Scoring Mrs. Right

About the Book:

Title: Scoring Mrs. Right
Series: London Regents FC #2
Author: Marion De Re
Release Date: October 16th, 2026
Genre: Romantic Comedy

I’m not the kind of woman who ends up in a fake marriage.
I’m the kind who plans everything, avoids risks, and definitely doesn’t marry her son’s favourite professional footballer after knowing him for a few months.
And yet… here we are.
When my ex suddenly comes back into the picture and tries to get full custody of my son, Finn O’Leary offers me a solution as outrageous as it is tempting: marry him.
On paper, it’s perfectly logical. Finn has a stable home, financial security, and is always there for Sam—everything I need to fight my ex’s claims that I can’t provide the stability my son deserves. In reality, pretending to be married to the charming footballer my son already adores is becoming dangerously easy.
Because Finn cares about Sam like he’s his own.
Because he stands up for me like I’m his.
And because our “practice” kisses feel anything but.
This was supposed to be a temporary arrangement—a marriage designed to help me protect my son. But the more we pretend to be a family, the harder it becomes to remember which parts aren’t real.

Scoring Mrs. Right is a closed door sports romcom featuring a golden-retriever footballer, a guarded single mum, and one fake engagement that gets a little too real.
Perfect for readers who love banter, accidental families, and kisses that definitely don’t feel like practice.

It’s part of the London Regents FC series, where tension is high on and off the pitch—and love is always part of the game. All the books are interconnected standalones and can be read in any order.

What to expect:
-Marriage of convenience
-Sport Romance
-He Falls First
-Single Mom
-Closed door/kisses only

Book Review:

Ah, Finn finally got his book and it was so cute! I adored Finn from the other books and I was so excited to read his story. Scoring Mrs. Right is the third book in Marion De Re’s London Regents FC series.

Finn was such a sweetheart. He was a big hearted guy who really cared for those in his corner. I love how although he enjoyed soccer, he really just wanted a family. He was so sweet with Sam, they connected so quickly. He fell hard and fast for Everly. Everly was trying her best to care for Sam without crumbling under the weight of everything. She truly cared for Sam but she was also struggling. I loved her strength and the way that she always fought for Sam. I also love how she saw Finn and wanted to support him too.

Everly and Finn had some obstacles to face but they worked through it together. They became friends before they even considered marriage. I love how Sam drew them together. Their relationship was sweet and a bit quick as they got married to help Everly, however they came to truly care for each other. The story was interesting and it was fun to see the guy’s group chat.

I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to those who enjoy sports romances. The characters were lovely and I was cheering them on. Scoring Mrs. Right is a closed door romantic comedy.

What I loved:

Finn hanging out with Sam

Finn falling hard for Everly

The football team

Found family

Marriage of convenience

They support each other

I received a complimentary copy

Harvest Ball

About the Book:

Harvest Ball (Timeless Georgian Collection Book 4)

Title: Harvest Ball
Series: Timeless Georgian Collection #4
Author: Rebecca Connolly, Dana LeCheminant, Karen Thornell
Publisher: Mirror Press
Release Date: September 22nd, 2026
Genre: Historial Romance

When hearts collide at the Harvest Ball . . .

One Harvest Night by Rebecca Connolly
Caro Brooks stirs up gossip wherever she goes. Not intentionally, it is simply the effect of not being engaged to her childhood friend when everyone thought she would be. Three years ago, Silas Darby had left without a word to her, and the entire village has questions. Caro has spent all that time missing him and blaming herself for never telling him how she truly felt. One cannot get engaged to a childhood friend if love and matrimony are never spoken between them, no matter what the gossip says. Then, on the night of the harvest ball, Silas reappears, and he has one thing on his mind: claiming Caro for his own once and for all. But will the years of distance and heartache be too great an obstacle? Or will the unspoken feelings between them bridge this gap and give them both the future they dreamed of?

Against All Arrangements by Dana LeCheminant
Sir James Hartwell has never shied away from duty, but when his mother announces she has found him the perfect wife, he would much rather avoid the arrangement for as long as possible. Hannah Faircott is doing the very same thing. After meeting by chance while both hiding from matchmaking mothers, their paths continue to cross, and what begins as simple curiosity quickly turns into genuine affection. But when James and Hannah discover they are both being matched by their mothers, a troubling possibility emerges—they may be intended for each other after all. And neither wishes to know the truth, because if their feelings are real, they want them freely chosen, not shaped by duty or obligation.

Recalling Lord Ellison by Karen Thornell
When Grace Whitmore returns to Kent after an accident leaves her with gaps in her memory, Benedict Ellison is forcibly reminded of the engagement he unknowingly ruined. Once, his parents arranged and dissolved the match without his consent; now they insist he make amends, claiming fate has offered him a second chance to win the bride he never sought. But as Benedict spends time with the gentle, sharp-witted woman he was meant to marry, he finds himself drawn to her in ways he cannot ignore. Caught between duty, deception, and a heart he never expected to stir, Benedict must decide whether rewriting the past is worth risking his future.

Book Review:

One Harvest Night by Rebecca Connolly

What a sweet story! I really liked Caro! She felt very genuine and I loved how she cared for her sisters. Caro was determined to continue moving forward despite Silas’s exit from her life. I admired her composure and emotional intelligence. Silas was so earnest! I felt for him, he had made some impulsive and emotional decisions and was now trying to work it out. I appreciated how they communicated and the maturity both of them had.

The story was quick, but I sill felt like I could jump in and relate to the characters. I also found the side characters quite sweet! Both Caro and Silas’s siblings were a lot of fun. This was a sweet historical romance with friends to more and second chance vibes.

Against All Arrangements by Dana LeCheminant

This was so fun! I really felt for both James and Hannah. They both just wanted the freedom to choose. Their chance meeting offered the opportunity to connect and truly get to know each other. James and Hannah were so sweet together and I loved the antics as they avoided their mothers. Both of their mothers truly cared for them, but were just a bit overbearing.

I also enjoyed Everrett and Lousia! They both had their own stories and I would love to see more of them in the future! This was a quick-moving story full of fun.

Recalling Lord Ellison by Karen Thornell

The amnesia trope is not a common one for me, but I really enjoyed this one! I really liked Grace! She was very genuine, even with her awareness of the social world. Her amnesia offered her an opportunity to try learn about herself. Even though at first Benedict was mostly trying to make amends, he quickly became intrigued by Grace. I loved how they were able to truly connect and learn about each other.

I really enjoyed the story and seeing the adventures they had! It was very sweet to see the progression and I appreciated how they communicated, even with the emotions.

This collection is all themed around the Harvest Ball and there are interwoven characters. All the stories are standalone and have only kisses.

I received an ARC.

The Emma Special

About the Book:

Title: The Emma Special
Series: Kiss and Tell #1
Author: Mandi Blake, Tasha Hackett
Release Date: October 2nd, 2026
Genre: Romantic Comedy

One hitchhiking fairy. One lawyer late for work. Enter: Confetti.

Emma Glass might pretend to be a princess for birthday parties, but her life is anything but a fairytale. Too bad princess gigs don’t pay into a 401K or provide health insurance—something she desperately needs for an old knee injury.

James Moore’s life changed the day he stopped to give a fairy a ride to book club. Now his high school crush is the new assistant at his law firm, and he’s falling for her all over again.

And when Emma won’t accept his money for knee surgery, he proposes another, totally reasonable solution—marriage.

They couldn’t be more different, and this marriage is supposed to be…convenient. Neither of them is prepared for when it starts to look less like a business agreement and more like happily ever after.

The Emma Special is a Christian, smalltown romance with depth and lots of laughs. The Kiss and Tell series centers around a hilarious group of women who stick by each other through thick and thin and should be read in order.

Book Review:

Oh, I loved Emma! She was just a bright light in this book but she was also struggling to hold herself up. James was also the sweetest and really tried to support Emma. The Emma Special is the first book in Mandi Blake and Tasha Hackett’s new series, Kiss and Tell. I was so excited to see that Mandie Blake was going to write a romcom and it was so cute!

I felt so bad for Emma. She was really positive but she was definitely struggling to find her place. I loved how she leaned on her faith and friends as she navigated the challenges she was facing. Emma had to learn to find her identity in Christ and accept help. James was also a sweetheart. He had fallen hard for Emma but he didn’t want to overwhelm her. I loved how he wanted to protect her and provide for her. James had to learn what it looked like to care for Emma and how to prioritize the important things in life.

The romance was perfect! I loved the progression of their relationship. They started as friends and grew to more as they worked together. Marriage of convenience is my favorite trope and it was fun to read about James and Emma falling in love. I love the way that faith was woven into this story. Emma’s friends were so fun and I love the way that they supported her.

I adored this book and I would totally recommend it! I loved the characters and the story. I am so excited for the rest of the books in this series. I know that they are going to be amazing. The Emma Special is a clean romantic comedy

What I loved:

Found family

Marriage of convenience

He takes care of her

Good communication

Faith based

Whimsy

I received a complimentary copy

What Could Go Right?

About the Book:

What Could Go Right? : The Heart of Nashville Book 6

Title: What Could Go Right
Series: The Heart of Nashville #6
Author: Jessica Wakefield
Release Date: October 5th, 2026
Genre: Christian Romance

He spent three years burying his heart. She keeps bringing it back to life.

Neve Sutton loves her quiet life running Melody’s Café and hanging with her close-knit group of friends in East Nashville. Staying safely behind the scenes has always suited her just fine—until a local television station offers her the chance to host a ten-week Nashville Natives Take on Nashville series.

Suddenly, the life she’s carefully protected begins to change.

Jay Mayfield has spent the last three years keeping the world at arm’s length after losing his fiancée. Quiet, dependable, and always the first to step in when something goes wrong, Jay is far more comfortable helping other people than facing his own grief.

Helping Neve with the show should have been simple.

Instead, somewhere between chaotic filming days, late-night drives, and the growing realization that his best friend is changing, Jay finds himself feeling things he never thought he would.

Because sometimes the scariest question isn’t what could go wrong?

It’s… what could go right?

A faith themed, heartfelt friends-to-more romance featuring an emotionally guarded hero, a bright and witty heroine, and a story about grief, friendship, and finding the courage to move forward.

Book Review:

4.5 stars

This is the first book that I have read by Jessica Wakefield but it will not be my last. I really enjoyed the characters and the story. I can’t believe that this series is coming to an end. I am so sad to say goodbye to these characters but Neve and Jay definitely deserved their story. What Could Go Right is written by Jessica Wakefield and it is the 6th book in the Heart of Nashville series

I have been waiting for Neve and Jay’s book and it did not disappoint. There was so much history between the two and I loved how they just knew each other. Jay and Neve had been friends for quite some time and never expected to be more, but circumstances pushed them together and disrupted their friendship. They were honestly just so cute together! They understood each other and pushed each other. But they had to figure out if they were willing to let go of their fears and try for something more.

Both Neve and Jay had some growing to do. Jay was still grieving and he had to learn to trust God. He had to be willing to let go of his fears and let others in. Neve feared not being enough. I loved reading about her growth as she hosted a youtube channel and learned to try new things. Throughout it all they supported each other.

The story was interesting and I wanted to see how everything would work out. There were a couple of twists and turns and I didn’t want to put the book down. I loved seeing the old characters, they had made their friends their family. It was also fun to read about Neve’s Filipino side. I love that faith is woven into the book especially as Neve and Jay grapple with trusting God and letting go of their fears. I would totally recommend this book. What Could Go Right is a Clean Christian romance.

What I loved:

Neve and Jay together

Friends to lovers

Found family

Filipino representation

Food

Finding your passion

Learning to trust God

Faith and growth

I received a complimentary copy

Falling for Keeps

About the Book:

Falling for Keeps: A Sweet Small Town Romcom

Title: Falling for Keeps
Series: Falling for Autumn #4
Author: Kasey Stockton
Release Date: September 2nd, 2026
Genre: Romantic Comedy

He was supposed to be one kiss…not the neighbor across the street.

As the children’s librarian in Autumn Ridge, Emma spends her days surrounded by happy endings. But between restoring her old farmhouse, keeping her family together, and searching for a decent man in a very small town, her own romance feels permanently shelved.

Then one impulsive night at a bar, she kisses Carson Price—the popular guy she crushed on in high school.

For Emma, it’s a reckless little dream come true.

For Carson, it’s a fun night with a beautiful woman he never expects to see again.

Until the next morning… when he moves in across the street.

Newly divorced, cynical, and focused on raising his daughter while rebuilding the dental practice he just bought, Carson has no interest in love. Marriage? Never again. Romance? Absolutely not.

Friendship with his warm, bookish, unexpectedly tempting neighbor? That might be safe enough.

Except Emma has never been good at doing anything halfway. And the more he lets her into his life, the harder it is for either of them to pretend friendship is all this is.

She’s ready to fall. He’s determined not to. But in a small town, staying just friends might be the hardest thing of all. Falling for Keeps is a sweet, single dad, sworn-off love romantic comedy set in the small town of Autumn Ridge.**This book is part of the Falling for Autumn series, eight interconnected stand-alone novels written by eight amazing authors. They can be enjoyed in any order.

Book Review:

This was adorable! I was so excited to start this story and it was so good! Emma and Carson were so sweet together and I loved Penny. Autumn Ridge is so cozy and so fun to return to.

Emma was so sweet! I definitely related to her as a fellow book lover and an oldest daughter myself! She was constantly doing things for others and trying to care for them. Emma was learning how to let others help her. She was looking for her Happily Ever After, but felt a bit stuck. Carson was adorable! I loved how he took care of Emma and how tangible it was. He was thoughtful and so sweet. Carson was also an incredible dad to Penny! He so obviously prioritized her and so many of his choices were centered around her. Carson felt the weight of returning home divorced and needing a fresh start. He was determined not to fall in love, but felt so drawn to Emma.

I loved Emma and Carson together! It was so sweet to watch them work together on the clinic and how he showed up for her. I also loved the way Emma connected with Penny! Emma was so genuine in wanting to support her and help her. Penny was definitely one of my favorite characters in this, but I also loved seeing all the characters in a different POV. Having the opportunity to read multiple books in the series really adds to the depth of the world! This is a sweet romcom with only kisses.

I received an ARC.

The Fall Classic

About the Book:

The Fall Classic: A Cinderella Sports Romcom (Catching Feelings Book 4)

Title: The Fall Classic
Series: Catching Feelings #4
Author: Kate Watson
Release Date: September 18th, 2026
Genre: Romantic Comedy

He spent six months looking for the beautiful, bookish girl who dropped a patch.
Finding her was the easy part.

Logan

I grip too hard.

My pitch. My family. Even the memory of Georgie, the girl I met six months ago at a Spring Training fan event. The girl with the dimpled smile, the coffee-shop patch pinned to her Chucks, and a beat-up paperback in her hands.

While I should be working on the spiraling anxiety wrecking my pitch, I find myself looking for Georgie instead. In every ballpark. Every coffee shop. Every city our team passes through.

Then I get sent down to the minors, walk into a coffee shop that feels like home—
And there she is.

Suddenly, my anxiety takes a back seat to the gorgeous girl who wears her grief like a badge of honor instead of something to hide.

But when you’ve spent your whole life gripping the things you’re afraid to lose, how do you know the difference between holding someone…

and holding on too hard?

Georgie

A dream is a wish that breaks your heart, which is why I don’t let myself dream.

My mother’s gone. My stepmother runs her coffee shop now. And I stopped believing in more a long time ago.

Then a handsome baseball player spends thirty minutes talking books with me, and I spend six months trying to forget him. Until one night, he walks into my coffee shop with my name already on his lips, and suddenly, I can’t make my heart stop wanting things I know I can’t have.

Somewhere between bookish debates, quinceañera dance floors, and a Jeep the color of a pumpkin, I start letting myself believe.

But when Logan gets called up to the Majors in time for the World Series—the Fall Classic itself—everything changes.

He’s about to live the dream he’s chased his whole life.
I’ve limited mine to this sleepy Southern town.

It’s classic, all right.
Classic heartbreak.

The Fall Classic is a deliciously swoony, closed-door baseball rom-com with laugh-out-loud banter, slow-burn chemistry, small-town charm, and found family, all with no explicit content. Books in the Catching Feelings series can be read in any order.

Book Review:

Oh, this was so good! It hurt my heart at times but I loved getting to know these characters. The Fall Classic is the fifth book in Kate Watson’s Catching Feelings series. We finally get to see Logan’s perspectives and boy did he need his own book. Logan and Georgie were both struggling in different ways and I loved how they found their person in each other.

I felt for both Logan and Georgie, they were both going through so much. I loved how real they felt. They had to learn to overcome their struggles and find the strength to move on. I was cheering for them as they figured out what they wanted. Logan was such a sweetheart. It was nice to finally get to see more behind his fears and really see him. I loved his growth throughout the book and how thoughtful he was. Georgie was also a lovely character. She was so strong and yet people had been bringing her down. I loved seeing her learn to stand up for herself.

The romance was sweet, it was slow burn. Both Georige and Logan needed to take it slow as they learned more about themselves, but they definitely fell hard. I loved their relationship and how they encouraged each other. They became each other’s safe place. The story was interesting. It was fun to see different sides of baseball and read about Georgie running a coffee truck. I loved seeing some of the old characters too.

I would totally recommend The Fall Classic! The characters were lovable and I didn’t want to put the book down. I am excited to see what will come next in the series! The Fall Classic is a closed door romantic comedy.

What I loved:

The realness of the characters

Facing fears and anxiety

Being brave

Family and sibling chats

Coffee

Baseball and books

I received a complimentary copy

The Faithful Cowboy

About the Book:

The Faithful Cowboy: A Sweet Western Historical Romance (Noble Ranch Book 4)

Title: The Faithful Cowboy
Series: Noble Ranch #4
Author: Jody Hedlund
Publisher: Northern Lights Press
Release Date: December 8th, 2026
Genre: Historical Romance

As a widow with young children, rancher Lottie Wilkes is determined to do two things. First, she’s determined not to get married again so that she doesn’t become like her fickle mother, who’s had many husbands. Second, Lottie wants to prosper and protect her ranch, which is proving hard to do against those who think there’s no place for women in ranching.

Jameson Noble has been a drifting cowboy since the day he ran away from home after a falling-out with his family. As he arrives at the Longhorn Ranch hoping for work, he finds himself in the middle of a gun battle, helping the beautiful ranch owner fend off the neighbor, who’s been harassing her.

Grateful for the assistance, Lottie agrees to hire Jameson for a month, which is as long as he’s willing to stay. His steady and faithful presence wins over her sons, and it’s not long before she’s falling for the drifter too. When her boys beg her to convince Jameson to be their new father, she refuses to consider love and remarriage . . . until it’s too late and she stands to lose everything.

Drifter
Cowboy for hire
Wounded hero
Prodigal hero
Strong and independent heroine
Widow with children
Pretend marriage turns into more

The inspirational themes in this book are light, and the romance is the primary focus. While the romance is sizzling and the kisses swoony, both the language and physical attraction are clean and wholesome.

Book Review:

Oh, this was such an interesting book. I was excited to get to read Jameson’s book and it did not disappoint. The Faithful Cowboy is the 4th book in Jody Hedlund’s Noble Ranch series. We got to see hints of Jameeson but it was cool to learn more about him.

Jameson was angry and just trying to figure out his place. He had left his own and hadn’t looked back. Lottie was trying to protect her land and her children. They weren’t looking for love but they found themselves drawn to each other as Jameson worked on Lottie’s land.

Jameson and Lottie were definitely attracted to each other but it was sweet to read about them falling in love. The plot was also interesting. I didn’t know if Jameson would stay and then the twist at the end definitely had me on the edge of my seat. I really liked how Jameson sought to protect Lottie and her boys. I adored Lottie’s boys! They were so sweet and they really looked up to Jameson.

This was a fun book! I enjoyed reading it and I would recommend it to those who enjoy historical romances. I am super excited for the next book! The Faithful Cowboy is a closed door historical romance.

What I liked:

The character growth

Family

Lottie’s boys

Jameson and Lottie together

I received a complimentary copy

Resisting the Fall

About the Book:

Resisting the Fall: A Sweet and Cozy Fall Romantic Comedy

Title: Resisting the Fall
Series: Falling for Autumn #3
Author: Jess Heileman
Release Date: August 26th, 2026
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Their divorce never finalized. Neither did their feelings.

The discovery that I was still legally married — years after I thought my divorce was final — was supposed to be the worst thing to happen to me this fall.

It wasn’t.

Because apparently the state of Vermont believes in closure. And no regrets. And court-ordered thirty-day reconciliation efforts. So now, in order to fast-track my divorce from Bennett Walker—my high school sweetheart and the man who walked out on our marriage six years ago—I’m being forced back to the small town we grew up in to spend an entire month proving our relationship isn’t worth saving.

A situation Ben annoyingly finds amusing.

Which is why I plan to make this the most memorable, insufferable, torturous thirty days of his life. As a prank-loving aficionado, I have countless ideas about how to drive Ben crazy while keeping myself focused on the goal: finalizing our divorce.

With my life in New York and a career I absolutely love, not even deeply embedded habits and old feelings can threaten my resolve.

I’m resolved.

So resolved.

Absolutely, definitely, one hundred percent resolved. And if I keep saying it, maybe this time around, I’ll be capable of resisting the fall.

Book Review:

This was a cozy second-chance romance in the Falling for Autumn series! I was so excited to return to Autumn Ridge. I have been loving this series and was so excited to read Maven and Ben’s story.

It was really fun to have the mix of POVs and timeline. We really get to see Maven and Ben’s relationship unfold as well as how they reconnect. I loved reading about how they grew up together and the development of their relationship. They were adorable as kids and I loved the insight into their families as well. The past is in Ben’s POV and it was so sweet to see their growth through his eyes.

Maven was quite spunky! I loved her energy, but it took me a bit to understand her. She was so frustrated with Ben and yet she still cared so deeply. I am not a pranks person, so some of that made me cringe a bit, but it was pretty funny! The present narration is in her POV and I felt for her as she struggled with reconciling her past and present.

Autumn Ridge is adorable and I love both Maven and Ben’s families! Carson and Penny were adorable and I am excited to read more about them! It was also really fun to see Ben and his brothers. His parents were so sweet too. The town is full of quirky and meddling characters that are so fun to see. This charming romcom is full of heart and pranks! It has only kisses.

I received an ARC

In Every Chapter

About the Book:

In Every Chapter: A Sweet Amnesia Rom-Com (The Reluctant Romantics)

Title: In Every Chapter
Series: The Reluctant Romantics: #2
Author: Morgan Taylor Giesbrecth
Release Date: May 29th, 2026
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Like my favourite bookish heroines, I found the love of a lifetime, except I can’t remember how…

Paisley:
My summer plans were simple. Kiss my husband, snuggle my dog, and create an elite reading list for the library. Losing seven years’ worth of memories after near-death by window artistry, thanks to my klutzy nature? Absolutely not part of the plan.

In one short day, I went from stealing kisses with Greyson to waking up in the hospital to a handsome stranger—the man I forgot I married. Every memory of us is a blank slate, and I’m in the middle of a life I dreamed of but can’t remember.

But there are three things I’m sure of:

I have no intention of letting a man break my heart again
For all his grumpiness, Greyson has a heart of gold. Better than any fictional hero
And my heart is very much in danger of falling in love again…with my husband

Greyson:

My time in the Marines didn’t prepare me for this kind of campaign—Operation Woo My Wife. Of all the nightmares I’ve struggled with since my last mission overseas, Paisley forgetting me was never one of them.

Competing against old and forgotten memories brings its own kind of challenges, but I’m not giving up. She already has my heart. I just need to win hers back.

Because I can’t fail her again.
I want to be the hero she remembers.

In Every Chapter is an amnesia rom-com featuring an already married couple refalling in love, plenty of heartfelt healing, everyday faith, swoony banter, and laugh aloud small town shenanigans—all without the spice.

Book Review:

Ah, this was just as good as I had hoped. I am so glad that I found Morgan Taylor Giesbrecht’s books, they have been so good! In Every Chapter is the second book in Morgan Taylor Giesbrecht’s The Reluctant Romantics series. I was so excited to read Greyson and Paisley’s book, and boy were they going through a lot.

I felt for both Greyson and Paisley as they tried to navigate their relationship and feelings. They had fallen in love a couple of years ago but an incident with amnesia found them close to strangers. I loved both Greyson and Paisley! It was sweet to read about Greyson trying to win Paisley while also respecting her feelings. Paisley wasn’t sure how to feel about Greyson but I loved how she never gave up. Their romance was the sweetest and I loved how they tried to talk to each other.

I loved this book and I am so excited for the books to come! Everyone needs their own stories. It was also fun to see some old characters. I would totally recommend this book! In Every Chapter is a closed door contemporary romance. It is a sweet romance but it also deals with real problems and feelings.

What I loved about this book:

Found family

Friend groups

He takes care of her

She’s a librarian

Cute puppy

Learning to grow

Overcoming fears

Content Warnings:

Infertility, military PTSD and injuries, nightmares, domestic abuse (previous relationship, off-screen), alcoholic mother, parental neglect, growing up in foster care, and grief.

Defensive Indiffence

About the Book:

Defensive Indifference: A Savannah Sharks Baseball Romance (Southern Sports Sweethearts Book 4)

Title: Defensive Indifference
Series: Southern Sports Sweethearts
Author: M J Padgett
Release Date: September 25th, 2026
Genre: Contemporary Romance

When life gives you fresh out of the oven donuts, it’s probably not a good idea to drop them on the swoony baseball player’s lap.

After a very public incident, all pro-baseball player Koa Keaton wants is to be left alone. But everywhere he goes, reporters flash cameras in his face, begging for a statement about his crumbling life. When Koa dips into a local donut shop to escape the entourage of stalkers, he doesn’t expect to find yet another groupie desperate for his attention.

Evalina Renn has enough on her plate with a young child, a struggling business, and a stack of never ending bills. The last thing she needs is to deal with a cocky baseball player who thinks he’s too special to sign a simple autograph, even if he is her son’s favorite Savannah Sharks player. Still, she doesn’t mean to accidentally dump a scalding hot stack of donuts onto his lap, leaving the star player covered in chocolate frosting.

Koa isn’t proud of his overreaction to the waitress, especially when it ends up on every local news outlet. To top it off, the woman refuses to accept his apology. His repeated attempts to make things right are met by slamming doors, frustrated groans, and utter humiliation. The worst part is he can’t stop thinking about her and what it might be like to kiss her until she smiles.

Defensive Indifference is a sweet, meet disaster, enemies to lovers romance with faith elements and a side of comedy!

Book Review:

Oh, I have been waiting for the next book in this series. I adore M. J. Padgett’s books and this series have been so fun! Defensive Indifference is the fourth book in M.J. Padgett’s Southern Sports Sweetheart. This follows Koa who is a baseball player.

Poor Koa, he was struggling. His whole world was upended and he was not handling it well. Koa seemed a bit hotheaded at times but he was trying to learn from his mistakes. It was interesting to get to know him better and see how he truly did care for those in his circle. Evalina was just trying her best. She wanted to provide the best life for her son, Dustin, but she was struggling. Evalina was a bit frustrating at times but I understood her.

Koa and Evalina definitely got off on the wrong foot but they came to understand each other. They both had some growing to do as they learned to forgive and move forward. Their interactions made sense but it did lead them to some fights which may or may not have included donuts. Koa and Evalina were definitely entertaining as they learned to put aside their differences. However they truly did go to love and understand each other. I love the way that Koa tried to help and support Evalina.

The romance was sweet and slow burn. The plot was so interesting! Koa’s family situation was engaging and I wanted to see how everything would work out. I also loved reading about Koa connecting with Dustin. The side characters were a lot of fun! I see hints of new books. I really enjoyed this and I would definitely recommend it! Defensive Indifference is a closed door romantic comedy.

What I loved:

Redemption and forgiveness

New characters

The baseball team

Koa’s sister and Spencer!

Dustin interacting with Koa

Baking!

Single mom who works hard

Faith

I received a complimentary copy