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Where We Belong
She built a life without him.
Now he’s back—and everything she’s fought to protect is on the line.
Eight years ago, Alana learned how to survive alone.
She built a coffee shop with her bare hands. Raised her daughter with grit, love, and stubborn determination. Created a life that was small-town steady and fiercely hers—because the man she loved walked away before she could tell him the truth.
Now Ashton is back.
Older. Broader. Carrying the weight of regret and a past he can’t undo. He says he wants to try. Says he’s not running this time. But wanting isn’t the same as earning—and Alana has too much to lose to gamble on promises.
Especially when there’s a little girl watching.
A little girl who believes in magic, unicorns, and the idea that people stay.
Ashton doesn’t know he has a daughter.
Alana doesn’t know how to let him close without breaking everything she’s worked so hard to protect.
In a town where secrets never stay buried, where love is quiet but relentless, and where second chances don’t come without consequences, Alana and Ashton are forced to confront the past they never healed—and the future they might still choose.
Tender, emotionally rich, and deeply grounded in found family, Where We Belong is a slow-burn, small-town second-chance romance about forgiveness, fatherhood, and learning that love isn’t just about coming home—it’s about staying.
Now he’s back—and everything she’s fought to protect is on the line.
Eight years ago, Alana learned how to survive alone.
She built a coffee shop with her bare hands. Raised her daughter with grit, love, and stubborn determination. Created a life that was small-town steady and fiercely hers—because the man she loved walked away before she could tell him the truth.
Now Ashton is back.
Older. Broader. Carrying the weight of regret and a past he can’t undo. He says he wants to try. Says he’s not running this time. But wanting isn’t the same as earning—and Alana has too much to lose to gamble on promises.
Especially when there’s a little girl watching.
A little girl who believes in magic, unicorns, and the idea that people stay.
Ashton doesn’t know he has a daughter.
Alana doesn’t know how to let him close without breaking everything she’s worked so hard to protect.
In a town where secrets never stay buried, where love is quiet but relentless, and where second chances don’t come without consequences, Alana and Ashton are forced to confront the past they never healed—and the future they might still choose.
Tender, emotionally rich, and deeply grounded in found family, Where We Belong is a slow-burn, small-town second-chance romance about forgiveness, fatherhood, and learning that love isn’t just about coming home—it’s about staying.
441 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 14, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 24, 2026
This book is thoughtful, both heart wrenching and warming at the same time.
It’s about earning a 2nd chance and about breaking those walls down.
We follow the 2 main characters in this touching story. It’s all very believable and you can easily connect with them, understand why they react and think things the way they do and you will only wish for that 2nd chance of true love and happiness.
Claire Trentham delivers a breathtaking romance story with depth and a soul!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It’s about earning a 2nd chance and about breaking those walls down.
We follow the 2 main characters in this touching story. It’s all very believable and you can easily connect with them, understand why they react and think things the way they do and you will only wish for that 2nd chance of true love and happiness.
Claire Trentham delivers a breathtaking romance story with depth and a soul!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 17, 2026
This story stole my heart. Alana and Ashton were in different places in life. He had walked away eight years ago, and she moved forward building a great life for her and her daughter. But Ashton wants back in her life.
This story was emotional and tugs at your heart. Alana wasn’t about to just let him walk back into her life. Especially when she had an impressionable little girl to think about. She couldn’t let him come into their lives and risk him walking away and hurting them again. Considering that was his daughter…but he worked for it. He spent the time to prove himself. I loved that they both knew it wasn’t going to be easy. And he worked hard to be a part of their lives. This was heartwarming and touching to read. I enjoyed the depth this held. It felt real and was easy to read because it was so relatable.
This story was emotional and tugs at your heart. Alana wasn’t about to just let him walk back into her life. Especially when she had an impressionable little girl to think about. She couldn’t let him come into their lives and risk him walking away and hurting them again. Considering that was his daughter…but he worked for it. He spent the time to prove himself. I loved that they both knew it wasn’t going to be easy. And he worked hard to be a part of their lives. This was heartwarming and touching to read. I enjoyed the depth this held. It felt real and was easy to read because it was so relatable.
January 31, 2026
This second chance romance stands out because the reunion isn’t handed out easily—it has to be earned, step by step. And that makes all the difference. The emotional work between the characters feels genuine, messy, and believable, which makes it very easy to connect with them on an emotional level.
The characters themselves are well developed and emotionally layered. You understand their past, their hesitations, and their fears, even when they make decisions that aren’t perfect. That emotional depth carries the story, because while the plot itself isn’t particularly groundbreaking, it does exactly what it needs to do: support the characters’ journey.
This is a slow burn in the truest sense of the word. With over 400 pages, it’s a full-length novel that asks you to take your time. It’s not a book to rush through, but the steady emotional connection makes it easy to stay invested and keep turning the pages.
What really worked for me was how realistic the healing felt. Forgiveness isn’t instant, trust isn’t automatic, and love doesn’t magically erase the past. Instead, the story focuses on growth, accountability, and emotional honesty.
Overall, this is a solid, emotionally driven second chance romance. If you enjoy slow burns with strong character development and earned redemption, this book is well worth the read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The characters themselves are well developed and emotionally layered. You understand their past, their hesitations, and their fears, even when they make decisions that aren’t perfect. That emotional depth carries the story, because while the plot itself isn’t particularly groundbreaking, it does exactly what it needs to do: support the characters’ journey.
This is a slow burn in the truest sense of the word. With over 400 pages, it’s a full-length novel that asks you to take your time. It’s not a book to rush through, but the steady emotional connection makes it easy to stay invested and keep turning the pages.
What really worked for me was how realistic the healing felt. Forgiveness isn’t instant, trust isn’t automatic, and love doesn’t magically erase the past. Instead, the story focuses on growth, accountability, and emotional honesty.
Overall, this is a solid, emotionally driven second chance romance. If you enjoy slow burns with strong character development and earned redemption, this book is well worth the read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 27, 2026
Where We Belong by Claire Trentham is a heartfelt contemporary second‑chance romance that beautifully explores love, loss, and redemption. The story follows Alana and Ashton, whose relationship is torn apart when Ashton decides to enlist as a soldier. At the same time, Alana discovers she is pregnant and desperately tries to reach him, but her efforts fail.
Eight years later, Ashton returns home only to learn that he has an eight‑year‑old daughter. What follows is an emotional journey of reconciliation, as Ashton struggles to prove himself worthy of Alana’s trust and determined to reclaim the family he never knew he had. His persistence, growth, and willingness to rise to the occasion make him a compelling hero, while Alana’s strength and resilience shine throughout the narrative.
The novel delivers a beautiful storyline with a satisfying happily‑ever‑after, reminding readers that love can endure even through years of separation and hardship. While some parts of the story felt a little stretched, the emotional depth and payoff more than make up for it.
A lovely, touching romance recommended for fans of second‑chance love stories and family‑centered plots.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Eight years later, Ashton returns home only to learn that he has an eight‑year‑old daughter. What follows is an emotional journey of reconciliation, as Ashton struggles to prove himself worthy of Alana’s trust and determined to reclaim the family he never knew he had. His persistence, growth, and willingness to rise to the occasion make him a compelling hero, while Alana’s strength and resilience shine throughout the narrative.
The novel delivers a beautiful storyline with a satisfying happily‑ever‑after, reminding readers that love can endure even through years of separation and hardship. While some parts of the story felt a little stretched, the emotional depth and payoff more than make up for it.
A lovely, touching romance recommended for fans of second‑chance love stories and family‑centered plots.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 15, 2026
This story is filled with so much emotion—hurt, anger, pain, frustration, acceptance, understanding, love, and forgiveness. Alana and Ashton’s story grabs your attention from the very first page, but it’s the author’s realism and honesty that truly bring it to life, strengthened by the depth of every character’s interactions.
Alana was incredibly strong, and I rooted for her every step of the way. I completely understood why she made Ashton work so hard—so much was at stake, and he had truly broken her. You get completely caught up in their journey, feeling deeply invested as they fight their way toward a hard‑earned HEA.
Between them and Liv, there are some truly beautiful moments. I loved this story and was genuinely sad to reach the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Alana was incredibly strong, and I rooted for her every step of the way. I completely understood why she made Ashton work so hard—so much was at stake, and he had truly broken her. You get completely caught up in their journey, feeling deeply invested as they fight their way toward a hard‑earned HEA.
Between them and Liv, there are some truly beautiful moments. I loved this story and was genuinely sad to reach the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 10, 2026
This story was so heartwarming and true to life. Alana has loved Ashton since she was 16 and the ln he left her to go to join the army leaving her heartbroken with no contact.
Ashton has no idea they have a child and Alana is very wary about telling him at first because she is fiercely protective of her daughter and doesn't want him to leave her again so he has to prove that he going to stay and not walk out again. I loved seeing how much work he put into making it right and how no matter what she threw at him from all her heartbreak that he just took it and accepted it ajd used it as a way to move forward so she was able to trust him again.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ashton has no idea they have a child and Alana is very wary about telling him at first because she is fiercely protective of her daughter and doesn't want him to leave her again so he has to prove that he going to stay and not walk out again. I loved seeing how much work he put into making it right and how no matter what she threw at him from all her heartbreak that he just took it and accepted it ajd used it as a way to move forward so she was able to trust him again.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 19, 2026
I loved this book and genuinely couldn’t put it down. It’s such a page turner, and I was completely invested in Alana and Ashton from the start. Watching them try to work through everything from their past kept me hooked the whole way through. The emotional tension felt real, and I just needed to know how they were going to find their way back to each other.
What I really liked was that it wasn’t made easy for them. Alana absolutely makes Ashton work for it, and rightly so, which made the story feel even more satisfying. Their journey felt earned rather than rushed, and that made me root for them even more.
Definitely recommend this book.
What I really liked was that it wasn’t made easy for them. Alana absolutely makes Ashton work for it, and rightly so, which made the story feel even more satisfying. Their journey felt earned rather than rushed, and that made me root for them even more.
Definitely recommend this book.
March 26, 2026
OMG - I ugly cried several times with this book! I'd give it extra "stars" if I could. Eight years ago, Alana's world imploded and not in a small way. Her boyfriend Ashton, enlisted in the military and walked away with a two-line voicemail. Three weeks later when she found out she was pregnant, her calls went unanswered. So she did the only thing that made sense. She picked herself up off the floor and made a life for her and Livy. Ashton comes home with the thought in the back of his mind that maybe there's still a chance with Alana. What he discovers has the power to destroy them both. Such a good book !!!
March 19, 2026
I loved reading this book! I couldn't put it down. I was hooked from start to finish. This book is definitely a page turner. I couldn't tell what was going to happen next. The relationship between Ashton & Alana is a beautiful one. I could feel their love & connection from the start. I highly recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 20, 2026
I really enjoy the way this authors books read. I love that you can picture the entire scenes in your head. This is a beautiful story even if it took some tragedies to get there. I do think there was a tad bit too much repetition but I also think it was maybe done with purpose.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 31, 2026
I enjoyed reading this story. The characters and the storyline were great, I had a hard time putting this book down. A second chance romance, with lots of emotions, and chemistry. I love reading stories from this author, they are always a great read. I can't wait to read more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews