Making Waves: A Coastal Women's Fiction Romance

by Aspen Hadley

Mackenzie Findlay never wanted children. Grant Lawson never stays in one place for long. And Marler Island is the last place either of them expected to be.

When Mac is unexpectedly given custody of Abbie, her late friend’s baby, her carefully structured life unravels overnight. With her heart broken, she returns to the coastal island she once ran from—determined to do the right thing, even if she has no idea how.

There’s just one problem, and his name is Grant Lawson.

A concierge at the local resort, Grant is the extended family member who’s already been caring for Abbie – and he’s not about to hand her over without a fight.

What begins as a tense custody battle between two grieving guardians quickly turns into something neither of them expected. Forced into close proximity, Mac and Grant must navigate grief, responsibility, and a future neither of them could have foreseen. As they clash, challenge each other, and slowly learn to work together, their fragile partnership begins to feel like something dangerously close to a family.

But when everything about their situation is uncertain… can they risk wanting more?

Making Waves is a deeply emotional women’s fiction romance

* Found family * Forced proximity * Single parent / unexpected motherhood * Small town coastal setting * Slow-burn romance * Character-driven emotional growth *Love in middle life

Perfect for readers who love heartfelt, clean romance with depth, healing, and real-life stakes.

Genres: Contemporary

323 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2026

About the author

Aspen Hadley loves nothing more than a great story. She has devoted herself to story-telling for the majority of her life, writing her first novel at her kitchen table in the 8th grade. Aspen writes what she wants to read: clean, sassy, romantic comedy novels that give you a break from real life and leave you feeling happy.

Outside of writing, Aspen's number one hobby is reading. Number two is sneaking chocolate into and out of her private stash without being caught. Other favorite things include: playing the piano, listening to classic rock, telling jokes around the dinner table, eating ice cream, traveling, a good case of the giggles, and riding on ATVs over the trails around her home in Utah.

Aspen shares her life with a patient husband, 4 hilarious children, and 1 grumpy dog in a quiet suburb next to her beloved mountains.

Given the choice she would road trip her life away, singing along to the radio and sleeping in every morning.

You can also find her on Facebook at facebook.com/aspenthewriter and Instagram @aspenhadley_author.

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🫑: kisses only
🤬: none


I wanted to love this book so bad, but it just didn’t quite do it for me like Aspen’s other books have. I’m not sure if it was a pacing issue, but I just felt like the book was slow and anticlimactic (which isn’t always a bad thing), but in this case I found myself getting bored. I liked the characters and the next books in the series seem like they’ll be a fun addition, but I just wish this one had a little more to it. I adore Aspen and her writing, so I may give this one another shot at a different time.

[Kelli M. Stowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

For this 40-something single woman, this book resonated in so many lovely ways. I cannot imagine my life upended in the ways that Mac experienced, and it made me think deeply about what I would do if presented with the situations she finds herself in. She is so strong and independent, because she’s always had to be, and she wears that independence like armor. Especially with Grant.

Grant…I loved his storyline. He has so much to offer, but has been withholding for so long, he’s not quite sure how to give what he’s got. Except when it comes to Abbie. He loves that little girl like his own and that love leapt off the page and into my heart.

I loved seeing both Mac and Grant let go of some of their reservations and insecurities to work together for Abbie. Between the sick days, and the diaper blowouts (which had me laughing out loud through the entire scene), and finding their way into loving each other, they always centered that baby’s needs (and whims!) before their own.

I cannot wait for the stories of the rest of the Second Bloom Society women. These ladies have been through so much in their lives and seeing them love and support one another was beautiful. This enemies to more, coastal romance features a strong community, midlife characters, and so much healing.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a book that has all the feels. This one really does. There were parts I laughed, parts I cried, and parts where I empathized with the characters because I had gone through something similar. This book is just so good!

I loved Mac. She's not sure how to do what she's been asked to do. Her best friend and her husband were in an accident and as part of their will, they asked Mac to care for their baby. But...the baby's uncle doesn't feel like Mac should be the one to care for Abby. He's been in her life for her whole life. And things get ugly with him.

Grant is Abby's uncle. I loved the way he realizes that things are the way they are and he settles in to see what will happen. As he watches, he gets to know Mac and he doesn't hate her. I really loved watching their friendship and eventually more happen little by little. The friends to lovers trope in this one is so well done.

Let me talk just a bit about the ending. I might have full on ugly cried. It's such a beautiful ending. So close to things happening in my own life right now. Even just thinking about it makes me a little teary.

I love this book so much! Thanks to Aspen Hadley for such a well done book.

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Love changes things.”

Mackenzie (aka Mac) and Grant battle for custody of baby Abbie after her friend and his cousin suddenly pass away. Although Mac hasn’t ever desired to be a mother, I loved watching her step into this role, and I especially enjoyed observing the enemies-to-love vibe wafting throughout the story.

As I visited the Pacific Northwest several months ago and with Hadley’s writing style, it was easy to visualize this gorgeous setting. Finding love in the middle ages of life is tender and this book is full of healing, growth, and slow-burn feelings that stem from years of heartache and hurt.

Finding a tribe of friends-like-family, especially in a small town, fills the cracks in my heart and I loved spending time on Marlor Island.

Content: mild romance

*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Floor Me Friday

The Brief: Mackenzie (Mac) is given custody of little Abbie and Grant is livid. He is her family and Mac is the unrelated ice queen.

The Debrief: I loved this book! Older couple. Doing hard things. Witty banter. Strong friendships. Every stinking feel. I cried real loud tears. Like loud. Mac and Grant were so likable. And acted their age. Grant was the real deal folks and the cover gave me all the vibes. Little Abbie brought back all those early parenting days of exhaustion and the sweetness of littles. I’m a huge fan of @aspenhadley_author but this story really hit my heart. All the love. Looking forward to more in this beautiful setting.

The Rhyme: Being a mom was never in Mac’s life plan, but she chooses a life with Abbie. Can she learn to balance her new life and find love and a new happy?

Highly recommend! Complimentary copy. Women’s fiction more than romcom. Although there is plenty to laugh and about.

[Natscleanreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say, I knew Aspen Hadley could do a romcom right but this contemporary romance with a tragic loss was *Chef's kiss* good. It made me cry, smile, laugh, and overall good vibes. Grant and Mac are enemies to more and their transition to more was so sweet and good. They are both good people at heart but are a bit misunderstood. They both do a bit of self-discovery and finding out who they really can become.

There are no swears or alcohol and level 1 kisses only. Dual POV. Off-page death and loss, life upheaval and healing are present.

[Shayla Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

MAKING Waves
A Coastal Women’s Fiction Romance
by: Aspen Hadley
@aspenhadley_author

••I give 4.5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

~She never wanted a baby. He never planned to stay.
And the island she ran from is the last place she wants to be. But one tragic day changed everything…

-My friends, MAKING Waves, is a heartwarming story filled wonderfully with found family, forced proximity, a single parent, unexpected motherhood, a delightful small town coastal setting, slow-burn romance, humor, character-driven emotional growth, swoony moments, and tender love in middle age. This clean contemporary romance has such depth, healing, and real-life stakes. From years of heartache and hurt, there still is hope is weaved within the cracks. Watching love blossom in the unexpected turn of the tide had my full attention. I loved watching characters choose to say yes, even when it would be easier to saying no, being brave to face the past and move forward with courage, and being able to be real and vulnerable to letting others in for now and into the future was beautifully inspiring. While the waves of unpredictability and obstacles come and go, it’s the where they lead dear characters that had my heart melting! This is definitely a story worth catching the wave to read!🙌🏻📚❤️🌊

"Love changes things."

•Content: grief, loss of loved ones, and discussions of difficult family dynamics. No language, No violence, kisses only!

-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

#makingwaves
#acoastalwomensfictionalromance
#aspenhadleyauthor
#allaboutthebestreads

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Aspen Hadley. There aren’t many romance books about women in their 40s and this was done so well. It was full of so much heart and family (and found family). I loved that it wasn’t a crazy story with any sort of 3rd act breakup or huge miscommunication. It was written like it could be a real life, not just fiction.

[Pascale’s*ARC,Unwind,Read,Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay. Not my favourite of hers.

[MK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aspen Hadley just gets better and better at writing books. I knew I’d love this book, but I loved it more than I expected and I am already greatly anticipating the next books in the series!

This book was so great because the characters had so much depth, the people felt flawed and real, and the life situations really brought on real growth of the characters. I loved that the baby in the story was realistic. As a mother I cringe when we look back at the early years with rose colored glasses. Yes, I’d love to go back and enjoy a day or two when my kids are little again, but I also will never minimize how exhausting that stage can be, especially when a child has gone through trauma. That is really hard.

I could not be more different from the main character, but I loved her and rooted for her and was so proud of her. If you want a book that makes you feel, this one is for you. Such a great story of second chances in life and embracing others in your life when life takes unexpected turns.

[Dev G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection! This story packs a punch that will hit all the feels.

This emotional and beautifully written women’s romance is filled with tenderness, heartbreak, healing, hope, laughter, love, reconciliation and sweetness and I didn’t want it to end. It played out like a cross between Life As We Know It and Baby Boom.

Mac and Grant both suffer the devastating loss of their best friends that left behind sweet little Abbie.

Mac’s life is turned upside down, thrown into a blender, and tossed over a cliff. Mac doesn’t know how to be what Abbie needs but she’s determined to not let Abbie down which is what I loved most about Mac.

What follows is a touching and healing journey through the complexities and emotions of trauma healing, grief healing, familial reconciliation, and self-discovery.

What a gift this story is!!

I’m eagerly anticipating more from Marler Island.

Thank you to Aspen Hadley for the copy. All opinions are my own.

[Tricia Anson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is just so full of heart and hope! The healing, banter, and breaking down of walls was perfect. I loved Mac and Grant’s transition from enemies, to necessary acquaintances, to friends, to more. And I truly loved the healing between sisters, the relatable parenthood moments, and the coming home aspects of Mac returning to the island.

TW: Adoption Due to Loss, Past Parental Neglect, Past Divorce