Returning to Cedar Falls was never part of the plan, but when Jackson’s father unexpectedly passes away, he’s forced to face the family inn—and Pia, the beautiful and captivating woman his father hired to restore it. She’s everything he’s learned to avoid—beautiful, tempting, and off-limits—but working together on the inn tests his resolve in ways he never expected. As their connection deepens, Jackson must decide: stick to the pact that’s kept him safe, or risk everything for the possibility of love.

This book had me giddy with all the romance!

Fallen Hearts is the first book in The Bachelor Pact series by Cissy Mecca. The story revolves around two people, Mason and Pia, who live in a small town. When Mason returns to his hometown to take over his family’s inn, he doesn’t expect to clash with Pia, the woman hired to help restore the place. Bound by a promise to never fall in love, Mason finds himself in trouble when feelings start to spark.

I absolutely loved the connection between Mason and Pia — the chemistry was undeniable and so well developed. Their slow-burn romance kept me smiling and swooning the whole time. The character building in this book was solid too. The small-town vibes were strong — cozy, charming, and filled with warmth.

If you’re a fan of small-town romances with slow-burn chemistry, lovable friend groups, and a broody MMC who slowly falls for the sunshiney heroine — this one’s for you!

Can’t wait to see what’s next in The Bachelor Pact series!

I loved this book so much. I am a sucker for books where two people are meeting and getting to know each other. I actually feel butterflies. This book was very well written and I fell in love myself with Mason. Looking forward to book #2 in this series

Steamy Small-Town Romance with Heart
Pia arrives in town hoping for a fresh start, only to discover that the man who hired her to manage his inn has passed away. Now, she’s left dealing with his son, Mason—a man who initially wants nothing to do with her or the inn. Certain she’ll have to pack up and leave in defeat, Pia is surprised when Mason has a change of heart.
As they work together, their undeniable attraction sparks sizzling chemistry. But Mason is torn—his bachelor pact with his friends looms over him, and he’s unsure whether to keep the inn or sell it and return to the big city. Will he risk love for the sake of a promise, or will he embrace the unexpected happiness Pia brings into his life?
If you enjoy steamy, small-town romances filled with passion and emotional depth, this entertaining story is worth a read.

My first book by this author and it was a fun read!

Pia has moved to the small town of Cedar Falls for a new job managing the Inn only to find out that the owner has just passed away. She ventures to said Inn to see what she should do and the owner's son is adamant that they don't need help. After some back and forth he decides to give her a chance. They have an instant attraction but neither thinks they can go the full way since he's her boss.

I really enjoyed the chemistry between Mason and Pia. The fun banter between Pia and all of the guys had me giggling the whole time, especially Beck. The story had that small town feel of everyone welcoming Pia in and her finding her way with a fresh start somewhere new. I just had a hard time sticking this one out for some reason, I found myself not being hooked in and taking longer to finish. I can't find the exact words because I don't think the story itself was bad but I just didn't vibe overall with this one. It was a fun read in general and I would definitely recommend it but it's not one that I would go back to at a later date.

Thank you Cissy Mecca and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

This is a good start to a new series. Loved Pia and the relationship Mason has with his friends. Mason I was unsure of at first but he redeemed himself.

My sincere thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read Fallen Hearts by Cissy Mecca. I give my unbiased opinion of this book in the following review.

Mason has come back to his hometown when his father passes away unexpectedly. He doesn't know what to do with the Inn that was his father's whole life. His three best friends have come to support him. Mason and his friends have had a bachelor pact since college. They have to kick in money if they get engaged or married, but all of them are confident that marriage is not for them. Mason has taken leave from his job as an NYPD officer in order to figure out what to do with the Inn. What he doesn't know is that just before his death, his dad hired Pia to move out from Oregon to help manage and update the business for the future. She has no idea when she knocks on the door that she no longer has a job. While Mason is surprised at first, she tells him she can help and he decides to let her keep her job and if he sells, he will guarantee the new owner will keep her on for a certain period of time. Of course, she is beautiful, he is gorgeous, and they have fun bantering back and forth. Will Mason sell? Will they give in to temptation and ignore their boss/employee relationship for a romantic one?

My favorite part about this book was the friend relationship between the guys. They have each other's backs, and I loved their humor. It was easy to see where Mason and Pia were headed. This is a romance book after all. There are really no surprises in this book. It is a straightforward romance with not a super lot of character development. I am assuming that the future books in the series will be about Mason's three friends. There is a preview chapter at the end that gives a peek into the next book. I'm intrigued by that one so I will probably check it out. I recommend Fallen Hearts to anyone who is in the mood for a cute, low stress romantic read.

FYI - Open Door Scenes and a little course language.

Fallen Hearts by Cissy Mecca is our introduction to The Bachelor Pact. What is the Bachelor Pact? 4 college friends decided they were never getting married and laid out 4 rules:
1. Never stay the night
2. Never date the neighbor
3. Never fall in love
4. Never say "I Do"

These rules have served all four men well, that is until Mason meets Pia. Mason is a grumpy ex-special forces, current NYPD cop who has just lost his father. Now Mason has to figure out what to do with his family inn, which is now his responsibility. Along comes Pia, who has moved from the west coast all the way to New York to manage the inn for Mason's father. Mason did not know that his dad had hired Pia, so he was caught off guard and told her that there was no job for her at his inn. He quickly came to his senses, and realized that Pia might be able to help him decide if he should keep the inn or sell it.

While working together, Pia and Mason's instant attraction just continued to grow. Then, a line was crossed and they had some decisions to make.

Cissy Mecca writes an engaging and wonderful story of a man who thinks he can't love anyone and a woman who wants it all. I loved this book! 10/10 Highly recommend!

A wonderful new series from this author who writes some brilliant small town romances. Great characters and a great story. Loved it .

I received a copy of this book and chose to post this review

Pia moves to Cedar Falls to take over management of Heritage Hill, an Inn owned by Mason now that his father has passed on. Your imagination doesn’t need to lead very far to figure out what happens when the grumpy MMC and sassy FMC are in close proximity.

I absolutely adore contemporary small town romances, so Pia and Mason’s story was perfect for me. It was such an a light, easy read, and I loved the banter between the characters as well as the spice between the FMC and MMC.

The bachelor pact between Mason, Beck, Parker and Cole was funny to me and typical of 30 somethings that don’t want to settle down. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the guys stories to see how they end up panning out!

I absolutely loved this grumpy sunshine book! It was so cute and well paced! This was my first book I've read by this author and it certainly won't be the last. I love a good small town romance!

Mason has one rule: no falling in love. It’s the foundation of his Bachelor Pact with his best friends. But when he returns to Cedar Falls to settle his father’s affairs, he finds himself working alongside Pia—the stunning, spirited woman hired to restore his family’s inn. She’s off-limits… technically. But resisting her? Nearly impossible.

The chemistry between Mason and Pia is electric from the start, and as they renovate the inn together, their connection deepens into something undeniable. Mason’s bachelor life and NYPD career suddenly don’t seem as appealing when Pia is around.

Cedar Falls is the perfect setting—charming, cozy, and full of heart. Beyond the steamy romance, the found-family vibes among Mason and his friends bring warmth and laughter to the story. If you love small-town romance with sizzling chemistry, brotherhood, and a hero torn between his past and the love he never saw coming, “Fallen Hearts” is a must-read!

Thank you @meccaromance, @boldwoodbooks and @netgalley for the #gifted ebook arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book was just beautiful and one I really enjoyed. I will for sure will be sharing this with others and hope people read this because the story was so well told and written. It flowed perfectly and I didn’t want to put it down.

I was super excited to receive this book as an ARC. This Author is one of my favorite Authors and this book did not disappoint. The characters were lovable and their chemistry was fire! The storyline was cute and very well written. The grumpy sunshine trope is one of my favorites and she did so well with this one! I can't wait for the rest of the series!!

I really enjoyed this book, it was such a cute read! I love grumpy vs sunshine and this book absolutely smashed that trope!
The story line, the banter and the tension were amazing. I loved Mason and Pia, they worked so well together. & the spice was 😮‍💨

This was my first book by @meccaromance and I can’t wait to see what’s going to come next in 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙧 𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙠 series!🩷

Fallen Hearts delivered just what you'd expect from a romance book. Was it groundbreaking? No. Were the characters something out of this world? Definitely not. But was I entertained? Absolutely. Will for sure read the rest of the series!

This is the first of a new series and a small town romance.
I found the characters likable and it was an easy read for me.
It's an author I've not read before but I enjoyed this one so will look forward to continuing the series.

Fallen Hearts is an emotionally charged and engaging tale that explores the intricacies of human relationships, decisions, and repercussions. The story focuses on the main character's journey of betrayal, love, and forgiveness while she works through the struggles of family and self-aggrandizement. Mecca constructs a storyline rich with secrets and disclosures so that readers are engaged and care about the results. The twists and turns are well-placed to maintain the tension without swamping the emotional center of the story. The characters in Fallen Hearts are finely crafted, and Mecca brings them to life through subtle storytelling. The emotional journey of the protagonist is both relatable and compelling, while the supporting characters provide depth and contrast to the story. All the characters seem real, with their flaws, strengths, and motivations vividly described. Mecca's ability to develop multidimensional characters keeps readers interested and invested in the story.

Cissy Mecca's style of writing is beautiful and descriptive, combining lyrical language with a keen sense of dialogue. She uses vivid description to paint pictures of the scenery and emotional stages of the book. The perfect balance between internal moments and dramatic interactions makes the novel introspective yet readable to a wide demographic. Ultimately, Fallen Hearts is a story about forgiveness, strength, and the lasting effect one's decisions have on their life. The book also addresses family, identity, and the courage it takes to rise above. Mecca's writing conveys a strong message regarding the value of self-knowledge and healing, which makes the book deeply emotionally resonant.

The writer uses an array of literary devices to make the story richer, such as symbolism, foreshadowing, and parallel narratives. They contribute depth and complexity to the narrative, paying off engaged readers with additional layers of meaning. The pace is well-controlled, with instances of tension followed by contemplative pauses that facilitate character development and emotional impact. The novel has a consistent and well-balanced pace, which allows the events of the story to run their course naturally without being hurried or protracted. The organized structure, with its clear sequence and neatly defined chapters, improves the readability as well as maintains the continuity of the narrative. Mecca's accessible writing voice makes it easy to read while providing substance for readers who like analyzing literary aspects.

Fallen Hearts is a moving and introspective novel that lingers in the minds of readers long after they finish the book. Cissy Mecca's masterful combination of gripping storytelling, sympathetic characters, and thought-provoking themes makes the book an irresistible read for devotees of emotionally gripping fiction. Though some readers might desire a quicker pace or more emphasis on certain subplots, the emotional resonance and depth of the book far outweigh these small criticisms. I would strongly suggest Fallen Hearts to anyone looking for a heartwarming and reflective tale that explores the intricacies of life, love, and redemption.

Loved it from start to finish the plot and romance and everything. The slow burn was perfect and it made me swoon.

4⭐
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Series ~ The Bachelor Pact
Setting ~ small town in New York
Publication date ~ March 13, 2025
Publisher ~ Boldwood Books
Est Page Count ~ 298 (43 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 31 minutes
Narrators ~ Rebecca Rogers, Josh Wichard
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ boss/employee, off limits, good sexual tension, some steamage

Pia (30) & Mason (30's)
Pia is looking to start over when she accepts a job at the Heritage Hill Inn. When she arrives in town she learns the man who hired her has recently passed away and his son, Mason, is in charge now and he’s not interested in honoring her contract. Pia was super sweet and I enjoyed the friendship she found with Delaney.

Mason never expected to lose his father so suddenly and step out of his NYPD shoes into new innkeeper shoes. But it’s just temporary, he’ll get the place up and running and head back to the city, easy peasy. It doesn't take him long to figure out he needs help and agrees to hire Pia. I was really loving him for the whole book, and I was hoping and praying he wouldn’t make me mad, but of course he did. He redeemed himself of course, but maybe a little too quickly.

Overall, I wasn’t really a big fan of the whole ‘bachelor pact,’ but I enjoyed the book nonetheless probably because you just know the pact will get broken when the fella comes to his senses even if it takes them a hot minute.

Series notes:
The series will follow friends; Parker, Beck and Cole. I really enjoyed their camaraderie and how they have each other’s back through it all. I look forward to reading their books in the future.