so long and genuinely had unresolved hurt for it all, the way he showed up for Lennon when she needed someone, even after everything that had happened between them, EVERYTHING! He was ready to step up and take care of her and her baby without hesitation. The way this man loved her, wanted to protect her, and was willing to do whatever he could for her and the baby had me SWOONING!
Lennon, the girl trying to find herself while dealing with so many feelings down deep of being the mess up, not being enough. And an unexpected pregnancy changes everything. I loved watching Lennon work through everything and slowly realize she didn’t have to carry the weight of everything on her own. She deserved to be loved, supported, and cared for, AND that she is enough and seeing her find that with Easton was just beautiful.
The marriage of convenience and ALL that yearning?! The slow burn was SO good, the emotions were so real, and when you add in the spice?! These two were HOT together! Again, this man’s mouth!!!
Add in all the characters, both their families, the love and support, can't wait to get to know them more!
This is such a heartfelt, swoony story, and I loved every minute of Easton and Lennon finding their way back to each other. If you love childhood best friends, marriage of convenience, unexpected pregnancy, a delicious slow burn, and a man who is ALL IN for his woman and her baby, you need to read this book!
Rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️
🌻Thank you to Harlow James and The Author Agency for my arc!
Review of advance copy
*I received this book as an E-ARC / ALC from The Smuthood to provide an honest review.*
Who the Heart Chooses is the first book in an interconnected standalone series by Harlow James. This story follows Lennon and Easton’s love and the path it took from high school to many years later when they finally end up together. Lennon has her world turned upside down when she got pregnant while in nursing school, and once Easton found out her knew that it was the perfect thing to help solve the issues that he was facing in his life. Though this is a marriage of convenience, Easton made sure that he was there to not only take care of Lennon but to make sure that she could process the pregnancy however she needed. Once Lennon and Easton accepted the fact that they were meant for each other, then their lives together just blossomed and they thrived together.
I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ALC as well as an E-ARC. The audiobook was preformed by Connor Crais and Andi Eloise. Connor Crais has become one of my favorite male audiobook narrators. He brought Easton’s side of the story to life and you could feel all of the emotion and turmoil through out the book. His voice is so deep and it is easy to get lost in while listening to the book. Andi Eloise brings Lennon’s side of the story to life. She is so expressive and you can feel the all of the emotions that Lennon is feeling through out the book. I think that she is also really good at changing her voice so not every character in the book sounds the same and everyone has their own character specific voice. I can easily say that I would listen to more audiobooks by Connor Crais and Andi Eloise.
This book is a very sweet small town romance novel with a surprise pregnancy and a marriage of convenience. I highly recommend both the audiobook and the physical book. I highly highly recommend this small town, friends to lovers, marriage of convenience romance.
Who the Heart Chooses is the first book in an interconnected standalone series by Harlow James. This story follows Lennon and Easton’s love and the path it took from high school to many years later when they finally end up together. Lennon has her world turned upside down when she got pregnant while in nursing school, and once Easton found out her knew that it was the perfect thing to help solve the issues that he was facing in his life. Though this is a marriage of convenience, Easton made sure that he was there to not only take care of Lennon but to make sure that she could process the pregnancy however she needed. Once Lennon and Easton accepted the fact that they were meant for each other, then their lives together just blossomed and they thrived together.
I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ALC as well as an E-ARC. The audiobook was preformed by Connor Crais and Andi Eloise. Connor Crais has become one of my favorite male audiobook narrators. He brought Easton’s side of the story to life and you could feel all of the emotion and turmoil through out the book. His voice is so deep and it is easy to get lost in while listening to the book. Andi Eloise brings Lennon’s side of the story to life. She is so expressive and you can feel the all of the emotions that Lennon is feeling through out the book. I think that she is also really good at changing her voice so not every character in the book sounds the same and everyone has their own character specific voice. I can easily say that I would listen to more audiobooks by Connor Crais and Andi Eloise.
This book is a very sweet small town romance novel with a surprise pregnancy and a marriage of convenience. I highly recommend both the audiobook and the physical book. I highly highly recommend this small town, friends to lovers, marriage of convenience romance.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh my gosh!
What an amazing start to this new series, from an author that I've been reading for almost 2 years now.
Having worked my way through the Carrington Cove and the Blossom Peak series', I couldn't wait to meet some new characters and explore this new small town.
What I loved the most about this read was that not only do we follow a new relationship and get to meet lots of new characters from Garnet Valley, we also see some old faces and names popping up throughout and having this connection between the series' was such a lovely treat.
Nothing too drastic that means you have to have read the other series', but for those of us who have, I really loved that link back.
Harlow does such a great job of introducing us to this new town and so many of the characters, whilst also giving us plenty of time to get to know our main characters, Easton and Lennon.
I loved this couple's history with their on and off friendship through the years.
But the one thing that shines through is that Easton has always been there for Lennon - even though she's yet to realise it!
When Lennon falls pregnant accidentally, it's Easton who steps up to care for her and find a solution to all her problems and the way he looks after her is everything!
Of course, the relationship progresses in a most satisfying way and we see them getting a little spicy towards the end.
I loved everything about this read, including the jump ahead at the very end for a super sweet epilogue.
Another series that I know I'm going to obsess over and I already cannot wait to see what's to come in book 2!!
I had this on audio book as well as ebook and I loved the chemistry between our narrators.
Being a duet narration meant that the conversations flowed beautifully and the characters personalities were so well portrayed throughout.
What an amazing start to this new series, from an author that I've been reading for almost 2 years now.
Having worked my way through the Carrington Cove and the Blossom Peak series', I couldn't wait to meet some new characters and explore this new small town.
What I loved the most about this read was that not only do we follow a new relationship and get to meet lots of new characters from Garnet Valley, we also see some old faces and names popping up throughout and having this connection between the series' was such a lovely treat.
Nothing too drastic that means you have to have read the other series', but for those of us who have, I really loved that link back.
Harlow does such a great job of introducing us to this new town and so many of the characters, whilst also giving us plenty of time to get to know our main characters, Easton and Lennon.
I loved this couple's history with their on and off friendship through the years.
But the one thing that shines through is that Easton has always been there for Lennon - even though she's yet to realise it!
When Lennon falls pregnant accidentally, it's Easton who steps up to care for her and find a solution to all her problems and the way he looks after her is everything!
Of course, the relationship progresses in a most satisfying way and we see them getting a little spicy towards the end.
I loved everything about this read, including the jump ahead at the very end for a super sweet epilogue.
Another series that I know I'm going to obsess over and I already cannot wait to see what's to come in book 2!!
I had this on audio book as well as ebook and I loved the chemistry between our narrators.
Being a duet narration meant that the conversations flowed beautifully and the characters personalities were so well portrayed throughout.
Review of advance copy received from Author
THE FREAKING YEARNING FROM EASTON BUCKLEY!!! 😍🥹❤️🔥
Excuse me while I add another fictional man to my ever-growing list of book boyfriends because EASTON FREAKING BUCKLEY?! SIR, THE STANDARD YOU HAVE SET!!! 🫠
Harlow James absolutely ATE with this one! A former best friend turned husband of convenience, an unexpected pregnancy, years of unresolved feelings, and a man who would do absolutely ANYTHING for the woman he loves?! SIGN. ME. UP. 😭❤️
Easton Buckley is the definition of IF HE WANTED TO, HE WOULD! This man saw the woman he cared about struggling and didn’t hesitate to step up, even when their friendship had been broken for years. The way he showed up, protected her, and made sure she and her baby were taken care of?! MY HEART COULD NOT HANDLE IT. 🥹
And can we PLEASE talk about the YEARNING?! The tension, the stolen glances, the unspoken feelings, and the way Easton calls her his WIFE?! I was absolutely FERAL. 😍 The slow burn and emotional buildup were EVERYTHING. Watching these two navigate their complicated past while slowly finding their way back to each other had me completely invested.
And the AUDIOBOOK?! 🎧
CONNOR CRAIS AND ANDI ELOISE!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Connor Crais is my FAVORITE male narrator, and once again, he reminded me exactly WHY! The emotion, the tenderness, the longing in Easton’s voice?! GOODBYE. I’M DONE. 🫠 And Andi Eloise was absolutely phenomenal! She brought so much vulnerability and heart to her performance. Together, these two voiced their characters PERFECTLY and made an already incredible love story even better!
This book gave me ALL the butterflies, ALL the emotions, and another fictional man I’ll never recover from. Harlow James, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?! 😭💚
Excuse me while I add another fictional man to my ever-growing list of book boyfriends because EASTON FREAKING BUCKLEY?! SIR, THE STANDARD YOU HAVE SET!!! 🫠
Harlow James absolutely ATE with this one! A former best friend turned husband of convenience, an unexpected pregnancy, years of unresolved feelings, and a man who would do absolutely ANYTHING for the woman he loves?! SIGN. ME. UP. 😭❤️
Easton Buckley is the definition of IF HE WANTED TO, HE WOULD! This man saw the woman he cared about struggling and didn’t hesitate to step up, even when their friendship had been broken for years. The way he showed up, protected her, and made sure she and her baby were taken care of?! MY HEART COULD NOT HANDLE IT. 🥹
And can we PLEASE talk about the YEARNING?! The tension, the stolen glances, the unspoken feelings, and the way Easton calls her his WIFE?! I was absolutely FERAL. 😍 The slow burn and emotional buildup were EVERYTHING. Watching these two navigate their complicated past while slowly finding their way back to each other had me completely invested.
And the AUDIOBOOK?! 🎧
CONNOR CRAIS AND ANDI ELOISE!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Connor Crais is my FAVORITE male narrator, and once again, he reminded me exactly WHY! The emotion, the tenderness, the longing in Easton’s voice?! GOODBYE. I’M DONE. 🫠 And Andi Eloise was absolutely phenomenal! She brought so much vulnerability and heart to her performance. Together, these two voiced their characters PERFECTLY and made an already incredible love story even better!
This book gave me ALL the butterflies, ALL the emotions, and another fictional man I’ll never recover from. Harlow James, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?! 😭💚
Review of advance copy
Thank you Smuthood for this ARC
“I’m just a man standing in front of a woman, asking her to marry me so I can take care of her.” MY GOODNESS. 🥹❤️ That line hits so differently in this book! Harlow James has done it again with *Who the Heart Chooses*.
Childhood best friends, years of buried feelings, a marriage of convenience, and one tiny but VERY important detail… the baby isn’t his. 👀 And yet, Easton doesn’t hesitate to step up for Lennon. Because when it comes to the woman he loves, this man is ready to offer her a home, a family, and the kind of love she deserves. Sir, please. My heart cannot take this. 😭❤️
I loved seeing Lennon and Easton slowly find their way back to each other. The flashbacks gave so much depth to their history, and watching all those years of unspoken feelings finally come to the surface made their journey even more meaningful. Sometimes, the person you’ve been searching for has been right beside you all along, and these two reminded me exactly why I love that trope so much. 🥹
And can we talk about the moms in this book?! Their advice had me emotional more than once. 🥺❤️ The reminder that sometimes we let fear keep us from the things we want most, that we get so caught up in the *what ifs* that we forget to consider the *even ifs*… THAT got me. What if things go wrong? What if we get hurt? What if it doesn’t work out? But **even if** things don’t go as planned, even if life gets messy, even if love asks us to be brave, maybe some things are still worth the risk.
This book gave me childhood-friends-to-lovers, emotional history, a man who chooses to show up, and the kind of heartfelt wisdom that stays with you after you turn the last page. Harlow James, you did it again! ❤️
“I’m just a man standing in front of a woman, asking her to marry me so I can take care of her.” MY GOODNESS. 🥹❤️ That line hits so differently in this book! Harlow James has done it again with *Who the Heart Chooses*.
Childhood best friends, years of buried feelings, a marriage of convenience, and one tiny but VERY important detail… the baby isn’t his. 👀 And yet, Easton doesn’t hesitate to step up for Lennon. Because when it comes to the woman he loves, this man is ready to offer her a home, a family, and the kind of love she deserves. Sir, please. My heart cannot take this. 😭❤️
I loved seeing Lennon and Easton slowly find their way back to each other. The flashbacks gave so much depth to their history, and watching all those years of unspoken feelings finally come to the surface made their journey even more meaningful. Sometimes, the person you’ve been searching for has been right beside you all along, and these two reminded me exactly why I love that trope so much. 🥹
And can we talk about the moms in this book?! Their advice had me emotional more than once. 🥺❤️ The reminder that sometimes we let fear keep us from the things we want most, that we get so caught up in the *what ifs* that we forget to consider the *even ifs*… THAT got me. What if things go wrong? What if we get hurt? What if it doesn’t work out? But **even if** things don’t go as planned, even if life gets messy, even if love asks us to be brave, maybe some things are still worth the risk.
This book gave me childhood-friends-to-lovers, emotional history, a man who chooses to show up, and the kind of heartfelt wisdom that stays with you after you turn the last page. Harlow James, you did it again! ❤️
Review of advance copy
Who the Heart Chooses
Garnet Valley #1
By Harlow James
Narrated by Connor Crais, Andie Eloise
And she's off! Harlow James has knocked it out of the park with the first book in her new Garnet Valley series. Capturing my attention from the start, I was intrigued by this group of characters, and dove right in! Easton and Lennon have been best friends forever. Always together, Easton watched Lennon make some mistakes in love as she grows up, and when he finally decides to let his heart lead the way, he finds her with one of her mistakes. That was a breaking point. Now years later, his heart still with Lennon, he finds out she is pregnant with no insurance and a father who has not interest. He needs a wife to be able to work close from home, so a marriage of convenience will solve both their problems. But will the chasm between them be able to be bridged? I loved getting to know this couple, and their families and friends. Lennon is a tough cookie. She's hard on herself, but she also loves hard. Easton is a little guarded, but his heart is really all in. So many feelings, plus we get to visit some friends from Blossom Creek! I love a good concert! This is so much fun and a great start to the series.
Who better to bring this all alive than Connor Crais and Andie Eloise? A collaboration that easily pulls me into this small town, gives me all the feels and makes me feel at home. Crais is Easton, and I cannot say enough good things about his ability to understand the assignment. He is sweet and protective, the best book boyfriend qualities. Eloise is Lennon, the spunky, tough yet vulnerable woman that brings a lot to the table when it comes to emotions. These two have introduced this small town and made me want to come back! Can't wait for more!
Garnet Valley #1
By Harlow James
Narrated by Connor Crais, Andie Eloise
And she's off! Harlow James has knocked it out of the park with the first book in her new Garnet Valley series. Capturing my attention from the start, I was intrigued by this group of characters, and dove right in! Easton and Lennon have been best friends forever. Always together, Easton watched Lennon make some mistakes in love as she grows up, and when he finally decides to let his heart lead the way, he finds her with one of her mistakes. That was a breaking point. Now years later, his heart still with Lennon, he finds out she is pregnant with no insurance and a father who has not interest. He needs a wife to be able to work close from home, so a marriage of convenience will solve both their problems. But will the chasm between them be able to be bridged? I loved getting to know this couple, and their families and friends. Lennon is a tough cookie. She's hard on herself, but she also loves hard. Easton is a little guarded, but his heart is really all in. So many feelings, plus we get to visit some friends from Blossom Creek! I love a good concert! This is so much fun and a great start to the series.
Who better to bring this all alive than Connor Crais and Andie Eloise? A collaboration that easily pulls me into this small town, gives me all the feels and makes me feel at home. Crais is Easton, and I cannot say enough good things about his ability to understand the assignment. He is sweet and protective, the best book boyfriend qualities. Eloise is Lennon, the spunky, tough yet vulnerable woman that brings a lot to the table when it comes to emotions. These two have introduced this small town and made me want to come back! Can't wait for more!
Review of advance copy received from Author
MF Small Town Romance
“You’re mine to worry about ‘til the end of time now.”
Great read!!! I absolutely loved this it was such a wonderful start to a new series. I’m looking forward to get all the Riley siblings stories!!
The slow burn and angst this book had was almost pushing my limits of what I could handle….. but it was soooo good and worth the wait….. then the delicious spice ‘chefs kiss’
There’s great banter, low drama, sexual tension that was off the charts, an amazing family, an unapologetic MMC that has a need to care for the FMC like she’s never experienced before and a FMC that has always felt like she’s made bad mistake after bad mistake.
Easton was the perfect green flag book boyfriend… dependable, caring, honest, always going above and beyond and has always loved Lennon.
Lennon never knew of Easton’s feelings and never thought of him that way….. or maybe she was just too stubborn to realize….
She had great character growth throughout the book. Especially after seeing some flashbacks.
‘Easton Buckley has always been the man I measured everyone else against, and now he’s my husband.’
No cheating, no OWD, no third act breakup with a HEA
* Former Best Friends
* Accidentally Pregnancy
* Not His Baby
* Marriage of Convenience
* Forced Proximity
* Blue Collar MMC
* FMC in Nursing School
* It’s Always Been You
* Cushions & Foot Rubs
‘Because the way she’s staring at me right now is exactly how I always wished she would. This is how I imagined this moment would feel.’
“You deserve a man who puts you and your daughter first. I may not have had that example as a kid, but I’m going to do my damn best to become the example I wish I’d had.”
“You’re mine to worry about ‘til the end of time now.”
Great read!!! I absolutely loved this it was such a wonderful start to a new series. I’m looking forward to get all the Riley siblings stories!!
The slow burn and angst this book had was almost pushing my limits of what I could handle….. but it was soooo good and worth the wait….. then the delicious spice ‘chefs kiss’
There’s great banter, low drama, sexual tension that was off the charts, an amazing family, an unapologetic MMC that has a need to care for the FMC like she’s never experienced before and a FMC that has always felt like she’s made bad mistake after bad mistake.
Easton was the perfect green flag book boyfriend… dependable, caring, honest, always going above and beyond and has always loved Lennon.
Lennon never knew of Easton’s feelings and never thought of him that way….. or maybe she was just too stubborn to realize….
She had great character growth throughout the book. Especially after seeing some flashbacks.
‘Easton Buckley has always been the man I measured everyone else against, and now he’s my husband.’
No cheating, no OWD, no third act breakup with a HEA
* Former Best Friends
* Accidentally Pregnancy
* Not His Baby
* Marriage of Convenience
* Forced Proximity
* Blue Collar MMC
* FMC in Nursing School
* It’s Always Been You
* Cushions & Foot Rubs
‘Because the way she’s staring at me right now is exactly how I always wished she would. This is how I imagined this moment would feel.’
“You deserve a man who puts you and your daughter first. I may not have had that example as a kid, but I’m going to do my damn best to become the example I wish I’d had.”
Review of advance copy
I’m super excited for this series. Blossom Peak was amazing and I know we will see the same in this series.
This book has some emotional moments and the family dynamics were heartwarming and funny at times.
Looking forward to a man that yearns? Look no further! Easton is the president of the club. He has spent most of his life yearning and it went unnoticed by the one person he needed to see it.
Lennon is a free spirit. Her youthful ambition to not do what everyone else does lets her live wild and free for years. I envy her for doing that. Living her life rather than following the crowd.
This book gives us a glimpse into the friendship that Lennon and Easton had growing up. I appreciate that we saw it word for word rather than just a reference. I was very frustrated with Lennon though. She was just so snotty to Easton. And he was way too shy about being honest. They were kids so I get it and understand. Fast forward to the present and she is still that way to him. It was frustrating to me. Easton for the most part was steady, comforting and understanding. He isn’t perfect but he treats her so like a queen. Thank goodness he knows her so well that he could see past that attitude to what was really going on with her. When they went to the concert she wanted him to trust her but why not just loop him in? That really got me. It caused unnecessary stress once again to Easton. He deserved better. Luckily she seemed to realize that too and there is a beautiful ending to their story.
After the epilogue, I’m extremely excited for the next book!
This book has some emotional moments and the family dynamics were heartwarming and funny at times.
Looking forward to a man that yearns? Look no further! Easton is the president of the club. He has spent most of his life yearning and it went unnoticed by the one person he needed to see it.
Lennon is a free spirit. Her youthful ambition to not do what everyone else does lets her live wild and free for years. I envy her for doing that. Living her life rather than following the crowd.
This book gives us a glimpse into the friendship that Lennon and Easton had growing up. I appreciate that we saw it word for word rather than just a reference. I was very frustrated with Lennon though. She was just so snotty to Easton. And he was way too shy about being honest. They were kids so I get it and understand. Fast forward to the present and she is still that way to him. It was frustrating to me. Easton for the most part was steady, comforting and understanding. He isn’t perfect but he treats her so like a queen. Thank goodness he knows her so well that he could see past that attitude to what was really going on with her. When they went to the concert she wanted him to trust her but why not just loop him in? That really got me. It caused unnecessary stress once again to Easton. He deserved better. Luckily she seemed to realize that too and there is a beautiful ending to their story.
After the epilogue, I’m extremely excited for the next book!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
📖 5/5 🌟
🎧 5/5 🌟
🌶️ 2/5
🩺 Forced proximity
🩺 Small town
🩺 Friends to Lovers
🩺 Accidental Pregnancy
🩺Lineman x Nursing Student
🩺 Marriage of Convenience
🩺 Not his Baby
🩺 It's Always Been
I have only read one other Harlow James book, but after this one, I will definitely be looking for more.
It is the first book in the new Garnet Valley series that is centered around the Riley siblings.
This is Ethan and Lennon's story. They were childhood friends who had a falling out, but later enter a marriage of convenience due to her unexpected pregnancy and his trying to secure a spot on a job close to home. It is a great story with fantastic side characters who openly discuss topics like sex and perimenopause in humorous and light-hearted ways.
I found it thoroughly entertaining and highly recommend it! Absolutely 5 🌟!
🎧Duet narration was 10 hours 17 minutes by Connor Crais and Andi Eloise. They did a great job with character differentiation and voice ranges. It was also easy to follow with the clearly noted chapters. They obviously have tremendous heart for the narrations they perform. Audio was a 5🌟 performance! They truly brought all of these characters to life and have me completely invested in them now. I am totally waiting on the next installment to be released to see what happens with Lennon's sister!!
Thank you @thesmuthood and @harlowjamesauthor for this very entertaining ALC!
🎧 5/5 🌟
🌶️ 2/5
🩺 Forced proximity
🩺 Small town
🩺 Friends to Lovers
🩺 Accidental Pregnancy
🩺Lineman x Nursing Student
🩺 Marriage of Convenience
🩺 Not his Baby
🩺 It's Always Been
I have only read one other Harlow James book, but after this one, I will definitely be looking for more.
It is the first book in the new Garnet Valley series that is centered around the Riley siblings.
This is Ethan and Lennon's story. They were childhood friends who had a falling out, but later enter a marriage of convenience due to her unexpected pregnancy and his trying to secure a spot on a job close to home. It is a great story with fantastic side characters who openly discuss topics like sex and perimenopause in humorous and light-hearted ways.
I found it thoroughly entertaining and highly recommend it! Absolutely 5 🌟!
🎧Duet narration was 10 hours 17 minutes by Connor Crais and Andi Eloise. They did a great job with character differentiation and voice ranges. It was also easy to follow with the clearly noted chapters. They obviously have tremendous heart for the narrations they perform. Audio was a 5🌟 performance! They truly brought all of these characters to life and have me completely invested in them now. I am totally waiting on the next installment to be released to see what happens with Lennon's sister!!
Thank you @thesmuthood and @harlowjamesauthor for this very entertaining ALC!
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