Release Blitz + Review: "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Erika Kelly

I am super excited to participate in today's release blitz celebrating Erika Kelly's latest novel, "Can't Help Falling in Love," book #6 in the Calamity Falls series. This book reads as a complete standalone, so readers (like me) who haven't yet picked up the earlier books in the series can easily jump in here.

This was the first book I've ever read by Ms. Kelly, but it's safe to say that it will not be the last. I adored this sweet, heartwarming, and fun story with its well-developed, endearing characters and engaging plot. I highly recommend it for all contemporary romance fans and can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the Calamity Falls books!

About "Can't Help Falling in Love"

What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas…

The moment Beckett O’Neill retires from professional sports, he swears off schedules and commitments. His new gig has him hopping from one exotic location to the next. No strings, no responsibilities. Nothing that will tie him down.

At least not until a chance encounter with the woman who stole his heart for a night in Vegas delivers the shock of a lifetime. He's got a five-year-old daughter, one who believes wholeheartedly she’s a fairy. What’s he supposed to do with that? It’s not like he even knows what being a good father looks like.

Life didn’t go exactly as Coco Cavanaugh planned. Her big dreams of launching a business are derailed when a one-night stand with a charming stranger results in a surprise pregnancy. As a single mom, she manages to find a happy balance raising her adorable and hilarious little girl, while mastering the art of chocolate-making. It’s a good, safe life. One she’s proud of.

When fate brings them together again, Coco remembers exactly why she fell into bed with the irresistible Beckett. But she’s not that free-spirited girl anymore. And his jet-setting lifestyle isn’t conducive to raising a child.

Is this a second chance at another one-night stand or the beginning of something real?

They’re everything he never wanted.

And he’s everything she didn’t think they needed.

My Review

I adored Erika Kelly's "Can't Help Falling in Love," a sweet, heartwarming, and fun story featuring endearing, well-developed characters and an engaging plot. The connection between main characters Coco and Beckett was apparent from the start, and the slow burn of their relationship development kept me on the edge of my seat, just waiting for them to finally give into their feelings. Their little daughter, Posie, was also a highlight of the story. I particularly loved her obsession with fairies and the sweet relationship she and Beckett established as they got to know one another.

I really admired Coco's bravery, independence, and resilience. It would have been so easy for her to keep Posie a secret from Beckett because of her fear that he would try to fight her for joint custody, but instead, she did what she thought was best for her daughter and invited Beckett to be a part of her life. Beyond that, Coco learned an entirely new career in a different country while preparing to become a single mother, and then came home and started a new business while caring for a newborn at the same time. It was truly amazing how much Coco managed to accomplish on her own, and I loved that Beckett saw how exceptional she was even though her family sometimes overlooked her successes.

Beckett was a great guy and it was clear that he wanted to do the right thing, but his struggle to find a place in Coco and Posie's life was completely understandable. In addition to overcoming his childhood baggage, which would have been a big hurdle for anyone, there was the fact that his career was based on travel and having new, extreme adventures. I'm sure it was terrifying for him to have to figure out a new plan, especially since that plan affected not just him but also his business partners, Coco, and Posie. It wasn't easy, but he did manage to find a solution that worked for everyone, and seeing him finally have a chance to put down roots with his family was lovely.

Overall, I highly recommend "Can't Help Falling in Love" for all fans of contemporary romance. I will definitely be reading the rest of the books in this series as soon as I find the time!

*ARC provided by the author via L. Woods PR. All opinions expressed are my own.