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Professors Falling: Romantic Comedies in Academia #2

Meet Me in the Greenhouse: A Forced Proximity Cozy Rom-Com

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When a priest who's given up on love gets snowed in with a man who's given up on faith, neither expects to find what they've been missing.

Mother Miriam Howatch knows her career as an ordained priest is unusual, but she is devoted to her calling. It's never bothered Miriam that her title and clerical collar aren't scoring her any dates, but with her friends building families, Miriam finds herself wishing for more.

Boone Rutledge is an agriculture professor and conservationist who loves plants but isn't a fan of people. After a childhood marred by religious fundamentalists, he particularly dislikes people of faith.

While visiting her favorite parishioner, Miriam is stranded when a once-in-a-century ice storm hits their corner of Kentucky. Suddenly, she's stuck in a farmhouse with the lovably eccentric Ms. Rubie and her grouchy grandson, Boone. As days pass, Miriam finds that Boone's surliness is armor protecting a heart she could easily love. And Boone sees that this priest is actually a beautiful and complicated woman he can't stop thinking about.

Meet Me in the Greenhouse is a small town, forced-proximity romance about healing, second chances, and discovering that love shows up when you least expect it.

369 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 5, 2025

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About the author

Kalyn Gensic

3 books9 followers
Librarian by day and crafter of cozy rom-coms by night, author Kalyn Gensic lives surrounded by stories. She resides in Texas with her charmingly grumpy husband, four precocious children, and two dogs who shed quite a lot of fur.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
Profile Image for Kez Marie.
1,446 reviews82 followers
September 18, 2025
This was such a wholesome read.
I loved the grumpy sunshine dynamics, and seeing Miriam try so hard to understand Boone and win him over.
It explores his past trauma and how the homophobic treatment of his brother has made him dislike the church and everything connected to it. Unfortunately that means the sweet Minister Miriam, who's he hopelessly attracted to, but entirely conflicted about.
As the unexpected snow storms traps them together under the same roof, their feelings shift and they get to connect and understand each other better.
Rubie was hilarious, I loved her matchmaking antics, her fun and embarrassing comments, and her whole energy as a grandmother.
I enjoyed the tension, the slow burn build up, and the snippets of drama.
This had a very cosy and comforting feel, I loved the diverse characters, and it felt very inclusive and accepting.
I love that this series focusses on characters in their 30's too, it feels more relatable and mature.
Profile Image for Nicola Doyle.
607 reviews17 followers
September 24, 2025
I liked this book. It gave me cosy vibes along with the Rom-Com elements. It was an enjoyable read. I like the cover. The illustrations for the characters were good. I liked how Boone reminded me of a lumberjack crossed with a huge Scotsman. The book is written well and flows nicely. The descriptions and language were good. The setting was fun. I liked the small town, the university and the greenhouse too. I enjoyed the characters. I liked how Boone and Miriam interacted with the world around them and with each other. Their story was sweet. I recommend this book for sure.
Profile Image for Ashley.
456 reviews27 followers
September 25, 2025
Spice: 1

Tropes:
grumpy x sunshine
forced proximity
small town romance
minister FMC
professor/gardener MMC

Trigger Warnings:
conversion camps
the wrong type of Christianity

Meet Me in the Greenhouse is a cozy romance that takes place in Kentucky! I'm from KY so anytime I read a book set there, it makes my little bluegrass heart happy. I found this story to be cute and not at all what I expected it to be. What was I expecting? I honestly think just a cute little romcom between a gardener and a minister. But what I found was something deeper than that.

Religion now days is a hard topic. Christianity in particular. I'm honestly not sure why. It shouldn't be. I grew up a Baptist Christian and I still am one today. But my opinions on how many churches, especially here in the South, treat people that aren't... what they believe to be "stereotypical" Christians isn't how I believe. I could go on a rant but instead I bring this up because the FMC, Mother Miriam, while a minister has the same thoughts and views as I do on the church and how we, who claim to be Christian, should be.

I actually loved Miriam. She cussed. She wore a rainbow stole to Pride Parades, she lets members of the LGBQT+ community in her church, she loves everyone, she doesn't believe in going to hell for pre-marital sex, and she's just a preacher that I wish existed more. I found her refreshing and I loved her banter and her love for old Harlequin romance novels. Now, someone will read this and say "that's not the way" but who are you to decide that? That's between everyone individually and God. Save your judgement, and start asking for forgiveness 70 x 7.

The MMC was Boone. He has strong opinions against the church. And I get it. His twin brother was shunned for being gay and they both lived harshed childhoods because of it. It broke my heart for them. While his brother has moved on and forgave, Boone carries a grudge. He struggles with caring for Miri vs disliking the occupation of Mother Miriam. Boone's story is too often a reality for many teenagers and children still today. I love that the author brought awareness to this topic.

Okay- fun stuff: Grandma Rubie is a hoot! omgosh, can I be her when I'm old? Eccentric and beats to her own drum? yes please! I just loved her and how she was constantly reminding her grandson of all the places on the farm her and grandpa use "to do it." lol.
Profile Image for Kristel Greer.
652 reviews13 followers
September 12, 2025
I loved this story from the start. Miriam was a brilliant character as she was forthright, fun, caring and didn’t take life too seriously. Boone was the broody/grumpy character to Miriam’s open/sunshine side which always goes well together, and their chemistry jumped off the page quite quickly though the story itself was a slow burn.

The romantic conflict came from differing views on religion and faith. Miriam is an ordained priest who preaches love and acceptance. While Boone an agricultural professor/dedicated conservationist has deep emotional and physical trauma from his and his gay brother’s tormented childhoods at the hands of their unrelenting parents and extreme religious leaders. Boone vehemently steers clear of anyone connected to any church. Even though Miriam doesn’t hold those same harmful beliefs Boone writes her off initially due to her profession.

An unexpected snowstorm traps Miriam in Boone and his fabulously gregarious Grandmother, Ms Rubie’s house. Boone gets to see Miriam out of the vestments and in flannels instead which lowers his defences and Miriam slides right under them. Miriam had been put off by Boone’s gruff rebuke of her due to being a present, but is wooed by the softer, loving side of Boone she sees when he is tending to his plants, animals and caring for his grandma.

The “will they, won’t they” plot is well written, which doesn’t stem from miscommunication rather a lack of understanding of each other’s side of their divide. As Boone’s backstory is revealed and Miriam’s stances on life and love is discussed, the possibility of a future together may be on the cards.

This story had the perfect amount of tension, attraction, and compelling plot threads. It didn’t shy away from tough topics such as damaging religious views and the impact on the lives of LGBT+ people. The standout character was Ms Rubie as she was a flirty, forward thinking, and fun-loving lady who made me giggle at her shenanigans. Overall, an entertaining romance with an emotionally thought-provoking storyline.
Profile Image for Tracey Martin.
58 reviews5 followers
September 18, 2025
This was such a charmingly beautiful story. The setting gave it such a cosy feel and every one of the characters so genuine and real. I particularly loved the Grandmother, Ms Rubie, outspoken, a little eccentric with absolutely no filter, she was hilarious especially when she’d tell stories about her antics with her late husband.

Set against a snowstorm in a small Kentucky town we have Mother Miriam, a tattooed, down to earth, never preachy minister in the local church and Boone, an agricultural professor, grouchy, loves his plants more than people and holding on to deep rooted trauma surrounding past experiences with religion.
On meeting there is an instant attraction and spark but once Boone learns Miriam is a person of faith he fights his feelings and his guard goes up. He dislikes anyone and anything to do with religion.
Finding themselves snowed in and stranded on his farm, they are forced to spend time together where feelings slowly start to develop. But can Boone fully trust Miriam?!

The romance was mature, sometimes funny with a certain dating app and with sensitive topics touched upon it made for a unique and thought provoking story.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
518 reviews36 followers
September 16, 2025
Meet Me in the Greenhouse is about Miriam and Boone, both from a small town. This was such an interesting story. Having a minister as the primary character—especially a female one—is not common. Miriam is stranded at Boone's grandmother's house during a terrible winter storm, and the two find themselves spending a lot of time together, discovering that they aren't so different after all. The romance is lovely. However, it does feel a little like insta love at certain times. Boone's grandma is possibly my favorite character in the story, but all of the supporting cast members are important. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!!

Thanks to @kalyngensicwrites and @lovebookstours for providing a physical copy for my honest review.
Profile Image for Bookworm86 .
2,104 reviews152 followers
September 28, 2025
BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Meet Me In the Greenhouse' by Kalyn Gensic

Where the heck have you been hiding all my life Kalyn!!! I absolutely Love, LOVE, LOVED this absolutely beautiful page turner!! It was just absolutely gorgeous and I was hooked from the very first page to the last!! An absolute must read!!! This may be the first book I have read by this author but it most definitely won't be my last!! It is also the second book in Kalyn's 'Professors Falling' series but can be read as a standalone.

I am shocked I have not read any of your other books before now and am just so glad I have rectified that. I cannot wait to see what your previous and future books bring me, especially the first book in this series 'which is called 'For The Love Of Mark Twain!

This book has absolutely stunning and evocative descriptions that set you straight in the scenes. The cover, title and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly and I am ABSOLUTELY devastated to come to the end of this book and leave Kentucky behind

OMG!!! I cannot wait to get stuck in to all of Kalyn's previous and future books!! They are just guaranteed to be stunning even if they are only half as gorgeous as this beauty!! I absolutely adored the gorgeous heart-warming and feel good storyline.

This book is beautifully written and completely absorbs you in the stunning atmosphere of Italy completely sucking you in with the vivid descriptions leaving you feel the warmth of the the sun and smell of the wine. The synopsis and cover suits the storyline perfectly.

As you may be able to work out I absolutely adored this captivating, stunning page turner from the very moment I turned the front cover to the very last word and beyond. What a feel good, heart warming, turn a frown upside down escapism! I fell in love with Florence's writing skills and I am so pleased that I can go back and read 'For The Love Of Mark Twain' while I am extremely impatiently waiting for the next book in this series to come out. I would not normally recommend reading books in a series out of order but if you have jumped straight into this one like I have then fear not!! There is a silver lining and that is that you can immediately jump into the first book while you are waiting for the next in the series to come out just like me! This gorgeous storyline is authentic and realistic as well as easy to read and heart-warming. It is just one of those absolutely beautiful books that promises that the reader gets completely lost in the pages for hours. I am so glad that I have finally discovered this extremely talented author and really cannot wait to get stuck in to the rest of her books. If they are only half as addictive and heart warming as this one they are guaranteed to be completely compelling and addictive!! Kalyn really does transport her readers from their reading spots to Kentucky where they will discover Mother Miriam, Boone and his fabulous and larger than life Gran Ms Rubie in close quarters while they all get stuck in Ms Rubie's cosy home in a snowstorm. Kalyn' stunning descriptions made me feel like I was there myself I really am looking forward to reading For The Love Of Mark Twain' which will transport me back there and with many of the same characters again as it is Lucy and Forrest's stories!! Her stunning evocative and emotive writing skills will sweep you away to Kentucky where you will be able to see the flowers in Boone's greenhouse, taste Ms Rubie's bizarre but delicious sounding pot luck dishes and feel the fire warming your skin as you fall in love with the settings and the characters. I really did absolutely fell in love with everything about this beautiful book. It is a gorgeous story ram packed with an unorthodox priest, romance, a hunky gardener, twists, family, beautiful settings, a hilarious Gran, desserts, storms, drama, friendship, laughter and absolutely everything you could ask for and so much more!! It really does tick every single box in everything you could want in beautiful romcom escapism. It will have you smiling, angry at how Travis was treated,, filled with joy and make you feel like you are on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Kalyn's beautiful, vivid fantastic immersive writing skills and gorgeous imagination will keep you sucked in from beginning to end. I completely devoured the book in one sitting of several hours while sitting in my garden with the sun on my face . It is one of those beauties where regardless if you are reading it in the sun with a cocktail or curled up next to the fire with a hot chocolate Kalyn will transport you to Kentucky in the middle of an ice storm being warmed by the laughter and romance.

Pack your bags, get comfortable, clear your schedules and get ready to go on a humour and love filled break to Kentucky in this gorgeous read!

You need to book the day off whatever you had planned as once you pick up this book and turn the pages I can guarantee you will not want to put it down!! I found myself picking it up every spare second I had and not wanting to put it down!! AN ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS MUST READ!!

The characters were all unique with their own realistic traits, strengths, flaws, quirks and weaknesses. It was intriguing to watch and I was completely invested in each and every single one of them keeping my fingers and toes crossed for a happy ever after. I absolutely loved the fact that Miriam is certainly not what you expect when you think priest, that Ms Rubie is definitely not your typical little old lady and Boone is gruff but gorgeous It was absolutely amazing to watch the personalities and relationships between all the characters grow, develop and bond. Kalyn ensures they come to life at every turn of the page and I was sad to leave them when I cam to the end and had to say Goodbye. Although I am looking forward to meeting them again in the first and future books in this series. All characters worked perfectly with the storyline and I would love to see this made into a series or even a movie!!!

Well done Kalyn on an absolutely stunning page turner, I will definitely be looking for your books any time I need a stunning escapism and a smile on my face!

Overall a brilliant, funny and beautiful rom com!! An absolute must read!!

#MeetMeInTheGreenhouse #ProfessorsFalling #KalynGensic #KalynGensicWrites #StatenHouse #KellyALacey #lovebookstours #Ad #LBTCrew #BookTwitter #FreeReview #FreeBookReview #Bookstagram

@KalynGensic @KalynGensicWrites @StatenHouse @LoveBookTours @LBTCrew #KellyALacey


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Profile Image for Bookshortie.
906 reviews61 followers
September 15, 2025
Mother Miriam is an ordained priest. Although she loves her calling she still wishes she could meet the one. Then Miriam meets Boone, an agriculture professor. Can Miriam and Boone overcome the hurdles between them to start a new journey together?

I recently read For The Love of Mark Twain which is the first book in the Professors Falling series and read this book straight after. As much as I enjoyed the first book I think I loved this one a little more. The storyline had longing, romance, forced proximity, the one bed and grumpy sunshine trope. Miriam appeared as a secondary character in the first book and I was really pleased to learn that this book focused on Miriam as the main character.

What I loved about Miriam is that although she is an ordained priest and takes her role very seriously it's never impacted on who she is as a person, her beliefs and her personality. If you looked at Miriam without her collar you would assume that she wasn’t a priest. Although Miriam helps everyone one thing that came across was that she was rather lonely. She didn’t have a partner or anyone that she could speak to about how she was feeling or what she might be going through. I adored Boone because he gave big fluffy teddy bear vibes.

The connection between Miriam and Boone is pretty instant from the beginning and they definitely connect as soon as they see each other. But anything developing between then is stalled when Boone realises who Miriam is and what her job is. They get to know each other when they become trapped in a snow storm at Boone's home and it's at this point that they have to face how they feel about each other and be honest. Although Miriam and Boone fall for each other very quickly it’s their beliefs that pull them away from each other. Miriam is a priest and the church will always be part of her life. Boone doesn’t want anything to do with religion or the church because of something that happened in his past. Boone has to confront his past to move forward or the alternative is to lose Miriam.

I had so many favourite scenes but the ones that stick in my mind are the scenes between Miriam and Boone when they are snowed in together. They are very comfortable in each other’s company. The scene where they showed each other their tattoos was not only very personal but very intimate. One of my favourite characters was Boone’s grandmother Rubie. Rubie was such a brilliant and vibrant character and definitely played matchmaker between Miriam and Boone.

I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Chris.
1,581 reviews13 followers
September 10, 2025
I loved this book! It is book 2 in the Professors Falling series and works well as a standalone but the series is so good that you will want to go back and read book 1. This book had me feeling all the feels, from laughter to annoyance to breaking my heart and finally putting it back together and leaving me feeling satisfied. Set in a university town the books have a small town feel plus references to literature and since Boone is an agriculture professor plants play a large part in the story.

I adore the characters in this book! Mother Miriam, Miri, is an amazing character! She is uniquely herself and is unexpected as a religious leader. Her kindness, caring, and wanting to help everyone are a true embodiment of what I want in a religious leader. Her struggle for acceptance in male dominated world and society without losing her faith speaks to her determination, strength, and resilience. I wish my professors had been like professors in this series. Boone is dedicated to the environment and his family but the terror and heartbreak he felt growing up has shaped his views on religion. Watching Boone try to work out his feelings for religion and his feelings for Miri kept me reading. Ms. Rubie is perfection! I want to be her, minus the jello salad, when I am in her 80’s. She made me laugh and I just wanted to hug her and thank her for being herself and loving her grandsons unconditionally. I can’t forget the friend group, they are everything I want in a friend group. They care and support each other and make me laugh and want to hang out with them. I hope there is another book because I want to read more about this group of friends.

I highly recommend this book

Thanks to the author and Love Book Tours for the gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Misty.
246 reviews15 followers
September 13, 2025
As a greenhouse girly (I have 2 😅) and a romance lover, I just knew I had to get my mitts on this adorable book!

Meet Me in the Greenhouse is book two in the Professors Falling series by @kalyngensicwrites and was just as wonderful as it sounds.

A romance about an ordained female priest and an agriculture professor is incredibly different from the types of romance I usually read, but let me tell you — it hit all those spots I love. We had tension, we had yearning, we had sizzling chemistry and an eccentric Grandmother who was quite frankly, the star of the show.

Mother Miriam has fought for her place within the men's playground of the church, and she is everything I would want my priest to be. She's fierce, supportive, inclusive, and fights for what is right. Her faith is her passion, but she's starting to feel like she's missing the passion of love from her life.

Boone (or Swoony Booney) is wholeheartedly against the church and any supporter of the church. After a strict and harsh upbringing that saw his brother suffer through hell, he's sworn he will never have anything to do with them. Enter Miriam. There's an immediate attraction, but he can't get over her job within the church.

The whole time I was torn between understanding Boones reservations whilst also screaming at him to just look past Miriams collar and SEE the woman underneath. When they're forced to spend time together, it's so obvious that they're absolutely perfect for one another. The attraction is just part of it — a wonderful, tension filled part — but their understanding and acceptance of one another is honestly so sweet.

I didn't expect this book to get spicy.. but it did 😅 and I wasn't complaining. The fireworks crackling between them both just HAD to come out eventually. I wanted to fist pump the air, I was so happy for Miriam!

I'll 100% be carrying on the series, I love the way Kalyn writes her characters. They're multidimensional and so relatably human that you can't help but feel immersed in the story and their lives.

Thank you so much to Kalyn Gensic and @lovebookstours for my copy of the book and a spot on the tour 💚
Profile Image for Dani (piggindani_reads).
508 reviews13 followers
September 8, 2025
How can you not fall in love with this charming and unique story. It is so beautiful, I loved every single page.
The writing is engaging with great flow and pacing that had me instantly hooked.
I also enjoyed switching from both Miriam’s and Boone’s point of view. It helped give a better insight into their past, their views and what makes them who they are.

I absolutely adored Boone and Miriam (complex, real and lovable) but the star of the story has to be Rubie. Oh, my days! She is hilarious, warm, kindhearted and exactly how I want to be when I’m older. 😂

When it comes to sexuality and religion, the two topics can be a difficult path to navigate but Kalyn deals with both in a honest & authentic way highlighting that the views of some are not the views of everyone. And yes, it does touch on some harrowing aspects as a result of homophobia & conversion therapy, but it’s this heartbreaking truth that helps you fully understand Boone and shows the true beauty of Miriam. #loveislove 🌈

My favourite part is pretty much chapter 14 but the best part of that chapter is the end. It was so tender, intimate and beautiful. It made me wish I had someone to cwtch. 🤗

I have to give a special mention to Porter. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll just sit here and awkwardly pat your shoulder.” Lol that’s all I’ll say. 🥰

I think I could go on and on about how much I loved this book but instead just read it for yourself. It’s a new favourite. 💚🪴

Oh, and I’ll definitely be checking out For The Love Of Mark Twain.

Thank you, @lovebookstours & @kalyngensicwrites for having me on the tour. 💚
Profile Image for Debbie Young.
Author 48 books290 followers
August 14, 2025
I was looking forward to reading this one, after enjoying the first in the series of romantic comedies, "For the Love of Mark Twain" (an irresistible title!) This one picks up the story of a minor character in the first book, Miriam, a female minister in the local church, and follows the slowburn development of her fulfilling romance with shy environmentalist Boone, aided and abetted by his spirited and outspoken grandma Rubie.

I really enjoyed this gentle, sometimes spicy, representation of a modern woman with a religious vocation, and none of the stuffiness or prejudice that Boone expects of her. It's a refreshingly rounded picture of a woman or indeed of anyone in the priesthood, depicting her as human and flawed as the rest of us, but also very likeable and deserving of our respect. The development of Boone's character is convincing and pleasing, and the antics of his crazy grandma add comic relief as well as a touching example of unconditional love.

A subplot about his gay brother finding love in adulthood, with everyone's approval and endorsement, after childhood rejection by his parents, is also very pleasing.

I also enjoyed the setting of a winter snowstorm in rural Kentucky - I had no idea such cold weather could affect that area.

I'm now hoping there'll be a third book in the series, perhaps developing some of the other very likeable minor characters in the series. I'd love to read more about the outspoken Edith or indeed the stoic Porter.
Profile Image for Elena Zinonos.
137 reviews6 followers
September 11, 2025
Kalyn Gensic’s book is a charming and unexpectedly tender romantic comedy that gently exits expectations. Set against the backdrop of a Kentucky icestorm, the story brings together two unlikely characters:

🌸 Miriam, an ordained priest with quiet strength and
🌸 Boone a reclusive agriculture professor with a complicated past.

What stands out most js the way Gensic handles faith, not as a tool for conversion or judgment but as a personal compass for Miriam. Her character is refreshingly nuanced, never preachy and always grounded in empathy.

Boone’s scepticism towards religion is treated with equal care making their dynamic feel honest and layered.

The romance leans a touch towards the instant love but it’s offset by the warmth of the supporting characters and particularly Boone’s nana. The one who steals the spotlight in every scene she is in. The forced proximity setup works well and allows the characters to grow in intimacy without rushing the emotional beats. ❤️

Overall, it’s a cosy, heartfelt read with just the right blend of humour, introspection and slow burn chemistry. Perfect for readers who love small town settings and character driven love stories. 💐
Profile Image for theweebookworm .
449 reviews29 followers
September 15, 2025
This is a lovely read with a few of my favourite tropes namely small town, grumpy/sunshine with some forced proximity. 

This is the second book I have read where the female main character is a minister/vicar and I felt it was really well written. Mother Miriam is such a lovely character. 

The male main character Boone is grumpy to Miriam's sunshine but with good reason. He and his gay brother were brought up in an untolerant religious family which has caused a lot of angst and religion has no place in Boone’s life now.

I felt the author dealt with the difficult topics in a very sensitive manner and it was interesting to see how Miriam and Boone had to navigate their thoughts and feelings towards one another. It certainly was an emotional read at times.

There is a wide range of characters but one of the stars of the book has to be Grandma Rubie.  What an absolutely amazing character and she certainly managed to keep Boone and Miriam on their toes.

I believe this is the second in a series but can definitely be read standalone and as I enjoyed it, I will need to look out for the first one.
1,231 reviews29 followers
September 18, 2025
I really enjoyed book 1 of this series and so its been great to catch some glimpses of Lucy and the English professors again. We met Miriam briefly in that story and she seemed an interesting character, there's definitely much more than meets the eye with Mother Miri. Boone, or swoony Boony, is a really complex character but that just means the character arc for him is really good, we've seen him break down so many barriers, it's brilliant to see.
I love Rubie, what a hoot. I want to be like her when I grow up - especially with the bookshelves full of steaminess!
There's some talk around religion and historic emotional, religion bases abuse, this may trigger feelings within readers so is something to be aware of.
This is a VERY slow burn romance, I would have loved a wee bit more a bit sooner if I'm being honest.
It ends with a epilogue set a few months later, I love this kind of ending to get a glimpse into the happy ever after settling in.
I would love to see a story for many of the others, but in particular Edith! I think that would be terrifyingly hilarious!
This is a lovely read, I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend.
Profile Image for Charlotte.
662 reviews23 followers
January 4, 2026
📆 single timeline.
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced
💬 "I will never again set foot in a building where people treat you like you're broken"

This is book 2 in the Professor's falling series, and whilst there are some recurring characters, it could be read as a standalone.

I really enjoyed this gentle romance, where opposites attract and you realise that the heart wants what the heart wants, regardless of the differences that should drive you apart. I loved Mother Miriam and Boone, but Rubie was my absolute favourite.

I think the author managed to perfectly capture the damage faith can do when used incorrectly, but also the love and goodness it can have. I'm the parent of some LGB children, who is also a Christian, so it's an issue of particular interest to me.

The writing style flows well and is easy to read with realistic conversations and enough description to make it easy to picture without being over the top.

If you like your romance with not quite middle-aged, honest and believable characters, then this is the series for you.
Profile Image for Samantha Rodriguez.
301 reviews8 followers
September 22, 2025
Thank you to Kalyn Gensic and Love Books Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book!

I love a good forced proximity romance! So, when I saw the blurb for this book I just knew it was one that I would like, and I'm happy to say that I wasn't wrong! This is my first book by this author, and I really enjoyed the writing style, so I will definitely be reading more!

Being thrown together, our FMC Miriam and our MMC Boone are forced to get to know each other better, discovering all their similarities and sparking a romance. I love that this was told from dual POVs, which is my favorite way to read a romance story. I also really enjoyed the way the author brought the characters to life and how they developed throughout the story. This book definitely had me chuckling to myself throughout, and the overall vibe was very cozy as advertised. I would recommend this book, and now I need to go read the first one!
Profile Image for Tami Wylie.
812 reviews38 followers
September 12, 2025
Such a wonderfully enjoyable read. I thought the choice of a female vicarious as one of the main characters was very unique. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered this in a romance novel before. The love story of Miriam and Boo e was extremely sweet. They were instantly drawn to one another. However, Boone’s encounter with religious institutions d their treatment of his twin brother in the past left him with deep wounds that kept him from completely trusting Miriam, which was completely understandable. Even though Miriam and Boone’s love story was at the heart of the story, my favourite character was Boone’s gran Rubie. Everybody needs a Rubie in their life! She was wise, fiercely loyal and unfiltered honesty. Her antics provided lots of humour in the story. The story had a good storyline and was an engaging read. I enjoyed how it flowed so smoothly and had me eagerly turning pages.
Profile Image for Naturalbri (Bri Wignall).
1,445 reviews122 followers
September 21, 2025
Being someone who is not religious myself and had a past that has completely turned me away from both it and wanting to talk with others about it, I connected with this book so much. I felt myself understanding Boone's perspective, especially as I am also not a people person at all, especially if I do not need to be. However, when you meet someone as wonderful and kind hearted and Miriam it is hard not to connect with them, plus she is just so open and friendly. Even I, as a non social person, think I would not mind talking to someone like her.
I liked this book and the way they were brought together by nature and then kept together by the kindness and friendship they quickly share and grow. It is a light and soft book, which is perfect for needing a nice pick me up and for just warming the heart as night grown colder.
Profile Image for Nessa’s Book Reviews.
1,517 reviews81 followers
October 1, 2025
This was such a sweet, cozy romcom with a unique setup I haven’t read before!

Miriam, an ordained priest, is such a refreshing FMC! She is devoted to her calling but still longing for companionship and love.

Boone, on the other hand, is a grumpy agriculture professor with a complicated past and a heart that needs some thawing (cue forced proximity during an ice storm ❄️🌱).

I really enjoyed the cozy atmosphere of the story; the farmhouse, the storm, the greenhouse and the way Miriam and Boone’s relationship slowly unfolded. Their banter, the layers of faith vs. hurt, and the gentle humour all made this such a warm read.

If you’re looking for a heartfelt romcom that balances faith, humour, and romance with a good dose of grumpy sunshine charm, this is definitely one to pick up.
Profile Image for Megan Elliott.
41 reviews1 follower
Read
September 12, 2025
Thank you to @lovebookstours for sending me a copy of this book and having me on the tour!

This was a cosy romance with a small town setting, slow burn and forced proximity.
The characters were so well written, and challenged stereotypes throughout the book which was really well done. The book is about a Minister who falls in love with an Environmentalist with some unresolved traumas around religion.
Some of the characters had such a great sense of humour (Grandma Rubie in particular)!
The plot was easy to follow, and the book was a refreshing read.
There's some spicy scenes but not too many and it didn't feel over the top.
I was expecting summer from this but we did have a snow storm, I don't know why that caught me by surprise but probably just because I read this in a heatwave 😂
Profile Image for Mrs Wilson.
956 reviews18 followers
September 12, 2025
This was a wonderful book! I really liked the emotions that Boone went through, especially when he felt compassion for his twin. The LGBT community is relatively new to being accepted in the history of the USA, so for him to feel so much and be so protective at such a young age is very admirable. Each person reacts differently to trauma in their lives and his seemed to fit the bill, from others who I know that have been through similar familiar actions.

While I enjoyed this book, I rated it a 4/5 because there were points that I do not think would actually be plausible for a woman of active faith.

Thank you for the copy, this is my honest opinion. Please be aware of any trigger warnings, as your mental health is most important.
Profile Image for Amanda.
212 reviews18 followers
September 16, 2025
I’ve never read a romance where one of the main characters is a minister before, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. But I absolutely fell head first into this story of two people trying to come to an understanding despite their differences.

This is a heartwarming romance that also tackles religious stereotypes and misconceptions, while not shying away from the real harms that have been perpetrated by some people in the name of faith.

Overall I very much enjoyed Miriam and Boone’s story, and I think readers who appreciate a well written contemporary romance that tackles big issues will, too!

Many thanks to Love Book Tours and Kalyn Gensic for the digital review copy of Meet Me in the Greenhouse!
Profile Image for Jennifer.
272 reviews10 followers
September 19, 2025
This book is really cute. I loved the interactions with the characters. Rubie is my favorite fictional grandma so far and Boone is lucky to have her. As I was reading this, I actually pictured this as if it was animated in the art of the cover. Tackling the topic of religion is never easy and as a romance, it is an especially tough topic for Boone’s past. Miriam, for her credit, is nothing like her predecessors and had her share of struggles trying to find her calling. This was a charming read and I truly enjoyed it. This is book 2 of a series but it reads well as a stand alone. Obviously, I need to get book 1 and read that now.

Thanks to the author and Love Books Tour for the review copy.
Profile Image for Tyler Marshall.
949 reviews53 followers
September 20, 2025
The perfect cosy by the fire read!

Devoured this book last night while yes in-front of the fire, the beautiful cover and blurb sucked me in the minute I saw this book and I knew I would devour it! My romance lovers you need to pick this one up asap! The tropes are amazing and there’s truly something for everyone from forced proximity to opposites attract and a little bit of enemies to lovers but it’s kind of one sided.

The plot and the characters is what really did it for me, the story line was interesting and fun but it was the perfect soothing and cosy read I put this down smiling and wishing there was more. The characters are so easy to love especially our grumpy mmc who you just want to give a cuddle. Definitely a read for your fall TBR!
Profile Image for Amy.
96 reviews23 followers
September 24, 2025
Tropes:
☀️ Grumpy/sunshine
🔥 Enemies to lovers
🤍 Forced proximity

Thank you to Love Books Tours and Kalyn Gensic for an ARC copy of this book. *All thoughts and opinions are my own*

This was a wholesome, slow burn romance that I couldn't put down. The perfect read in amongst the various thrillers I have had my nose in! As an avid plant lover myself I couldn't resist this book, especially teamed with these tropes.

This is the second book in the series from Kalyn, and whilst I haven't read the first, it didn't hold me back in this one. It also had me invested in the characters and wanting to go back and read it. Such a cute romance book, I would definitely recommend this as a cosy summer/fall read.
Profile Image for Sharmaine.
134 reviews
September 27, 2025
I was kindly sent this book by @lovebookstours and @kalyngensicwrites to read then review and my goodness me. The cover drew me in straightaway as it’s so beautiful then when I read the blurb i was sold. This is the second book in the Professors falling: romantic comedies in Academia and not going to lie I was abit skeptical before I started the book as I hadn’t read the first one but once I had delved straight in I realised that I didn’t need too. It flowed easy and I knew where I was. The story between Mother Miriam and Boone had me on the edge of my seat. Was rooting for them both so bad. Was such a page turner for me and I couldn’t get enough, that much so I read it in one day. So good.
Profile Image for Sylvia Barker.
518 reviews8 followers
September 1, 2025
Meet Me in the Greenhouse is the story of Miriam and Boone. Miriam is a small town minister and Boone is the grandson of one of Miriam’s parishioners, who has been turned off religion by some adverse childhood experiences.

During a harsh winter storm, Miriam is stranded at Boone’s grandmother’s house and the two end up spending quite a bit of time together and realizing that they are not so different after all.

I loved this book and finished it in a single sitting. The characters were mature and intelligent, and the storyline was engaging. I could not help but root for Miriam and Boone to find their way to one another.
Profile Image for Courtney Pityer.
1,106 reviews66 followers
September 9, 2025
This book was the funnest book that I have read in a while. When I say funnest I mean I enjoyed some of the antics of the modern world! For example there is a part where Boone goes on a blind date with a self proclaimed cat lady and you have to admit it's a barrel of laughs. I will say I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started reading this book but it ended up being a hidden gem. Miriam and Boone were truly the most wonderful and genuine characters. Although I haven't read the first book in this series I will definitely make an effort to track it down because I am sure it is truly wonderful!
Profile Image for Stacey.
733 reviews15 followers
September 15, 2025
Cute

Meet Me in the Greenhouse by Kalyn Gensic is the second book in the Professors Falling series. It works as a standalone. I have not read book 1 but I plan to.

The story is very cute and the characters are well developed. The religious aspect adds an additional layer to the story. At first I wasn’t sure if it would be too much but it was not presented in a way that I found intrusive.

I enjoyed watching them get to know each other and I really liked Grandma. I chucked several times as I read and stayed up past my bedtime to finish reading.

If you enjoy romance novels then this one is a cute, feel good read.
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