I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – I’m a huge fan of Falon Ballard’s books. While I’ve loved every one I’ve read (and I have read them all!), this one was by far my favorite. You think you’ve figured out the ending, but you’re in for a surprise when what you assumed would be the conclusion appears about two-thirds of the way through the book. It’s only then that you realize it was all a setup, and Falon Ballard completely floors you with the denouement. What truly kept this book glued to my hands and my curiosity thoroughly piqued, though, was the journey itself. Unlike Falon’s other books, this one isn’t your typical romance – it’s definitely more of a personal growth, women’s fiction, and self-discovery cocktail, with a contemporary romance side-chaser. Change of Heart takes you on one heck of a character-development ride as we join Campbell on her unexpected quest to find love in the most unlikely of places.

Campbell Andrews doesn’t have time for this dating and love nonsense. Her only focus is becoming the rightful owner of her family’s law firm once her grandmother retires – a carrot her grandmother has dangled in front of her since she was nine years old, handpicked to be her successor. The catch? She has to jump through any hoop Grandmother deems necessary to prove she’s worthy. That includes, for some inexplicable reason, going on pointless blind date after pointless blind date.

Campbell plays along – after all, who doesn’t enjoy a free meal? – but she always sets the record straight before the drinks even arrive: she’s not interested in small talk, connection, or, heaven forbid, the ridiculous notion of love or the shame that is commitment. No one and nothing is going to change her mind about that – not even her latest date, a handsome pediatric surgeon named Ben. Ignoring the faint spark of chemistry between them, Campbell bids her latest victim goodnight and refocuses on the task at hand: prepping for the biggest meeting of her career, the one that will finally secure her place at the head of the table once and for all.

Except, when she wakes up on the big day, she finds herself in her worst nightmare. Trapped in a town that looks like it was ripped straight out of a Hallmark movie, Campbell convinces herself it’s just a bad dream… until she can’t wake up. Worse, it turns out she’s not alone. Her blind date, Ben, is also stuck in this pastel-colored nightmare. The ringleader who orchestrated this absurd situation? None other than their love-obsessed, delusional server from the night before – Mimi.

Campbell quickly discovers that the only way back to her real life is to complete three “simple tasks.” She figures she has a better chance of bringing about world peace, but, never one to back down from a challenge, Campbell sets out to do whatever it takes for Mimi to return her to the life she knows. As she faces the obstacles ahead, she starts to realize they may force her to rethink everything she thought she believed. And who knows? Maybe, just maybe, she’ll have a change of heart.

One of the things I loved most about this book was how many of us could relate to different parts of Campbell’s character. For some, it might be her background and upbringing; for others, it might be her drive, determination, and need to protect herself. If you don’t put yourself out there, you can’t get hurt. If you don’t depend on others, they can’t let you down. If you don’t let people into your heart, they can’t break it. Campbell didn’t see herself as someone who could be truly loved or accepted for who she was; instead, she measured her worth by what she could bring to the table. If she could just do better, be better, or achieve more, she’d finally be worthy of someone’s time. 

That’s what made her journey so absorbing – it wasn’t just about the tasks she was forced to complete, but the way they exposed her vulnerabilities and challenged her beliefs. She was set up to fail, but it was necessary to break down the walls she had built. You can’t teach humility; you have to endure it, and for someone who thrived on perfection, that was a tough shell to crack. 

While I always love getting under the hood of a character’s psyche, this is a “sit back and enjoy” kind of book. There’s so much happening that you don’t have time to overanalyze or nitpick – you’re constantly engaged, whether it’s following Campbell as she tries (and hilariously fails) to complete her tasks or getting to know the unforgettable residents of the town. And then there’s Mimi (I would NOT mess with that woman!). The antics Campbell gets roped into and the disasters she causes are as entertaining as they are humbling. Again, as a perfectionist, you kind of root for her to fail – not out of cruelty, but because you want her to admit that it’s okay not to have all the answers. The heartbreaking part, though, is that every time she acknowledges her flaws, it feels less like self-acceptance and more like she’s echoing her grandmother’s voice – a painful reminder of how deeply her self-worth is tied to external validation.

That is one of the reasons I always appreciate books that, while fictional, make you reflect on your own life and choices. Are you truly happy, or are you just settling? Is it safer to stay within the confines of contentment, or is true happiness found in pushing outside your comfort zone? What opportunities might you be missing because you’re too afraid to take risks or make mistakes?

With that in mind, this book also poses an intriguing question: What happens when all the noise goes away? When you strip away your daily routine, the expectations, and the familiar comfort zones, what do you discover about yourself? Are your beliefs and perceptions truly your own, or have you simply accepted them because they’re convenient and safe? Is your “normal” life genuinely fulfilling, or are you settling for something that feels easier but might actually be holding you back?

Switching from triggering an existential crisis to the breath-catching spice of this book, Falon Ballard pushed the envelope on this one, and let me tell you – it was a pleasant surprise. She has always brought the heat, but I felt like she normally gave you one good scene and kept the rest relatively tame. I noticed the shift in Right on Cue and definitely saw it here. The added heat made me fall for Ben even harder (who knew he had it in him?). I swear those are my favorite moments, when a character catches you off guard in the best possible way.

As much as I enjoyed the heat, humor, and surprises of this book, what truly broke my heart was watching Campbell struggle to love and see herself for who she really was. What struck me the most was realizing just how much Campbell couldn’t love herself, see herself, or truly know and appreciate her worth. She was so determined to walk this one rigid path, to see life in just one way, that it took removing her from everything she knew. And then, once she started to acclimate, it took showing her exactly who she was – and what she was doing – through the lens of another to finally help her understand not only what life had to offer but everything she had to offer life. The ending was so insanely powerful that you felt it in every part of your being. You were right there with her, possibly even having your own epiphany.

Five books in, Falon Ballard’s writing is just as fresh and captivating as it was in the beginning. Her ability to entertain and inspire never ceases to amaze me. Keep it up, Falon – amazing job yet again!