Maps & Monuments

Cedar Grove Small Town Romances #4

by Lottie Morgan

When Ella Martinez, a search and rescue worker, transfers to Cedar Grove, she feels completely out of place. The outgoing and witty city girl struggles to find her footing until the sheriff’s deputy offers to give her a tour of the town. During a tour, Wyatt is interrupted by the local history teacher and amateur historian to correct the inaccuracies. Ella doesn’t want anything to do with the muscular and bright-eyed man.

Griffin Harlow clashes with the new search and rescue responder on the tour from Wyatt, and decides he should apologize for his sarcastic behavior. When she sees his research methods, she gets after him and tells him to share his knowledge. This spark in Ella causes Griffin to ask for help with the map that everyone believes is the key to solving Cedar Grove’s mystery.

It all comes down to solving a few more clues in the final book! Will Ella ever fit into this small town? Can Ella and Griffin find common ground as they work to solve the town’s mystery? What will they uncover?

Don’t miss this clean romantic comedy with a hint of mystery that is sure to please readers of all ages.

95 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 25, 2025

Reviews

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 4th book in the series is so much fun to read. When Ella arrives in Cedar Grove, the Sheriff, Wyatt offers to show her around town, they bump into Griffin, who has been trying to find the town's mystery. It wasn't the best of meetings since Griffin's sarcasm outdid his welcoming to the town. But when Griffin figures out it is better to work with Ella to try and figure out the maps and mystery, they work together. This is so much fun to read that you can't put it down once you begin. Can Griffin finally solve the town's mystery? Are there more clues that need to be discovered? I love how the relationship between between the two start to develop. I can't wait to read book 5! I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own .

[TJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

MAPS AND MONUMENTS by Lottie Morgan is a short, clean, fun romantic comedy with a hint of mystery.

I really enjoyed the interactions between the two main characters, from their highly entertaining banter, to their sweet, budding romance!
There were a lot of good quotes about finding something real - something worth holding onto, but the most touching was from the scholarly historian-
“I spent a lot of time thinking about what it would be like to find something significant. Something that mattered.
I didn’t realize it wouldn’t be a thing. It would be a person.” Aww!!

This is my favorite story in the series so far, and I would definitely recommend it!
I was graciously given an advanced copy to read and I’m voluntarily giving my honest review.

[Chia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was privileged to read Maps & Monuments before release, and this one truly felt like a cozy escape wrapped around my heart. Cedar Grove remains one of the most comforting town settings I’ve encountered, full of charm, quirky neighbors, and slow-burn romance energy that gripped me from the first chapter.

Lottie Morgan delivers chemistry that simmers: when the town’s mapmaker meets the newcomer documentary filmmaker, their constant proximity and shared mission to preserve history bring tension and intimacy in equal measure. The found-family and small-town restoration backdrop are woven with emotional depth and warmth. It’s a sweet, healing romance that reminded me why I love hometown love stories so much.

[LA FITCH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this Cedar Grove series. Each person finds their forever and there is an underlying town mystery running throughout the series. Wyatt is the town deputy who meets Rachel at the diner when she walks into him. Racheel is an actress who is hiding out in town due to another actor saying she didn't take a mythical PR stunt romance breakup well. The studio threatened to cancel the contract and the tabloids went nuts. Wyatt ends up taking her around the town and his family and friends make her welcome. Their HEA is well-written and entertaining. I can't wait to see how the mystery unfolds.

[MGB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Be careful if you move to Cedar Grove! "Love Grows where Ella goes and nobody knows ..."

It was just a Search and Rescue job until Ella discovered an entirely different flavor to the town. Seems that the place is real conducive to love. Seems it doesn't take very long when a couple is thrown together and discovers that there are a whole lot of pleasant things about the other person.

"And that was the thing with love. You might not always know from the start, but soon, in the deepest parts of yourself, was the reality that you'd found something real. "

[Valeri Sullivan (vsulvn29) · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘This is how people end up in jail.’

Book four in the Cedar Grove series introduces us to new in town search and rescuer Ella and grumpy but lovable historian Griffin who is determined to solve the mystery of Cedar Grove that has been building over the course of the series. When Ella volunteers to ‘help’ him search for a hidden chamber he’s not overjoyed but their chemistry quickly turns the task into a lighthearted almost Scooby Doo-ish caper that’s extremely fun to read. As love blooms, the mystery is solved and you’re left with a smile.

[Margaret Hejmanowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all things Lottie Morgan, and this does not disappoint; this is book four in The Cedar Grove Series. Ella Martinez is a search and rescue worker, she transfers to Cedar Grove. Sheriff Deputy Wyatt offers to give Ella a tour of the town. While on the tour they run into Griffin Harlow the town historian. Their is a town mystery that Griffin has been trying to solve. Griffin works with Ella as they look at Maps & Monuments!! Love the plot, great setting, and strong intense interesting characters. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Lottie Morgan

[Cici JN · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest Cedar Grove small town romance series is a sweet cozy story that brings together a lifelong town resident and a former big city girl who transferred to the town with her job. Many of the other characters have been in the other books in the series, so I enjoyed seeing them again. Each book is a stand-alone as far as the romances are concerned, but there are some parts of the overarching plot that are better understood by reading the books in order. I look forward to more from this author, whether in a new episode or in a new series.

[Linda DuPont · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery solved! Maps & Monuments is a short read (a few hours) but packed with interesting characters and events. Ella and Griffin pair up to research new findings in Cedar Grove’s historical mystery. Was there ever any gold? If so, was it taken or has it disappeared, waiting to be found again?

The banter is fun, and of course, it’s fun to see how Griffin and Ella’s relationship develops. This is the final book in the series, and the mystery is finally solved, in an unusual way.

[PurpleLadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maps & Monuments, book four, of the Cedar Grove series, was short but sweet. The banter between Ella and Griffin kept me laughing. "Professor" Griffin was such an opinionated curmudgeon, so I enjoyed how Ella never backed down and kept proving him wrong with a smile. Poor Griffin didn't stand a chance, and was smart enough to realise that it was better to have Ella by his side, then anywhere else.

[Dianne Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable cozy!
A short, easy to read and enjoyable cozy that I can easily recommend. This is the fourth book I’ve read in the series, and each one has added to the intrigue and mystery. I love the ending and the budding romance between Ella and Griffin.
I read this book as part of an advance reader team. I am voluntarily writing this review.

[Lucia Valenzuela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent ending to this series. The mystery is finally solved! It is remarkable that important things can happen purely by accident, like kicking the bricks. The romance between Ella and Griffin is very enjoyable to read. Sweet, clean story. It really helps to have read the previous books.
I received this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romantically inclined on the inclines . Lottie Morgan has her hands full with Wyatt and now Griffin to contend ,foe or friend? Well it looks like he might just have the answers to the whole mystery about their Cedar Grove history . It’s a romantic entanglements and a brilliant read that very much pleased.Ella Martinez is impressed anyway

[LaRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really enjoying books from this author! This was was fantastic! I loved it when he said he didn't realize that what mattered the most wouldn't be a thing, it would be a person!! One of my favorite lines from a book EVER!! Such great adventure and great moments in this story!! A fantastic read!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been enjoying this series! Maps and Monuments is the fourth book in this series and is a great escape. There is a mystery that is solved by new to the series search and rescuer Ella and Griffin, who is a historian who is working on solving the mystery of Cedar Grove.

This is a light hearted and fast read that will leave you feeling happy!

[blueyed_cntry_girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this little town, romance, suspense and adventure, all while invoking the community. Is there long lost hidden gold or is it just a legend/story? You know, they say that in every legend there is truth, but how much? Have a few laughs, adventures and watch a romance bud.

I received this as an ARC and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Linda Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the enjoyable and entertaining final book in the Cedar Grove series. The town mystery, “was there ever any gold”, is finally solved. After Griffin, local historian, has spent ages researching the mystery, it is newbie Ella who finds the hidden clue. All will be revealed!

[Nathalie Le Chene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved all three books. Looking forward for next one.
Thanks.

[Rosemary Humphreys · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great easy reading book. I laughed at the banter between the two main characters. I also enjoyed going along with Griffin and Ella as they found the hidden treasure.

[JoAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well woven romantic comedy/cozy mystery story. Main characters, Ella and Griffin, have lots of chemisty and intriguing banter. Interesting adventure, characters, and mystery.

[Lizz Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute romantic story. Griffin has a sarcastic wit and a lot of patience, which is good because Ella is a no-nonsense person. When they make a discovery while on a search and rescue training exercise, they discover more than a lost historical artifact. A lot happens in this novella. This is an enjoyable series.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maps & Monuments by Lottie Morgan is the fourth book in the Cedar Grove series. It is a well-written, clean romance based on Christian principles. It is a sweet little town romance, a place where everyone knows everyone and everything. The series is fun to read, and you get to know the people well. It is a sweet and relaxing story to read.