Cinder

Maplewood Fire #1

by Hailey Rodger

A single dad x nanny, small town firefighter romance


I’m exhausted by all the different versions of myself I’ve spent years trying to be.

Dutiful stepdaughter, polished girlfriend. The woman who keeps smiling through dinner parties and business meetings while feeling absolutely nothing underneath.

So I sell my share of my late father’s business, and leave Toronto for Maplewood. All I bring with me is a bag of clothes, my mother's sparkly heels, and the blue-tipped hair I only dyed because my stepmother hated it.

Maplewood is supposed to be my fresh start. A quiet little town where nobody expects me to be anyone but myself.

Then I meet Evan Prince, a grumpy firefighter who definitely isn't charming—though his five-year-old daughter Elle certainly is.

Soon I'm falling into their mornings filled with penguin-shaped pancakes, their quiet afternoons beside the lake, and a midnight date that has Maplewood feeling less like a place I escaped to, and more like somewhere I finally belong.

Somewhere I want to stay.

But when one terrible night leaves our lives tangled in grief, every fear of being unlucky for the people I love comes rushing back.

The problem is, a cinder still glows after everything else turns to ash.

And firefighters run toward things worth saving.




Cinder's tropes include:
- single dad x nanny
- grumpy / sunshine
- small town setting
- found family
- age gap
- fractured fairytale
- hockey playing firefighters
- hurt / comfort
- spicy mirror scene
- a firehouse doggo

Genres: Romance, Firefighters, Found Family, Small Town Romance, Forced Proximity, Contemporary Romance, Hockey

463 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 9, 2026

Reviews

[cat (catching up slowly) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’d stand in the ashes of every bad thing that’s ever happened to me again, if it meant finding Penny still glowing at the end of it.”


on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ‎♪ˎˊ˗
“ꜱᴏ ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ʟᴏᴠᴇ” x ꜱɴᴇʜᴀ, ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇᴊᴀꜱ
0:10 ─♥────────── 2:54


This was literally just as freaking good as the cover is pretty. 😭 I had ridiculously high expectations because I fell in love with this cover the second I saw it, and somehow it still exceeded them. Also… I’m such a sucker for a fairytale retelling, and this one absolutely understood the assignment 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

Evan might actually be one of my favorite book dads ever. He’s exhausted, stretched way too thin, and carrying the weight of everything by himself, but he never lets that make him bitter. He’s careful about who he lets into Elle’s life, he’s endlessly respectful, and somehow manages to be one of the biggest green flags. The way he quietly makes Penny feel wanted instead of like she’s asking for too much??? MY HEARTTTT 🥹

And Penny… I adored her. Watching someone who’s spent so long trying to fit into everyone else’s expectations finally find a place where she can just exist as herself was so comforting to read. She wasn’t trying to impress anyone. She just loved people so naturally.

ANDDDD i just have to talk about Elle 🥹
Because that little girl completely stole this book.
Her penguin obsession. Her giant heart. The way she fit with Penny from the very beginning without it ever feeling forced. Those moments honestly ended up meaning just as much to me as the romance. I love when a single-parent romance remembers that the child isn’t just there for the trope—they’re part of the heart of the story. Penny loved that little girl so effortlessly, and you could feel it on every page. 💞🫶🏼

The little Cinderella details sprinkled throughout this story made me so happy. The pumpkins. Midnight. Tiny nods that never felt overdone but constantly reminded you what inspired the story. It was creative without losing its own identity, which I loved 👏🏼 And their dog Gus Gus??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? lovedddd that Cinderella reference!! 😭😭🫶🏼

One thing I appreciated so much was how mature everyone felt. Evan and Penny actually communicated. They were honest about what they wanted. They respected each other’s boundaries, especially with Elle involved, and it made every step of their relationship feel earned instead of frustrating.

now... LOL
THE MOUTH ON THAT MAN??? 😭
The chemistry had been simmering forever, and then suddenly it was like getting hit by a freight train. I genuinely got jumpscared by how juicy it became, but was I complaining? hmm absolutely not 🤣

AND THEN. THEN. this book decided happiness was illegal 😭 I was actually sick. I actually bawled. I won’t say why because everyone deserves to experience that moment completely blind, but please… emotionally prepare yourself. The story takes a turn, and I was genuinely sitting there staring at the pages wondering how I was supposed to recover 😭 (i still haven't)

I was honestly nervous when I saw how long this book was, but by the end I would’ve happily read another hundred pages. 🥹 I didn’t want to leave Maplewood. I didn’t want to leave this little found family. Somewhere along the way these characters stopped feeling fictional and started feeling like people I just wanted good things for.

this was my first book by this author and most definitely not my last. i'm obsessed 100% 😩🫠

five 👏🏼 stars 👏🏼 without 👏🏼 a 👏🏼 single 👏🏼 hesitation 👏🏼

favorite quotes ↓

“You don’t have to stop liking something just because someone else is loud about it.”
“What if they laugh?”
“Sometimes people laugh when they don’t understand something, but that doesn’t mean you change.”

“And you know what firefighters do when something matters?”
“We run toward it.”
“Even if it’s dangerous, even when we’re scared. If it matters, it’s worth the risk.”

“My common denominator?” I use my free hand to close her fingers gently around the coin. “That’s you, baby. My Lucky Penny. The thing I was lucky enough to find and never stopped carrying.”

“Risk doesn’t disappear because we love someone, and loss doesn’t step aside just because we ask it to. The world stays heavy. It always has. But she’s not the weight. She’s the reason it’s worth carrying.”

things to know about the book ↓

💙 single dad x nanny
💙 small town
💙 fractured fairytale
💙 grumpy x sunshine
💙 hockey playing firefighter 🥵
💙 found family
💙 spicy mirror scene x2
💙 dual POV

swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 14, 17, 20, 24, epilogue

Thank you Luna Literary, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

─────────
・❥・⁀➷ ✨💙 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕

june 30th- the squeal i let out!! i'm in a firefighter mood + themes of cinderella??? AND THIS COVER... guys im OBSESSED. i'm so happy i was accepted for the arc!!!!

[₊ ˚ ale ࿓ ♡ ⋆｡˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

‎ ‎ ‎ ⌗‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ──🔥🍋‍🟩🐈‍⬛ᝰ .ᐟ read.
6 stars are not enough because wdym i was crying and laughing at the same time while reading the epilogue? hailey, you broke me, oh gods. rtc

‎ ‎ ‎ ⌗‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ──🔥🍋‍🟩🐈‍⬛ᝰ .ᐟ pre-read.
nanny x single dad + Cinderella retelling? Sign me up!

thanks @lunaliterary and Hailey Rodger for an ARC in exchange of an honest review!

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 5 out of 5]

5(♾️)🌟, 3🌶️

Consider this your official warning that this cozy small-town romance will steal your heart and then joyfully break it into tiny pieces.

Stepping into a charming small town was the exact fresh start Penny needed after leaving behind a suffocating life. Landing a nannying job for a brooding firefighter named Evan and his precious daughter Elle turned her world upside down in the best way. Watching a heroine who spent her whole existence shrinking herself finally find a place to just exist felt like a massive warm hug, beautifully accented by subtle Cinderella nods.

The chemistry between Penny and Evan simmers intensely before exploding into a thrilling dynamic. Evan is the ultimate green flag who is endlessly devoted to his family, yet the mouth on that man manages to completely catch you off guard in the most delicious way. Elle steals every single scene with her penguin obsession, making their three-person unit feel utterly authentic from the start. The sharp banter and firehouse found family are incredible, though the emotional sucker punch near the end had me openly bawling.

When a story balances heavy grief with this much swoon-worthy warmth, it stays with you long after the final page. I laughed out loud, got completely wrecked by the emotional twists, and fell head over heels for a fictional world that deserves an infinite star rating. The romance feels deeply earned, and I am desperately ready for whatever comes next.

This absolute masterpiece of comfort is a must-read.

I am so damn glad I picked this up, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever the author releases next.

~~~~

Huge thank you to Hailey Rodger and Luna Literary for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you sm @lunaliterary.management and @haileyrodger.writes for this incredible ARC!

I knew I was going to love this story: single dad, the new girl in town who becomes the nanny, firefighters but I never expected to finish this book crying over characters I’d only known from one book. The power of found family! I already love them all so much. I feel like this fire department is going to hold a special place in my heart. I don’t want to leave Maplewood anymore, and I’m so sad to have to wait until 2027 for the next one…

Penny breaks my heart as much as she picks up all the pieces. She’s running away from her old life because she didn’t belong and her kindness was used. I saw a lot of myself in her character, not wanting to waste time and often worrying about what others might think of us. In the end, Penny, who always thought she was a burden wherever she went, became Elle and Evan’s lucky charm. She was just so sweet, loyal, caring and always looked after Elle like she was her own little girl.

I won’t lie, at first I didn’t know what to think of Evan. But page after page, I realized he was simply a protective father who had built high walls to shield his daughter due to a complicated past with her mother. I loved how devoted he is to Elle and that he’s willing to do anything for her. I also loved his friendships with the other guys who are always there for him, supporting him no matter what. It took a lot for him to open up to Penny but once he did, Evan didn’t hesitate to tell her clearly that she meant a lot to him, even braving the flames.

My heart melted for him and his daughter Elle but especially for how Penny instantly became part of the family, as if it had been meant to be from the moment they first met. Elle is the most cutie and goofy little girl ever. Their relationship was so beautiful and nothing was rushed.

The idea of ​​the fractured fairytale added an extra charm with all the references. It was magical, unique and original while keeping the contemporary world.

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

I loved "Cinder" by Hailey Rodger. It is a Cinderella retelling, single dad x new person in town/nanny, small-town firefighter romance between Penny (FMC) and Evan (MMC). Penny has spent her entire life hiding who she really is to please everyone around her, especially her horrible stepmother, who has blamed her for every bad thing that has ever happened in their lives. After the death of her father, Penny finds herself in Maplewood and shortly after runs into Evan Prince, a brooding firefighter and father to the precious five-year-old Elle, after she gets into a heated debate with him and his firefighting crew about the best Spice Girl. (this scene took me out!!!) Looking for a more permanent person to watch Elle, Penny steps up and offers her nannying services. Elle and Penny bond immediately over Elle's infinite quest for knowledge, penguins, and penguin pancakes. As Evan and Penny start to get closer to one another, his grumpiness thaws and a very swoon-worthy bond blossoms between the two of them! I adored their connection with one another and was enthralled with their relationship from the beginning! Their story is full of banter, intrigue, charm, and a little whimsy. It's like a warm hug on a cold day. I loved both of these characters individually as well as together. Penny is such a kind old soul. Evan is such a protective, patient person. I also loved the three-person family unit with Elle, too, the way Penny never let Elle think she was too much or the cause of any strife (AKA the person she wished she had had while growing up). There is also a bit of grief in this book as well, but it felt authentic and necessary to the plot. In fact, everything in this story clicks into place perfectly and flows well. It never feels bogged down by unnecessary scenes or dialogue. I simply loved this one! I smiled from beginning to end.

Thank you to Hailey Rodger and Luna Literary for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[claireesbookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know the blurb says one terrible night but it couldn’t be that bad… FAMOUS LAST WORDS MY GOSH. I loved this book and loved the way Evan and Elle immediately became obsessed with Penny. My girl Penny, I loved her at the start and I loved her even more by the end. This book was my first Hailey read and I can confidently say I have some backlist to read!

This is your warning that this one HURTS BAD but is also so good!!!

[nat (mini trip break) · Rating 4 out of 5]

evan prince the man that you are !!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
TW: Loss of a loved one, grief, addiction and substance abuse. Please check the full trigger warnings before reading.

Cinder had been one of my most anticipated reads for a while, so I was incredibly excited to finally jump into Hailey Rodger's Maplewood Fire series. Although the series technically begins with the holiday novella A Merry Match, I went into this one without reading it first and still had a great experience. It took me a little while to find my footing with all the characters, but once I did, I completely fell in love with this chaotic little community.

Tropes
🚒 Firefighter romance
👨‍👧 Single dad x nanny
🌤️ Grumpy x sunshine
🏡 Forced proximity
👠 Fractured fairytale: Cinderella
🪞 Spicy mirror scene
❤️‍🩹 Grief & healing
🫂 Hurt/comfort
🤍 Found family
🌲 Small town romance
👥 Dual POV

Microtropes
🧢 Backwards cap
👕 She wears his fire department T-shirt
🌙 Midnight kiss
👠 He carries her heels
⛸️ He teaches her to skate
🎀 He ties her skates

What I loved most about Penny and Evan’s relationship was how effortlessly it grew. Their romance wasn’t rushed, it developed through the little moments, from everyday routines to simply being there when the other person needed support. Penny becoming part of Evan and Elle’s lives felt incredibly natural, not like she was stepping into a role that wasn’t hers, but like she had finally found somewhere she truly belonged. The domestic moments between them quickly became some of my favorites. The spicy scenes were a great addition, but they never felt like the foundation of their relationship. What made them special was the emotional connection underneath it all: the trust they built, the safety they found in each other, and the way they slowly became a family.

One of my favorite aspects of their relationship was that they never tried to save or change one another. Penny has spent so much of her life believing she is the source of the pain and misfortune around her, while Evan has built his entire identity around being the person everyone else can depend on. Instead of magically making those struggles disappear, they slowly helped each other see things differently. Evan showed Penny that she was worthy of being chosen and loved, while Penny reminded Evan that he didn’t have to carry every burden by himself. Their relationship was built through countless little moments of patience, understanding, and choosing each other, which made their love story feel all the more meaningful.

Penny and Evan were wonderful individually as well. Evan was everything I want from a single-dad hero: patient, loving, and completely devoted to Elle. He treated her with honesty while still letting her form her own opinions, and every scene between them melted my heart. Penny, meanwhile, was so easy to root for. She desperately wanted a fresh start, and seeing her slowly rebuild her confidence and discover that she deserved happiness was incredibly rewarding.

And then there's Elle, who completely stole the show. Her obsession with penguins, endless curiosity, little facts, and adorable dance parties with Penny had me smiling constantly. Penny and Elle's bond developed just as beautifully as the romance itself, and I adored watching them become a family in every sense of the word.

I also really enjoyed the fractured Cinderella elements woven throughout the story. They were subtle enough that they never took away from the contemporary romance, but if you enjoy fairytale retellings, they're a fun extra layer to pick up on. If that's not your thing, the story works just as well without focusing on those references.

There were, however, a few small things I would have liked to see explored a little more.

The opening chapters felt a bit overwhelming, and I suspect that was partly because I skipped the introductory novella. There were a lot of characters to keep track of before the story settled into its rhythm. Thankfully, once Penny and Evan actually began spending more time together, I was completely invested.

I also found myself wanting a little more of Penny's backstory and family dynamics. We learn enough to understand why she is the way she is, but I felt there was still another emotional layer waiting to be explored. Along those same lines, I would have loved seeing Penny discover a passion or purpose that belonged entirely to her: a moment where she wasn't just finding love, but also discovering herself.

The ending also felt slightly rushed. I would have loved a few extra chapters showing Evan and Elle caring for Penny after everything that happened, as well as getting a little more closure around the aftermath of the third-act conflict and some of the side-character storylines. There were a few questions left unanswered regarding what happened after the events of the final act, and I would have appreciated seeing more of the consequences and resolution. Since the book was already fairly long, I almost think moving the final incident slightly earlier in the story could have created more space to explore the emotional aftermath, the healing process, and tie up those remaining threads.

⚠️ Spoiler warning for a major event near the end of the book:

I genuinely didn’t see the twist coming, and it was such a heartbreaking moment. Colt was a character who completely captured my heart, and seeing him leave behind Remi and their two children was incredibly sad. At the same time, given his profession, it also felt like a realistic reminder of the risks firefighters take and that not every story can avoid loss. His love for his wife and children was written so beautifully, which made his absence feel even more impactful. I’m really hoping we get to see Remi find happiness again in a future book, but only after she has had the time and space to grieve. I already have some theories about where her story might go, and I’m very curious to see if I’m right.

Some of my favorite quotes:
"For every person who was made to feel like bad luck: may you find someone who sees you glowing in the ashes, and loves you like you were magic all along. Your penguin is out there."

"You don't have to stop liking something just because someone else is loud about it."
"What if they laugh?"
"Sometimes people laugh when they don’t understand something, but that doesn’t mean you change."

"Your feelings are yours. You don't have to make them nicer for anyone."

"Risk doesn't disappear because we love someone, and loss doesn't step aside just because we ask it to. The world stays heavy. It always has. But she's not the weight. She's the reason it's worth carrying."

"I close my eyes and let myself feel it. The ache and the joy. The grief that still visits, and the love that stays. The weight of the past, and the warm, beautiful shape of the future breathing next to me."

Overall, Cinder was a fantastic start to the Maplewood Fire series. Between the romance, the found family, the emotional healing, and a cast of side characters I'm already hopelessly attached to, Hailey Rodger has me completely invested. I can't wait to return to Maplewood and watch the rest of this wonderfully chaotic crew find their own happily ever afters, with Gwen and Finn’s story coming next.

[Amina · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I love you because somewhere along
the way, you became my favorite part."❤️
This book was a masterpiece from the start I was hooked, I love the characters and the writing was so good I mean it when I tell you guys this book shattered me in pieces I was crying so hard, I will be thinking about the book and the characters for quite some time I’m still not over.
Evan the man you are carrying the weight of everything he’s so careful with his daughter.
And penny changed cities because she thinks she doesn’t belong there, wanted to feel loved by people.
and Elle oh my god the cutest 5 year old girl with her penguin facts she’s just so precious she lightened this book with her personality.
It was such a beautiful story its about a grumpy firefighter named Evan and a new girl who moved to town named Penny, Evan has a daughter and needs a nanny and penny is searching for a new job.
This was my first book of Hailey Rodger and it won’t be the last time can’t wait for book 2

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire Daddy/Prince Charming

I am firmly in my firefighter romance era, starting now!!

The grumpy single dad firefighter + the new to town, beautiful, and kind woman + an adorable 5 year old daughter who's obsessed with penguin facts and in need of a nanny = this amazing and perfect book!!

The tension, the banter, the explosive chemistry, PLUS all the casual & tender everyday domesticity had me completely enchanted by this book!

I love the whole Maplewood Fire Department family so much already, and I can't wait to see what's next!! 2.5-3🌶

[Dolly McTavish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Hailey….
This book was everything!!!! so in love with Penny, Evan and Elle!
I felt all the emotions
The joy, the vulnerability, the growing tension and then the way Hailey BROKE MY FUCKING HEART!!!
Omg.
I was warned by friends that I would sob. I went in prepared to be emotionally devastated. And that niggling feeling grew the more I read. I was so anxious.
Was I prepared for what happened?
Absolutely not.
Did I sob hysterically and send Hailey photos demanding an apology?
Absolutely 🤣🫠😅🙃
This story was just so damn beautiful.
Hailey nails the emotions. The found family in her books are absolute TOP TIER!! Did I highlight 2 1/2 pages of banter between the found family group? Yes yes I did.
More than once? Also yes.
The side characters give this story so much more life and I am absolutely HANGING out for the next book on the series! (Let’s be honest - for ALL the books)
All the stars. Absolutely highly recommend.
Thank you to Hailey Rodger and Luna Literary Management for the arc.

[Jenifer Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

".. but she's not the weight. She's the reason it's worth carrying."

OH MY GOODNESS, THIS BOOK IS SO AMAZING. Trust me when I say this deserves all the shouty caps because it IS that good. I knew going in I would get all the flirty banter, the found family, the feels and the filthy firefighters, but I wasn't prepared to have my heart completely SHATTERED at the last 20ish percent. Oh my goodness that was so mean of our author, but also kind of brilliant.. especially if a certain Ghost is waiting to be noticed? Ahhhh, all of it is amazing!

I felt just like Penny in the fact that this charming town and community finally felt like home. Penny has been told most of her life -- since her dad died -- that she's bad luck and everything that goes wrong has one common denominator; her. When she moves to Maplewood by fate, she's immediately enamored with the town and the people in it, and almost immediately meets Evan -- the semi grumpy, single dad firefighters who carries the world on his shoulders and always plays it safe for his daughters sake. He Knows he needs a permanent nanny, and although he just met Penny, he feels this inexplicable draw towards her. And the more they are around each other and the more his adorably penguin obsessed daughter, Elle, falld for her, the more Evan does too. This might be this authors slowest slow burn to date, but it all felt so freaking RIGHT. They really were each other's penguins and their safe places and I loved every moment!

As I mentioned before -- have. tissues. ready. I was not at all prepared for the turn this takes, and the fallout of that action just gutted me. I don't know if it was the writing, or just how much I connected to this whole world, but I felt like they were real people, like they were my own friends, going through this life and feeling all the beauty and grief that goes along with it. And that's the highest compliment I know how to give!

Downloaded this book. One click this book. Buy the paperback and immerse yourself into this beautiful world that you won't want to leave either. You'll be just like me and begging for the next installment ASAP! I was already a huge fan of Hailey from her hockey series, but this is just next level. GO READ THIS BOOK!

**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions **

[han ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up!

“all this time, she’s believed she was the variable, the fracture, the piece that didn’t belong. she isn’t. she’s my lucky penny. the best thing I’ve ever found.”

i will never not enjoy a book written by hailey rodger. she’s one of my auto-read authors, and this book was no different from her backlist.

i immediately jumped to sign up for an arc, because hello? fractured fairytale? firefighter mmc? SINGLE DAD? i was salivating just admiring the cover alone, but the tropes were an immediate yes.

while this did take me a little bit to get sucked into, it delivered from cover to cover. evan was the perfect grumpy single dad, and penny was the perfect sunshine nanny (even though she thinks she’s bad luck). i was itching for more banter between them since their meet cute (in a bakery/cafe, no less) and the more i read, the more i fell in love with them. however, i didn’t just fall in love with /them/, evan’s adorable daughter, elle, might have stolen the show for me. she was an absolute riot the entire book. her obsession with penguins was the most precious thing, and i loved all of the “pebble” moments. the way hailey writes kids in her books is to die for— they’re all hilarious and adorable at the same time.

evan’s mouth…phew. y’all will need several business days to recover, because i’m STILL thinking about him. and the way penny talks to and cares for elle? she was truly the most perfect person to become her nanny.

i’m still not over their halloween costumes btw…”i’m the egg” had me shedding literal tears (iykyk).

read trigger warnings before diving in— and keep in mind that penguins mate for life <3

thank you so much to hailey and luna literary management for the e-arc! 🌙

⟡ small town
⟡ found family
⟡ featured fairytale
⟡ single dad x nanny
⟡ grumpy x sunshine

[Minty Margins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MASSIVE thank you to Hailey Rodger and LunaLiterary for the PHENOMENAL ARC of Cinder!!!! Book besties…I LOVED this book. It hit all the marks for me and then some. I don’t even think I’ll be able to properly explain how much but I’ll be making an attempt.

How on earth was this book SO FREAKING FUNNY????? I’ll take 15 more please. If it wasn’t the Spice Girls metric validation test, it was navigating conversations with the kiddos lmaoooo. Not only was this book hilarious, it was so sensual, steamy, filled with some amazing spice, and also managed to make me cry (this is a big compliment). I felt EMOTIONS. Honestly, I wasn’t even that far into the book before knowing I would be buying a physical copy.

Penny is SO good. Oh my gosh. I lovedddddd her. She’s so selfless and kind, but the world hasn’t been kind to her. She’s internalized this quite a bit. Yet, she still gives so much of herself. She’s so easy to love. Evan didn’t stand a chance lmao. And Evan??? Green flag, protective without being overbearing, single dad hottie. He’s such a good parent to Elle 😭👍🏻. All he wants is to make sure he gives Elle as much stability as possible being a single parent. Then when we have Penny and Evan together???? Holy F&@*.

“Sit on me, Pen. Don’t hover, baby.”
“Pin me to the mattress and find out.”

Like???? They are obsessed with each other. I’m obsessed with them and this book. The spice and intimacy were chef’s kiss amazing. Found family vibes are amazing! And I loved the fractured fairytale approach to this book. I am so excited for the next book in this series and plan to spend time reading Hailey’s other series while I wait!

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵♾️

This is only my second Hailey Rodger book, and yet another 5⭐️. This book exceeded my expectations. It is not a retelling in any sort of way of Cinderella but rather shares parallel details and little hommages I would say to Cinderella while not feeling childish at all. I’m a HUGE Disney fan, so Hailey truly did this story justice 🥹

Penny and Evan’s story was so beautiful and honestly the raw, difficult moments that they share felt so authentic and appropriate it had be sobbing. They are such lovable characters and without soulmates. I love that this book brought me on a emotional roller coaster, made me feel all my feelings 🥹 Elle was the best kid written and her obsession with penguins has now made me obsessed with penguins 🐧🩵 I love how they became a family and again every single Cinderella “egg” was genius!

I love this book with my whole heart, easily a top read of 2026!

Thank you Luna and Hailey for this ARC🩵I am forever changed 🥹

[Tracy Redden · Rating 5 out of 5]

With book one in her new Maplewood Fire series, Hailey Rodger delivers a grittier, more emotionally charged story. While the romance is at the heart of the book, it also offers a glimpse into the lives of first responders and the reality that every shift comes with risks they willingly take each time they leave home.

What I loved:
* A deliciously swoony slow-burn romance.
* The side characters that bring all the banter (yes, I’m looking at you, Fletch 🤣), while the main characters deliver all the angst, longing, and emotional tension that had my heart aching. The balance between the two is absolutely perfect, making the heavier moments feel even more impactful.
* And just the right touch of suspense to keep me eagerly turning the pages.
* I may have finished this book in two days… but the truth is, this book finished me❤️‍🩹

It was emotional, heartfelt, and the kind of story that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page. I already can’t wait to return to this world and spend more time with these characters.

And as a Canadian reader, love that the setting for this series is in our little corner of the world. 🇨🇦❤️

Thank you to the author Hailey Rodger and Luna Literary Management for the opportunity to receive a e-arc and provide a review.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to author Hailey Rodger and Luna Literary Management for the arc! I was very excited to read this series after Hailey introduced the firefighters and their town in A Merry Match. This fractured fairytale and love story between Penny and Evan was even better than I could have imagined. I love a good single dad x nanny trope and the way Evan fell so hard for Penny and he became softer and so protective of Penny was absolutely stunning. I also loved Evan and Penny’s relationship with Evan’s daughter Elle and how this community, the firefighters and their partners welcomed Penny. I can’t wait to read what Hailey writes next!

[crystal &#x1104d; · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

this was absolutely so good from the very first chapter. I love a fractured fairytale it gives the best angst and the best tension.
I felt from the first page when they met that Penny and Evan were gonna give me all the feels and they delivered.
I love the little town life (like really I wanna live there.) and everyone we met along the way. I can’t wait for more in the series and crumbs about my now favorite penguin 🐧 family!!!

[Lucy Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Single dad x nanny ✔️ fractured fairytale ✔️ small town ✔️ firefighter romance ✔️ grumpy x sunshine ✔️ found family ✔️ emotional af ✔️ spicy mirror scene ✔️’eyes on me’ ✔️

HAILEEEYYY omg!!! This was just incredible!!! I was lucky enough to Beta and ARC read this one, and I loved it as a beta read… but now?? It absolutely blew me away, knocked my socks off and absolutely left me in awe!!!

If there’s one thing I can count on with Hailey is that she’ll write an absolute banger of a book with the best found family vibes, so I knew I would love this one. What I didn’t know is how much I was going to cry, how real and relatable a lot of this story was going to be, and how much my heart was going to break. Like I’m taking sobbing, snotting and being unable to catch my breath. But it’s okay, 10/10 and infinity stars despite the emotional damage. ❤️‍🩹🤣

Evan, my mannn. Your loveable grumpy firefighter you. Ugh I just loved him so much. I love a grumpy man, almost as much as I love a quiet one. The thing I loved most about him though is how soft he was for his daughter, and then in turn for Penny too. The way he was steady and down bad for Penny as soon as Elle was like ‘yep I like her’ my heartttttt. His love was quiet (but obvious to the whole gang around him hahah) and sure and all the things Penny deserved.

And Penny, my girl, ugh I just adored her. I felt for her, and related so hard to a lot of her feelings. I spent so much of my twenties feeling like bad luck, like I wasn’t good enough and my godddd did I see so much of myself in her. I absolutely bawled so many times with her. Her sassiness though, that’s what made love her more, that and her kindness and genuine love for Elle. Seeing her finally find comfort, peace and a place to just be herself was honestly so special.

Elle, Evan’s daughter, absolutely stole the show too. Her facts about penguins, her love for life, her need of knowledge and the way she knew just what to say to make me sob and feel all the feelings. Elle and Penny were like two peas in a post and their music dance parties gave me life!

I also have to take a second to talk about the spice and tension, I knew Hailey would deliver but OMG. The way their chemistry was off the charts, the glances and touches, the way they gravitated towards each other. And the way Evan handled her. THE MOUTH ON THAT MAN. Omggg. So many scenes live in my head rent free.

The Cinderella references throughout also have me life, and made my Cinderella loving heart so freaking happy. Pumpkins, midnight, time running out, the gang making references to Evan needing a fairy godmother and other phrases, his last name being prince, and so so so many other little bits that made me so freaking happy.

I’m not gonna talk much about the thing that made me sob the hardest because I think it’s best to leave that unsaid, but pay attention to the blurb and content warnings and be ready to need all the tissues and scream at Hailey — i absolutely understand why the story went where it went and I’m so freaking excited for what’s to come but wow that was a rough ride 😮‍💨

This was an absolutely phenomenal start to the new series, I fell in love with the whole gang and I’m so excited to see what Hailey has in store for us. Hope you have the best release day girly, so beyond proud of you.

[⋆ ˚｡⋆୨tina୧⋆ ˚｡⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars

I cried both heartwarming and sad tears while reading this. It’s such a sweet nanny x single dad romance while also being funny at the same time. Honestly such an amazing book, and I can’t wait to continue the series!!!

[Manon · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ✨ Loved it! So excited for the next ones :)

[Catheryn]

DNF at 4%

Soft DNF at page 24. I want to revisit this when I'm in a better mood. The FMC from the start irritated me. The MMC seemed ok but pretty generic. I know that other people have loved, so I can only assume it gets better. But for now, its a DNF.

[Gosia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short review:
It was way too long, the group scenes threw me off and I still don’t remember who was who, apart from the couple from the next book - this one was so easy to catch. 450+ pages and yet some scenes were rushed. They meet after page 50, it takes another 50 for her to become the nanny, and then at 50-60% they are already hooking up and near iloveyous (not said out loud but aware of it). I was bored most of the time and the pacing and execution bothered me too much. The spice felt very disconnected from these characters. The same scenes could be put in any other book, there was nothing in the spice that felt like *these* characters. It was spicy, I agree on that, but it was rushed and random, especially their first encounter.
I didn’t see the resemblance to Cinderella before 90% when he was looking for her holding her sparkly shoe but this scene still gave me an ick. Elle’s mom appeared just for the dramatics but then disappeared and was never mentioned again. It took forever for something to happen and then it happened way too quick. The ending was very abrupt (especially for 450+ pages book when then get together at 50-60%!) and then followed with epilogue 15 months later that I don’t know what purpose it was supposed to serve.
This was supposed to be short but I failed once again. Truthfully I don’t know why I’m going with 3 stars, I probably should go lower, but something is stopping me.

Longer review, mostly rambling I saved in notes app somewhere between 50 and 60%:
I didn’t like the page count but the cover and “fractured fairytale” is what roped me in. I should have known better 😭 (*turns out I didn’t know the page count when signing up, it was not disclosed yet back then)
I don’t see any resemblance to Cinderella, other than FMC having a step mother but that’s not enough for this to be called retelling, even if “fractured” is thrown in there. Her family situation was only a backstory, not much part of on-page plot.
The length is 463 pages. It took them 50 pages to even meet, another 50 till she became the nanny but then by page 200 they already hooked up (*ok with clothes on but still it was rather out of the blue fast)
First it took forever to get going and then it’s like they jumped to “she just fits with us” in the span of 3 pages. I was kinda bored. The writing style was okay but just that. I’m sure for some readers this will be a 4 or 5 stars book but for me it lacked the magical factor. With the tropes that are so often used, sadly this book did not stand out for me. The pacing felt off and it was way too long. I also got a bit of an ick with how the kid was written (it’s probably a me thing but still)
Oh and no “we can’t blur the lines, you’re my kid’s nanny” thing? It was almost the opposite, especially Penny was kind of expecting him to give her a room in the main house instead of the separate building, couple times she was sad/disappointed feeling rejected (or sth along the lines) when there was no basis for such feelings. I’m having trouble putting it into words but it just felt weird to me at times how she was expectant of certain behavior from Evan that should not be “normal” from her, ekhem, employer? The dad of the kid she’s nannying for?
„You’re not just anyone” at 52% made me wonder what the rest of the book will be about.
It really doesn’t sit right with me how hesitant he was to hire her as a nanny but then they started jumping each others bones wildly half way into the story. It doesn’t matter how much time she actually has spent with them, it’s felt rushed and sudden in terms of story pacing. Where the buildup? 😭
The spice felt like so many other ones. Taking the scene out of context, I couldn’t recognize it’s from this book with this characters, there was literally nothing making them stand out. Don’t get me wrong, the spice was hot, but it just felt very random both the placing in the plot AND for these characters. They went for it hard on the first go and it wasn’t reconciling for me with how they were portrayed up to this point.
He already loves her at 66%. What will the remaining 150 pages be about? I’m all in for witnessing some of the after iloveyous but the pacing in this book is just not it.


To sum it up: I believe many readers will find this book 4 or 5 stars worthy. For me the writing lacked the magical factor that would make me excited. With the lack of me falling for the writing itself, there was nothing else capturing my attention there. If it was 100-150 shorter (easily could be!), maybe I would go with 4 stars. I’m going with 3 but it’s more like 2.5 rounded up.
For some reason I root for Hailey to do well but I’m not sure I will be reading the next book. Although I got a good vibe from Gwen and Finn already, I fear it will be once again a struggle. I guess I will wait for the page count. If it’s under 350 I will probably keep it on my tbr, but otherwise I think I will skip it.

! Many readers seem to love this book so maybe, probably I’m the issue here but I stand with what I felt and thought while reading !

Thank you Luna Literary for the eARC

[Trinket Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any book that features the Spice Girls is already a winner in my book, and Cinder was absolutely no exception! But it wasn't just the stellar playlist that had me hooked. This book completely pulled me in, and I genuinely did not expect to be sobbing the way I was. There I was, midnight reading and tearing up because this book absolutely wrecks you at times, but you just cannot stop reading.
Penny was such a fab FMC. She's our very own Cinderella, starting over in a new town and searching for somewhere that finally feels like home. When she lands a job as Elle's nanny, she sees it as a huge privilege, and the connection she immediately forms with Elle was honestly the most adorable thing ever. But also can't help herself from her attraction to Elle's dad and town firefighter, Evan.
I absolutely loved the back-and-forth banter between Evan and Penny. Their dynamic was so much fun, and the slow build between them had me completely invested. And when they finally give in to everything simmering between them... it was EVERYTHING.
And Evan. That man is truly playing in another league when it comes to MMCs. He's a devoted dad, a firefighter, responsible, dependable, and careful with the people he loves. But with Penny, he finds himself wanting something for himself too. And what he wants is his fun-loving, sweet nanny with a wicked sense of humour. Watching this man fall for her was just perfection.
So many people recommended this book to me, and I am SO grateful they did. I was sold the second I heard single dad x nanny, but no one warned me just how much I was going to fall in love with the kid too. Oh, my heart! Elle was the absolute cutest, from her love of penguins to the beautiful bond she shares with her dad. Watching her and Penny together completely melted my heart. The dance parties in the kitchen, the penguin-shaped sandwiches... honestly, it was all just TOO CUTE! 🥹 But nothing beats the incredible Halloween costumes the three of them were rocking. I absolutely adored seeing Penny become part of their little family and watching the three of them create these beautiful memories together.
I loved the people of Maplewood, especially the fire crew. The sense of community and found family was such a huge part of what made this book so special, and I am already SO excited for their stories next. I am anticipating more laughs, more swooning, and, hopefully, plenty more healing along the way because I am absolutely invested in these people now!
Evan, Penny, and especially little Elle have my whole heart, I'm not ready to leave Maplewood just yet. Bring on the next story!

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover of this is BEAUTIFUL! It caught my eye right away. When I saw it was about a firefighter AND the nanny, I was hoping so bad that I would receive the ARC. So when I did, I was almost crying and started it as soon as I got it.

I love Penny! She stayed true to herself through the whole book.
I love a firefighter, but when they are grumpy….. I’m done. AND A SINGLE DAD. These were all my favorite tropes so this was really the perfect book for me and it did NOT disappoint. I liked that Evan was hesitant and didn’t let just anyone babysit for him. The friendship between all of the firefighters made me want to join their group.
And Ellie was so cute! Sometimes the kids can be annoying and I don’t feel much for them but she was really cute. I loved watching Ellie and Penny grow together and learnt to trust each other.

The last 80% of the book made me SOB. OMG!!! It was so sad but the ending was so beautiful.
Ugh I’m still sad thinking about it. 😭

I will be thinking about this book for awhile. Just perfection. I’m so sad that I’m done with the book and can’t wait for the next one!

I HIGHLY encourage you to read this book!! You can’t go wrong with it. I am so beyond excited to read the other books in the series. Can’t wait for Ghost’s story, whenever that is!! 👀
Will be buying myself a physical copy to add to my shelf because how could I not.

5 ⭐️ HUGE THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR FOR THIS ARC

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another book from Hailey that I loved. From the very first page I was hooked and I couldn’t put it down! If you love a spicy, single dad x nanny, grumpy x sunshine, found family, firefighter, small town, fractured fairy tale romance, then this is definitely for you!

I loved Penny from the moment I started her first chapter. There was just something about her that I felt was super relatable when it came to her self-perception. She was such a sweetheart and I just loved how quick witted she was with all of her comebacks. She was the best nanny to Evan’s daughter, Elle, and they formed such a special bond. Penny had gone through a lot and I think having Evan and Elle helped her heal from her past and pushed her to heal after events in the book.

Evan was such a grump, especially at first. However, as I read more and learned more about his past relationship, it became very clear why he acted that way. He was the best dad to Elle and just wanted to keep her safe. He was definitely weary of Penny at first, but I loved that he gave her a chance. I loved the relationships he had with the other firefighters and how they’d do anything for one another.

Evan and Penny were great together and I loved how they communicated. There was no miscommunication and I am so glad that they were able to talk things out. My heart broke for them and what they both went through in this book. However, Maplewood made sure to come together to support them and those closest to them.

Overall, this was such a great book. It was an easy five star read for me and I cannot wait to read book 2. I would recommend it, however, please make sure to check the trigger warnings before reading.

Thank you Hailey Rodger and Luna Literary Management for the ARC for an honest review!

[Ishika · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 2nd half of the book was a lot to handle. It had no right to make me cry. Broke my heart so badly I couldn't stop the tears. I personally think that part was not necessary. Grief is a dangerous thing and I hate it. Books like these make me extremely guilty for never reading the trigger warnings. That part still did not deserve to be there in this book. It's been a long time a book made me feel so much.

Loved Penny and Evan a lot. They were beautifully written. And Elle too. And Remi, Gwen, Frankie, Fletcher, Colt, Ghost, Finn, Leah, Herb, Gus.

There were a lot of scenes missing that I wanted to be a part of too. Like it felt a bit incomplete not knowing them in detail and just them being shown in a sentence instead. Didn't like that.







I raise a brow. "If we're looking for a new nanny?"

"As her unofficial favorite uncles-"

"Very unofficial.”

"-I think we should all get a say in who looks after the station's princess, so yes."

Fletch snorts. "Yeah, just maybe don't run them all through a full background check and psychological evaluation this time."

"I didn't do that."

"You absolutely did that," Colt says.

Ghost nods. "There was a questionnaire."

"No." I frown. "It was a form."

"It was three pages," Fletcher adds. "And you had sections."

"Sections are normal."

"You had a scoring system."

"For consistency!"







"This house sounded empty before you, so don't go quiet on me now, baby."

[Mary Lohorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly don’t even know how to put into words how much I loved Cinder. From the very first chapter, it had my whole heart, and by the end I was sitting there with tears in my eyes and the biggest smile on my face.

This book made me laugh, made me emotional, and completely pulled me into the characters’ lives. I felt so connected to everything they were going through, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way. The emotions felt genuine, the relationships felt real, and every page gave me something to feel.

Evan, Penny, and Elle completely stole my heart. Evan was the best kind of dad. He was steady, patient, and so full of love in the way he showed up every single day. Watching the three of them slowly become a family felt so natural and emotional, like they were always meant to find each other. Their story really reminded me that sometimes the home you’re searching for ends up being a person.

More than anything, this story reminded me that healing isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. It left me feeling hopeful, emotional, and so grateful I picked it up.

Thank you to Hailey and Luna Literary for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. I truly loved this story and am so grateful I got to read it early. And round of applause for this cover because it’s absolutely STUNNING! 😍

[Marissa | Readswith_marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝙍𝙞𝙨𝙠 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥 𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙮. 𝙄𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙨. 𝙎𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩. 𝙎𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜.”

I think I’m actually in love with this book!! These characters, the premise, everything flowed so beautifully and the epilogue pulled it all together for the perfect ending! 🥹

Evan is the elite single daddy. He had such a calmness about him when everything around him feels like it’s too hard or quite literally falling apart. The reassurance to Penny every single time she needed had me swooning!!

Penny had such a beautiful aura. Regardless of what life was throwing at her she always persevered and never let it dull her shine. I love the relationship she developed with Evan, but the relationship with Elle was SO special. Those two were meant to be in each others lives and nothing ever felt forced or unnatural. Hailey did such an amazing job at portraying these two! 🥰

The open and honest communication between all of the characters but especially Penny and Evan was executed so perfectly! One was never left wondering how the other felt and I appreciate that so much in a romance read.

Overall this book completely exceeded all of my expectations. I cannot wait to go back and read all of Hailey’s previously published books!

Thank you times a million to the author and Luna Literary for the #gifted e-ARC! 🫶🏻

[Amy O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wooooow 🤯

I thought I was going into a hot little single dad x nanny romance and I got so much more than I expected!

Penny is the sweetest FMC. She really took care and consideration in every conversation she had. She saw things from both sides and always came from a place of empathy. I so wish she saw herself the same way because she was a sweet baby angel. The way she nurtured Elle without being overbearing and keeping her sparkle when others tried to dull it. She offers support and love to Evan at every turn whilst he brought his walls down.

Evan was a sweet MMC. I loved how he loved Penny for simply being herself. She was never too much and she brought him back to life. He rarely let people in but looking at his past you can understand why.

Elle was the sweetest little girl. Kids have so much more understanding to life than we expect and she had the most beautiful way of looking at it. I adored her spirit!

The found family was next level in the firehouse and I adored every single one of these characters.

Don’t be fooled though - this book is EMOTIONAL DAMAGE. I sobbed for a full hour and the second half of the book will destroy you. There is light at the end of the tunnel and you will feel the cracks being mended by the end