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Finding Forever: To find the fire, just follow the smoke.
There's a new firefighter in Mehama.
Chase Garett moved to Mehama for a fresh start. After a decade as a Smoke Jumper, he’s looking to stay in one spot. Especially after being dumped by his girlfriend and being named the guardian to his kid brother. He doesn’t have time for anything, especially the woman he can’t stop thinking about.
April Lockwood loves small-town life. Raising her daughter alone hasn’t been easy, but she wouldn’t change anything. Except maybe the dating pool, which seems to have dried up. Until a stranger comes to her rescue claiming to be her fiancé.
When being fake finances works in their favor, Chase and April, have to negative raising kids, small town gossip, and a jealous rooster. But it’s the rising heat between them that can’t be put out.
Chase Garett moved to Mehama for a fresh start. After a decade as a Smoke Jumper, he’s looking to stay in one spot. Especially after being dumped by his girlfriend and being named the guardian to his kid brother. He doesn’t have time for anything, especially the woman he can’t stop thinking about.
April Lockwood loves small-town life. Raising her daughter alone hasn’t been easy, but she wouldn’t change anything. Except maybe the dating pool, which seems to have dried up. Until a stranger comes to her rescue claiming to be her fiancé.
When being fake finances works in their favor, Chase and April, have to negative raising kids, small town gossip, and a jealous rooster. But it’s the rising heat between them that can’t be put out.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2025
2 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 13, 2025
This was such a sweet story. April, single mother and Chase, a firefighter who becomes the legal guardian of his brother after the sudden death of his parents in a car accident have instant chemistry. Who doesn’t love a sexy firefighter? I adored the relationship Chase forms with April’s daughter Celeste. The nicknames they had for each other were adorable. I also loved how April stepped in to be a mother figure to Evan without trying to actually be the mother. This book had so many swoon worthy moments. The spicy scenes between Chase and April were 🔥🔥!
Favorite quote: You are the stars, the smoke i’ll follow anywhere. You are my forever. I love you and I want to build a life with you.
Thank you to Cindy Houghton and Hawthorn & Aster for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team. All thoughts are my own.
Favorite quote: You are the stars, the smoke i’ll follow anywhere. You are my forever. I love you and I want to build a life with you.
Thank you to Cindy Houghton and Hawthorn & Aster for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team. All thoughts are my own.
October 15, 2025
Thank you to Hawthorn & Aster for the E-ARC! This E-ARC was sent to me in exchange for an honest review.
I really, really enjoyed my time with this one.
The quotes were beautiful (Ugh, April and Chase were so dang cute together), the spice scenes were (Unironically) hot as flames, and the relationships between all the main characters are entwined with love and adoration.
I always love a single mother trope done right! Especially when that single mother finds a partner who treats her child like his own, and also treats any children in the male lead's life like HER own.
In this story we have a male lead, Chase, who is also a single guardian after he takes custody of his teenager brother, and April who is a single mother to a 7 year old girl. They both treat those kids with every bit of respect and love they deserve as growing human beings. The relationship they build as a family warmed my heart. We need more single parent/single guardian pairings in romance novels!
April was my favorite character, but I truly loved them all. Her daughter was a runner up for my favorite because that kid's entire personality needed its own book.
If you want small town romance, hot spice (and hotter firefighters), low stakes, and lots of heart-This one is for you!
I really, really enjoyed my time with this one.
The quotes were beautiful (Ugh, April and Chase were so dang cute together), the spice scenes were (Unironically) hot as flames, and the relationships between all the main characters are entwined with love and adoration.
I always love a single mother trope done right! Especially when that single mother finds a partner who treats her child like his own, and also treats any children in the male lead's life like HER own.
In this story we have a male lead, Chase, who is also a single guardian after he takes custody of his teenager brother, and April who is a single mother to a 7 year old girl. They both treat those kids with every bit of respect and love they deserve as growing human beings. The relationship they build as a family warmed my heart. We need more single parent/single guardian pairings in romance novels!
April was my favorite character, but I truly loved them all. Her daughter was a runner up for my favorite because that kid's entire personality needed its own book.
If you want small town romance, hot spice (and hotter firefighters), low stakes, and lots of heart-This one is for you!
October 14, 2025
I really enjoyed this, it was beautifully written and had me all up in my feels.
The story follows April a single mom who has had to fend for herself most of her life and Chase who is new in town facing the responsibility of now raising his teenage brother.
I really loved Chase's character and his growth throughout the book was so perfectly written, a highlight though was his relationship with Celeste, the nicknames were adorable! One of my very favourite things to read is a man who steps up to a little one who doesn't have a father figure in her life and this was one of the best versions of it I have read!
April was also an amazing character, strong and so beautifully kind. I think a lot will relate to her as a character, this is something I have found with Cindy's writing, all her female characters are relatable and I love that.
The plot of this book was well paced and believable, the small town vibes are perfection and the found family was also written as well as any I have read. I have loved this whole series, it's been like a warm hug and just what I needed from my books right now. If you need a book or a series to bring a bit of light to your life then I highly recommend this one.
I was gifted an arc of this book and chose to review it due to my love for the book
The story follows April a single mom who has had to fend for herself most of her life and Chase who is new in town facing the responsibility of now raising his teenage brother.
I really loved Chase's character and his growth throughout the book was so perfectly written, a highlight though was his relationship with Celeste, the nicknames were adorable! One of my very favourite things to read is a man who steps up to a little one who doesn't have a father figure in her life and this was one of the best versions of it I have read!
April was also an amazing character, strong and so beautifully kind. I think a lot will relate to her as a character, this is something I have found with Cindy's writing, all her female characters are relatable and I love that.
The plot of this book was well paced and believable, the small town vibes are perfection and the found family was also written as well as any I have read. I have loved this whole series, it's been like a warm hug and just what I needed from my books right now. If you need a book or a series to bring a bit of light to your life then I highly recommend this one.
I was gifted an arc of this book and chose to review it due to my love for the book
October 13, 2025
Cindy Houghton had me at Small Town, Firefighter, Single Parents and Found Family! Then she did it so well, I was hooked. April and Chase are a couple that makes sense from the beginning, but the relationships they have with each of the children the other is raising, April’s daughter Celeste and Chase’s younger brother Evan, are what really make this story special. Mehama, Oregon is the small town we all wish we were from, especially since it has a fire department full of hotties. This book is not about recreating the Romance world, but about telling a story well and populating it with characters we care about. Celeste in particular stands out. This very articulate and sensitive 7 year old is charming and relatable, particularly to those of us who were ostracized as the smart kid with their nose in a book.
And did I mention that the spice is genuinely hot? This is a couple who cannot get enough of each other and I’m a fan.
If you are looking for a small town romance where sweet does not mean boring or formulaic, this is for you.
Now that I’ve found this series, I’m planning to go back and read Travis and Axe’s stories as well.
I’d like to thank Hawthorn & Aster and author Cindy Houghton for giving me the opportunity to enjoy and review this ARC!
And did I mention that the spice is genuinely hot? This is a couple who cannot get enough of each other and I’m a fan.
If you are looking for a small town romance where sweet does not mean boring or formulaic, this is for you.
Now that I’ve found this series, I’m planning to go back and read Travis and Axe’s stories as well.
I’d like to thank Hawthorn & Aster and author Cindy Houghton for giving me the opportunity to enjoy and review this ARC!
October 2, 2025
ARC Review
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Not only did I really love the main characters, Chase and April, but the supporting characters were great as well - I felt like I was reading about the child version of myself when Celeste's commentary was on-page - which made the story more enjoyable and relatable on some level. The supporting characters definitely made for some really great banter and comedic moments (BBC, iykyk).
This was a nice palate cleanser for me! I really loved the focus on found family in this book - from April's experience with creating her own found family for herself and her daughter, Celeste within Mehama to Chase and Evan fitting into the town of Mehama's family. Chase and Evan navigating the big changes in their lives was well-executed; the progression of their story, and the events that came up for them seemed to be both realistic and true to their characters. Chase was the perfect amalgamation of slightly broody possessive with a genuine kindness and awareness about him as he traversed his new life as a guardian and new resident of Mehama.
All around well done! Would absolutely recommend, somewhere between 4.75-5 stars. I will definitely be reading about the other Men of Mehama very soon. :)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Not only did I really love the main characters, Chase and April, but the supporting characters were great as well - I felt like I was reading about the child version of myself when Celeste's commentary was on-page - which made the story more enjoyable and relatable on some level. The supporting characters definitely made for some really great banter and comedic moments (BBC, iykyk).
This was a nice palate cleanser for me! I really loved the focus on found family in this book - from April's experience with creating her own found family for herself and her daughter, Celeste within Mehama to Chase and Evan fitting into the town of Mehama's family. Chase and Evan navigating the big changes in their lives was well-executed; the progression of their story, and the events that came up for them seemed to be both realistic and true to their characters. Chase was the perfect amalgamation of slightly broody possessive with a genuine kindness and awareness about him as he traversed his new life as a guardian and new resident of Mehama.
All around well done! Would absolutely recommend, somewhere between 4.75-5 stars. I will definitely be reading about the other Men of Mehama very soon. :)
November 2, 2025
Although this is the third book in the series titled “Men of Mehama”, you don’t have to read the previous books to understand what’s going on. They are interconnected but each book is based on a different couple in a small town called Mehama. This is the story of April, a single mom of the cutest daughter ever named Celeste, who works at a diner. She is just trying her best to raise her daughter and move on with her life, even though there aren’t many options in the town that are available to date. During her shift at the diner, she is about to serve a table when she notices that out of the three guys, one was blatantly obvious that they are being a creep. The creep is ready to get handsy with her, and right when she steps back, she steps into the hot stranger that she has been serving. He ends up defending her by stating that she is his fiancee and threatens the creep to stay away from his girl.
Despite this happening, April stood frozen and went along with the lie that he was her fiance and wore the ring that he stated she keeps dropping. And that was how Chase meets April, and the rest is history 🤭 Chase has decided to move to Mehama after his girlfriend dumped him and he ends up finding out that he has been given guardianship of his younger brother. He ends up at the diner to eat something when he notices how uncomfortable April felt and he knew that he had to protect her from that creep. Since then, April and Chase start to hang out more and navigate the world as single parents trying to find a footing in the world.
This book has a perfect mixture of banter, found family, a beautiful small town and one of my favorite tropes, friends to lovers. Little by little, these two end up falling for each other and realizing that each other are the missing piece of their puzzle. The relationship that Chase has with Celeste is purely adorable and the nicknames they have for each other made my heart swoon. It’s amazing to see that Chase genuinely cares and loves that little girl 🙂↕️. And the fact that April tries to be there for Evan as much as she can without overstepping or replacing his mother was beautiful to see! These four found each other and created their own blended family full of love and happiness. I truly recommend it to anyone who wants to read a romance between two friends, and enjoy a happily ever after (guaranteed!)
Rating: 5/5
Steamy scenes: 🔥🔥🔥
Despite this happening, April stood frozen and went along with the lie that he was her fiance and wore the ring that he stated she keeps dropping. And that was how Chase meets April, and the rest is history 🤭 Chase has decided to move to Mehama after his girlfriend dumped him and he ends up finding out that he has been given guardianship of his younger brother. He ends up at the diner to eat something when he notices how uncomfortable April felt and he knew that he had to protect her from that creep. Since then, April and Chase start to hang out more and navigate the world as single parents trying to find a footing in the world.
This book has a perfect mixture of banter, found family, a beautiful small town and one of my favorite tropes, friends to lovers. Little by little, these two end up falling for each other and realizing that each other are the missing piece of their puzzle. The relationship that Chase has with Celeste is purely adorable and the nicknames they have for each other made my heart swoon. It’s amazing to see that Chase genuinely cares and loves that little girl 🙂↕️. And the fact that April tries to be there for Evan as much as she can without overstepping or replacing his mother was beautiful to see! These four found each other and created their own blended family full of love and happiness. I truly recommend it to anyone who wants to read a romance between two friends, and enjoy a happily ever after (guaranteed!)
Rating: 5/5
Steamy scenes: 🔥🔥🔥
October 16, 2025
★Tropes
⁻Small Town
-Age Gap
-Found family
-Single mother × Single Guardian
-Fake Engagement
-Firefighter
-No Third Act Breakup
★My Review:
4.5｜🌟🌟🌟🌟✨
⁻Finding Forever is the third book in the Men of Mehama series which could be read as a standalone aswell.
April as in a Single Mother who had to fend for herself most of her life and Chase who was New to the town after being dumped by his girlfriend and due to a tragic situation ended up as a guardian to his teenager younger brother.
It was the first book i read from Cindy Houghton, i must say it was such a sweetest story!! I absolutely loved Both our main characters April and Chase.
I absolutely loved April character, how kind, Sweet and strong she was!
And i absolutely adored Chase character development. And i loved Chase relationship with April's daughter Celeste. It was so adorable! The nicknames they had for each other was so cute!!
And i really loved the focus on found family in the book! And Not to mention i loved Celeste And Evan characters aswell!!
Not just the characters i also loved how beautiful and sweet this book was. It was very well paced, the small town and found family vibes were absolutely beautiful. I cannot wait to dive into the other two in the series
If you love a sweet, light hearted small town romance with a single parent/guardian, age up and found family i think you will absolutely love this!
Thank you so much Cindy Houghton and Hawthorn and aster services for allowing me to be part of the ARC Team!
Spoilers? Maybe!
As for a fav quote or quotes. Tbh i loved quite few but one of then was this one:
❥"April, I can’t offer you some romantic speech about what you mean to me, because there aren’t enough words. You are the stars, the smoke I’ll follow anywhere. You’re my forever. I love you and I want to build a life with you.”
❥“To you. I found forever here, with you.”
❥“I think this is a gorgeous view.”
Somehow it doesn’t feel like he means the firework. Glancing out of the corner of my eye, I confirm my suspicion when I see him looking at me.
⁻Small Town
-Age Gap
-Found family
-Single mother × Single Guardian
-Fake Engagement
-Firefighter
-No Third Act Breakup
★My Review:
4.5｜🌟🌟🌟🌟✨
⁻Finding Forever is the third book in the Men of Mehama series which could be read as a standalone aswell.
April as in a Single Mother who had to fend for herself most of her life and Chase who was New to the town after being dumped by his girlfriend and due to a tragic situation ended up as a guardian to his teenager younger brother.
It was the first book i read from Cindy Houghton, i must say it was such a sweetest story!! I absolutely loved Both our main characters April and Chase.
I absolutely loved April character, how kind, Sweet and strong she was!
And i absolutely adored Chase character development. And i loved Chase relationship with April's daughter Celeste. It was so adorable! The nicknames they had for each other was so cute!!
And i really loved the focus on found family in the book! And Not to mention i loved Celeste And Evan characters aswell!!
Not just the characters i also loved how beautiful and sweet this book was. It was very well paced, the small town and found family vibes were absolutely beautiful. I cannot wait to dive into the other two in the series
If you love a sweet, light hearted small town romance with a single parent/guardian, age up and found family i think you will absolutely love this!
Thank you so much Cindy Houghton and Hawthorn and aster services for allowing me to be part of the ARC Team!
Spoilers? Maybe!
As for a fav quote or quotes. Tbh i loved quite few but one of then was this one:
❥"April, I can’t offer you some romantic speech about what you mean to me, because there aren’t enough words. You are the stars, the smoke I’ll follow anywhere. You’re my forever. I love you and I want to build a life with you.”
❥“To you. I found forever here, with you.”
❥“I think this is a gorgeous view.”
Somehow it doesn’t feel like he means the firework. Glancing out of the corner of my eye, I confirm my suspicion when I see him looking at me.
October 24, 2025
Thank you to the Author and Hawthorn & Aster for an advanced reader copy of this book.
Finding Forever is book 3 in the 3rd book in The Men of Mehama series but can be read as a standalone romance.
I devoured this book and will most likely go back and read the first two books in this series. I loved everything about this series. First off- hot fireman that comes to the FMC's rescue from a handsy customer? Yes, please!
This book had so many swoonworthy elements. A hot, single fireman "dad" to his orphaned younger brother. A sweet hometown single mom who works at a diner, fake fiancé, meddling neighbors and action (in the sheets and in the streets) No, literally, action in the streets- I did say firemen.
There were so many scenes I loved in the book, but my favorite was probably Chase and April on the patio under the stars during the camping trip. 🔥
I also really appreciated the accuracy of elements of firefighting, ie: the dangers of the job, having things in order for loved ones, saying goodbye like it could be the last time, family time being interrupted. The reality of juggling shift work and family. As a former firefighter's spouse i appreciated the highlight of some of the less glamorous and adrenaline junkie parts of the job.
Cindy also did a really great job of touching on the tough and thankless job of being a social worker. Seeing children and families on some of the worst days of their lives, carrying the weight of the job and what you've seen, having to make tough decisions for children etc.
This was a hard book to put down. I was swept away by the pace of the book as well as the romance and chemistry between Chase and April.
A 5-star contemporary romance and a must-read.
Finding Forever is book 3 in the 3rd book in The Men of Mehama series but can be read as a standalone romance.
I devoured this book and will most likely go back and read the first two books in this series. I loved everything about this series. First off- hot fireman that comes to the FMC's rescue from a handsy customer? Yes, please!
This book had so many swoonworthy elements. A hot, single fireman "dad" to his orphaned younger brother. A sweet hometown single mom who works at a diner, fake fiancé, meddling neighbors and action (in the sheets and in the streets) No, literally, action in the streets- I did say firemen.
There were so many scenes I loved in the book, but my favorite was probably Chase and April on the patio under the stars during the camping trip. 🔥
I also really appreciated the accuracy of elements of firefighting, ie: the dangers of the job, having things in order for loved ones, saying goodbye like it could be the last time, family time being interrupted. The reality of juggling shift work and family. As a former firefighter's spouse i appreciated the highlight of some of the less glamorous and adrenaline junkie parts of the job.
Cindy also did a really great job of touching on the tough and thankless job of being a social worker. Seeing children and families on some of the worst days of their lives, carrying the weight of the job and what you've seen, having to make tough decisions for children etc.
This was a hard book to put down. I was swept away by the pace of the book as well as the romance and chemistry between Chase and April.
A 5-star contemporary romance and a must-read.
October 13, 2025
Finding Forever is the third book in the Men of Mehema series. It can be read as a standalone. It is a swoon-worthy, cute, and sweet true love story. I’m starting to find that I love a good firefighter romance. This delivers in so many aspects. I can’t get over the characters. Cindy did an amazing job with not only the main character but the side characters as well. They all develop through the story's progress as well. Celeste is probably my favorite character. She is so smart for her age, and I love how he brain never stops asking questions. Found family was a huge factor in the book. The found family that April in Celeste finds in Mehama, the found family that Chase and Evan create with April and Celeste. The progression of the story and events that came up for the characters made it feel real and true. There were so many scenes that it’s hard to pick a favorite, but the rooster and Chase fighting had me laughing so hard. I can’t forget page 285 either. My heart literally melted. Overall, Cindy Houghton will have you giggling, smiling, and blushing with this love story.
Thank you to Cindy Houghton and Hawthorn & Aster for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team.
Thank you to Cindy Houghton and Hawthorn & Aster for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team.
October 14, 2025
A super sweet read!
My word, that was the sweetest thing I’ve read in a while! Such an emotive book that took me through all the feels.
We start the story with April, our MFC, a single mother who has gained a found family in this beautiful small town. After being kicked out of her neglectful home as a pregnant teenager, she made her way to Mehama and has made a life for herself and her daughter (Celeste) there. She’s in a good place, grounded, focused on providing for her daughter.
Enter Chase, our MMC, who after tragic circumstances has become guardian to his younger teenage brother (Evan). We see him move to Mehama after taking a steady firefighter job to provide stability for Evan.
The story navigates April and Chase’s instant attraction, their denial of any feelings, their friendship, support for each other, and ultimately love (ugh, that twist!). I loved how Celeste and Evan whilst side characters played a large part in the story too and we got their viewpoints at the end too.
It was a rollercoaster of happy emotions and that ending is so incredibly sweet. I loved it so much, I’m going to go and check out the two previous books!
My word, that was the sweetest thing I’ve read in a while! Such an emotive book that took me through all the feels.
We start the story with April, our MFC, a single mother who has gained a found family in this beautiful small town. After being kicked out of her neglectful home as a pregnant teenager, she made her way to Mehama and has made a life for herself and her daughter (Celeste) there. She’s in a good place, grounded, focused on providing for her daughter.
Enter Chase, our MMC, who after tragic circumstances has become guardian to his younger teenage brother (Evan). We see him move to Mehama after taking a steady firefighter job to provide stability for Evan.
The story navigates April and Chase’s instant attraction, their denial of any feelings, their friendship, support for each other, and ultimately love (ugh, that twist!). I loved how Celeste and Evan whilst side characters played a large part in the story too and we got their viewpoints at the end too.
It was a rollercoaster of happy emotions and that ending is so incredibly sweet. I loved it so much, I’m going to go and check out the two previous books!
October 14, 2025
ARC Review
Chase is a firefighter who use to be a smoke jumper and traveled to fight fires. But now settling down in Mehama because he has custody of his younger brother Evan, as their mother and Evan's father were killed in a car accident.
April works in a local diner and has lived in Mehama since she was 18, but lived near Mehama her entire life. She is the mother to a little girl, Celeste, who is 7 years old.
One of April and Chase's encounters is when Chase helps April with customers who were being extra grabby and pretends to be her fiancé. Which leads to them actually helping each other with the kids. April helps with Evan, as Chase is not the emotional type person. And Chase has a special bond with Celeste. Evan and Celeste are amazing kids, they both have their own sass and so many parents can definitely see their own children with these two kids.
Watching this story unfold is amazing. Chase wants to be protective of Celeste and April. Also wants to be protective of Celeste. April is protective of Evan. It's a heartwarming story for a small town.
Chase is a firefighter who use to be a smoke jumper and traveled to fight fires. But now settling down in Mehama because he has custody of his younger brother Evan, as their mother and Evan's father were killed in a car accident.
April works in a local diner and has lived in Mehama since she was 18, but lived near Mehama her entire life. She is the mother to a little girl, Celeste, who is 7 years old.
One of April and Chase's encounters is when Chase helps April with customers who were being extra grabby and pretends to be her fiancé. Which leads to them actually helping each other with the kids. April helps with Evan, as Chase is not the emotional type person. And Chase has a special bond with Celeste. Evan and Celeste are amazing kids, they both have their own sass and so many parents can definitely see their own children with these two kids.
Watching this story unfold is amazing. Chase wants to be protective of Celeste and April. Also wants to be protective of Celeste. April is protective of Evan. It's a heartwarming story for a small town.
October 15, 2025
I absolutely loved and adored Finding Forever.
This story was so sweet and the found family aspect in this will warm your heart! April and Chase are so perfect for each other. April is a single mother with and extremely smart but sometimes overzealous daughter. Celeste.
Chase took guardianship of his younger brother, Evan.
While this story is a romance and the romance part of the story is enjoyable, what I enjoyed the most was the way this couple handled life together. They were mature, adults that handle all the situations that came to them with respect for each other and civility. They made decisions that were best or the kids and was very unselfish about their own wants and needs.
I probably shouldn't have cried so much reading this, but I really did love the closeness with everyone in the story and how much of little family and strong bond that little town created.
If you're in the mood for a small town ,fire fighter, romance packed with love, found family, and single parents, this is an excellent choice. The story is well written and captivating.
This story was so sweet and the found family aspect in this will warm your heart! April and Chase are so perfect for each other. April is a single mother with and extremely smart but sometimes overzealous daughter. Celeste.
Chase took guardianship of his younger brother, Evan.
While this story is a romance and the romance part of the story is enjoyable, what I enjoyed the most was the way this couple handled life together. They were mature, adults that handle all the situations that came to them with respect for each other and civility. They made decisions that were best or the kids and was very unselfish about their own wants and needs.
I probably shouldn't have cried so much reading this, but I really did love the closeness with everyone in the story and how much of little family and strong bond that little town created.
If you're in the mood for a small town ,fire fighter, romance packed with love, found family, and single parents, this is an excellent choice. The story is well written and captivating.
October 10, 2025
An absolute love! April is a single mom just living life and trying to raise her daughter as a single mom. while she's at work, waiting tables, some rowdy guys start hitting on her and don't know how to leave well enough alone. Cue Chase. he comes to her rescue pretending to be her fiance so the guys leave her alone. Chase himself is raising his teen brother that he now the custodial parent of.
the two of them are great characters. both are navigating life as single parents. and they just seem to click. I love that this is a small town romance with two amazing people that are both so deserving of love. and that they find each other and build something together if so sweet.
I loved the growth of both characters and how well they were written. as well as the other characters in this book. it made it so easy to relate to both of them. this is my first time reading this author and I fell in love with this book immediately and I can't wait to read more.
the two of them are great characters. both are navigating life as single parents. and they just seem to click. I love that this is a small town romance with two amazing people that are both so deserving of love. and that they find each other and build something together if so sweet.
I loved the growth of both characters and how well they were written. as well as the other characters in this book. it made it so easy to relate to both of them. this is my first time reading this author and I fell in love with this book immediately and I can't wait to read more.
October 16, 2025
✨ Finding forever by cindyhoughton_author ✨
📚Book 3 in the men of Mehama serie📚
I had the opportunity to read this arc and here is my review
Tropes:
⏳ Age Gap
🏡 Found Family
👨👧 Single Parent/Guardian
💍 Fake Engagement
🚒 Firefighter
🏘️ Small-Town
💞 No Third Act Breakup
Guysss this small town romance just hits right!!😍 This story follows April and chase in their love story. April was a single mom and Chase is guardian of his younger half-brother♥️ and in this little town they found each other and fell in love♥️ everything just fitted right the storyline, the character development, the love between them everything was just right! Also Chase is a firefighter who doesn't love a fire hero? 🤗
The book is now out on Amazon etc. You should really grab a copy and get lost in this story it is Soo worth it!! Or maybe take the whole serie😏 they are just right for a small town romance series!!
📚Book 3 in the men of Mehama serie📚
I had the opportunity to read this arc and here is my review
Tropes:
⏳ Age Gap
🏡 Found Family
👨👧 Single Parent/Guardian
💍 Fake Engagement
🚒 Firefighter
🏘️ Small-Town
💞 No Third Act Breakup
Guysss this small town romance just hits right!!😍 This story follows April and chase in their love story. April was a single mom and Chase is guardian of his younger half-brother♥️ and in this little town they found each other and fell in love♥️ everything just fitted right the storyline, the character development, the love between them everything was just right! Also Chase is a firefighter who doesn't love a fire hero? 🤗
The book is now out on Amazon etc. You should really grab a copy and get lost in this story it is Soo worth it!! Or maybe take the whole serie😏 they are just right for a small town romance series!!
October 21, 2025
A new to me author, who I will be reading more of. Her writing works for me, and I love her characters. Small town, single parents, firefighter, found family, and so much more.
An easy read with lots of feels. April has not had it easy as a single mom, but found her place and found family in Mehama. Chase is a former smokejumper, but still a firefighter. He has moved to Mehama, as he is now guardian to his younger brother and looking for stability.
As we follow the roller coaster these two put themselves through attraction, denial, friendship, before giving in to that original attraction. Love is messy, complicated, full of emotion, and April and Chase give us all of it. The surrounding characters all have their place in the story, and I enjoyed meeting them.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
An easy read with lots of feels. April has not had it easy as a single mom, but found her place and found family in Mehama. Chase is a former smokejumper, but still a firefighter. He has moved to Mehama, as he is now guardian to his younger brother and looking for stability.
As we follow the roller coaster these two put themselves through attraction, denial, friendship, before giving in to that original attraction. Love is messy, complicated, full of emotion, and April and Chase give us all of it. The surrounding characters all have their place in the story, and I enjoyed meeting them.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
October 5, 2025
What a very sweet romance. You start the story with April (a single mom with a seven-year-old daughter) waiting tables in a restaurant being hit on by some rambunctious small town men and Chase (a firefighter who has recently taken guardianship of his teen brother) sitting there, not allowing any of that crap to fly. Pretending to be her fiancé Chase scares off the guys and the rest is history. They both find themselves leaning on one another when times get ruff. With Chase stepping into his new role as guardian for his teen brother and April fighting the trauma of her past with Celeste’s father and her family just leaving. They learned to lean and depend on one an other when challenges arise. The story is a beautiful story of found family in more than one way.
October 7, 2025
This is such a sweet story of starting over and learning to navigate life with new responsibilities. All of the characters are extremely well-rounded, and willing to do anything for others around them. The way Chase immediately jumped in to protect April at the diner had me swooning early on in the book, and the swoon never stopped! I loved the way April stepped in to be a mother figure (without trying to be the actual mother) to Evan. She took him in early on and decided to help protect the bond that Evan and Chase have. The way April, Chase, Evan, and Celeste immediately fell together and felt like a family from the beginning of all of them meeting made this book so much better! I definitely recommend this book!
October 12, 2025
My first firefighter romance and it sure as hell did not disappoint.
Oh I was so here for chase that man was amazing. That first interaction with Celeste was so freaking cute. I will never get over Big dip and Little dip 💕💕
And April oh we love a strong independent female that stands up for everyone she loves and isn’t scared to speak her mind.
The relationship between them two was really beautiful I’m so glad nothing horribly crazy happened and it was a true love story.
With some funny moments and the spicy scenes 😈🥵 yes siiir!!!
The found family aspect of this story was freaking heartwarming and the cutest thing ever.
A definite must read. You will get all the cute cozy small town vibes.
Oh I was so here for chase that man was amazing. That first interaction with Celeste was so freaking cute. I will never get over Big dip and Little dip 💕💕
And April oh we love a strong independent female that stands up for everyone she loves and isn’t scared to speak her mind.
The relationship between them two was really beautiful I’m so glad nothing horribly crazy happened and it was a true love story.
With some funny moments and the spicy scenes 😈🥵 yes siiir!!!
The found family aspect of this story was freaking heartwarming and the cutest thing ever.
A definite must read. You will get all the cute cozy small town vibes.
October 16, 2025
There's a new firefighter in Mehama...and my goodness he's bringing all the heat.
I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC from Cindy and the wonderful team @Hawthorn and Aster!!
Finding Forever made me feel like I had a front row seat to all the feels. I cried along with the characters, laughed and just enjoyed the chemistry between them all.
I loved the aspect of found family as a girlie that has found family myself it is so sweet to see it be described so well and the love and appreciation for people who show up not because of blood but because they love and care about you.
Finding Forvever is beautifully written and I love love love duel POV books cause we get to experience the growth, the magic and ofcourse the spice!
I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC from Cindy and the wonderful team @Hawthorn and Aster!!
Finding Forever made me feel like I had a front row seat to all the feels. I cried along with the characters, laughed and just enjoyed the chemistry between them all.
I loved the aspect of found family as a girlie that has found family myself it is so sweet to see it be described so well and the love and appreciation for people who show up not because of blood but because they love and care about you.
Finding Forvever is beautifully written and I love love love duel POV books cause we get to experience the growth, the magic and ofcourse the spice!
October 6, 2025
I have mainly been into dark romances with some cute, sweet ones here and there, and this is one of those sweet ones. Chase and April are both in a bit of a situation. they are both parents, sort of, with Chase getting his new role of guardianship and April with a daughter and a past. they meet on a chance encounter and the rest is sort of history, their story is of them meeting, getting to know one another, leaning on each other and communicating. But besides that I loved all the side characters too, and just overall how the story was written / put together in order to tell Chase’s and April’s beautiful journey. Oh and the spicy scene were hot and the mouth on that man.
October 14, 2025
First and foremost I’d like to thank Hawthorn & Aster and Cindy Houghton for the opportunity to be an ARC reader. Now onto the book, this is the first men of mehama book I’ve read and let me tell you I can’t wait to read the others in the series. The way I fell in love with this book in the first few pages. I was rooting for Chase and April from the very beginning and I was very happy to see the way the kids came together in the end, a couple times it was kinda touch and go and I got nervous, but just a little. The family dynamic of this book is phenomenal and it’s most definitely one of my favorite cozy reads of the year. Cannot recommend this book enough.
October 14, 2025
This one hit all the right notes! Small-town warmth, emotional depth and a surprising amount of spice! It follows a hardworking single mom at a cozy restaurant and a firefighter who’s just moved to town and is adjusting to life as a guardian for his half brother. Their connection is instant but layered with heart, growth and a whole lot of chemistry.
The characters felt so real, strong, vulnerable, and completely meant for each other. And when the tension finally breaks? Whew. 🔥 Let’s just say the payoff is worth it.
Perfect for readers who love found family and stories where the heat matches the heart. Highly recommend!
The characters felt so real, strong, vulnerable, and completely meant for each other. And when the tension finally breaks? Whew. 🔥 Let’s just say the payoff is worth it.
Perfect for readers who love found family and stories where the heat matches the heart. Highly recommend!
October 14, 2025
This is the perfect book for the found family, sweet romance. Chase is now guardian to his younger brother and relocated to Mehama, where he meets single mom, April, when he steps in when she is being harassed while working.
Their journey is heartwarming as they form a friendship, both offering support to the other when it is needed. The attraction between them is undeniable and when feelings develop, it is beautiful to see these two people who didn’t think they would find love find their forever.
Their journey is heartwarming as they form a friendship, both offering support to the other when it is needed. The attraction between them is undeniable and when feelings develop, it is beautiful to see these two people who didn’t think they would find love find their forever.
October 14, 2025
Amazingly Wonderful!
I received an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I was in a reading slump before I started this book and when I say the characters and the story quickly pulled me out. I couldn’t put it down. I finished it in one sitting. This is one of those books I wish I could read again for the first time. Cindy Houghton did an amazing job at building the world and the characters. The chemistry between the FMC and MMC was explosive. This is in fact one of my favorite reads of this year.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I was in a reading slump before I started this book and when I say the characters and the story quickly pulled me out. I couldn’t put it down. I finished it in one sitting. This is one of those books I wish I could read again for the first time. Cindy Houghton did an amazing job at building the world and the characters. The chemistry between the FMC and MMC was explosive. This is in fact one of my favorite reads of this year.
September 28, 2025
This is a very good, somewhat spicy, firefighter, age-gap, small-town romance. It has the protective alpha male. It has the sweet and sassy female. Two people who end up being single parents in very different ways, find ways to help each other. It highlights the challenges of being a single parent and the wonderful support of found family. The characters are great, especially Celeste, and she adds a lot of humor to the read. Thank you, Hawthorne &Aster for letting me read this early.
October 14, 2025
This was my first book in the Men of Mehama series and it was so good!
I really enjoyed how the relationship between Chase and April developed. There was no way they were not going to end up together. And the supporting cast of characters...loved. My favorite was April's daughter Celeste. Especially her first interaction with Chase and how they end up calling each other "Big Dip and Little Dip".
Highly recommend! I will definitely be checking out the other books in this series!
I really enjoyed how the relationship between Chase and April developed. There was no way they were not going to end up together. And the supporting cast of characters...loved. My favorite was April's daughter Celeste. Especially her first interaction with Chase and how they end up calling each other "Big Dip and Little Dip".
Highly recommend! I will definitely be checking out the other books in this series!
October 15, 2025
Finding Forever by
Cindy Houghton
Sign me up…Small Town, Firefighter, Single Parents and Found Family!
Who doesn’t love a sexy firefighter? I adored the relationship Chase forms with April’s daughter Celeste.
Completely enjoyed this, it is beautifully written , gave all the feels!
Thank you to Cindy Houghton and Hawthorn & Aster for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team.
Cindy Houghton
Sign me up…Small Town, Firefighter, Single Parents and Found Family!
Who doesn’t love a sexy firefighter? I adored the relationship Chase forms with April’s daughter Celeste.
Completely enjoyed this, it is beautifully written , gave all the feels!
Thank you to Cindy Houghton and Hawthorn & Aster for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team.
October 5, 2025
*Small town
*Age gap
*Found family
*Fake fiancé
*Single parent/Guardian
*Friends to Lovers
What can I say but bring on the BBC.
I love great banter and Firemen and you definitely get both in Finding Forever.
This is such a cute story between two people that don't believe they are the type to have the forever & always type of love. There is no 3rd act break up because the main characters are effective at communicating with each other & we do get an HEA.
This is a interconnected stand alone series, as you will see appearances from the other characters. You don't have to have read the other books but you will want to.
*Age gap
*Found family
*Fake fiancé
*Single parent/Guardian
*Friends to Lovers
What can I say but bring on the BBC.
I love great banter and Firemen and you definitely get both in Finding Forever.
This is such a cute story between two people that don't believe they are the type to have the forever & always type of love. There is no 3rd act break up because the main characters are effective at communicating with each other & we do get an HEA.
This is a interconnected stand alone series, as you will see appearances from the other characters. You don't have to have read the other books but you will want to.
October 8, 2025
I was able to read the ARC thanks to Cindy Houghton and Hawthorn & Aster.
This was a beautiful story about found family and who can say no to a firefighter romance 💗. It was a fast paced read that had me giggling and kicking my feet.
This was a beautiful story about found family and who can say no to a firefighter romance 💗. It was a fast paced read that had me giggling and kicking my feet.
September 29, 2025
What a good read! Love the blended family dynamics of April and Chase. Chase is so swoony. Who doesnt love a hot firefighter?!
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