October Forever: A Cozy Fall Hotel Romance

by Katie Cawood

When Lucy Wheeler returns to her family’s gothic hotel on the shores of Lake Michigan, she’s hoping for a quiet reset after losing her job in the city. Instead, she’s juggling fussy brides, quirky tourists, and her mom’s ambitious plan to turn the grounds into a haunted village. The last thing she needs is another distraction… especially not a grumpy contractor who insists on getting under her skin.

Cameron Fox didn’t come to Underwood looking for distractions, either. As a single dad, he’s focused on finishing this haunted village project and keeping his distance from the stubborn hotel heiress, whose quick wit keeps pulling him in. What starts as bickering and flirtation soon turns into an they’ll just have a casual fling until his contract is up at the end of October. No strings attached.

As the leaves change colors and the days get shorter, Lucy and Cameron can’t help wishing October would last forever.


Read October Forever if you're looking
🍂 cozy fall read
🍂 hotel setting
🍂 Halloween vibes
🍂 single dad romance
🍂 a short read (under 200 pages)
🍂 mostly plot with a few spicy scenes

Genres: Romance, Novella

195 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 28, 2025

About the author

Katie Cawood is a romance author with an affinity for slow burns, soft MMCs, and happy ever afters. She is an indie bookstore enthusiast and is never far from a tall cup of iced coffee.

Katie lives in Indiana with her husband, son, and a small army of cats.

She can be found on Instagram at @authorkatiecawood.

Reviews

[Holly Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another perfect very fall read!! I love a novella! They’re perfect and short and sweet and somehow still FULL of everything I could ever want! I’ve had Katie’s books in my tbr literally forever (i’m sorry I WILL get to them I promise) but when she surprise dropped this I knew I had to make room for it asap!

Cameron and Lucy were PERFECT! Their banter was amazing! They were SWEET together! And there is simply nothing better than “just for right now” because the feelings get so big so fast!!

I loved the small town, and the haunted house?! Everything about the setting was FANTASTIC. Truly the most perfect October read!

[Haley Lancaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this surprise standalone by Katie and it was just what needed in what has felt like an otherwise hectic, stressful, and far too hot start to fall. This was an absolutely perfect cozy read. Lucy is an entirely too relatable character. The girl who had a chance to get away from home, but feels the pull to stay. Cameron is an absolute delight as the man who’s been hurt before and but risking it all when the autumn breeze drops a perfect woman in his arms.
The setting is absolutely perfect. I felt like I knew this hotel in and out, and I loved all of the side characters and fully believed the family-like connection everyone had.
At a quick, breezy pace of 200 pages, I was really impressed with how Katie packed so much world into so few pages.
It’s a true HEA that will have you cheering these two (and the hotel) on as you kick your feet, giggle, and sip on your pumpkin spice latte.

[Mary Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 {4.5}
🌶️🌶️🌶️
ARC Review
Release Date 10/1/2025

OMG this book was absolutely precious. Lucy and Cameron have excellent chemistry, and the backdrop of a gothic hotel in spooky season was so fun. The town and Underwood Hotel go all out for Halloween, and Lucy’s parents are very dedicated to the bit. Even though Lucy has returned under not-so-ideal circumstances, she is determined to make the best of her situation...and spending time with the hunky construction foreman is a good place to start. It is also where I would start.

Cameron is a little rough around the edges but so sweet. He loves his son and is working hard to make sure he has everything he needs, but he also feels a bit adrift - literally and figuratively. Meeting Lucy isn’t in his plans but he can’t resist her and it’s precious. This was such a fun, sweet and spicy read to kick off the fall season. I highly reccomend it!

[Makayla :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️
I was lucky enough to read this surprise drop before it was announced. Thank you Katie!

This was such a fun, quick fall read!
A Halloween romance x single dad x found family - sign me up

There’s also a little bit of spice which I’m always here for!

Definitely recommend - it’s perfect for the fall season!

[Alisa Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this so much! Sweet and spicy quick fall read!

[Sara Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this down!!! What a perfect book!

[Kelsey Painter · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute and spicy! The perfect read to wrap up October and head into November 🍂

[Danielle Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMGosh!!

I loved everything about this book...it is possibly my favorite of this fall 😍 ❤️ Would love to read more of what comes of them in other seasons maybe

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

October Forever
By Katie Cawood

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
🌶️🌶️🌶️

𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒈𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒑𝒚, 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒔𝒎𝒔. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒃𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔?

Katie Cawood SURPRISE dropped a Halloween novella at the beginning of this month! This is an absolutely adorable fall (October) novella, that should be added to your TBR immediately. It is equal parts sweet and spicy with all the festive Halloween/fall fun you could want. Lucy and Cameron have magnetic chemistry, and I was invested immediately. I was also on the edge of my seat, because this sweet little story is much higher stakes than I expected! There are real, legit reasons why their "one month only" relationship has to end. Of course HEA guaranteed, this story ends perfectly.

Read October 13-14

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read by this author, who I came across when I saw this book pop up on suggestions for me and it seemed like a perfect read for this month, given the title. A short rom-com novella I read this pretty quickly.

Lucy's family owned a hotel in a small town and Cameron was in charge of the construction crew hired to do a project to help the hotel get ready for the town's annual Halloween festival. At first they seem to clash like oil and water, but they soon realized how attracted to each other they both are. They decided to live in the now since a future together seemed unlikely with him always moving on to the next project wherever that took him, though neither of them wanted things to end. They seem to be headed down that road until Cameron was offered a full-time job at the hotel and it seemed possible they could actually be together. I was so glad things went as they did (which I predicted early on but this isn't a whodunnit mystery to solve so that didn't matter) because I liked the both of the main characters and was drawn in to their banter and their interactions with each other. The story had a perfect ending. I loved the small town holiday festival vibes which made a perfect setting for a cute yet a lil steamy fall rom-com read. Will definitely check out more by this author soon.

[Macee Grisenti · Rating 5 out of 5]

October Romance

TW: cheating(not between MCs)

This was so cute. I didn’t doubt it would be at all tho. This is for the people who wish they could find everything they’ve ever wanted and have some fall fun.
It was an adorable story about the daughter of the hotel owner and the man they hired to build a Halloween set up.
It was a short whirlwind romance that is just as sweet as Halloween candy.
There is some slight miscommunication but it came from a pact between them to not mention the future and live for the day. So it was understandable and very quickly resolved.
No true third act break up cuz they never really left. It was 10/10

Tropes: Grumpy/sunshine(kinda), he calls her Lucifer, Halloween romance, cozy fall vibes, holiday fling, single dad romance, hotel setting

Spice: 🌶️.5
Steam:🔥🔥
Sweetness: 💗💗💗💗💗

[Tori Hinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay this was the cutest book and I really need a hallmark movie to make it a reality! Cam & Lucy’s quick attraction with an end date was so ideal, I knew it wouldn’t end up being that way but watching the pieces of their life fall into place was just beautiful! As their feelings grew I loved them more and more! I loved how much attention Cam gave Lucy and I loved how much she respected the pact and didn’t talk about how much she wanted him to stay, it really shows they had respect for each other and this wasn’t just an attraction that would eventually fizzle out. I loved the hotel vibe and I wish I could have stepped into this world for a month or more it just seems like the perfect place to live, especially during the holidays! I cannot say enough good things about this story, I may have to make it an annual real because I truly loved every minute of this story!

[Jessica Bradford · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like good seasonal romance reads this one would be a great read for you. Why did I give it 3 stars, it just didn’t pull in me the way I was expecting it to. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the book at all. I just needed a little more depth to draw me in and keep me engaged.
Cameron is a single dad and in town to complete a project for a “haunted” hotel upgrade. He isn’t planning on staying long but there is something that is drawing him in which comes in the form of the hotel heiress. The constant back and forth between the two, the banter, the flirting is what made this book for me. It was cute reading about them trying to not be attracted to each other. They enter into a no strings attached contract to have a casual fling but will they be able to uphold the strings aspect of said contract?

[SookandBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

October Forever is a dual POV single parent/seasonal fling romance. Lucy has returned home to work at her parent’s historic hotel, and has a run-in with grumpy contractor Cameron. Despite a rough start, the two are drawn to each other, and decide to spend the month of October, no strings, just enjoying each other’s company until the new month brings new opportunities and Cameron moves on.

This was my first Katie Cawood book but certainly won’t be my last! I loved the humor in Cameron and Lucy’s relationship and how easily they fit together. I really liked how committed Cameron was to his son, and how he put maintaining his time and relationship with his son above all else. It was a great blend of sweet and spicy and a fantastic Fall read! 🤎🍂

[Karen B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet and cozy fall romance! Just like the falling leaves of the season, I was blown away by the fun hotel setting, the quick romantic plot, and the charismatic and relatable characters. Returning home to embrace her role as the heiress of a gothic hotel, whimsical and witty Lucy literally stumbles upon the contractor, grumpy and focused single dad Cameron. Their connection is instant, quickly realizing they only have the month of October together before he leaves for another job. I was hoping for their happily ever after, and wasn’t disappointed in this short and utterly enduring fall novella. 4.5 stars
Thanks to the author for the eARC.

[Katie Kissel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy is home at the Underwood hotel after she lost her job in the city just in time for fall. There she meets Cameron the contractor her parents hired to build the haunted village on the hotel property. Lucy and Cameron start off a little snarky, a little flirty, and before you know it they’ve agreed to a short fling. But because of his job Cameron will be leaving the state which gives them a timeline for their romance.

This is a great fall romance. The setting is perfect, the romance is sweet, the spice is just right, the banter is witty, and the supporting characters are fun and interesting. The story felt like the perfect length. I would definitely recommend this read!

[Tracys Book Shelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

October Forever is the perfect fall read. You can feel the cozy vibes throughout this story. Lucy and Cameron are so funny together, and their banter is excellent. They know their 'no strings attached' relationship only has a month to run its course, but their story does not feel rushed. I loved the hotel setting and how their characters grow through the story. I loved every minute of  October Forever and once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. I already know I will re-read this book often. 

[Anna Hardesty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun, cute read! It captures you right from the first page and holds you with its warmth, emotional depth, and beautifully drawn characters. Cawood has a gift for crafting relationships that feel true—complicated, tender, and meaningful. The pacing strikes a lovely balance: you aren’t rushed through the story, but there’s enough momentum to keep turning the pages.


If you’re looking for a book that feels comforting but honest; that explores love, loss, and change with respect and heart; October Forever is a rewarding read.

[Jacqueline Espinoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

October Forever was such a cute, cozy romance! I loved Cam & Lucy's love story! While it was easy to tell what was going to happen, it still immersed you into the story with all of the details. Everything from the little fudge candies to the little library nook at the hotel, to the spicy romantic scenes, it was fast paced and kept me reading! Loved the ending, but it would be cool to hear about their marriage and have it be on the grounds of the hotel and see how they would decorate and celebrate!

[Lark _thebookchamber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute novella for the cozy season! The characters were relatable and loveable, the setting was perfect for fall, and I adored seeing Cameron’s grumpiness slowly fade as he grew closer to Lucy! Their chemistry is amazing and I loved their dynamic with Lucy working for the Underground Hotel and Cameron being a construction foreman. I also really loved Cameron’s relationship with his son and getting to see him open up to Lucy about him while reading! Overall, this was a fun, quick read with the perfect about of sweetness and spice- as well as the cozy, fall and Halloween vibe!

[Kristiann · Rating 4 out of 5]

My introduction to Katie Cawood was this perfect novella about a month of no strings attached romance between a hotel heiress and a construction worker.

I enjoyed the very seasonal vibes, the October only mindset, and the pumpkin spice moments where Lucy and Cameron couldn’t keep their hands off each other.

Read this book immediately because it’ll put you in the fall mood (and maybe another mood 😘)!

[Lopke · Rating 4 out of 5]

October Forever is a sweet and cozy romance about a hotel heiress and the grumpy contractor she can’t resist. It's the perfect fall read if you're looking for something quick to read over the weekend. Or like me and just finish it in a day.

What you can expect:
🍂 cozy fall read
🍂 hotel setting
🍂 Halloween vibes
🍂 single dad romance
🍂 a short read (under 200 pages)
🍂 mostly plot with a few spicy scenes

[Bluebird Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎃Fall Cozy Vibes
🎃Spicy
🎃Novella

This was a very good fall surprise of a novella! It has everything fall that we love: Halloween party, hotel that has little shops and a haunted house being constructed, meet cute with a hot contractor/hotel heiress, single dad with an adorable son.

This is perfect for a chilly fall night on the couch with a blanket and a hot cider! 🍁

[peppkorn_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Lucy Wheeler returns to her family’s gothic lakeside hotel for a fresh start, she’s pulled into chaos - demanding guests, her mother’s haunted village project, and a frustratingly attractive contractor, Cameron Fox. Cameron, a single dad determined to stay focused, agrees to keep things casual with Lucy until his job ends in October. But as Halloween approaches and Cameron’s project is about to be done, Lucy and Cameron find themselves wishing October could last forever.

Came across this little cutie on Bookstagram and couldn’t resist! 🍂
I originally planned to finish it in October, but it turned out to be longer than I expected. I went in thinking it was a short story and ended up getting an almost full, cozy book instead. It’s packed with all the fall vibes - crisp air, small town charm, and an engaging storyline that kept my attention the whole way through. Perfect for an October read, and it’s available on KU! 👻✨

[Leah Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting 5 stars

I couldn’t put the book down I fell in love with every single detail. The relationship between Lucy and Cam was perfection. The hotel and small town romance made you feel all cozy and warm on the inside. The perfect fall read.

[christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

October Forever

This was a spot on perfectly cozy fall romance. The characters are very likeable, funny, definitely steamy. I had a hard time putting this book down, after all that's how you know its a great book. I hope you find this helps. Enjoy

[Chantel Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Sarah S · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Cute little quick read!

[Alexis Whiddon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute and quick fall read!

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️