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Magnolia Falls #5
Finding Hayes
The marriage was fake, but my feelings were real …
Welcome to Magnolia Falls … perfect for fans of Elsie Silver, Lucy Score and B.K. Borison!
***
Savannah Abbott was my best friend growing up, and the reason I could be the best version of myself.
But then, without warning, she was gone. And my life began unravelling the day she left. My guard went up, and my ability to trust people disappeared.
But now, Savannah is back in Magnolia Falls, and she’s acting like I’m the enemy.
That is, until she needs a favour. A temporary husband …
I may fight flames for a living, but my new wife is the fire that’s been missing all along. None of this is real, we remind ourselves while we’re playing house.
But maybe, for her, I’m willing to bend the rules …
Welcome to Magnolia Falls … perfect for fans of Elsie Silver, Lucy Score and B.K. Borison!
***
Savannah Abbott was my best friend growing up, and the reason I could be the best version of myself.
But then, without warning, she was gone. And my life began unravelling the day she left. My guard went up, and my ability to trust people disappeared.
But now, Savannah is back in Magnolia Falls, and she’s acting like I’m the enemy.
That is, until she needs a favour. A temporary husband …
I may fight flames for a living, but my new wife is the fire that’s been missing all along. None of this is real, we remind ourselves while we’re playing house.
But maybe, for her, I’m willing to bend the rules …
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2024
2458 people are currently reading
14178 people want to read
About the author
Laura Pavlov
54 books10.2k followersLaura Pavlov is a USA Today and Amazon top 10 Bestselling author. She writes sweet and sexy small town romance that will make you both laugh and cry. Laura is happily married to her college sweetheart, mom to two awesome kids who are currently adulting, one temperamental yorkie and one wild bernedoodle. She's living her own happily ever after in Las Vegas. Be sure to sign up for updates on new releases. Laura loves hearing from readers!
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October 24, 2024Available now!
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
https://geni.us/findinghayes
Audible: https://adbl.co/3U4CxzK
Narrated by: Andi Arndt & Lee Samuels
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3yIXc4S
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
https://geni.us/findinghayes
Audible: https://adbl.co/3U4CxzK
Narrated by: Andi Arndt & Lee Samuels
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3yIXc4S
October 25, 2024
5 stars
Finding Hayes was another incredible small-town romance in the Magnolia Falls series. I loved Hayes and Savannah’s marriage of convenience/friends-to-lovers romance. What a way to end this wonderful series!
Hayes and Savannah used to be the very best of friends. Savannah moved with her father when they were teenagers, and due to a misunderstanding, she and Hayes spent years apart with no communication. Now, she’s back and needs a husband. A temporary husband.
Hayes doesn’t know what happened with Savannah all those years ago but he knows he won’t mess up getting his best friend back. I loved watching Savannah and Hayes rekindle their friendship and fall in love. This book made me smile and swoon. I’m obsessed with this couple and honestly the entire friend group.
I’m obsessed with the found family troupe and this gang is one of the best! The audiobook was wonderful and I can’t recommend this series enough!
Finding Hayes was another incredible small-town romance in the Magnolia Falls series. I loved Hayes and Savannah’s marriage of convenience/friends-to-lovers romance. What a way to end this wonderful series!
Hayes and Savannah used to be the very best of friends. Savannah moved with her father when they were teenagers, and due to a misunderstanding, she and Hayes spent years apart with no communication. Now, she’s back and needs a husband. A temporary husband.
Hayes doesn’t know what happened with Savannah all those years ago but he knows he won’t mess up getting his best friend back. I loved watching Savannah and Hayes rekindle their friendship and fall in love. This book made me smile and swoon. I’m obsessed with this couple and honestly the entire friend group.
I’m obsessed with the found family troupe and this gang is one of the best! The audiobook was wonderful and I can’t recommend this series enough!
Audio book source: Book Funnel (arc)
Story Rating: 5 stars
Narrators: Andi Arndt & Lee Samuels
Narration Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 10h 15m
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November 17, 2024👇SPOILERS👇
I am not a fan of this one at all because for the first 85-90% of the story, there is no chemistry or romantic feelings between the MCs. We have a story told in the past & present with no mentions at all of either one being attracted or in love with the other as normally 2nd chance & BFF tropes tend to do. Than towards the middle there is some horny moments that pop up here & there that come out of nowhere and very cringy because there was no buildup to it so it's just them being horny because it's convenient.
Now the last 20% when they establish themselves as a couple and in love, was nice BUT again, how did they get there? How did we go to just platonic/no POVs of attraction/lust to can’t wait to f**k you and ILY’s? This author is not good at pacing and building up a couple.
Then we have the other major issue which is that we get so many damn mentions of Hero & his relationship with longtime OW on every damn chapter which was beyond irritating and exhausting. For example, MCs grew up next to each other and were BFFs. Since there was no mention that either one was attracted to the other (a lame sentence in the end of ‘It’s always been you’ doesn’t count) we learn that instead of the MCs experiencing their “firsts” with each other, Hero lost his virginity at age 14 to some other girl and then shortly thereafter a year or so later he began to date OW for several years. Even when heroine left and he was hurt by it, he didn’t stop dating & f***g OW. He was even engaged to her and would have married her if she had not cheated on him. We get all these mentions constantly about him & OW through the letters he wrote her and of them talking about it all the time. Here’s a sample:
“I faintly remember your interest in cross-country skiing, but I didn’t realize it was all that serious.”
“That’s because you had just started dating that heathen, Kate. You were all sexed up and distracted, and I was out there chasing my Olympic dreams.”
“Sophomore year? I was hardly sexed up.”
“Well, it was the first time we’d dealt with a third wheel in our relationship, so we didn’t spend every waking minute together.”
“You were never a third wheel,” I said, pushing the hair away from her face.
“Oh, I know. I was referring to Kate. She was definitely the third wheel.”
A loud laugh escaped my mouth. Damn, she was funny. “Are you claiming I wasn’t present, Shortcake? Because from what I remember, you started dating that boy-band-wannabe, Scotty, shortly after I met Kate, and you were suddenly busy all the time.”
“First off, that’s incorrect. You lost your virginity and your mind all at the same time. And all over that snake of a woman.”
“For the record, I lost my virginity to Carol Parker when I was fourteen. You know that. Kate was just my first serious relationship.”
“Po-tate-o, Po-tot-o. I don’t count Carol Parker because she was older, and that lasted all of thirty seconds,” she said over her laughter.
“Shots fucking fired. I’ll have you know my first time was not like most hormonal teenage boys. I went three rounds and stayed in control. I remember bragging about it to you, but you were completely uninterested.”
“Yeah. I was fourteen. I didn’t even know what you were talking about at the time. Anyway… this is all to say that Clara and I skied together for weeks, and she thought I had real talent.”
-------
“So, I don’t know, maybe you didn’t feel deserving of more than what Kate had to offer, because you were sort of drowning in all that negativity. And she pursued you hard. She wanted to date you, and she made it happen.”
“I was just a dumbass who didn’t know better. She was all over me, and I probably liked the attention. I’m different now. I won’t make that mistake again.”
------
“You’re my husband.” I sighed. “Listen, don’t question the rules. I make them up as I go. But since we’re being so open about things, how often do you date?”
“I don’t. I go to a bar and leave with a woman. There’s no make-out sesh or whatever the fuck you called it. If I go to her home, we usually fuck. Aside from Trish Windsor, who crossed a line, so I got the fuck out of there.”
“What did she do?”
“She tried to cuff me to her bed.”
------
“You’re my wife.” He quirked a brow. “And two years is a long time to go without sex, Shortcake. If you need me to remedy that for you, just say the word.”
“I mean, we should consummate this marriage eventually, right?”
Why did we need to know all this? Is it supposed to make me believe now that they are soulmates when neither cared who the other f*****d in the past or in the present? Yes, heroine had a BF in HS too and dated others after separation but nothing ever serious like him.
And then we have all the inconsistencies such as in one chapter in his POV, he said he got engaged to OW because of a pregnancy scare but it was never mentioned again and especially not when he was talking to heroine about the OW. Other discrepancies like he would constantly state for more than 60 – 65% that he didn’t even want to get married and have children, yet he asked OW to marry him and was supposedly fine in having a kid with her. Heroine never questioned him why he asked OW to marry him when he was sprouting all the time how he didn’t want marriage & kids.
Or my personal favorite of when heroine learned that she inherited a house and money from a family friend and that she had to get married. He never, not once, thought to offer to fake marry her. Never expressed any jealousy at the IDEA of her marrying someone else. It took her Lawyer /his BFF to propose the idea to them and him rejecting it instantly until he was badgered by heroine to do it. In other words, he did it kicking & screaming and up until the last 20%, doesn’t consider the marriage real. For author to insert a line at the end that he married her because he wanted to and that she was the only only woman he would ever consider marrying is a joke. I guess author forgot her own words and doesn’t read her stuff.
“This marriage is the only thing that isn’t real. Our history. Our friendship. That was all fucking real.”
I could go on and on for everything that sucked here, including adding a small kid from one of their friend’s circle who is nicknamed “Beefcake” because he takes off his shirt when he is around any female and acts like a therapist/marriage counselor. Anyway, this was a hot mess and I honestly don’t understand all these positive reviews but to each their own.
Safety:
10 year separation though the math doesn’t add up based on timeframe & current age.
NO OM drama. OW in the form of his ex showing up to cause trouble but Hero shuts her down instantly
No cheating in the present & neither celibate during separation or in the past.
Hero in a long term relationship with OW but no mention of how long it’s been since they split.
Heroine said she had 2 serious BF’s and her last one was 2 years prior.
HEA & Epilogue 1 with them married and pregnant with twins. Epilogue 2 that you need to sign up for is a one-two page of them months later in delivery room. Not worth IMO signing up for that.
I am not a fan of this one at all because for the first 85-90% of the story, there is no chemistry or romantic feelings between the MCs. We have a story told in the past & present with no mentions at all of either one being attracted or in love with the other as normally 2nd chance & BFF tropes tend to do. Than towards the middle there is some horny moments that pop up here & there that come out of nowhere and very cringy because there was no buildup to it so it's just them being horny because it's convenient.
Now the last 20% when they establish themselves as a couple and in love, was nice BUT again, how did they get there? How did we go to just platonic/no POVs of attraction/lust to can’t wait to f**k you and ILY’s? This author is not good at pacing and building up a couple.
Then we have the other major issue which is that we get so many damn mentions of Hero & his relationship with longtime OW on every damn chapter which was beyond irritating and exhausting. For example, MCs grew up next to each other and were BFFs. Since there was no mention that either one was attracted to the other (a lame sentence in the end of ‘It’s always been you’ doesn’t count) we learn that instead of the MCs experiencing their “firsts” with each other, Hero lost his virginity at age 14 to some other girl and then shortly thereafter a year or so later he began to date OW for several years. Even when heroine left and he was hurt by it, he didn’t stop dating & f***g OW. He was even engaged to her and would have married her if she had not cheated on him. We get all these mentions constantly about him & OW through the letters he wrote her and of them talking about it all the time. Here’s a sample:
“I faintly remember your interest in cross-country skiing, but I didn’t realize it was all that serious.”
“That’s because you had just started dating that heathen, Kate. You were all sexed up and distracted, and I was out there chasing my Olympic dreams.”
“Sophomore year? I was hardly sexed up.”
“Well, it was the first time we’d dealt with a third wheel in our relationship, so we didn’t spend every waking minute together.”
“You were never a third wheel,” I said, pushing the hair away from her face.
“Oh, I know. I was referring to Kate. She was definitely the third wheel.”
A loud laugh escaped my mouth. Damn, she was funny. “Are you claiming I wasn’t present, Shortcake? Because from what I remember, you started dating that boy-band-wannabe, Scotty, shortly after I met Kate, and you were suddenly busy all the time.”
“First off, that’s incorrect. You lost your virginity and your mind all at the same time. And all over that snake of a woman.”
“For the record, I lost my virginity to Carol Parker when I was fourteen. You know that. Kate was just my first serious relationship.”
“Po-tate-o, Po-tot-o. I don’t count Carol Parker because she was older, and that lasted all of thirty seconds,” she said over her laughter.
“Shots fucking fired. I’ll have you know my first time was not like most hormonal teenage boys. I went three rounds and stayed in control. I remember bragging about it to you, but you were completely uninterested.”
“Yeah. I was fourteen. I didn’t even know what you were talking about at the time. Anyway… this is all to say that Clara and I skied together for weeks, and she thought I had real talent.”
-------
“So, I don’t know, maybe you didn’t feel deserving of more than what Kate had to offer, because you were sort of drowning in all that negativity. And she pursued you hard. She wanted to date you, and she made it happen.”
“I was just a dumbass who didn’t know better. She was all over me, and I probably liked the attention. I’m different now. I won’t make that mistake again.”
------
“You’re my husband.” I sighed. “Listen, don’t question the rules. I make them up as I go. But since we’re being so open about things, how often do you date?”
“I don’t. I go to a bar and leave with a woman. There’s no make-out sesh or whatever the fuck you called it. If I go to her home, we usually fuck. Aside from Trish Windsor, who crossed a line, so I got the fuck out of there.”
“What did she do?”
“She tried to cuff me to her bed.”
------
“You’re my wife.” He quirked a brow. “And two years is a long time to go without sex, Shortcake. If you need me to remedy that for you, just say the word.”
“I mean, we should consummate this marriage eventually, right?”
Why did we need to know all this? Is it supposed to make me believe now that they are soulmates when neither cared who the other f*****d in the past or in the present? Yes, heroine had a BF in HS too and dated others after separation but nothing ever serious like him.
And then we have all the inconsistencies such as in one chapter in his POV, he said he got engaged to OW because of a pregnancy scare but it was never mentioned again and especially not when he was talking to heroine about the OW. Other discrepancies like he would constantly state for more than 60 – 65% that he didn’t even want to get married and have children, yet he asked OW to marry him and was supposedly fine in having a kid with her. Heroine never questioned him why he asked OW to marry him when he was sprouting all the time how he didn’t want marriage & kids.
Or my personal favorite of when heroine learned that she inherited a house and money from a family friend and that she had to get married. He never, not once, thought to offer to fake marry her. Never expressed any jealousy at the IDEA of her marrying someone else. It took her Lawyer /his BFF to propose the idea to them and him rejecting it instantly until he was badgered by heroine to do it. In other words, he did it kicking & screaming and up until the last 20%, doesn’t consider the marriage real. For author to insert a line at the end that he married her because he wanted to and that she was the only only woman he would ever consider marrying is a joke. I guess author forgot her own words and doesn’t read her stuff.
“This marriage is the only thing that isn’t real. Our history. Our friendship. That was all fucking real.”
I could go on and on for everything that sucked here, including adding a small kid from one of their friend’s circle who is nicknamed “Beefcake” because he takes off his shirt when he is around any female and acts like a therapist/marriage counselor. Anyway, this was a hot mess and I honestly don’t understand all these positive reviews but to each their own.
Safety:
10 year separation though the math doesn’t add up based on timeframe & current age.
NO OM drama. OW in the form of his ex showing up to cause trouble but Hero shuts her down instantly
No cheating in the present & neither celibate during separation or in the past.
Hero in a long term relationship with OW but no mention of how long it’s been since they split.
Heroine said she had 2 serious BF’s and her last one was 2 years prior.
HEA & Epilogue 1 with them married and pregnant with twins. Epilogue 2 that you need to sign up for is a one-two page of them months later in delivery room. Not worth IMO signing up for that.
December 3, 2024
“I've been good on my own for a long time, and now you're here, and you're all I see. Maybe it was always you, and that's why nothing else ever worked when you were gone. Maybe you've been what's missing all along."
Finding Hayes was the perfect conclusion to this series that I love so much. I was super excited for Hayes' story, since he was the character that caught my attention and captivated me the most when he was introduced in the first book of the series, Loving Romeo. I love a grumpy and overprotective man. Especially when he doesn't realize what a big heart of gold he has and needs a strong woman to smack some sense into him and show him how worthy of love he is. And that's exactly what we have in this story.
Savannah was a great main character and I fell in love with her as soon as she appeared on the page. She's extremely charming and has a unique and strong personality. Savvy isn't afraid to do whatever she sets her mind to and she's a very fun and funny person. She was one of the girls in the series that I liked the most. I believe that the creation of her personality was top notch and is up there with Ruby in my opinion.
Hayes needs no introduction about how much I love him, since I've mentioned him in practically every review I've done for this series. I think he was the guy who had the most responsibility thrown at him even though he was young, followed by Nash. His life wasn't easy, he had a terrible environment at home, he had to give up on his dream in the sports industry to take care of his younger sister, he had a toxic relationship and, the most terrible of all, he even lost his best friend. Our guy suffered a lot and his closed off and grumpy personality comes a lot from that, but it's only when Shortcake comes back to town that he starts to soften up.
Their relationship is beautiful, although it was built since they were children and went through a huge blow after being separated for 10 years, I feel like it was fast paced after they met again. The circumstance of having to get married quickly definitely helped speed up the process of them seeing each other as a real couple. This ended up affecting the plot a bit for me, because after 40% to 50% of the book, I felt that the pacing slowed down and there wasn't much happening other than the cute scenes between Hayes and Savannah. Even so, I continued to be entertained by the story of these two, I was just reading more slowly. However, the last chapters brought back my enthusiasm after the little twist, which I must admit I saw being built since the beginning, but it might surprise some readers. I LOVED the last chapters, it gave me all the feels.
Hayes and Savannah's interactions calling each other "husband" and "wife" and its variations were wonderfully sweet. And the moments when they wanted to call each other out on something, and they would go, for example, with Hayes saying only "Savannah" with a warning tone and her responding "Hayes" in the same way and vice versa, were very cute and funny.
On the other side, the miscommunication bothered me a bit.
Meanwhile, I loved seeing all of our known couples making cameos here. One of the things I love most about Laura is that she knows how to create a group of friends and a spectacular friendship dynamic. Everyone there matters in each other's lives, they're truly like family. There are many connections between the characters, from small details to being a huge part in something in each other's lives, and I think that's wonderful. The characters that Laura creates are truly the highlight of all of her books. They have very distinct personalities that charm you in different ways and they stay with you long after you finish reading the books. They're the ones that keep me coming back to read everything Laura writes. Besides loving the romance stories she creates for each one, of course. Oh, and I love seeing that all of her series are connected, at least the ones I've already read. I think it's really cool that we have cameos even from characters from other series.
Overall, I loved Finding Hayes and I'm sad that we won't have any more stories in Magnolia Falls. However, I'm already SUPER excited for the Rosewood River stories. Emerson's brothers and cousins will definitely make me swoon a lot in their series, I'm sure, as they already did in the cameo they made in Beating Heart. In Finding Hayes, we have Easton making a cameo again, and I must say that I'm already falling for him and dying to see him fall in love in the first book of the Rosewood River series.
P.S.: As I usually do, I also listened to the audiobook of Finding Hayes. I was really happy and thankful to be approved to the ALC. The narrators were incredible, I already knew them and knew they usually did very good jobs narrating. Andi Arndt and Lee Samuels brought Savannah and Hayes to life perfectly and reading the book while listening to them narrate gave an even more special and unique touch to the story.
Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins UK Audio | HQ for providing and approving my ALC!
✨ RATING
- C (characters): 10/10
- A (atmosphere): 10/10
- W (writing): 10/10
- P (plot): 8/10
- I (intrigue): 8/10
- L (logic): 10/10
- E (enjoyment): 10/10
↬ TOTAL: 9.43 = ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
💦 SPICE: 🌶️🌶️
🔖 TROPES:
- Marriage of Convenience
- Childhood Best Friends to Lovers
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Forced Proximity
- Second Chance Romance
- Miscommunication
- Firefighter Hero
- Interior Design Influencer Heroine
- Small Town
- Found Family
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: cheating (not main couple), parent fighting cancer,
"Finding Hayes had opened me up. And now I was feeling everything."
November 30, 2024
ugh i’m sad this series is over
December 25, 2024
How is this series already over!?
This one is a second chance, childhood best friends, marriage of convenience romance where they were almost something in the past before they were completely cut off and lost their friendships. Now, Savannah is back in town for an inheritance she cannot have unless she marries quickly. Hayes immediately agrees to a marriage of convenience so she can inherit the house and he can look good to the fire station so he can get a promotion. They have to confront where things went wrong in the past, as well as their feelings for one another that never completely went away.
I love this town and this friendships group so much, and it's going be so hard to leave! Each romance I this series is so unique and this was a fun take on a marriage of convenience!
This one is a second chance, childhood best friends, marriage of convenience romance where they were almost something in the past before they were completely cut off and lost their friendships. Now, Savannah is back in town for an inheritance she cannot have unless she marries quickly. Hayes immediately agrees to a marriage of convenience so she can inherit the house and he can look good to the fire station so he can get a promotion. They have to confront where things went wrong in the past, as well as their feelings for one another that never completely went away.
I love this town and this friendships group so much, and it's going be so hard to leave! Each romance I this series is so unique and this was a fun take on a marriage of convenience!
October 26, 2024
This was a wonderful wrap up to this series!! Laura could not have pulled it off better. She wrapped it up with our lone wolf the grump himself Hayes. I knew after reading the end of Beating Heart that Hayes' story was going to be juicy and WAS it. We find out that Hayes' best friend from when they were younger has come back into town. She ghosted him, and they haven't spoken in 10 years! This was so much like a second chance with the difference being that Hayes and Savannah weren't together when they were younger. Feeling that angst and intense chemistry between them was wonderful. Wondering who was going to make the first move. Wondering when we were going to find out what happened between these two. All the while when they decide to do the fake marriage thing, watching them truly fall for each other was wonderful. I also liked how Laura did the different timelines the way she did. Sometimes we get chapters from when the MCs were younger BUT the way that she did the letters that Hayes wrote to Savannah was perfection!!
Hayes is comfortable with where his life is. All of his friends have settled down, but most importantly his sister has found happiness. He is content with where he is in life. No marriage or kids for him. But then his childhood best friend comes into town and all of those feelings that he didn't know what to do with come back too. Savannah. The same woman who has found himself thinking about throughout the years. The one who ghosted him after all they had been through without a trace. She's here and she needs help. In order to inherit the estate she was left, she has to be married for 3 months. Hayes finds himself agreeing to do this facade quicker than he would have thought. And now he gets to be all over Savannah in public and they are living together. He starts to realize that he has never felt the way he feels about her with anyone. He would do anything for her. He has to understand why she hates him so much- when he realizes what happened, it's like a weight has been lifted between them. He can explore what this is. He doesn't want this to be fake anymore. And so he tells her and she is on the same page. They are doing this thing. But then she has to go back to Texas to get her dad setup for treatments, and she starts to pull away. Is she having second thoughts? Is their love enough even if it doesn't fully align with everything she has wanted? But then she tells him what has been keeping her preoccupied and he finds himself overjoyed because it is happening with HER.
Savannah has found herself back in her childhood town. The last place she wants to be because of him. Her best friend turned betrayer. But when she sees him in town it's like he has no idea what she is referring to when she is icy towards him. He is the same steady, calming presence she was used to. Now she finds herself having to stay in town and find a husband that will be with her for 3 months so she can inherit the farmhouse of her dreams. The idea comes up for it to be Hayes and despite his very clear thoughts on marriage, he agrees. And now Savannah is finding it hard to reconcile the man that she is seeing everyday with the one who broke her heart so long ago. Could everything have been a misunderstanding? When they finally clear the air, she is devastated that she let something like miscommunication get between them. Now she realizes she wants the real thing with him. So when he tells her how he feels she is all over that. She is envisioning her future here with him! But then she goes home and another surprise hits her. She is worried she will lose him. This is something that he clearly doesn't want BUT when she tells him it's like he realizes he has been lying to himself. He wants to be a family with her. He wants to grow old with her!
I found myself flipping through these pages SOO fast to learn what had torn these two apart, and let me just say UGH to Kate. These two were soulmates, and when they finally realized it, it was like all was right in the world. I loved the text banter with the boys. I loved how they all recognized how different Hayes was now that Savannah was in town. Just overall a wonderful wrap up!! Now we get to meet Easton and all of Emerson's brothers I am assuming in the next series :)
Thank you to Valentine PR and Laura for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I definitely not only recommend this book BUT this series. I like when series books can be standalones and these all can be!
Hayes is comfortable with where his life is. All of his friends have settled down, but most importantly his sister has found happiness. He is content with where he is in life. No marriage or kids for him. But then his childhood best friend comes into town and all of those feelings that he didn't know what to do with come back too. Savannah. The same woman who has found himself thinking about throughout the years. The one who ghosted him after all they had been through without a trace. She's here and she needs help. In order to inherit the estate she was left, she has to be married for 3 months. Hayes finds himself agreeing to do this facade quicker than he would have thought. And now he gets to be all over Savannah in public and they are living together. He starts to realize that he has never felt the way he feels about her with anyone. He would do anything for her. He has to understand why she hates him so much- when he realizes what happened, it's like a weight has been lifted between them. He can explore what this is. He doesn't want this to be fake anymore. And so he tells her and she is on the same page. They are doing this thing. But then she has to go back to Texas to get her dad setup for treatments, and she starts to pull away. Is she having second thoughts? Is their love enough even if it doesn't fully align with everything she has wanted? But then she tells him what has been keeping her preoccupied and he finds himself overjoyed because it is happening with HER.
Savannah has found herself back in her childhood town. The last place she wants to be because of him. Her best friend turned betrayer. But when she sees him in town it's like he has no idea what she is referring to when she is icy towards him. He is the same steady, calming presence she was used to. Now she finds herself having to stay in town and find a husband that will be with her for 3 months so she can inherit the farmhouse of her dreams. The idea comes up for it to be Hayes and despite his very clear thoughts on marriage, he agrees. And now Savannah is finding it hard to reconcile the man that she is seeing everyday with the one who broke her heart so long ago. Could everything have been a misunderstanding? When they finally clear the air, she is devastated that she let something like miscommunication get between them. Now she realizes she wants the real thing with him. So when he tells her how he feels she is all over that. She is envisioning her future here with him! But then she goes home and another surprise hits her. She is worried she will lose him. This is something that he clearly doesn't want BUT when she tells him it's like he realizes he has been lying to himself. He wants to be a family with her. He wants to grow old with her!
I found myself flipping through these pages SOO fast to learn what had torn these two apart, and let me just say UGH to Kate. These two were soulmates, and when they finally realized it, it was like all was right in the world. I loved the text banter with the boys. I loved how they all recognized how different Hayes was now that Savannah was in town. Just overall a wonderful wrap up!! Now we get to meet Easton and all of Emerson's brothers I am assuming in the next series :)
Thank you to Valentine PR and Laura for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I definitely not only recommend this book BUT this series. I like when series books can be standalones and these all can be!
October 24, 2024
What a conclusion to Magnolia Falls…. Man oh man did I love this group and their stories….
Hayes and Savannah were childhood best friends.. and then one day she left with no explanation and never spoke to Hayes again. Until now. She’s back in town under terrible circumstances that have her scrambling to find a husband and quick.
The obvious choice would be Hayes but this means that they will have to discuss what happened years ago between the two of them.
He’s guarded now. He never wanted to get married or start a family… but now his soulmate is back and things are changing.
The letters absolutely took me OUT omfg.
Now we all know I hate the miscommunication trope but Laura did an amazing job with this one. I am so sad to see this group go… but I have a feeling we might see some cameo’s of them in this new series hehe.
Tropes
-second chance
-marriage of convenience
-grumpy x sunshine
-firefighter x interior designer
-forced proximity
-only soft for her
4.5/5 stars
2/5 spice
Hayes and Savannah were childhood best friends.. and then one day she left with no explanation and never spoke to Hayes again. Until now. She’s back in town under terrible circumstances that have her scrambling to find a husband and quick.
The obvious choice would be Hayes but this means that they will have to discuss what happened years ago between the two of them.
He’s guarded now. He never wanted to get married or start a family… but now his soulmate is back and things are changing.
The letters absolutely took me OUT omfg.
Now we all know I hate the miscommunication trope but Laura did an amazing job with this one. I am so sad to see this group go… but I have a feeling we might see some cameo’s of them in this new series hehe.
Tropes
-second chance
-marriage of convenience
-grumpy x sunshine
-firefighter x interior designer
-forced proximity
-only soft for her
4.5/5 stars
2/5 spice
December 19, 2024
I enjoyed this book , just didn’t love it . I am sad the series is finished , but I can’t wait to continue reading from Laura Pavlovas books and I can’t wait for her new series in January the rosewood river series .❤️
December 10, 2024
I never planned on being happy.
But here I was.
Living it.
When I started reading contemporary romance again this year and picked up Wild River and not much later Loving Romeo, I thought Laura Pavlov might become one of my favorite authors. But then Forbidden King happened and now, Hayes. And just like that, in the span of 8 months, Pavlov has written herself out of my favor as quickly as she wrote herself in.
I think there are two (main) reasons for this. First, after my year-long reading hiatus, I was pretty easily enthralled. Now, about 100 books later, I'm much more critical. Second, Pavlov's books are rather shallow and trivial. And that's no surprise, if you ask me, because it takes time to write a good book with a decent amount of depth and uniqueness. It is simply not possible to write five quality books a year, and every year (she has been doing it since 2020 or so).
"Finding Hayes" proves my second point. It's a second chance/fake marriage story between two childhood friends. Their friendship fell apart when Savannah moved to the city and left Hayes behind without saying goodbye or talking/writing to him afterwards. Because it's hinted at 487 times, there's more to it, because both are angry at the other and deeply disappointed. Now Savannah is back in Magnolia Falls to inherit a paternal friend, but unfortunately, she can only get and keep the million-dollar inheritance if she marries within 30 days and stays married for 3 months. Who could be a better candidate than Hayes?
Way too long they do not talk about their "break-up" in the past, but still get close again because…forced proximity. The fact that Savanna has "an award-winning pussy" might also have helped. And then there's fate. As you hear another 376 times, they are soulmates and everyone knew it even back then. That's why he has a pea tattoo and she has a carrot tattoo, and as we all know: peas and carrots = soulmates.
At 57%, they confess their love to each other (of course "it's always been you") and decide to stay married. I really wish the book had ended here, because it was hard enough for me to get to this point. But no, Pavlov had to come up with another problem that wouldn't be one if they were just talking to each other. Maybe I just couldn't follow their train of thought, though, and TBH, I didn't care about them anymore. I just wondered how soulmates could have such a misunderstanding/misjudgment, because I always thought there is an integral connection and understanding between soulmates. But what do I know?
Another problem: the main characters. A few days after reading the book, I don't remember the FMC at all (except for her questionable handling of BC). I know I didn't like or hate her, and that's it. Savannah's just bland. The MMC, on the other hand, is a little too much. There's a fine line between caring and controlling, and he crosses it far too often. Fittingly, he manhandles Savanna all the time: He throws her over his shoulder and carries her to wherever he wants to have her, he buckles her in in the car because "it's a boyfriend thing to do" (Where? In Germany, it's not), he grabs her and pulls her onto his lap when she doesn't want to, he blocks her body, and so on. Maybe it's a firefighter's thing. However, I can't stand it. Neither can I stand him telling her not to argue, not to drive, not to drink, not to behave like a child, etc. pp. But a guy who's called "Rambo" by his colleagues is suspicious to me anyway. (And the truth is, he's not a horrible hero. I liked how he went after her to get her back and fight for their love.)
A little rant about Cutler is also necessary at the end of the series. Surprisingly, he was okay in his father's book, but totally annoying in all the others. Shoot me, but I hate that spoiled little smartass. I hate his oh-so-cute handle "Beefcake" (it's not cute!) and I hate his charming way with girls of all ages (it's not charming!) and I hate his intelligent (relationship) advice to adults (it's not intelligent!). And I hate that he hits on every single woman in all the books, calls them all "my girl", and even takes his shirt off in this book when Savannah arrives at Hayes' house. Seriously, what is wrong with this kid??? I guess it's not healthy to have too many "uncles." I'm really glad this series is over before he's a teenager.
Another disappointment: the development of the "ride or die"-group chats. I thought they were hilarious in the first two books but they got worse and worse. I don't think I laughed even once while reading the banter in this book. And King became absolutely unbearable… I was never a fan of his, but Pavlov degraded him to an infantile clown ultimately. She even has him test his friend's wife's breast milk. So gross!
I'm really glad that the series is over and I think a long, long Pavlov break is due.
But here I was.
Living it.
When I started reading contemporary romance again this year and picked up Wild River and not much later Loving Romeo, I thought Laura Pavlov might become one of my favorite authors. But then Forbidden King happened and now, Hayes. And just like that, in the span of 8 months, Pavlov has written herself out of my favor as quickly as she wrote herself in.
I think there are two (main) reasons for this. First, after my year-long reading hiatus, I was pretty easily enthralled. Now, about 100 books later, I'm much more critical. Second, Pavlov's books are rather shallow and trivial. And that's no surprise, if you ask me, because it takes time to write a good book with a decent amount of depth and uniqueness. It is simply not possible to write five quality books a year, and every year (she has been doing it since 2020 or so).
"Finding Hayes" proves my second point. It's a second chance/fake marriage story between two childhood friends. Their friendship fell apart when Savannah moved to the city and left Hayes behind without saying goodbye or talking/writing to him afterwards. Because it's hinted at 487 times, there's more to it, because both are angry at the other and deeply disappointed. Now Savannah is back in Magnolia Falls to inherit a paternal friend, but unfortunately, she can only get and keep the million-dollar inheritance if she marries within 30 days and stays married for 3 months. Who could be a better candidate than Hayes?
Way too long they do not talk about their "break-up" in the past, but still get close again because…forced proximity. The fact that Savanna has "an award-winning pussy" might also have helped. And then there's fate. As you hear another 376 times, they are soulmates and everyone knew it even back then. That's why he has a pea tattoo and she has a carrot tattoo, and as we all know: peas and carrots = soulmates.
At 57%, they confess their love to each other (of course "it's always been you") and decide to stay married. I really wish the book had ended here, because it was hard enough for me to get to this point. But no, Pavlov had to come up with another problem that wouldn't be one if they were just talking to each other. Maybe I just couldn't follow their train of thought, though, and TBH, I didn't care about them anymore. I just wondered how soulmates could have such a misunderstanding/misjudgment, because I always thought there is an integral connection and understanding between soulmates. But what do I know?
Another problem: the main characters. A few days after reading the book, I don't remember the FMC at all (except for her questionable handling of BC). I know I didn't like or hate her, and that's it. Savannah's just bland. The MMC, on the other hand, is a little too much. There's a fine line between caring and controlling, and he crosses it far too often. Fittingly, he manhandles Savanna all the time: He throws her over his shoulder and carries her to wherever he wants to have her, he buckles her in in the car because "it's a boyfriend thing to do" (Where? In Germany, it's not), he grabs her and pulls her onto his lap when she doesn't want to, he blocks her body, and so on. Maybe it's a firefighter's thing. However, I can't stand it. Neither can I stand him telling her not to argue, not to drive, not to drink, not to behave like a child, etc. pp. But a guy who's called "Rambo" by his colleagues is suspicious to me anyway. (And the truth is, he's not a horrible hero. I liked how he went after her to get her back and fight for their love.)
A little rant about Cutler is also necessary at the end of the series. Surprisingly, he was okay in his father's book, but totally annoying in all the others. Shoot me, but I hate that spoiled little smartass. I hate his oh-so-cute handle "Beefcake" (it's not cute!) and I hate his charming way with girls of all ages (it's not charming!) and I hate his intelligent (relationship) advice to adults (it's not intelligent!). And I hate that he hits on every single woman in all the books, calls them all "my girl", and even takes his shirt off in this book when Savannah arrives at Hayes' house. Seriously, what is wrong with this kid??? I guess it's not healthy to have too many "uncles." I'm really glad this series is over before he's a teenager.
Another disappointment: the development of the "ride or die"-group chats. I thought they were hilarious in the first two books but they got worse and worse. I don't think I laughed even once while reading the banter in this book. And King became absolutely unbearable… I was never a fan of his, but Pavlov degraded him to an infantile clown ultimately. She even has him test his friend's wife's breast milk. So gross!
I'm really glad that the series is over and I think a long, long Pavlov break is due.
October 22, 2024
This was an absolutely perfect ending to one of my favorite series, Savvy and Hayes have my whole heart! The fact that they were childhood best friends gave them such a rich and deep history and they are so meant to be, it’s fated. Relationships based on a strong friendship are some of my favorites and theirs might have snuck in and became my number one fave. This series has been such a memorable and enjoyable ride, found family always works for me and this group of men were truly something special. As perfect as the ending to this series was I will genuinely miss this town and these characters, especially Beefcake 🥹 If you like small town series this entire thing was amazing but if you enjoy marriage of convenience, friends to lovers and forced proximity this one was so so good.
Want to read
August 17, 2024update: peyton is with slade (demi's brother) - hayes is going to be with Savannah! I'm guessing friends to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, marriage of convenience??? i'm so ready!!! (i also need more king x saylor crumbs)!!!
i predict: hayes and peyton!!! So excited!
i predict: hayes and peyton!!! So excited!
October 22, 2024
5 stars!
Oh, what a gorgeously romantic and swoony story! A best-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance with a marriage of convenience, I was all in on this one from the beginning, and my heart was so full while reading! I loved it.
This is the final book in the Magnolia Falls series, and the story of the last of five friends to fall in love, grumpy firefighter, Hayes. Like the rest of his ‘brothers’, Hayes faced heartbreaking challenges in his life, but for his entire childhood, he had his best friend, Savannah by his side helping him through it. Until she suddenly left town and cut off all contact. It’s been ten years since she left,, and now she’s finally come back to town, and she seems to want nothing to do with him.
Savannah is back in town temporarily to deal with the estate of a beloved grandfather-figure in her life. She’s set to inherit everything, but only on the condition that she marries within 30 days. She’d normally walk away, but the money could save the life of her unwell father, so she needs to find herself a husband, and who better than the man who was always there for her, and who knows her better than anyone.
The banter is fantastic, and even though there is a lot of anger and hurt between them, when given the opportunity to help his best friend, Hayes is all in, and I was so on board with all of it.
They obviously have some issues to sort through, and they’re both strong and stubborn, they’ve always been honest with each other, and as they open up about their pasts and find their way past all of the anger and confusion, they find their way back to each other, and I loved their friendship! It’s full of banter and teasing, and they obviously care deeply for each other. But while Savannah always had a bit of a crush on her best friend, Hayes never looked at her like that. But living under the same roof and having their hands all over each other in public, everything is starting to change.
Hayes and Sav together are so much fun! There’s lots of flirting and “my wife” moments, and so much chemistry, and I was feeling all of it! They both fall fast and hard, and though they’re all too happy to explore their mad passion and deep feelings for each other, Hayes never wanted to get married or have a family, and Savannah never intended to stay in town long. They have some things to work through, but they do it honestly and openly, talking to each other, and never shying away from what they’re feeling and what they want.
They are blessedly low on drama, and the relationship resolution comes pretty early in the book so there’s lots of time with them together and all loved up, and I relished every moment.
Characters from previous books are all a part of the journey, all up in each other’s lives, and I loved the boys’ banter and text thread, the way they have their brother’s back, and the way the boys and the girls accept Sav into the group. There’s great story progression for a number of the couples, and I loved seeing them continuing to live out their HEAs. There were so many scenes that had me grinning like an idiot into my kindle.
This is a beautifully sweet, sexy and heartfelt romance with fantastic characters and a love story that had me swooning, and I loved it.
5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.
Oh, what a gorgeously romantic and swoony story! A best-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance with a marriage of convenience, I was all in on this one from the beginning, and my heart was so full while reading! I loved it.
This is the final book in the Magnolia Falls series, and the story of the last of five friends to fall in love, grumpy firefighter, Hayes. Like the rest of his ‘brothers’, Hayes faced heartbreaking challenges in his life, but for his entire childhood, he had his best friend, Savannah by his side helping him through it. Until she suddenly left town and cut off all contact. It’s been ten years since she left,, and now she’s finally come back to town, and she seems to want nothing to do with him.
“The one who got away is all grown up now. And she’s hot. Our boy doesn’t know what to do with himself.”
Savannah is back in town temporarily to deal with the estate of a beloved grandfather-figure in her life. She’s set to inherit everything, but only on the condition that she marries within 30 days. She’d normally walk away, but the money could save the life of her unwell father, so she needs to find herself a husband, and who better than the man who was always there for her, and who knows her better than anyone.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I said, as a sarcastic laugh left my mouth. “I can barely get her to let me help her out of a snowbank. There’s no reconnecting going on here.”
“Hey!” She whipped around to look at me. “You have shit taste in women. I’d be a freaking score for you. You should be so lucky to marry me, you grumpy bastard.”
… “You’re the one who rolled into town acting like I’m the enemy. This is an insane idea. You can’t seriously be considering this?”
“I never said I was considering it. I just didn’t appreciate the way you acted like fake marrying me was so appalling.” She crossed her arms over her chest, and I couldn’t stop staring at her full lips. Did she always have those plump lips?
The banter is fantastic, and even though there is a lot of anger and hurt between them, when given the opportunity to help his best friend, Hayes is all in, and I was so on board with all of it.
“Shortcake, you were always different. You were a part of me in a way that I can’t even explain. I would do anything for you.”
They obviously have some issues to sort through, and they’re both strong and stubborn, they’ve always been honest with each other, and as they open up about their pasts and find their way past all of the anger and confusion, they find their way back to each other, and I loved their friendship! It’s full of banter and teasing, and they obviously care deeply for each other. But while Savannah always had a bit of a crush on her best friend, Hayes never looked at her like that. But living under the same roof and having their hands all over each other in public, everything is starting to change.
“It’s all I fucking think about, Sav. How badly I want you. and I don’t want to fuck up this friendship, because I’ve missed you so much, and I don’t know how to deal with all of it. How to deal with the way I feel about you.”
Hayes and Sav together are so much fun! There’s lots of flirting and “my wife” moments, and so much chemistry, and I was feeling all of it! They both fall fast and hard, and though they’re all too happy to explore their mad passion and deep feelings for each other, Hayes never wanted to get married or have a family, and Savannah never intended to stay in town long. They have some things to work through, but they do it honestly and openly, talking to each other, and never shying away from what they’re feeling and what they want.
“I’ve been good on my own for a long time, and now you’re here, and you’re all I see. Maybe it was always you, and that’s why nothing else ever worked when you were gone. Maybe you’ve been what’s missing all along.”
“I know without question that we belong together. We might not be perfect, and things might get messy, but I’ll fight for us every goddamn day if you take this chance with me.”
They are blessedly low on drama, and the relationship resolution comes pretty early in the book so there’s lots of time with them together and all loved up, and I relished every moment.
“Thanks for bringing me back to life, Sav,” he said, his voice quiet and calming.
“I wish I’d come back and found you sooner.”
“It didn’t matter when you came. I was always yours.”
Characters from previous books are all a part of the journey, all up in each other’s lives, and I loved the boys’ banter and text thread, the way they have their brother’s back, and the way the boys and the girls accept Sav into the group. There’s great story progression for a number of the couples, and I loved seeing them continuing to live out their HEAs. There were so many scenes that had me grinning like an idiot into my kindle.
This is a beautifully sweet, sexy and heartfelt romance with fantastic characters and a love story that had me swooning, and I loved it.
5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.
October 24, 2024
This is the most bittersweet goodbye… I always love the end of a series because we get to see everyone happy and in love, we get weddings and next chapters, and it’s always heartwarming. But then that means we say goodbye to Magnolia Falls and I’m just not ready 😭
Finding Hayes was my most anticipated in the series, and it did not disappoint. Hayes & Savannah are my absolute favorite couple and I will never be over them 🥹💙 I hope we get to see them in future books with little cameos.
Hayes was the grumpiest man and always a little bit strayed from the boys. He felt like their dad at times and always wanted the best for all of them and I just kept waiting for him to get his turn. Knowing there was someone already out there and he honestly was just subconsciously waiting for her to come home made all the sense in the world for this man 🥹 I’ll never be over them. The letters??? My goodness, Laura ruined me. 😭😭
An amazing end and I’ll never be over them.
You’ll like this one if you like
🔥 firefighter mmc
🔥 second chance
🔥 childhood friends
🔥 marriage of convenience
🔥 what letters?
Huge thank you to Laura Pavlov and team for the eARC to read and review 🥹💗
Finding Hayes was my most anticipated in the series, and it did not disappoint. Hayes & Savannah are my absolute favorite couple and I will never be over them 🥹💙 I hope we get to see them in future books with little cameos.
Hayes was the grumpiest man and always a little bit strayed from the boys. He felt like their dad at times and always wanted the best for all of them and I just kept waiting for him to get his turn. Knowing there was someone already out there and he honestly was just subconsciously waiting for her to come home made all the sense in the world for this man 🥹 I’ll never be over them. The letters??? My goodness, Laura ruined me. 😭😭
An amazing end and I’ll never be over them.
You’ll like this one if you like
🔥 firefighter mmc
🔥 second chance
🔥 childhood friends
🔥 marriage of convenience
🔥 what letters?
Huge thank you to Laura Pavlov and team for the eARC to read and review 🥹💗
September 8, 2025
4 Stars
2.5 on the spice scale
2.5 on the spice scale
October 10, 2024
Seeing the grumpy Hayes fall head over ass for his wifey was worth the wait!
Savannah and Hayes had the backstory, the chemistry, the heat. They had everything.
From the Hayes we meet in book 1, to the Hayes at the end of his book, they could be different guys. Totally wild character development.
I loved savannah, she was such a sweetheart.
I really loved seeing all the guys happy and content at the end. It was perfect and a fitting end. I’ll be sad to not have the chance to read more of their stories.
Thank you Laura for an advanced copy.
Savannah and Hayes had the backstory, the chemistry, the heat. They had everything.
From the Hayes we meet in book 1, to the Hayes at the end of his book, they could be different guys. Totally wild character development.
I loved savannah, she was such a sweetheart.
I really loved seeing all the guys happy and content at the end. It was perfect and a fitting end. I’ll be sad to not have the chance to read more of their stories.
Thank you Laura for an advanced copy.
December 29, 2024
Почну з того що пожежні то моя любов!❤️🔥
Скажу так завдяки моєму чоловіку, тому бачу книгу про пожежних одразу читаю.😅
Ще одна 5, і це найкраща книга в цій серії, це при тому що я не люблю троп другий шанс.🙄
Пара: Саванна & Хейс
Тропи:
✨Шлюб за домовленістю
✨Маленьке містечко
✨Герой-пожежник
✨Другий шанс
✨Forced Proximity
✨Surprise Pregnancy
✨Found Family
✨Grumpy x Sunshine
✨Friends to Lovers
Хейз і Савана були найкращими друзями дитинства, поки одного дня вона раптово не зникла з його життя без пояснень. Через десять років вони знову зустрічаються, але під тиском обставин - Савана потребує шлюбу за домовленістю. Їхня історія — це мандрівка через біль, нерозуміння та старі рани до нових почуттів і взаємної довіри.
Хейс - пожежник із суворим характером, який приховує золоте серце за своєю холодністю.Через складне дитинство та багато втрат він закрився від світу і не вірив у можливість щасливого майбутнього.Його любов до Саванни — глибока, хоч і прихована під шаром болю та нерозуміння.
Саванна - дизайнерка інтер’єрів, яка завжди прагне досягти свого. Її повернення в рідне містечко через складні обставини змушує її шукати підтримку там, де вона не чекала.
Її рішучість та здатність прощати роблять її особливою.
Поява знайомих пар із попередніх книг створює відчуття затишку та завершеності історії.
Переписки між хлопцями це щось.
Також мені дуж сподобався другорядний персонаж, а саме Мідж, вона була присутня у всіх книгах, і все почалось з викрадення собаки Рубі, а закінчилось що вона запистувала поради у Емерсон.😅
Сцена з собакою про яку завжди мріяв Хейс, просто розбила мені серце, це було настільки зворушливо що не можливо було стримати сліз.🥹
Це ідеальне завершення серії, сповнене любові, прощення та надії. Незважаючи на деякі моменти з непрямим спілкуванням між героями, книга захоплює душу та залишає теплі емоції.
Рекомендую!❤️🔥
Скажу так завдяки моєму чоловіку, тому бачу книгу про пожежних одразу читаю.😅
Ще одна 5, і це найкраща книга в цій серії, це при тому що я не люблю троп другий шанс.🙄
Пара: Саванна & Хейс
Тропи:
✨Шлюб за домовленістю
✨Маленьке містечко
✨Герой-пожежник
✨Другий шанс
✨Forced Proximity
✨Surprise Pregnancy
✨Found Family
✨Grumpy x Sunshine
✨Friends to Lovers
Хейз і Савана були найкращими друзями дитинства, поки одного дня вона раптово не зникла з його життя без пояснень. Через десять років вони знову зустрічаються, але під тиском обставин - Савана потребує шлюбу за домовленістю. Їхня історія — це мандрівка через біль, нерозуміння та старі рани до нових почуттів і взаємної довіри.
Хейс - пожежник із суворим характером, який приховує золоте серце за своєю холодністю.Через складне дитинство та багато втрат він закрився від світу і не вірив у можливість щасливого майбутнього.Його любов до Саванни — глибока, хоч і прихована під шаром болю та нерозуміння.
Саванна - дизайнерка інтер’єрів, яка завжди прагне досягти свого. Її повернення в рідне містечко через складні обставини змушує її шукати підтримку там, де вона не чекала.
Її рішучість та здатність прощати роблять її особливою.
Поява знайомих пар із попередніх книг створює відчуття затишку та завершеності історії.
Переписки між хлопцями це щось.
Також мені дуж сподобався другорядний персонаж, а саме Мідж, вона була присутня у всіх книгах, і все почалось з викрадення собаки Рубі, а закінчилось що вона запистувала поради у Емерсон.😅
Сцена з собакою про яку завжди мріяв Хейс, просто розбила мені серце, це було настільки зворушливо що не можливо було стримати сліз.🥹
"Я давно навчився бути самотнім, але тепер ти тут, і я бачу лише тебе. Можливо, це завжди була ти, і тому нічого інше не працювало, поки тебе не було. Ти була тим, чого мені бракувало весь цей час."
Це ідеальне завершення серії, сповнене любові, прощення та надії. Незважаючи на деякі моменти з непрямим спілкуванням між героями, книга захоплює душу та залишає теплі емоції.
Рекомендую!❤️🔥
October 19, 2024
This was a super cute read. Friends to enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and this one reeled me in right from the start. Plus Hayes was a grump towards everyone, but always so sweet to Savannah and that’s kind of my kryptonite when it comes to the MMC. This was a great ending to the series!
October 25, 2024
🎧𝗔𝗟𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 - 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗛𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗦
𝙼𝚊𝚐𝚗𝚘𝚕𝚒𝚊 𝙵𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚜 #𝟻
⏳𝟭𝟬𝗛 𝟭𝟵𝗠
🎙️𝗟𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘀 & 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗔𝗿𝗻𝗱𝘁
💜𝚂𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚃𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
💍𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎
💜𝙶𝚛𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚢 𝚡 𝚂𝚞𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚎
💍𝙲𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝙵𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜
💓𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲: 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗰𝗮𝗸𝗲🍰
❝ ꜱᴀᴠᴀɴɴᴀʜ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀʏᴇꜱ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴘᴇᴀꜱ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴘᴏᴅ, ᴛʜᴇʏ’ᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʙᴇꜱᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴇɪɢʜʙᴏʀꜱ ꜱɪɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴋɪᴅꜱ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴏɴᴇ ᴅᴀʏ, ꜱᴀᴠᴀɴɴᴀʜ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴜᴘꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇꜱ ᴛᴏᴡɴ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ꜱᴀʏɪɴɢ ɢᴏᴏᴅʙʏᴇ. ꜰᴀꜱᴛ ꜰᴏʀᴡᴀʀᴅ ᴛᴇɴ ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ꜱʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴇꜱ ʙᴀᴄᴋ, ʜᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀ ʜᴜꜱʙᴀɴᴅ…❝
💕𝗣𝗲𝗮𝘀 & 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥💕
The final installment of the Magnolia Fall series really hits home as we follow Hayes, the last of the Ride or Die boys. He’s a grumpy firefighter who doesn't believe in love or want a family of his own, apart from his band of brothers. My heart is just so broken for this poor guy after the details of his childhood were revealed in his letters. The freakin’ letters!! My gawd, I was in tears, especially that last letter. Savannah was his best friend growing up; they were so close that they even got matching tattoos Peas & Carrots, (how cute is that? I can’t even🫠)
✅One thing I enjoy the most from this book is all the domestic bliss we get from the couple. Their marriage of convenience quickly turns real. And I love how Hayes didn’t waste any time to confess his feelings. It just feels right after what they have been through and the time they lost.
💭Ok, not gonna lie, this started really rough. The misunderstanding trope is driving me CRAZY, I tell ya. I was cussing for the good part of the first half while listening, screaming to myself to ask them to SIT DOWN and TALK, for God’s sake. I said to myself that this second half had better make it up otherwise my review wouldn’t be nice, LOL. But it definitely picked up! I appreciate that Laura called herself out on the misunderstanding trope, that was a nice touch😉. And I loved that Savannah admitted she was wrong for making all those false assumptions that cost them ten years.
✨Overall, this was a bittersweet ending to a series I've come to love, and it wrapped everything up beautifully. After Nash’s book, I honestly thought nothing could top it, but this one came pretty close! I loved it just as much as Beating Hart. Now I just need to cry in the corner, praying for Beefcake’s book in the second generation series, who knows when that’s gonna be, if ever…
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜'𝗺 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸...
✅They got a matching tattoos!
✅The letters that break my heart💔
✅The Ride or Die Group Text
✅Beefcake is still the MVP, please I need his book so bad😭
🎧𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄🎧
Can we talk about how amazing Andi is? She's an absolute goddess, I adore her performance with all my heart. She brought so much life and emotion to the story. Now, Lee as Hayes was spot-on. He did an incredible job capturing Hayes's character, and I had zero issues when he was voicing him. But his female voices? I just can't. They didn't work for me at all and took me out of the moment every time.
𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝟱⭐️ | 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲: 𝟯🌶️ | 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝟰.𝟱🎧
✨ 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 VALENTINE PR 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙰𝙻𝙲, 𝙸'𝚖 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚢 ✨
November 6, 2024
3.5 stars. I love the Magnolia Falls series so much, it was sad to see it end but also I’m excited for what’s to come from Laura Pavlov with her next series. While this book wasn’t a favorite in the series for me, it was a solid addition.
✨small town romance
✨grumpy x sunshine
✨marriage of convenience
✨fake relationship
✨firefighter
✨returning home
✨found family
✨on KU
Hayes and Savannah were childhood friends who had a falling out (which we learn about later into the book), and now she’s back in their hometown! She’s back because someone in her life recently passed away and is leaving her millions of dollars, which the caveat that she has to be married. So her and Hayes decide to have a marriage of convenience and fake a happy marriage.
I liked parts of the story, then struggled with other aspects, and then liked seeing all the side characters and their updates too. So definitely highs and lows in this one for me. I love a marriage of convenience set up but do struggle with the execution of it in contemporary romances, I wanted to dig a little deeper with this couple and their story but didn’t feel like we got to that level. I also wasn’t a fan of their falling out in the past, it was obvious that was going to be what caused it all and I just don’t like it when ‘that’ is the reason of what went down in the past. Wished it went a different way or had something more there. The ending was good (although maybe tied up a littttttle too easily), but I liked seeing so many moments with the other characters of the series in this one and all their babies and updates on their lives.
✨small town romance
✨grumpy x sunshine
✨marriage of convenience
✨fake relationship
✨firefighter
✨returning home
✨found family
✨on KU
Hayes and Savannah were childhood friends who had a falling out (which we learn about later into the book), and now she’s back in their hometown! She’s back because someone in her life recently passed away and is leaving her millions of dollars, which the caveat that she has to be married. So her and Hayes decide to have a marriage of convenience and fake a happy marriage.
I liked parts of the story, then struggled with other aspects, and then liked seeing all the side characters and their updates too. So definitely highs and lows in this one for me. I love a marriage of convenience set up but do struggle with the execution of it in contemporary romances, I wanted to dig a little deeper with this couple and their story but didn’t feel like we got to that level. I also wasn’t a fan of their falling out in the past, it was obvious that was going to be what caused it all and I just don’t like it when ‘that’ is the reason of what went down in the past. Wished it went a different way or had something more there. The ending was good (although maybe tied up a littttttle too easily), but I liked seeing so many moments with the other characters of the series in this one and all their babies and updates on their lives.
October 26, 2024
4.5/5⭐️
2/5🌶️
I don’t want to say goodbye 😭 my heart lives in Magnolia falls! This was the most bittersweet goodbye! My heart was full! It was everything I needed and more. Laura Pavlov writes some of my favorite small town romances and this one is definitely on the top. Such a perfect ending to this series!🥹
Finding Hayes is the fifth and final book in the Magnolia series following Savannah Abbott & Hayes Woodson. Hayes & Sav were childhood best friends and one day Sav left with no explanation. She ends up never talking to Hayes again. Until now. She is back in town under terrible circumstances and she needs to find herself a husband. Hayes doesn’t think twice and agree to marry her and he wants his best friend back.
Hayes & Savannah have my heart! Hayes was the grumpiest man but he is soft for the people he loves! Especially with Savannah! THE LETTERS?! 😭 I AM IN LOVE! I don’t think I will ever recover. Ugh they just all have my heart and I can’t wait to see what Laura has in store with her new series! I can’t wait!
Tropes:
💜Firefighter MMC
✨Childhood Best Friends
💜Second Chance
✨Marriage of Convenience
💜Small Town
✨Interior Designer FMC
💜Forced Proximity
✨Grumpy x Sunshine
Thank you soo much Laura Pavlov and team for the eARC 💜
2/5🌶️
I don’t want to say goodbye 😭 my heart lives in Magnolia falls! This was the most bittersweet goodbye! My heart was full! It was everything I needed and more. Laura Pavlov writes some of my favorite small town romances and this one is definitely on the top. Such a perfect ending to this series!🥹
Finding Hayes is the fifth and final book in the Magnolia series following Savannah Abbott & Hayes Woodson. Hayes & Sav were childhood best friends and one day Sav left with no explanation. She ends up never talking to Hayes again. Until now. She is back in town under terrible circumstances and she needs to find herself a husband. Hayes doesn’t think twice and agree to marry her and he wants his best friend back.
Hayes & Savannah have my heart! Hayes was the grumpiest man but he is soft for the people he loves! Especially with Savannah! THE LETTERS?! 😭 I AM IN LOVE! I don’t think I will ever recover. Ugh they just all have my heart and I can’t wait to see what Laura has in store with her new series! I can’t wait!
Tropes:
💜Firefighter MMC
✨Childhood Best Friends
💜Second Chance
✨Marriage of Convenience
💜Small Town
✨Interior Designer FMC
💜Forced Proximity
✨Grumpy x Sunshine
Thank you soo much Laura Pavlov and team for the eARC 💜
October 25, 2024
I can't believe it's the last book! I'm going to miss these guys. These guys called themselves the Ride or Die, and they've been close since they were young teens.
There's one last guy single. ALL of his friends are in committed relationships now, and Hayes is the last single guy standing. And to be fair, he grew up seeing that relationships aren't the best. His parents didn't work out, and his mom's second marriage was a disaster. He did try to attempt it himself and all he got... was... ugh, just wait until you hear about his ex.
So Hayes just lives his firefighter life and helps out being Uncle Hayes to Beefcake. (Please tell me you've met that sweet boy!) Until his best friend moves back.
Savannah hasn't been back to Magnolia Falls in years. After a huge scandal, she left. She and Hayes have had no contact for years. And it's been OK with her. Now, though, she needs a temporary husband.
Honestly, I love friends to lovers. It's one of my favorite tropes. And this one was sooooo good. Throughout the story, we see how much these two cared for each other years ago, and it's so sad to see how many years they lost as friends.
It's understandable about how much Hayes is against such a commitment, but we see pretty soon how much he cares about Savannah. And we see how good they are. It just takes a while for these knuckleheads to see it, too.
The RoD guys feature prominently, too. I was pretty sad, thinking about how this is the last group text. But Laura also sets up a new series that I can't wait to jump in.
So if you like grumpy guys who show they're swoony side, this ones for you.
There's one last guy single. ALL of his friends are in committed relationships now, and Hayes is the last single guy standing. And to be fair, he grew up seeing that relationships aren't the best. His parents didn't work out, and his mom's second marriage was a disaster. He did try to attempt it himself and all he got... was... ugh, just wait until you hear about his ex.
So Hayes just lives his firefighter life and helps out being Uncle Hayes to Beefcake. (Please tell me you've met that sweet boy!) Until his best friend moves back.
Savannah hasn't been back to Magnolia Falls in years. After a huge scandal, she left. She and Hayes have had no contact for years. And it's been OK with her. Now, though, she needs a temporary husband.
Honestly, I love friends to lovers. It's one of my favorite tropes. And this one was sooooo good. Throughout the story, we see how much these two cared for each other years ago, and it's so sad to see how many years they lost as friends.
It's understandable about how much Hayes is against such a commitment, but we see pretty soon how much he cares about Savannah. And we see how good they are. It just takes a while for these knuckleheads to see it, too.
The RoD guys feature prominently, too. I was pretty sad, thinking about how this is the last group text. But Laura also sets up a new series that I can't wait to jump in.
So if you like grumpy guys who show they're swoony side, this ones for you.
October 25, 2024
And here we are at the bittersweet end of this wonderful series from Laura Pavlov. The friendships, banter and immense love that has come from this series has been such a highlight of my reading year.
Hayes’ story was highly anticipated and I loved how his story played out with Savvy so much. They were once best friends, inseparable until one day she left with no explanation. She finds herself back in town under sad circumstances and needs a husband. The best way for these old childhood friends to reconnect and resolve the misunderstandings between them, is to get married of course!
I absolutely loved seeing these two reconnect. The letters absolutely killed me and seeing feelings (especially Hayes’) play out this way was really well done. The chemistry and tension between Hayes and Savannah was so thick and anytime Hayes came out with “my wife” absolutely melted me. I loved how Hayes let his walls down, finally Savvy and his friends in. The RoD brothers really looked up to him and it was so special for Hayes to finally recognise and acknowledge this.
Two of my most favourite scenes Laura has ever written were in this book, and to tell you I had lots of tears burning would be an understatement! They were such special moments which bought this whole extended group closer than ever imaginable.
The ending to this series was so good, so nice to see all the other couples living their absolute happiest lives. I’m excited for what Laura has up her sleeve next, the preview looks amazing!
Thank you Laura and Valentine PR for the arc; it’s always a joy!
Hayes’ story was highly anticipated and I loved how his story played out with Savvy so much. They were once best friends, inseparable until one day she left with no explanation. She finds herself back in town under sad circumstances and needs a husband. The best way for these old childhood friends to reconnect and resolve the misunderstandings between them, is to get married of course!
I absolutely loved seeing these two reconnect. The letters absolutely killed me and seeing feelings (especially Hayes’) play out this way was really well done. The chemistry and tension between Hayes and Savannah was so thick and anytime Hayes came out with “my wife” absolutely melted me. I loved how Hayes let his walls down, finally Savvy and his friends in. The RoD brothers really looked up to him and it was so special for Hayes to finally recognise and acknowledge this.
Two of my most favourite scenes Laura has ever written were in this book, and to tell you I had lots of tears burning would be an understatement! They were such special moments which bought this whole extended group closer than ever imaginable.
The ending to this series was so good, so nice to see all the other couples living their absolute happiest lives. I’m excited for what Laura has up her sleeve next, the preview looks amazing!
Thank you Laura and Valentine PR for the arc; it’s always a joy!
October 24, 2024
This book was the perfect ending to this beautiful series! Laura killed her first marriage of convenience!! She truly never misses! I was hooked from the beginning and could not put this one down, loved everything about it.
Savannah and Hayes were meant to be and I’m so happy they found their way back to each other. I loved their relationship. Peas and carrots baby. 🥹 The miscommunication trope can be rough but I think Laura did a great job with this and it all came together.
It’s my favorite when all the characters from the other books come together. P.s beefcake still steals the show! Magnolia falls will forever hold a special place in my heart. I loved every single character from this series. It is bitter sweet because I’m so sad for it to be over but so excited for Rosewood River!!
- marriage of convenience
- grumpy x sunshine
- small town
- friends to lovers
- firefighter mmc
- forced proximity
Highlights:
“Take me home, Woody.”
“You like taking care of me, Hayes?” “Always, Shortcake.”
“I’d like to kiss my wife before I agree to spend my life with her.”
Hayes Woodson had always felt like my home.
“Maybe it was always you, and that’s why nothing else ever worked when you were gone. Maybe you’ve been what’s missing all along.”
“I want you.” “You have me, Sav.” “You’ve always had me.”
“I need you to know that if it’s just you and me for the rest of this lifetime, I can live with that, Hayes. I just needed to know that you felt the same way. You are my family, and that’s enough for me.”
“Thanks for bringing me back to life, Sav.”
You’re my North Star, Shortcake. And without you, I’m lost.
“Hey uncle Hayes, did you hear that I want to start calling my Sunny mama?”
“Hey husband.” “Hey Wife.”
Savannah and Hayes were meant to be and I’m so happy they found their way back to each other. I loved their relationship. Peas and carrots baby. 🥹 The miscommunication trope can be rough but I think Laura did a great job with this and it all came together.
It’s my favorite when all the characters from the other books come together. P.s beefcake still steals the show! Magnolia falls will forever hold a special place in my heart. I loved every single character from this series. It is bitter sweet because I’m so sad for it to be over but so excited for Rosewood River!!
- marriage of convenience
- grumpy x sunshine
- small town
- friends to lovers
- firefighter mmc
- forced proximity
Highlights:
“Take me home, Woody.”
“You like taking care of me, Hayes?” “Always, Shortcake.”
“I’d like to kiss my wife before I agree to spend my life with her.”
Hayes Woodson had always felt like my home.
“Maybe it was always you, and that’s why nothing else ever worked when you were gone. Maybe you’ve been what’s missing all along.”
“I want you.” “You have me, Sav.” “You’ve always had me.”
“I need you to know that if it’s just you and me for the rest of this lifetime, I can live with that, Hayes. I just needed to know that you felt the same way. You are my family, and that’s enough for me.”
“Thanks for bringing me back to life, Sav.”
You’re my North Star, Shortcake. And without you, I’m lost.
“Hey uncle Hayes, did you hear that I want to start calling my Sunny mama?”
“Hey husband.” “Hey Wife.”
October 22, 2024
Laura Pavlov saved the best for last! Hayes and Savannah’s story hit me right in the feels. The fact that my eyes teared up throughout my entire read is a testament to how special these characters are.
Here’s what I absolutely loved:
It was the character development for me. As a huge fan of this series, I wanted to know what made these guys tick. The author does such a beautiful job showing us why they behave the way they do and why they live the way grown to love. We aren’t just told about their upbringing but we experience through the letters.
The history between these two is wonderful! I loved seeing the layers peeled back and understanding not only their disagreement, but the history behind it.
The chemistry was really amazing between these two. Hayes was so freaking sweet! Just an all around great.
And last but not least, the way the author seamlessly weaves updates about the previous couples into this story was such a joy! I couldn’t get enough of Beefcake and Emerson.
It was flawless and I can’t wait for more from this author!
Here’s what I absolutely loved:
It was the character development for me. As a huge fan of this series, I wanted to know what made these guys tick. The author does such a beautiful job showing us why they behave the way they do and why they live the way grown to love. We aren’t just told about their upbringing but we experience through the letters.
The history between these two is wonderful! I loved seeing the layers peeled back and understanding not only their disagreement, but the history behind it.
The chemistry was really amazing between these two. Hayes was so freaking sweet! Just an all around great.
And last but not least, the way the author seamlessly weaves updates about the previous couples into this story was such a joy! I couldn’t get enough of Beefcake and Emerson.
It was flawless and I can’t wait for more from this author!
October 24, 2024
I can’t believe we are saying goodbye to this series.
Magnolia Falls was such a perfect series that I conquered my heart from book one until book five. Every single book was so good that it’s hard for me to put it into words.
After reading “Beating Heart” I was truly afraid that I wouldn’t love “Finding Hayes” the way I loved book four. Perhaps because Hayes was always such an introverted character and we didn’t know him as much as we did with the other four characters. But Laura did what she does better: made me speechless again.
Hayes is a character with so many layers and it was such a pleasure journey to meet him better. He is a protector to the core and we already knew that from the Forbidden King story but in this book we could dive in such a deeper way and meet him and his concerns.
One of the best things about Hayes - that I love in every mmc - is how sweet and how much he cares about the fmc. Do you know when the main guy is such a grumpy guy to everyone except for her? I LOVE TO SEE THAT. The way he loves Savannah is just superior.
And now, let’s talk about her - Savannah. I LOVE HER. I adored every little detail about her and I wish I could hug her in every chapter. Her reasons were so valid and we could feel how much she was hurt from her past. She is, like Hayes, a protector and I loved to see her calmness about her father and, from page to page, about her husband as well.
The tropes in this book are also some of my favorites: who doesn’t love a marriage of convenience? But what I adore more are the second chance vibe and the “it’s always been you” - make me giggle every time.
One thing that I truly need to highlight is the found family in every book. The Ride Or Die group will own a part of my heart forever - this series truly meant something so special to me and I fell in love with Laura’s writing - who made me SOB in chapter 28.
I am truly so sad to see this series over but I am excited to see the new world as well!
Magnolia Falls was such a perfect series that I conquered my heart from book one until book five. Every single book was so good that it’s hard for me to put it into words.
After reading “Beating Heart” I was truly afraid that I wouldn’t love “Finding Hayes” the way I loved book four. Perhaps because Hayes was always such an introverted character and we didn’t know him as much as we did with the other four characters. But Laura did what she does better: made me speechless again.
Hayes is a character with so many layers and it was such a pleasure journey to meet him better. He is a protector to the core and we already knew that from the Forbidden King story but in this book we could dive in such a deeper way and meet him and his concerns.
One of the best things about Hayes - that I love in every mmc - is how sweet and how much he cares about the fmc. Do you know when the main guy is such a grumpy guy to everyone except for her? I LOVE TO SEE THAT. The way he loves Savannah is just superior.
And now, let’s talk about her - Savannah. I LOVE HER. I adored every little detail about her and I wish I could hug her in every chapter. Her reasons were so valid and we could feel how much she was hurt from her past. She is, like Hayes, a protector and I loved to see her calmness about her father and, from page to page, about her husband as well.
The tropes in this book are also some of my favorites: who doesn’t love a marriage of convenience? But what I adore more are the second chance vibe and the “it’s always been you” - make me giggle every time.
One thing that I truly need to highlight is the found family in every book. The Ride Or Die group will own a part of my heart forever - this series truly meant something so special to me and I fell in love with Laura’s writing - who made me SOB in chapter 28.
I am truly so sad to see this series over but I am excited to see the new world as well!
October 21, 2024
Well, Laura did it again! Every book I think I can't love it more and then it becomes my new favorite!
RECAP: Savannah and Hayes were childhood best friends. They were everything to each other until Savannah cut Hayes out of her life and left their small town of Magnolia Falls without a word. Hayes never knew what happened between them. Years later Savannah comes back to town because her dear friend and pseudo grandfather passed away and left her his old farmhouse. The catch is that she must marry someone in order to inherit. Hayes is the most obvious choice. They agree to marry and pretend to be in love but lines are crossed and once they finally talk about what happened all those years ago, their friendship becomes something so much more.
My Thoughts: Savannah is force to be reckoned with. She's hilarious, confident and chaotic. She's Hayes exact opposite. He's grumpy, quiet and likes predictability. I loved their friendship and their history was so sweet. The moment that tore them apart and what happened between that time and when they reconnected was all building towards their love story. Their chemistry was off the charts! I loved Savannah and Hayes so much!
TROPES/ MICROTROPES:
-childhood friends to lovers
-nicknames
-forced proximity
-she falls first, he falls hardest
-marriage of convenience
-grumpy x sunshine
-found family
-opposites attract
-my wife
Thank you for the ARC!
RECAP: Savannah and Hayes were childhood best friends. They were everything to each other until Savannah cut Hayes out of her life and left their small town of Magnolia Falls without a word. Hayes never knew what happened between them. Years later Savannah comes back to town because her dear friend and pseudo grandfather passed away and left her his old farmhouse. The catch is that she must marry someone in order to inherit. Hayes is the most obvious choice. They agree to marry and pretend to be in love but lines are crossed and once they finally talk about what happened all those years ago, their friendship becomes something so much more.
My Thoughts: Savannah is force to be reckoned with. She's hilarious, confident and chaotic. She's Hayes exact opposite. He's grumpy, quiet and likes predictability. I loved their friendship and their history was so sweet. The moment that tore them apart and what happened between that time and when they reconnected was all building towards their love story. Their chemistry was off the charts! I loved Savannah and Hayes so much!
TROPES/ MICROTROPES:
-childhood friends to lovers
-nicknames
-forced proximity
-she falls first, he falls hardest
-marriage of convenience
-grumpy x sunshine
-found family
-opposites attract
-my wife
Thank you for the ARC!
April 7, 2025
4.5 This was hands down my favorite in the series. The childhood friends to strangers to lovers with marriage of convenience WAS SO GOOD. The found family in this series has been my favorite of Laura's yet, and I am really excited to read her next series as I think we got a little easter egg thrown into this book on who the main character is going to be!
October 14, 2024
4.5⭐️ Thank you, Valentine PR and Laura Pavlov, for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is proof that friends to lovers are superior ! I die for this trope. Especially when they haven't seen each other for a decade.
I wanted more Hayes and Saylor scenes, but I love them. How he sacrificed his life for his sister. And him becoming a firefighter....🥵🥵 has unlocked something me and I need more firefighter romances!
Savannah was a great character.How she just fit in with the girls of previous books. Her relationship with her father is a sweet one and I'm so happy for them.
The romantic pace of this didn't feel rushed either. I think how it was all plotted out was cleverly done. And there was no big and epic drama,I would have expected some issues to pop up from some minor antagonists but no. This was a light hearted read.
Beefcake you ABSOLUTE SWEETIE CUTIE PIE ! I hope one day we see his story when he's much much older.
T R O P E S
💜second chance at love
💜childhood friends to strangers to lovers
💜marriage of convenience
💜small town
💜found family
💜no third act breakup
💜forced proximity
💜nicknames !
🐶pup named Roddy
I can't wait for Easton (Emerson's brother) book in Pavlov's new and upcoming series!! I read the little excerpt and I'm feeling the te sion between him and Henley !
The only thing I got irked about - SPOILER ALERT -
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
❌️3rd act pregnancy and suddenly everyone getting pregnant
This is proof that friends to lovers are superior ! I die for this trope. Especially when they haven't seen each other for a decade.
I wanted more Hayes and Saylor scenes, but I love them. How he sacrificed his life for his sister. And him becoming a firefighter....🥵🥵 has unlocked something me and I need more firefighter romances!
Savannah was a great character.How she just fit in with the girls of previous books. Her relationship with her father is a sweet one and I'm so happy for them.
The romantic pace of this didn't feel rushed either. I think how it was all plotted out was cleverly done. And there was no big and epic drama,I would have expected some issues to pop up from some minor antagonists but no. This was a light hearted read.
Beefcake you ABSOLUTE SWEETIE CUTIE PIE ! I hope one day we see his story when he's much much older.
T R O P E S
💜second chance at love
💜childhood friends to strangers to lovers
💜marriage of convenience
💜small town
💜found family
💜no third act breakup
💜forced proximity
💜nicknames !
🐶pup named Roddy
I can't wait for Easton (Emerson's brother) book in Pavlov's new and upcoming series!! I read the little excerpt and I'm feeling the te sion between him and Henley !
The only thing I got irked about - SPOILER ALERT -
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
❌️3rd act pregnancy and suddenly everyone getting pregnant
October 21, 2024
Well, she did it again! Laura will forever be a comfort read for me and this was no exception! I was on pins and needles for Hayes because, honestly, I love a good grumpy hero, am I right?
I feel like best friends to lovers can be tricky and sometimes they're hit or miss but Laura absolutely crushed this trope. Hayes and Savvy being best friends growing up (but secretly pining for each other) and then coming back together all those years later after she just left?! Full stop. I could barely handle the tension. Then add in marriage of convenience?! RIP Stephanie.
It was absolute perfection! Finding Hayes is out now and you won't want to miss it!
I feel like best friends to lovers can be tricky and sometimes they're hit or miss but Laura absolutely crushed this trope. Hayes and Savvy being best friends growing up (but secretly pining for each other) and then coming back together all those years later after she just left?! Full stop. I could barely handle the tension. Then add in marriage of convenience?! RIP Stephanie.
It was absolute perfection! Finding Hayes is out now and you won't want to miss it!
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