✨ Falling for Sweet River ~ A Small Town Romance Series Worth the Binge
- Marisa
- Sep 4
- 3 min read
I was so lucky to receive an ARC of Olivia’s Only Pretending by Rebecca Jo Jackson ~ but when I went to start reading, I realized it was a book 3 in her Sweet River series. Naturally, I couldn’t stop myself from binging the first three (plus the novella) before diving into the ARC. Best decision ever!
Romance is my favorite genre, so the one book turning into four felt like a gift! 🎁 What I loved is how Rebecca Jo Jackson writes a true slow burn. She masters the tension, the yearning, and the dreamiest book boyfriends. Her heroines may take their sweet time (sometimes painfully so 😅) ~ but when they finally get there, it’s worth every page.
These are clean ~ closed door romances (expect kisses, not spice), but the emotional payoff and swoony tension make it work beautifully. Add in a cozy small town setting with interconnected standalones, and it’s basically my comfort formula. Sweet River feels like a place you want to linger ~ and while each story stands on its own, I recommend reading in order to soak up all the character connections.
📖 It Couldn’t Be You (Book 1)
FMC: Emma ~ an overthinking writer at a crossroads.
MMC: Gabriel ~ her best friend’s brother who just came home.
Trope: Best friend’s brother ~ forbidden slow burn.
Thoughts: This book gave me all the “off-limits but undeniable” vibes. Emma’s messy post-breakup life collides with Gabe’s return, and the longing here? Delicious. Their relationship unfolds with such tenderness and tension that I couldn’t put it down.
Find it here on KU or in paperback!
📖 Lucy Loves Him Not (Book 2)
FMC: Lucy ~ a kindergarten teacher fiercely protective of her grandmother’s festival tradition.
MMC: Adam ~ the new city manager ready to shake things up.
Trope: Enemies to lovers ~ reluctant partnership.
Thoughts: The banter was top-tier. Lucy and Adam’s clashes turn into sparks, and it’s the perfect mix of stubbornness, chemistry, and heartfelt growth. If you love when two strong personalities collide and slowly discover they’re better together ~ this one’s for you.
Find it here on KU or in paperback!
📖 One Little Chance (Holiday Novella)
FMC: Sophia ~ returns to Sweet River after eight years away, carrying old memories and unresolved feelings.
MMC: Jordan ~ her childhood sweetheart, the one she never quite got over.
Trope: Second chance romance ~ first love revisited ~ holiday novella.
Thoughts: Sophia moves home right before Christmas, only to run into Jordan at every turn ~ from Christmas Eve to New Year’s to all their old favorite haunts. What starts as chance encounters slowly feels like fate. Cozy, festive, and full of heart ~ this novella is the perfect bite-sized dose of Sweet River magic and a beautiful reminder that one little chance is all you need.
Find it here on KU or in paperback!
📖 Olivia’s Only Pretending (Book 3)
FMC: Olivia (her time to shine fully).
MMC: Victor ~ younger, charming, endlessly patient.
Trope: Fake dating ~ younger man/older woman twist ~ slow burn yearning.
Thoughts: Watching Olivia’s walls slowly fall as Victor proves himself? Chef’s kiss. Their pretend romance evolves into a swoon-worthy partnership, and the payoff here is just so satisfying. This book honestly made me forgive how long the FMCs take to get there ~ because the author even acknowledges it in such a clever way. Olivia + Victor may just be my new comfort couple.
Find it here on KU or in paperback!
🌿 Series-Wide Themes
What makes Sweet River so special isn’t just the romance (though the swoony slow burns are everything) ~ it’s the sense of community, second chances, and family ties that runs through each book. Sweet River itself feels like a character ~ a place that nudges people back together, offers room for healing, and reminds us that love often shows up when we least expect it.
Jackson writes her heroines with depth ~ flawed but relatable women who protect their hearts fiercely. Her heroes are patient, steady, and exactly the kind of book boyfriends you want to swoon over. And together, these stories create a comforting reminder: love is worth the wait.
💛 Who Should Read This Series?
Pick up the Sweet River series if you love:
✨ Small town settings that feel like home
✨ Slow burn romances full of yearning
✨ Dreamy book boyfriends with hearts of gold
✨ Clean ~ closed door storytelling with all the swoony payoff
✨ Interconnected standalones that are even better in order!
✨ Sweet River is full of longing glances, kisses, and happily ever afters worth waiting for. Whether you’re in the mood for a cozy binge or a comfort read to return to again and again, Sweet River has you covered. ✨
Learn more about Sweet River and Rebecca Jo Jackson at https://rebeccajojackson.com/
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