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The Firefighter Who Loved Them Both: A Small Town Single Mom Romance
A single mom. Her son. And the firefighter who never meant to fall for either of them.
Lila Bennett has built a careful, steady life in Elk Ridge. One that puts her eight-year-old son first and leaves little room for risk. As the school secretary, she is surrounded by families every day, but when it comes to her own, stability matters more than romance. Especially with a child who has already learned that not everyone stays.
Mateo Martinez prefers his life uncomplicated. He dates casually, keeps things light, and pours his energy into the firehouse. Commitment has never been part of the plan, and he has always believed that was the responsible choice.
Until a small-town community event brings them together.
Mateo is calm and capable with Lila’s son in a moment that matters, and before he realizes it, he is showing up in ways he never has before. Coffee turns into real conversations. A school career day tugs at his heart. And somewhere between shared laughter and quiet moments, Mateo starts to care in a way that feels both unexpected and unavoidable.
But when a career opportunity threatens to pull him away from Elk Ridge, Lila knows better than to hope. She encourages him to do what is best for his future, even as she quietly pulls back to protect her son.
Because loving a man who does not stay is not a risk she is willing to take.
As fear, responsibility, and growing attachment collide, Mateo must face the truth. Some choices do not just change your career. They change who you are willing to be.
A heartfelt, slow-burn romance about a protective firefighter, a devoted single mom, and the family neither of them planned but both might be brave enough to choose. Perfect for readers who love small-town settings, found family, and heroes who fall hard and stay.
Lila Bennett has built a careful, steady life in Elk Ridge. One that puts her eight-year-old son first and leaves little room for risk. As the school secretary, she is surrounded by families every day, but when it comes to her own, stability matters more than romance. Especially with a child who has already learned that not everyone stays.
Mateo Martinez prefers his life uncomplicated. He dates casually, keeps things light, and pours his energy into the firehouse. Commitment has never been part of the plan, and he has always believed that was the responsible choice.
Until a small-town community event brings them together.
Mateo is calm and capable with Lila’s son in a moment that matters, and before he realizes it, he is showing up in ways he never has before. Coffee turns into real conversations. A school career day tugs at his heart. And somewhere between shared laughter and quiet moments, Mateo starts to care in a way that feels both unexpected and unavoidable.
But when a career opportunity threatens to pull him away from Elk Ridge, Lila knows better than to hope. She encourages him to do what is best for his future, even as she quietly pulls back to protect her son.
Because loving a man who does not stay is not a risk she is willing to take.
As fear, responsibility, and growing attachment collide, Mateo must face the truth. Some choices do not just change your career. They change who you are willing to be.
A heartfelt, slow-burn romance about a protective firefighter, a devoted single mom, and the family neither of them planned but both might be brave enough to choose. Perfect for readers who love small-town settings, found family, and heroes who fall hard and stay.
185 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 10, 2026
About the author
Susanne Ash
131 books150 followersSusanne Ash writes sweet contemporary romance. When she's not busy putting pen to paper, she loves to cook, knit, and head out exploring with her husband and daughter. She lives close to the beach in beautiful South Carolina. You'll find that her setting is often a fictionalized version of her surroundings and the places she's visiting with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 25, 2026
"I was just too scared to admit it..."
First the good: some quotes
"I was just too scared to admit it because admitting it made it real and real things can be lost." "They can also be kept. Cherished. Built into something that lasts."
"The space suddenly feels smaller with him in it, his presence shifting the familiar geometry of my home."
""We'll see," I say, which is parent-speak for probably yes but I need time to think about it."
"This part I'm good at. Talking to groups, reading the room, knowing when to redirect energy before it turns into chaos."
"The measure of a person isn't whether they make mistakes. It's whether they show up to fix them."
"You're so scared of future pain that you're causing pain right now. And you're telling yourself it's for his own good."
"...you don't love someone in spite of who they are. You love them because of it."
Now the bad, and the ugly.
Warning SPOILER ALERT
.
.
.
There were so many plot holes I kept getting pulled out of the story. It was jarring and annoying.
When the story starts we are told Lila and Owen live in an apartment complex, several times. Then it's a house for the rest of the book. But no one moved! If you want the reader immersed in the story be consistent.
Thankfully Holden and Carys (the protagonists from the first book in the series) weren't mentioned too much, but the first two times they were, were contradictions. And they were only separated by one page! First, we're told that "Jones is complaining about his latest failed dating app match," then it says, "Jones: About time. Carys and I were wondering."
Why is he on a dating app? (Insert eye roll)
When there is a fire on the street Lila lives on, in her house not an apartment complex, Mateo had just went to the station to think, not work. He wasn't on duty, however since he is concerned with the location of the fire it could make sense for him to want to help. But, we are told "I finished my shift on auto pilot." What shift?!? It was your day off.
Overall way more engaging story than the first book in this series, but unless the issues previously mentioned are corrected this isn't going to be a repeat read.
First the good: some quotes
"I was just too scared to admit it because admitting it made it real and real things can be lost." "They can also be kept. Cherished. Built into something that lasts."
"The space suddenly feels smaller with him in it, his presence shifting the familiar geometry of my home."
""We'll see," I say, which is parent-speak for probably yes but I need time to think about it."
"This part I'm good at. Talking to groups, reading the room, knowing when to redirect energy before it turns into chaos."
"The measure of a person isn't whether they make mistakes. It's whether they show up to fix them."
"You're so scared of future pain that you're causing pain right now. And you're telling yourself it's for his own good."
"...you don't love someone in spite of who they are. You love them because of it."
Now the bad, and the ugly.
Warning SPOILER ALERT
.
.
.
There were so many plot holes I kept getting pulled out of the story. It was jarring and annoying.
When the story starts we are told Lila and Owen live in an apartment complex, several times. Then it's a house for the rest of the book. But no one moved! If you want the reader immersed in the story be consistent.
Thankfully Holden and Carys (the protagonists from the first book in the series) weren't mentioned too much, but the first two times they were, were contradictions. And they were only separated by one page! First, we're told that "Jones is complaining about his latest failed dating app match," then it says, "Jones: About time. Carys and I were wondering."
Why is he on a dating app? (Insert eye roll)
When there is a fire on the street Lila lives on, in her house not an apartment complex, Mateo had just went to the station to think, not work. He wasn't on duty, however since he is concerned with the location of the fire it could make sense for him to want to help. But, we are told "I finished my shift on auto pilot." What shift?!? It was your day off.
Overall way more engaging story than the first book in this series, but unless the issues previously mentioned are corrected this isn't going to be a repeat read.
March 2, 2026
Overcoming Fear
Lila had been a single parent for a long time, and she wasn't ready to fully trust anyone coming into her and Owen's life. Mateo had been a casual dater for years, and he wasn't sure if things were changing or not. Everyone had to overcome their fears to make it work. It's a sweet story with an entirely persuasive little boy.
Lila had been a single parent for a long time, and she wasn't ready to fully trust anyone coming into her and Owen's life. Mateo had been a casual dater for years, and he wasn't sure if things were changing or not. Everyone had to overcome their fears to make it work. It's a sweet story with an entirely persuasive little boy.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews