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Claiming Lily: A small town romance
Not yet published
Expected 30 Jun 26Did I plan on living with my ex-boyfriend’s three best friends?
No.
But when he kicks me out with nowhere to go, Hudson, Cole, and Gage are the ones who take me in.
It’s supposed to be temporary. Just long enough to get back on my feet. No drama. No complications.
Except these men don’t know how to keep their distance.
Hudson is steady and protective.
Cole knows exactly how to make me laugh.
And Gage? He watches me like I already belong to him.
I should remember they were my ex’s first. I should leave before this gets messy, but late nights turn into lingering touches and something I can’t ignore.
Their house starts to feel like home, like the only place I’m safe.
Until I realize I’m being watched.
Someone in this town doesn’t want me here and they’re slowly getting closer. Angrier. Scarier.
The three men I shouldn’t want vow to protect me. . . that is if my stalker doesn’t get to me first.
This is a standalone contemporary romance where the FMC doesn’t have to choose.
No.
But when he kicks me out with nowhere to go, Hudson, Cole, and Gage are the ones who take me in.
It’s supposed to be temporary. Just long enough to get back on my feet. No drama. No complications.
Except these men don’t know how to keep their distance.
Hudson is steady and protective.
Cole knows exactly how to make me laugh.
And Gage? He watches me like I already belong to him.
I should remember they were my ex’s first. I should leave before this gets messy, but late nights turn into lingering touches and something I can’t ignore.
Their house starts to feel like home, like the only place I’m safe.
Until I realize I’m being watched.
Someone in this town doesn’t want me here and they’re slowly getting closer. Angrier. Scarier.
The three men I shouldn’t want vow to protect me. . . that is if my stalker doesn’t get to me first.
This is a standalone contemporary romance where the FMC doesn’t have to choose.
- GenresWhy Choose
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 30, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Claiming Lily by Rory Miles was such a fun, captivating read that I absolutely couldn’t put it down—in fact, I devoured the entire thing in a single day!
The book starts off with a bang, dropping us right into a high-stakes situation where Lily is hit with an incredibly hard choice. After finally recognizing the massive red flags and breaking up with her loser ex-boyfriend, she gets kicked out with nowhere to go.
Enter Hudson, Cole, and Gage—who just happen to be her ex’s three best friends. Though moving in with them is supposed to be a temporary arrangement to help her get back on her feet, these men don't know how to keep their distance. Hudson is steady and protective, Cole knows exactly how to make her laugh, and Gage watches her like she already belongs to him.
What starts as a safe haven quickly blurs into late nights, lingering touches, and an undeniable chemistry that makes their house feel like the only home she has ever known.
Lily easily became one of my absolute favorite characters. She has the weight of the world on her shoulders, grappling with immense debt, anxiety, and the emotional and financial struggles of making sure her mom, who has early Alzheimer’s, is taken care of.
I deeply appreciated seeing this representation; it beautifully illustrates the raw, stressful reality of that responsibility, making Lily's journey incredibly relatable. Watching her choose herself and her own happiness over what everyone else thinks was profoundly empowering.
Her growth throughout the story is exciting to witness as she navigates a heartbreaking yet healing range of emotions, especially as the guys step up to give her the security and space she truly deserves.
Adding to the emotional depth is a brilliant suspense plotline involving a stalker who is watching Lily's every move. This hidden danger aspect gives the book an extra oomph that keeps you completely hooked and engaged. The threat brings Lily and the guys even closer together, raising the stakes as they vow to protect her from someone who is growing angrier and scarier by the day.
I spent the entire book trying to figure out who the mystery person was, and while I thought I had it figured out, the twist completely blindsided me—the culprit wasn't even close to being on my radar!
This was my very first book by Rory Miles, but it certainly won't be my last. It was truly one of my best reads of the month, and I cannot wait to dive into more of this author's work.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The book starts off with a bang, dropping us right into a high-stakes situation where Lily is hit with an incredibly hard choice. After finally recognizing the massive red flags and breaking up with her loser ex-boyfriend, she gets kicked out with nowhere to go.
Enter Hudson, Cole, and Gage—who just happen to be her ex’s three best friends. Though moving in with them is supposed to be a temporary arrangement to help her get back on her feet, these men don't know how to keep their distance. Hudson is steady and protective, Cole knows exactly how to make her laugh, and Gage watches her like she already belongs to him.
What starts as a safe haven quickly blurs into late nights, lingering touches, and an undeniable chemistry that makes their house feel like the only home she has ever known.
Lily easily became one of my absolute favorite characters. She has the weight of the world on her shoulders, grappling with immense debt, anxiety, and the emotional and financial struggles of making sure her mom, who has early Alzheimer’s, is taken care of.
I deeply appreciated seeing this representation; it beautifully illustrates the raw, stressful reality of that responsibility, making Lily's journey incredibly relatable. Watching her choose herself and her own happiness over what everyone else thinks was profoundly empowering.
Her growth throughout the story is exciting to witness as she navigates a heartbreaking yet healing range of emotions, especially as the guys step up to give her the security and space she truly deserves.
Adding to the emotional depth is a brilliant suspense plotline involving a stalker who is watching Lily's every move. This hidden danger aspect gives the book an extra oomph that keeps you completely hooked and engaged. The threat brings Lily and the guys even closer together, raising the stakes as they vow to protect her from someone who is growing angrier and scarier by the day.
I spent the entire book trying to figure out who the mystery person was, and while I thought I had it figured out, the twist completely blindsided me—the culprit wasn't even close to being on my radar!
This was my very first book by Rory Miles, but it certainly won't be my last. It was truly one of my best reads of the month, and I cannot wait to dive into more of this author's work.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When Lily breaks up with her boyfriend, she finds herself without a place to stay so she goes to her mother’s old house that is currently under renovations. She wakes up to find his three best friends standing over her, and when they realize why she’s there, they offer her their spare room while she figures things out. The more time she spends in their home, the more tensions rise as she finds herself feeling things she never has, and catching the heated looks they send her way. As they show her how she deserves to be treated, she begins spiraling into the unknown. But between her own reservations since they were friends with her ex first, and his seeming insistence that she still belongs to him, Lily doesn’t know whether to let herself fall.
Hudson has been in love with Lily for years, long before her ex asked her out, and while he, Cole and Gage had always tried to stay close to make sure their friend wasn’t treating her too badly, with him now out of the way they have their chance to make a move. Not wanting to rush her into anything before she’s ready, they are determined to support her in whatever way she needs, while making it clear that she deserves so much more than how she’s been treated in the past. When they find out she is being threatened, they will stop at nothing to keep her safe.
I received an early copy of this book from The Author Agency and absolutely loved it. I was thrilled to go back to Big Ridge, and loved the way the boys not only saw Lily, but supported her so she could stand on her own. They made no apologies for the way they felt for her, and waited to move forward on her terms. The situation with the stalker kept me guessing right until the end, and I was blindsided when they were finally revealed. I can’t wait to read Aspen’s story next!
Hudson has been in love with Lily for years, long before her ex asked her out, and while he, Cole and Gage had always tried to stay close to make sure their friend wasn’t treating her too badly, with him now out of the way they have their chance to make a move. Not wanting to rush her into anything before she’s ready, they are determined to support her in whatever way she needs, while making it clear that she deserves so much more than how she’s been treated in the past. When they find out she is being threatened, they will stop at nothing to keep her safe.
I received an early copy of this book from The Author Agency and absolutely loved it. I was thrilled to go back to Big Ridge, and loved the way the boys not only saw Lily, but supported her so she could stand on her own. They made no apologies for the way they felt for her, and waited to move forward on her terms. The situation with the stalker kept me guessing right until the end, and I was blindsided when they were finally revealed. I can’t wait to read Aspen’s story next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
📖 Claiming Lily by Rory Miles 📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars
🌸 Plot:
The plot was enjoyable enough, but it felt a little too cookie-cutter for me. Nothing really stood out or felt particularly unique. While the stalker storyline and suspense elements were handled well 👀🔍, there were several moments where it felt like something big was about to happen... and then nothing did. I kept waiting for more, and unfortunately, it never quite delivered.
💕 Characters:
Much like the plot, the characters felt somewhat surface-level. They all seemed to have interesting backstories and experiences that shaped who they were, but very little of that actually made it onto the page. I constantly found myself wanting more depth, more emotion, and more insight into who these characters were both in the past and present. 🤷♀️
🌶️ Spice:
For a why choose romance, I expected a lot more spice than we got. 🔥 With multiple love interests, I was hoping for more individual moments with each guy as well as more group scenes. The chemistry was there, but the spice never fully lived up to the expectations the trope set.
🎭 Ending:
The ending felt very sudden. Once the stalker situation was resolved, everything else seemed to fall into place a little too easily. I loved getting a glimpse of Lily with her baby and seeing her mom visit ❤️👶, but I wanted more of the journey. I wanted to see the proposals, the relationship milestones, and the life they were building together. Instead, it all felt a bit rushed and superficial.
💭 Overall:
Claiming Lily was a decent read with some well-done suspense elements, but I was left wanting more depth from both the story and the characters. It wasn't bad by any means, but it never quite reached its full potential for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars
🌸 Plot:
The plot was enjoyable enough, but it felt a little too cookie-cutter for me. Nothing really stood out or felt particularly unique. While the stalker storyline and suspense elements were handled well 👀🔍, there were several moments where it felt like something big was about to happen... and then nothing did. I kept waiting for more, and unfortunately, it never quite delivered.
💕 Characters:
Much like the plot, the characters felt somewhat surface-level. They all seemed to have interesting backstories and experiences that shaped who they were, but very little of that actually made it onto the page. I constantly found myself wanting more depth, more emotion, and more insight into who these characters were both in the past and present. 🤷♀️
🌶️ Spice:
For a why choose romance, I expected a lot more spice than we got. 🔥 With multiple love interests, I was hoping for more individual moments with each guy as well as more group scenes. The chemistry was there, but the spice never fully lived up to the expectations the trope set.
🎭 Ending:
The ending felt very sudden. Once the stalker situation was resolved, everything else seemed to fall into place a little too easily. I loved getting a glimpse of Lily with her baby and seeing her mom visit ❤️👶, but I wanted more of the journey. I wanted to see the proposals, the relationship milestones, and the life they were building together. Instead, it all felt a bit rushed and superficial.
💭 Overall:
Claiming Lily was a decent read with some well-done suspense elements, but I was left wanting more depth from both the story and the characters. It wasn't bad by any means, but it never quite reached its full potential for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I couldn’t put this down; it was such a fun read!
This story follows Lily, who gets kicked out after she breaks up with her loser boyfriend. With nowhere else to go, she moves in with 3 guys while she tries to find a new place to live. The only problem is that these 3 guys happen to be the best friends of her ex-boyfriend. On top of that, she starts to get feelings for them and is also grappling with a stalker who is watching her every move.
Lily is one of my favorite characters! She has the weight of the world on her shoulders and is also dealing with a lot of debt and stress with making sure her mom, who has early Alzheimer’s, is taken care of. I loved seeing that representation because it really shows how hard that can be and all the financial and emotional struggles and anxiety that come with it. On top of that, it really makes Lily and her struggles that much more relatable and makes her growth and journey so exciting to read!
The suspense with the stalker who is out there watching Lily was a fun addition to the story. I liked having that high-stakes aspect of it because it really gave the story a different kind of feel that helped bring the guys and Lily even closer together.
If you enjoy:
- Romantic suspense
- Why choose
- ex boyfriends best friends
- Small town
- Forced proximity
- Stalker
- Adoring men
- Early Alzheimer’s representation
- Spicee 🌶️🌶️
This is a book you need to check out!
Thank you to the author and the author agency for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
This story follows Lily, who gets kicked out after she breaks up with her loser boyfriend. With nowhere else to go, she moves in with 3 guys while she tries to find a new place to live. The only problem is that these 3 guys happen to be the best friends of her ex-boyfriend. On top of that, she starts to get feelings for them and is also grappling with a stalker who is watching her every move.
Lily is one of my favorite characters! She has the weight of the world on her shoulders and is also dealing with a lot of debt and stress with making sure her mom, who has early Alzheimer’s, is taken care of. I loved seeing that representation because it really shows how hard that can be and all the financial and emotional struggles and anxiety that come with it. On top of that, it really makes Lily and her struggles that much more relatable and makes her growth and journey so exciting to read!
The suspense with the stalker who is out there watching Lily was a fun addition to the story. I liked having that high-stakes aspect of it because it really gave the story a different kind of feel that helped bring the guys and Lily even closer together.
If you enjoy:
- Romantic suspense
- Why choose
- ex boyfriends best friends
- Small town
- Forced proximity
- Stalker
- Adoring men
- Early Alzheimer’s representation
- Spicee 🌶️🌶️
This is a book you need to check out!
Thank you to the author and the author agency for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Why choose and romantic suspense all in one? I’m here for it! I haven’t read a why choose romance in a while so I was beyond excited to see this one!
My heart broke for Lily in the very beginning. I mean, your boyfriend forgetting your birthday AND being a total butthole on top of it?! NO ONE wants that!
I immediately knew I was going to love Hudson, Cole and Gage! The men they are! Each of them have their own unique stories, but they are all incredible men who know how to treat their woman!
Lily is a strong FMC that is just trying to move forward and fix her life however possible. In this process, life just kept giving her more than she can handle. I mean suddenly having a stalker? No one is prepared for that! The guys do everything to take care of her and the chemistry and tension between all of them! 🔥 when they all finally realized what they wanted it was so good!
I loved the dynamic between all of them together, but also how Lily’s relationship with each guy individually was different.
AND i thought I knew who the stalker was, but I was wrong. Even though I did think the person who actually was the stalker, was the stalker for all of five seconds before I changed my mind and said NOPE can’t be. But I was wrong. 🤷🏼♀️ I should have stuck with my original guess 😂
Overall I LOVED this book! I can’t wait for the next one! Thank you to the Author Agency and Rory Miles for this early copy!
My heart broke for Lily in the very beginning. I mean, your boyfriend forgetting your birthday AND being a total butthole on top of it?! NO ONE wants that!
I immediately knew I was going to love Hudson, Cole and Gage! The men they are! Each of them have their own unique stories, but they are all incredible men who know how to treat their woman!
Lily is a strong FMC that is just trying to move forward and fix her life however possible. In this process, life just kept giving her more than she can handle. I mean suddenly having a stalker? No one is prepared for that! The guys do everything to take care of her and the chemistry and tension between all of them! 🔥 when they all finally realized what they wanted it was so good!
I loved the dynamic between all of them together, but also how Lily’s relationship with each guy individually was different.
AND i thought I knew who the stalker was, but I was wrong. Even though I did think the person who actually was the stalker, was the stalker for all of five seconds before I changed my mind and said NOPE can’t be. But I was wrong. 🤷🏼♀️ I should have stuck with my original guess 😂
Overall I LOVED this book! I can’t wait for the next one! Thank you to the Author Agency and Rory Miles for this early copy!
Review of advance copy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Claiming Lily absolutely stole my heart! I loved Lily, Hudson, Cole, and Gage together so much. Their chemistry was incredible and I was hooked from the very beginning. Watching these three men step up for Lily when she had nowhere else to turn had me completely swooning. Hudson’s protective nature, Cole’s humor, and Gage’s intense “you already belong with us” vibes were everything I could have wanted.
The found family feeling in this book was so beautiful, and seeing their house slowly become Lily’s safe place made me emotional. I loved how naturally their relationship developed and how each of the guys brought something special to the story. They just fit together perfectly.
And can we talk about the suspense? The stalker storyline had me on edge and added so much tension. I kept turning pages because I had to know what was going to happen next. Rory Miles balanced the romance, spice, and danger so well.
This book had me smiling, swooning, stressing, and kicking my feet all at the same time. I adored Lily, Hudson, Cole, and Gage as a group and didn’t want their story to end. Such an easy five-star read and one I’ll happily recommend to anyone who loves why choose romance with protective heroes and all the found family feels!
Claiming Lily absolutely stole my heart! I loved Lily, Hudson, Cole, and Gage together so much. Their chemistry was incredible and I was hooked from the very beginning. Watching these three men step up for Lily when she had nowhere else to turn had me completely swooning. Hudson’s protective nature, Cole’s humor, and Gage’s intense “you already belong with us” vibes were everything I could have wanted.
The found family feeling in this book was so beautiful, and seeing their house slowly become Lily’s safe place made me emotional. I loved how naturally their relationship developed and how each of the guys brought something special to the story. They just fit together perfectly.
And can we talk about the suspense? The stalker storyline had me on edge and added so much tension. I kept turning pages because I had to know what was going to happen next. Rory Miles balanced the romance, spice, and danger so well.
This book had me smiling, swooning, stressing, and kicking my feet all at the same time. I adored Lily, Hudson, Cole, and Gage as a group and didn’t want their story to end. Such an easy five-star read and one I’ll happily recommend to anyone who loves why choose romance with protective heroes and all the found family feels!
Review of advance copy
The book starts you off with a bang. Lily is hit with such a hard choice. Her ex is one big red flag it takes you being at the end of your rope to see all of the signs.
The guys have always been there. Always seen her and when they see she needs them they give her the safe place she needs and the space she needs.
Having been in a situation like Lily I loved seeing her choose herself and her happiness over what everyone else thinks.
The hidden danger aspect gave the book that extra oomph to keep you hooked and engaged and try to figure out who the mystery person was. I thought I knew who it was but I was way off. It was not who was on my list. Not even close!
Thank you Rory and The Author Agency for letting me read an early copy of this book!
The guys have always been there. Always seen her and when they see she needs them they give her the safe place she needs and the space she needs.
Having been in a situation like Lily I loved seeing her choose herself and her happiness over what everyone else thinks.
The hidden danger aspect gave the book that extra oomph to keep you hooked and engaged and try to figure out who the mystery person was. I thought I knew who it was but I was way off. It was not who was on my list. Not even close!
Thank you Rory and The Author Agency for letting me read an early copy of this book!
Review of advance copy
* ARC Review*
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 3 🌶🌶🌶
Lily breaks up with ex (who is major dick btw) and she ends up staying with his 3 best friends , YES THREE. 😍
I loved their stories and how each man is different but all they want her and wanted to show her how to be loved 💕
Ohh did i forget to mention, Lily has a stalker 😲 (totally didnt except it to be who it was)
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 3 🌶🌶🌶
Lily breaks up with ex (who is major dick btw) and she ends up staying with his 3 best friends , YES THREE. 😍
I loved their stories and how each man is different but all they want her and wanted to show her how to be loved 💕
Ohh did i forget to mention, Lily has a stalker 😲 (totally didnt except it to be who it was)
Review of advance copy
This was such a cute and relatable why choose. I loved that the FMC was dealing with every things we all have to. As someone who also works two jobs I can definitely relate to this. I even loved that while I thought I knew who the stalker was I was completely off.
Review of advance copy
This was a fun quick and spicy read with a bit of a thriller tied in. Always love a why choose.
June 21, 2026
I read this book as an ARC for my free opinion. This was a sweet book with men who know how to love their woman. It was special with lots of love. It had a great plot twist.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews