Finding Home

by Laura Hartwell

Is the chance at love—and the family she’s always dreamed of—worth the risk of trusting another man with everything she holds dear?

After being abandoned by her parents and boyfriend, nineteen-year-old Harper finds herself pregnant and alone. She spends the next four years piecing herself back together, content with being the best mom to her daughter, Lizzie.

After taking ownership of The Driftwood Spa, the last thing on Harper’s mind is romance. Until the summer Jace McConnell arrives in Juniper Falls. He’s tall, dark, and handsome, with dreamy blue eyes, tattoos, and a devastating smile. In short, he’s a walking temptation, and a liability Harper can’t afford.

When Jace gets the opportunity to work on a project in a small town, he jumps at it, anxious to escape the city for a bit. It was only supposed to be a few months of short visits to Juniper Falls, but meeting the beautiful owner of the local spa changed all his plans.

Harper is determined to keep him at arm’s length, but Jace keeps showing up, helping neighbors, friends, and ingraining himself in her town. Even more, he continues showing up for her and her daughter with autism.

Falling for Jace feels inevitable. Trusting him feels terrifying. The last time Harper gave her heart to a man, it nearly destroyed her, and now, it isn’t just her heart on the line, but her daughter’s, too.

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 8, 2026

Reviews

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5🌟 | 3🌶️

Small-town warmth, found family, and a hero who shows up for both Harper and her daughter made this such a comforting read.

Harper’s journey as a single mom was a highlight, especially seeing how fiercely she advocates for Lizzie while learning she doesn’t have to do everything alone. I also appreciated the way the story explored the everyday challenges of raising an autistic child.

Jace was such a sweet addition to their lives, and watching him make the effort to understand Lizzie genuinely melted me. His actions toward both of them meant so much, and the chemistry with Harper was definitely there. Their romance was where I wanted a little more, though. The attraction was immediate and their relationship became physical very quickly, so I sometimes felt like they were spending more time being intimate than actually getting to know each other. I would have loved more conversations, emotional build-up, and moments that showed them falling for each other beyond the physical connection.

The found family and Juniper Falls community brought so much charm, and I loved seeing Harper surrounded by people who genuinely cared about her and Lizzie. The romance may have moved faster than I would have preferred, but I still found something really special in the family they created together.

By the end, it was the warmth between Harper, Lizzie, Jace, and their found family that stayed with me most.

~~~~

A sincere thank you to Laura Hartwell and Love Notes PR for the ARC! 🥰📚

I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars.

Laura Hartwell's "Finding Home" was a mixed bag for me. Harper (FMC) moved to Juniper Falls at 19 after her parents disowned her upon finding out she was pregnant. The father of her unborn child says he wants nothing to do with her. A few years later, she has happily found her place in the world as her daughter Lizzie's mother. Harper and her relationship with Lizzie, who is autistic, is the best part of the book for me. The way Harper advocates for her daughter, loves her fiercely, and fights for her in any and all things is supremely well-written and heart-string-tugging. I love how Jace cared for Lizzie as well. The way he bonded with her, learned things about her, never treated her like a burden... more than I can say for her horrible sp3rm donor. I also enjoyed the found family aspect, as Harper makes new friends in her new town after going through being abandoned by her parents and her ex. Harper and Jace's (MMC) relationship is... a little less good in my opinion. Their relationship begins as an insta-lust-y type of deal, and it just happens way too quickly for my liking. I didn't really get a sense that they cared about much apart from the physical aspect early on. I *love* spice in my romance novels, but there *is* such a thing as too much. I wanted them to learn each other, converse with each other, build something deep! I wish they had gotten to know each other better so readers could get a feeling for their relationship and build a solid foundation early on. That said, I think a lot of people will love this one, and these may just be my issues.

Thank you to Laura Hartwell and Love Notes PR for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[Sandy Goguen-Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding home is a small town romance. I was immediately invested in the two main characters. Harper has her broken but she doesn't give up and we see her grow into her new life. Jace is at a turning point in his life and meets Harper. His determination and patience was great to see.

Thanks to Love Notes PR for the ARC book and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Nicole Scarborough · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Jace, Harper, and Lizzie. The town is definitely a great community. Everyone single mother wants a man like Jace, he didn't shy away when he found out she was a single mother, he embraced it. The chemistry was good and it was well written.

[moody_girl_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌲Finding home is a small town, found family, sweet and spicy filled romance. If you like a faster paced, insta-love/lust between a single mom FMC who's learning to stand on her own and a cinnamon roll MMC you'll love this!

🌲The town of Juniper Falls is quaint and adorable and makes you want to visit and have a coffee at the cafe or explore the town festivals. While I was reading I wanted to snack on a strawberry tarte and get a massage at the spa.

🩷The found family in this book is amazing. Right off the bat you meet Harper's cousin and roommate and then things quickly change and you meet a supportive, sweet group of folks that make you ready to move to a little town and start over. Shaina, Bree, and Wren are wonderful supporting characters.

🔥The spice is spicing. If you like steamy heat with your romance this has it!🔥

💙Jace is truly a dream. Harper couldn't have been luckier to find such a caring, supportive, loving partner in him. Learning to braid hair after meeting Lizzie. Get out of here. Adorable. He's perfect.

A special thanks to @lovenotes.pr for this ARC opportunity ♥️

[lisa’ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m really appreciative for the opportunity given by Laura Hartwell and Love Notes PR of getting this ARC!

1.5 ⭐️

As you can see by the rating, i didn’t like this book (straight to the obvious lol).
It had good tropes, I had high hopes, but this just wasn’t it, because in what world would you want to read a book where it is 10% plot and 90% smut? It could’ve been so much more than that, it’s mainly why this rating is so low, i’m disappointed.
The entire book didn’t really have a plot, the only times where it wasn’t boring was when lizzie got lost lol, the rest was just boring, sorry. Even the end when Curtis arrived, I mean, everyone expected that???? And everything was just soooo rushed : the plot, the relationship… In my opinion it was badly written, i’m sorry.

[sky ~miss.littlereader~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

🅰🆁🅲 🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆

⭐⭐⭐.25
Finding Home by Laura Hartwell

It's my first time reading anything by Laura Hartwell, and Finding Home really lives up to its name. It’s the kind of story that reminds you home isn’t always a place, but the people who make you feel safe enough to stay. 🥹💖 Harper and Jace’s story gave me all the small town warmth, found-family feels, and he-falls-first goodness I could ask for, while Harper’s journey made her so easy to root for. Jace showing up not only for Harper but for Lizzie too? Oh my heart🥹 If you're looking for a romance about learning to trust again, finding your people, and discovering that love can feel like home, then this one should be in you tbr.

[Hayley Peckham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhhhh, I absolutely fell head over heels in love with Harper and Jace. Their story was beautiful, sexy AF, funny, and gave me ALL the flitter flutter butterflies.

My sweet Harper girl. 🥺 Her backstory completely broke my heart but this woman is strong, resilient, and one heck of a good mama.

And then there’s Jace… lawddddd have mercy. This wood splitting, tattooed, sexy as sin sweet man. Every woman’s dreamboat rolled into one ridiculously perfect package. This MAN had me SWOONING, laughing, melting, and questioning why fictional men have to set the bar so dang high. He listens. He pays attention to every tiny detail. He’s protective and thoughtful without being overbearing, and then he develops this absolutely adorable relationship with Lizzie… MY OVARIES WERE NOT READY. Laura, how dare you. I’m trying to read your book not develop baby making fever at almost 43 years of age 👀 throw in that filthy mouth and I was a goner.

I absolutely loved all the side characters too (except Harper’s baby donor… EW 🤢 *insert throat punch*

Loved and I am SO freakin’ ready for what comes next! Give me more immediately!

Thank you Laura and Love Notes PR for the advanced copy to read 🫶

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was great it had heartbreak, betrayal, personal growth, and love.

She finds out she is going to be a teen mum, and when her family finds out, they turn their backs on her.
She then goes and creates a new family when she meets Jace. He accepts her little girl and treats her as his own.
Just as they are getting comfortable, Lizzie's dad turns up and starts threatening to take his daughter back

[Brita Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is the chance at love—and the family she’s always dreamed of—worth the risk of trusting another man with everything she holds dear?

After being abandoned by her parents and boyfriend, nineteen-year-old Harper finds herself pregnant and alone. She spends the next four years piecing herself back together, content with being the best mom to her daughter, Lizzie.

After taking ownership of The Driftwood Spa, the last thing on Harper’s mind is romance. Until the summer Jace McConnell arrives in Juniper Falls. He’s tall, dark, and handsome, with dreamy blue eyes, tattoos, and a devastating smile. In short, he’s a walking temptation, and a liability Harper can’t afford.

When Jace gets the opportunity to work on a project in a small town, he jumps at it, anxious to escape the city for a bit. It was only supposed to be a few months of short visits to Juniper Falls, but meeting the beautiful owner of the local spa changed all his plans.

Harper is determined to keep him at arm’s length, but Jace keeps showing up, helping neighbors, friends, and ingraining himself in her town. Even more, he continues showing up for her and her daughter with autism.

Falling for Jace feels inevitable. Trusting him feels terrifying. The last time Harper gave her heart to a man, it nearly destroyed her, and now, it isn’t just her heart on the line, but her daughter’s, too.

YOUR MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please read and pay close attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. Some content and scenes may not suit all readers and could be triggering for others. Remember, your mental health comes first. Reader discretion is advised.

Tropes: Small-Town Settings, Found Family, MMC who Bonds with the Child, He Falls First, Emotional but Heartwarming Stories, Cozy Community Vibes, Green-Flag Book Boyfriends, Parental Abandonment and Family Estrangement, Romantic Abandonment, Pregnancy at Nineteen, Single Parenthood, Emotional Trauma from a Past Relationship, Fear of Abandonment and Difficulty Trusting, Anxiety Surrounding Romantic Relationships, An Absent or Uninvolved Biological Father, References to Being Pregnant and Alone, Emotional Distress Involving a Child’s Security and Attachment, Autism Representation, Possible Ableism or Challenges Associated with Raising an Autistic Child, Fear of Exposing a Child to Further Emotional Loss, Abandonment, Trust Issues, Single Motherhood, Autism, Autistic Child: Challenges/Prejudices she Encounters.

Finding Home is book 1 in the Juniper Falls Series by Laura Hartwell.

As soon as you start reading the first book in the Juniper Falls series by Laura Hartwell, Finding Home, you are immediately overwhelmed by a gentle and warm sensation—it's as if you've suddenly returned to a place you never knew you'd been missing all this time. The narrative feels like a hand-woven blanket, engulfing you in the small town's special, magical atmosphere, the intimate relationships between its people, and a love that grows slowly and feels so genuine it could have happened to someone living right beside you.

At its heart, the book exposes the feeling of actually belonging somewhere; this feeling of belonging is not something that can be derived merely from romantic love, since it is the state in which a group of people, having no blood relations among them, treat one another as family and lead a joint life which is both spirited and filled with small, ordinary difficulties. This idea is present on every page of the book, and even after you have closed it and put it back on your shelf, the emotions contained in the story will remain in your heart and will not fade for a long, long time.

Harper, the main female character, is a single mother with outstanding resilience. Even though she has to manage all the everyday tasks and minor responsibilities of raising her daughter, Lizzie, she never stops looking after her neighbours in the community. Whenever life's difficulties hit, she endures them and stays firm, never breaking down. The strength she shows is not loud or theatrical, meant to impress others; it is the quiet kind that comes from taking on every responsibility, day after day.

This strength includes hard-earned independence that lets her depend on no one, yet it also has a gentle, vulnerable side that appears only in the dead of night. From the first page, you find yourself supporting her, wishing her life were easier and that she faced fewer problems.

The process she goes through as she gradually learns to pass on some of the responsibilities she has borne for so long to others and comes to accept that she does not have to face all the hardships of life by herself feels just as real as a soft hug from someone who understands you, so warm that it makes your nose tingle and brings tears to your eyes.

As for the male lead, enter Jace: he isn't the type of protagonist who wins people over with dramatic romantic acts. What touches everyone instead is his steady, dependable presence by her side, along with the peaceful, sincere heart he shows. He demonstrates his real care in every encounter with both Harper and Lizzie. The relationship they form feels so genuine that watching the quiet moments they share makes you smile from ear to ear and feel truly happy for them.

Their relationship doesn't appear out of nowhere; it develops slowly and thoughtfully, with each step built on solid trust, and their love grows steadily. He always takes care to protect Lizzie's delicate and sensitive feelings in the relationship, never seeing the child as a "burden" or an "afterthought" in their romance.

The town of Juniper Falls feels like a real, active character in the story, not just a cold, lifeless place name in the background. It is a lively and pleasant place, with a group of residents who are a bit odd but completely endearing. It is among these people that Harper has found the family she has longed for, the haven she finally discovered after so much drifting. You can feel just how friendly the entire community truly is. As you read on, you'll find yourself wanting to go directly into the book, move to that little town, stroll around the market with the other inhabitants, have meals with them, and spend a few slow and unhurried days.

The book maintains a perfectly balanced emotional atmosphere: it includes both fits of laughter and tears, offers moments of intense joy, and presents all the emotions gently, so nothing feels like an exaggerated plot device the author imposed to move you emotionally.

All the emotional moments arise naturally. The one line that remains with you at the end is this: home is never an address, never a house; it is the group of people who are always by your side regardless of what happens, who love you, and who take you in as one of their own.

When I had read the final word and closed the book, I wasn't just looking forward to finding out what happens next for Harper and Jace; in fact, I felt as though I had become a member of the big Juniper Falls family and was already rushing out to get the next book in the series to see what fun things would happen to this group of people.

Finding Home is a wonderful book which touches the most sensitive part of the heart and deserves to be kept in the most noticeable position on your bookshelf. It's a tender reminder that home is a place filled with love, and that love sometimes quietly enters your life from a place you never might have imagined.

[Ivy Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review. 💕

Beside the beautiful and heartwarming romance between Jace and Harper, this is also such a beautiful read about a single mom’s journey with her autistic daughter :,) I’m glad the author decided to make this an important topic in the book because it gives us a glimpse into the struggles and challenges they face :,)

And it made my heart ache seeing how Harper thought Jace didn’t deserve her and didn’t want to accept him at first. I love how Jace kept reassuring Harper through both his words AND his actions. The things he learned for Lizzie OMGGGG, I had tears in my eyes 😭😭😭 Harper & Lizzie deserved a man like him 🥺🥺🥺🥺

It’s definitely instant lust and immediate attraction between them, but I love how quickly they became so obsessed with each other! And the spice in this book is yuuuuum 😉🔥

BTW, Shaina and her family (Quinn’s family :,)) are such an angelic family for coming into Harper and her daughter’s lives :,) And the small-town community too?? Plus Jace’s family, who are just too perfect as well! It really touched my heart while reading this 🥹

Good people deserve good people around them too! 🥺❤️

[Jenna Lundberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

🏡❤️ Sometimes Home Is the Family You Choose ❤️🏡
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars | 🌶️🌶️ 2 Chili Peppers

There are some books that give you that warm, cozy small-town feeling from the very beginning, and Finding Home definitely had that feeling for me. 🏡❤️

Laura Hartwell takes us to Juniper Falls, where Harper has built a life for herself and her daughter Lizzie after being abandoned by both her parents and Lizzie's father at just nineteen.

And honestly, Harper's story broke my heart.

She was so young when she found herself pregnant and completely alone, yet instead of letting that define her, she picked herself up and built a life for herself and Lizzie. Now she owns The Driftwood Spa, has created a wonderful community around them, and has spent years being the best mom she can be.

Harper is strong, fiercely protective, and incredibly independent, but underneath all of that strength is someone who has been hurt badly enough that trusting another man feels terrifying.

Especially when Lizzie is involved.

Because Harper isn't just protecting her own heart anymore.

She's protecting her daughter's too.

I really loved Harper's relationship with Lizzie. ❤️

Lizzie is autistic, and I appreciated how much of the story showed the everyday realities of raising an autistic child. Harper advocates fiercely for her daughter, loves her exactly as she is, and is always thinking about Lizzie's needs and emotional well-being.

Their relationship felt incredibly genuine, and the love between them was one of the strongest parts of the book for me.

And then Jace walks into their lives.

Tall, tattooed, blue-eyed, gorgeous, and apparently determined to make Harper's carefully controlled life a whole lot more complicated. 😂

Jace was such a sweet addition to their little family.

What really stood out to me was the way he treated Lizzie. He didn't see her as a complication or something he had to tolerate because he wanted Harper. He genuinely wanted to know her. He made the effort to understand her, earn her trust, and be someone she could feel comfortable around.

Those moments were some of my favorites.

Watching Jace bond with Lizzie while also showing Harper that he wasn't going anywhere gave their story so much heart.

And Jace is absolutely the kind of hero who shows his feelings through his actions.

He keeps showing up.

For Harper.

For Lizzie.

For the people around him.

For Juniper Falls.

He arrives in town expecting to spend a few months working on a project, but little by little, he starts becoming part of the community. He helps people, makes connections, and finds himself wanting something he wasn't expecting.

A home.

I loved that aspect of his journey because it tied so beautifully into the larger theme of the book.

Home isn't necessarily where you started.

Sometimes it's the people who choose you.

The people who make room for you.

The people who show up when you need them.

And Juniper Falls absolutely delivered that found-family feeling. 🥹

Harper has created a family outside of the people who abandoned her, and I loved seeing how much the community cared about her and Lizzie. The friendships, support, and small-town connections added so much warmth to the story and made Juniper Falls feel like a place I would genuinely want to visit.

I also really appreciated that Harper's past wasn't just something mentioned in passing. Her abandonment and fear of trusting someone again make sense considering everything she's experienced. Letting Jace into her life isn't simply about deciding whether she likes him. She's trying to figure out whether she can trust someone with the two people she loves most: herself and her daughter.

That emotional side worked really well for me.

Where the story lost a little ground for me was the romance itself.

The attraction between Harper and Jace is immediate, and their chemistry is definitely there. But I wanted more time spent actually getting to know each other outside of the physical relationship.

There were moments when I felt like their physical connection was developing faster than their emotional connection, and I would have loved more conversations, quiet moments, and opportunities to watch them fall for each other as people.

I'm all for spice. 🌶️

But for me, the best romances are the ones where the emotional connection makes the physical chemistry even better. I wanted more of that foundation between Harper and Jace because I think it would have made their relationship even more impactful.

That was really the biggest thing keeping this from being a five-star read for me.

Because there was SO much here that I loved.

Harper and Lizzie.

Jace and Lizzie.

The found family.

The Juniper Falls community.

The emotional healing.

The cozy small-town atmosphere.

The idea of finding a family after losing the one you were born into.

And watching Harper slowly realize that accepting someone's support doesn't mean she's any less strong.

That last part especially meant a lot to me.

Harper has spent years proving that she can do everything herself. She had to. But Jace shows her that there is a difference between being capable of doing something alone and choosing to let someone stand beside you.

And I loved watching her learn that.

Overall, Finding Home was a sweet, emotional, comforting small-town romance with a hero who genuinely showed up for both Harper and Lizzie. While I wanted more emotional build-up between Harper and Jace and a little less focus on their physical relationship, I still found so much to love in their story.

And honestly, the family they created together was what stayed with me most.

Sometimes finding home has nothing to do with a place.

Sometimes it's the people who finally make you feel like you belong. ❤️🏡

Thank you to Laura Hartwell and Love Notes PR for the gifted advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sneha R · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some books that feel like a warm hug, and Finding Home was exactly that for me. From the small-town charm to the found-family dynamics and the beautifully developed romance, this story completely stole my heart.

At its core, Finding Home is about belonging. Not just finding romantic love, but finding the people who choose you, support you, and become family even when they don't share your blood. That theme resonated through every chapter, and it's what made this story feel so special.

Harper is one of those heroines you can't help but root for. As a single mom raising her daughter, Lizzie, she's built a life through sheer resilience and determination. She's had to face more than her fair share of heartbreak, yet she remains fiercely devoted to her daughter and the community she's built around them. What I admired most about Harper was her strength. She's independent without pushing people away and vulnerable without feeling weak. Watching her slowly learn that she doesn't have to carry everything on her own was such a rewarding journey.

And then there's Jace.

Honestly, where do I find a Jace?

This man completely ruined me for fictional heroes.

From the moment he meets Harper, it's obvious he's gone. Not in an over-the-top way, but in all the small ways that matter most. He pays attention. He shows up. He listens. He supports. He falls hard, and instead of making grand speeches, he proves it through his actions over and over again.

What made me fall for him wasn't just how he treated Harper, but how naturally he embraced Lizzie. The bond that develops between them was one of my favorite parts of the entire book. Every interaction felt genuine and heartfelt, and some of those scenes honestly had me smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.

The romance itself was beautifully paced. There is plenty of chemistry between Harper and Jace from the beginning, but I appreciated that they didn't immediately jump into a relationship. With a child involved, they take their time getting to know each other and building trust, which made their connection feel even more authentic.

One of the highlights of the story was definitely the town of Juniper Falls. Small-town romances live and die by their community, and this one absolutely delivered. The townspeople felt like real people with their own personalities, quirks, and stories. More importantly, they became the family Harper desperately needed when her own family turned their backs on her years ago.

I loved how the found-family theme was woven throughout the story. The support Harper received from friends, neighbors, and community members felt heartfelt and realistic. It's the kind of environment that makes you wish Juniper Falls was a real place you could visit.

Another thing that stood out to me was how emotionally balanced the story felt. There are moments that will make you laugh, others that may bring tears to your eyes, and plenty of scenes that simply leave you feeling happy. The emotional moments are handled with care, and the book never becomes unnecessarily dramatic.

What really stayed with me after finishing was the message that home isn't always a place. Sometimes home is a person. Sometimes it's a community. Sometimes it's the people who choose to love you exactly as you are.

And that's exactly what this story captured so beautifully.

By the end, I wasn't just invested in Harper and Jace. I was invested in the entire town, and I'm already excited to see where the rest of the series goes.

If you enjoy: ❤️ Single mom romance
🏡 Small-town settings
✨ Found family
👨‍👩‍👧 Hero who bonds with the child
💕 He falls first
🥹 Emotional but heartwarming stories
🌿 Cozy community vibes
💚 Green-flag book boyfriends

...then Finding Home absolutely deserves a place on your TBR.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sweet, emotional, and full of heart, Finding Home is a beautiful reminder that family isn't always the people you're born to. Sometimes it's the people who choose you, support you, and love you through every chapter of your life. Harper, Lizzie, and Jace completely stole my heart, and I didn't want their story to end. ❤️🏡✨📚

Thankyou Laura and LoveNotes PR for this ARC!

[sir (taylor's version) · Rating 1 out of 5]

𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 ⋅˚₊‧🪽‧₊˚ ⋅

❝ On and on, he continues speaking to my fears, soothing and helping me piece myself back 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 ❞

⤷ 𝟏.𝟓𝟎 ★

As you can see from the rating, this book didn't really convince me, even though I had very high expectations. I mean, reading about a single mum raising her autistic daughter on her own isn't something you see every day, so I was super excited about it. Let's start with the plot. Personally, I found it too fast, a lot of things happen in a single chapter, but they aren't properly developed. It almost feels like the story is rushing toward the end, leaving behind crucial details and not giving the story enough room to breathe. Many plot events aren't explained well at all. It jumps from one situation to another way too fast, making several character decisions feel like they came completely out of nowhere, without any real growth or solid motivation. This fast and superficial pacing takes away emotional weight from topics that deserved way more attention. One of the main flaws of the book is definitely the romance between the two main characters. I can understand love at first sight, I really can, but here it's completely exaggerated, the male lead decides to move to her city right after meeting her. On her end, the female lead isn't very consistent either. Even though she's hesitant at first about introducing a new man into her daughter Lizzie's life, her logic doesn't last long, within two chapters, she throws herself into his arms. The problem isn't her choice itself, which I'm not here to judge, but the complete lack of explanation behind such a sudden change.

Can we talk about how everything in this book, starting with the main relationship, revolves entirely around sex? It's terrible. They have sex way more often than they have a good conversation. There are several quotes that clearly prove my point.

“𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘯𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦, 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭. 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘫𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘋𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘚𝘱𝘢 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵.”

At their very first meeting, the author could have focused on literally anything to build a connection, yet the focus is immediately and exclusively on her physical appearance.

“𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬, 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴. 𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦.”

Really? I won't even comment. I can only imagine how fun a relationship is with so many expectations attached to a single phone call.

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘢 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘯.”

This last quote is by far the worst, it reduces the female lead to a total object. It shows a toxic, nonsense jealousy, especially considering that Harper is just doing her job, ended up sexualizing even her profession.

Moving on to the writing style, I found it quite mediocre. What made the book even worse was how the spicy scenes were written. I wanted to cringe so hard while reading them.

“𝘖𝘩, 𝘎𝘰𝘥” “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘦”

Lastly, regarding the characterization, I found their behavior extremely immature and childish, lacking the maturity you'd expect from two adults. Unfortunately, this book just didn't work for me. Even though the initial premise was really interesting, the rushed development, superficial handling of the topics, and constant over sexualization of the plot completely ruined the reading experience for me.

[Melanie Gates · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super sweet small-town romance with a hero who shows up in so many ways for a single mom (Harper) and her daughter (Lizzie).

The tragic backstory for Harper is just... heartbreaking. An evening that led to an unexpected pregnancy while she's a teen, her family disowns her so she escapes to Juniper Falls to start over and become the best mom she can be. Not only did her family disown her, but the father essentially said "absolutely not," and his family paid her off to keep the whole pregnancy out of the news. Classy... not. But she's strong and resilient and ended up finding her own family, ones who truly care for her, and her daughter, Lizzie.

Then Jace walks into her life and turns everything upside down. He's drawn to her immediately and he's prepared to treat her in ways she's never been treated before... cared for, loved, appreciated and supported. Their chemistry is off the charts. He's planning to only be in town for a short time, but he finds out that his job is great, but home is not where he wants to be. He has found home in Juniper Falls.

Now, let's talk about Lizzie. If you read through my reviews, you'll see that I always enjoy when a kiddo is a main character but not a main character. You know, they're scene stealers in all the right ways and it's adorable. I love that for this story, not only do we have this, but, Lizzie is one of a kind. A special young lady who has autism. We're drawn into a world that lets us in on what it's like to be a parent of an autistic child, from all aspects, including making sure the people you surround your family with (friends) are accepting and understanding that life really isn't always easy and patience is legitimately a virtue. You feel the love from mother to daughter; you don't just read it. They're each other's person. And when you find a man who can bond as quickly as Jace did with Lizzie? Girl, don't let him leave. Their story is just as sweet and heartwarming as his falling for her mom.

If you thought Harper's ex was a jerk in the beginning... just wait. When you think people have already shown you their worst, they'll always come back and surprise you.

Why I lowered my rating is... spice. Listen, I'm here for spice and all the spicy scenes, but I want more connection. More communicating, build something deep beyond just jumping each other's bones all the time. Their connection was strong, but it could have been so much more, in my opinion.

The last thing I'll mention is that I absolutely adored the way this town supported one another. There's found family... and then there is found family. (I know you read that with a different tone, good job!) Each character was a necessary addition to the story and brought additional light into the town. I'm excited to find out more about this town and Laura's other stories.

Thank you Laura and Love Notes PR for this ARC opportunity.

TL:DR
⭐️ 4/5
🏠 Small-town romance
🫂 Found family
🩷 Single mom
🛡️ Protective MMC
🟩 He's a walking green flag
💙 He falls first
🫶 He bonds with her daughter
🐻 Protective mama bear
😭 Emotional in the best ways
💞 Special needs child (autism)
💦 He 💦's in his pants (twice!)
🥵 He pushes it back in
😮‍💨 Toys are teammates
🌶️ 4/5

[My Used Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finding Home is the first book in the Juniper Falls series, and it follows Harper and Jace.

Harper is a single mom who was forced by her family to move across the country after the man who got her pregnant wanted nothing to do with her. She eventually finds her way to Juniper Falls, where she creates a new life for herself and her autistic daughter, Lizzie. Jace is a contractor whose latest job brings him to town. When he lays eyes on Harper during a log-splitting competition, he’s immediately interested.

Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t quite the romance for me. I felt like Harper and Jace’s relationship moved too quickly, and I would have loved more time to see their connection develop and the feelings between them build naturally. Because of that, I ended up rating Finding Home 3.25 out of 5 stars.

That said, there were definitely parts of this story that I loved. I especially enjoyed Jace’s relationship with Lizzie. Watching the two of them bond was so sweet, and I also loved Tink, the dog! One of my favorite moments was when Tink helped find Lizzie after she got lost in the orchard. As a mom, I could only imagine the fear and panic Harper must have felt in that moment, and seeing Lizzie safely found made that scene really emotional for me.

I also absolutely loved Harper’s friend group, plus Blake! They showed up for Harper when she needed them, supported her without judgment, and never made her feel like she had to explain herself. There was just something so special about the way they rallied around her and made her feel like she truly belonged. I’m already hoping they all get their own happily-ever-afters because I would absolutely love to see more of them!

While this book wasn’t quite a favorite for me, I’m still invested in Juniper Falls and definitely want to see where the series goes next. I especially hope Wren gets the next book because I’m already curious about her story!

Thank you to the author and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read an ARC of Finding Home!

[Alyssa's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐ Read

1. Quick Summary
I was incredibly excited to read this ARC of Finding Home because I love a sweet-and-spicy small-town contemporary romance featuring a single mom—and this story completely delivered.

2. What I Liked
• Jace and Lizzie's Bond: I absolutely loved how Jace was with Lizzie. The way he interacted with Harper's autistic daughter, earning her trust and stepping up to be protective and loving, was incredibly heartwarming and completely stole the show.
• The Supporting Cast: The side characters were wonderful and added so much depth to the story. I loved how they were always there for Harper and Lizzie whenever they needed it, making the small-town community feel like a true found family.
• The Romance & Chemistry: Harper and Jace had fantastic instant chemistry, and watching them build a safe, supportive relationship together was beautiful.
• The Setting: The fictional town of Juniper Falls felt incredibly quaint and vivid, creating a cozy, comforting backdrop that made me want to move there myself.

3. What Didn’t Work for Me
Curtis was an incredibly difficult character to stomach, and his toxic treatment of Harper made certain chapters genuinely frustrating to read. Additionally, the story felt a bit slow at certain points, which occasionally bogged down the momentum for me, even though the overall emotional journey was powerful.

4. Who I’d Recommend It To
I highly recommend this book to fans of small-town romance and cinnamon-roll heroes, especially readers who appreciate emotionally layered contemporary romance centered on healing, family, and second chances.

5. Personal Takeaway & Rating
I was so incredibly happy that Jace and Harper got their happy ending together as a family with Lizzie! This was a stunning start to the Juniper Falls series, and I cannot wait to see where this world goes next.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Home is a small town, single mom romance that will have you hooked from the first page!

When I started reading Finding Home I couldn’t put it down! The story of Harper, her daughter Lizzie(who is autistic) and Jace will capture your heart. Harper family disowned her at 19 when she found out she was pregnant and the baby father wanted nothing to do with her or the baby. Harper moved to Juniper and a few years later Harper’s life is in a better spot. Till one day Jace walks into her life and everything changes.

Harper and Jace are great main character! They are both likable and relatable characters. The relationship between Harper and Jace is good. Who can see the chemistry is there from the first moment they meet and only continues to grow throughout the story. Jace treats Harper in ways that she’s never been treated before. There is also the relationship between Jace and Lizzie that will melt your heart. The way he treats Lizzie and cares about her will definitely make Jace your top book boyfriend.

Other things about this book I like , the secondary characters are good ! Jace and Harper’s friends were there for Jace and Harper whenever they needed them. Especially Harper’s friends because they basically became her family. There are some emotional moments in the story. Some that are sad and some that are happy. Also some spicy moments throughout the book. The spicy moments are well written. They are over the top or cheesy and they over shadow the story.

Overall, Finding Home is a good read. Harper, Lizzie and Jace’s story is one that will capture your heart from the first page. It’s filled with sad moments, happy moments and spicy moments. It’s a story that will tug at your heart string.

[Amanda Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 — 3.5 stars

Finding Home started out really strong for me. I liked Harper and Jace, and the reminder that “you are not a burden, and you don’t have to prove your worth” immediately had me invested in the emotional heart of their story.

Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, the book began to lose me. The pacing dragged, and much of the story started to feel like a play-by-play of a relatively okay life rather than a romance with building tension or emotional stakes. Several potentially significant conflicts (including the situation with Harper’s daughter’s biological father) were introduced and then resolved so quickly that the drama never hit as hard as I wanted it to.

I also struggled with the portrayal of the four-year-old’s autism diagnosis. It felt underdeveloped and largely reduced to her being nonverbal and having wandered away once, without enough depth or exploration to make that part of the story feel meaningful.

By the end, the plot seemed to take a back seat to the smut, and listen, I enjoy spice, but six orgasms in one evening officially pushed this book into fantasy territory for me. 😂

Still, there were sweet moments throughout, and Tink the golden retriever was unquestionably my favorite character. Also, Jace says “babe” so often that all I could hear was Bingo pretending to be a husband at the restaurant in Bluey. I cannot explain it, but once my brain made that connection, there was no going back.

Overall, this had a promising beginning and a lovable central message, but I wanted tighter pacing, stronger emotional payoff, and more depth from several of its storylines.

Thank you to the author and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[readerchaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, from the first few pages, I was sucked in and wanted to know the rest of Harper’s story. First, I was so happy she had the support she had after leaving her toxic family and hometown; Harper definitely needed that. Then I was heartbroken--not going to spoil any stories there, but it seems Harper was able to move on and heal from those first few years in Juniper Falls. Enter Jace, all sexy and muscular arms filled with tattoos. There is no doubt that it is love at first sight for both of them, even though they might not realize it at first. Since Jace is possibly moving back to Portland, being only in Juniper for business, his leaving is a big dealbreaker for them to be together. And I love that Harper put herself and her daughter first, telling him that they can’t afford to get attached to someone if they are going to up and leave. Realizing this, Jace puts his plan into motion to win her over slowly. He shows her in so many ways that he is ready to be with her once he decides to stay in Juniper. Also love how this comes about; Jace and Harper have some amazing people supporting them, and that was so nice to see. Let me tell you, Hartwell knows how to pull at your heartstrings! That whole orchard scene had me balling. Thank the universe for Tink! I would give the spice a solid 3 out of 5. This was like the right amount of sex I need in my books. I felt like all the scenes felt so natural and flowed well. In the end, Harper and Jace face some difficulties, but they get through it as a family, and the happy ending was so beautiful. Lastly, the epilogue was very heartwarming! I need more of these characters!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming Home was such a beautiful, emotional story about healing, trust, and finding the kind of love that feels safe. Harper’s journey immediately pulled me in. After everything she’s been through, it made complete sense why she built walls around herself and why letting someone new into her life felt terrifying, especially when it wasn’t just her heart at risk anymore.

I loved seeing Harper as a mother. Her love for Lizzie was such a huge part of who she was, and I appreciated that the story didn’t make her motherhood feel like something she needed to overcome. It was part of her strength. Watching her navigate wanting a future for herself while also protecting her daughter was incredibly relatable and heartfelt.

And then there was Jace. What a wonderful addition to Harper and Lizzie’s lives. I loved how he didn’t just make promises, he showed up. He was patient, kind, and consistent, not only with Harper but with the people in Juniper Falls. The way he embraced Lizzie and connected with her was one of my favorite parts of the story. His actions proved that trust is built through the little moments, not just big declarations.

This book had all the small-town charm, emotional depth, and romance I love. Harper’s fears felt real, and her journey toward allowing herself to hope again was handled with so much care. Seeing her realize that love doesn’t have to mean losing herself was incredibly rewarding.

Laura Hartwell delivered a heartfelt second chance at happiness that reminded me that coming home isn’t always about a place. Sometimes it’s about finding the people who make you feel safe enough to finally stay.

[Kaitlin Randall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and Love Notes PR for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!
(vague spoiler warning)
--

This book had me feeling a bit torn. I found it engaging, and when I put it down I was thinking about it and wanting to pick it back up. I thought that Harper was a great lead character and I really enjoyed seeing her relationship with her daughter. It's rare to see single mom representation in romance (in my opinion, single dad is much more common), and especially rare to see representation of an autistic child. I thought it was quite well done and I enjoyed that it was a big part of the novel, not just a trope.

My main issue with this was the romance itself. It moved very quickly in my opinion. I am a big fan of a slow burn, so some of what bothered me about this was just a personal preference, but I also felt like the characters were only focused on each other physically, and not emotionally. Upon meeting, they are immediately attracted to each other, and they describe on page what they would like to do to each other before they even have a proper conversation. There's nothing wrong with being instantly attracted to someone, but I find there's a difference between acknowledging that someone is good-looking and immediately having sexual fantasies about them. It's not only pretty objectifying, but it's not realistic.

--

I think this will work for a good number of people, and it was definitely entertaining. This wasn't my perfect book, but I would love to read more from this author in future!

[Brookelynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Laura Hartwell and the LoveNotesPR team for this free eArc in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a heartwarming read. I enjoyed being in the cozy small town with these characters.

Harper and Jace were such a great couple. I loved their friendship as it grew into a healthy, communicative relationship. They paired so well together and I loved how much Lizzie was able to shine through them. Jace is the hero I didn’t know I needed to read about. Lizzie’s autism was never a dealbreaker or something that caused him to view Harper or Lizzie differently. The Dino nuggets scene 🥹 so cutie! He was so patient with Harper as she struggled with her self-image and navigating parenthood with a child with ASD. Once she saw that she could lean on him to help her emotionally the story really bloomed. I can’t say too much because of spoilers but the orchard iykyk had me literally crying for Lizzie my baby #sofiathefirst

Small towns are definitely a top tier setting for me. There’s just something so satisfying and comforting about being close to people you know and love. I think Juniper Falls really captured the beauty of small-town living. Bree and Wren were also some of my favorites from this book! Their nosey snooping was hilarious! Literally peeping Tom’s 😭😂😂

Possible trigger warnings/safety:
•neurodivergence in a child with mentions of bigotry towards the child/child’s relatives.
•family abandonment
•mentions of death of a friend/loved one (off page)

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would read more from this author! Thank you again to the LovesNotesPR team and Ms. Laura.

[Gia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will say this was very cute at times and I loveeeed the found family & disability representation! Harper’s family and Curtis deserve to fall into a volcano. In my mind, that’s what happened.

I also need the author to delete a small portion of chapter 25. It was not a sexy spice scene or fun kink– that was sexual assault disguised as desire. Someone asleep cannot consent. The absence of no does not mean yes. Your partner should never think it’s okay to start having sex with your body without you. I am a licensed therapist who specializes in trauma and that one scene really made me take my rating down. Which is a shame because I was enjoying myself up until that moment. Jace was such a good MMC and that felt out of character.

The pacing/timeline was sped up when I wished it would’ve slowed down and let things marinate. Allow for more yearning and romance building in the earlier chapters. Maybe not rush the main conflict at the end either. If this had more chapters and some more time to flush things out it would’ve been a 10/10.

I loved the supporting characters in Harper’s world and even Jace’s extended family. I am very interested to see if the author expands and tells us more about Wren’s history. I would be very locked into that!

This is perfect for people who love spice, found family, small town romances, starting over, and single mom tropes!

Thank you so much LoveNotesPR for my advanced copy!

[BK Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Love Notes PR and Laura for the opportunity to read this early, I had such a fun time and it was exactly the sort of book I needed.

The found family trope is one of my favourites and for good reason, this one was no exception. I think I enjoyed the found family more than the actual romance. The friendships that Harper creates with her girl gang and the community she surrounds herself with are unparalleled.

I loved Lizzie as a character. It is not often that I see autistic children portrayed in books or children across the spectrum. The relationship that forms between Lizzie and Jace is absolutely beautiful and it is one of the many reasons that Jace is a top tier book boyfriend.

There was so much spice in this book, it kind of felt like every time the main characters interacted it was sexually or it inevitably lead to that.

I often felt like there was a lot going on in some of the chapters and it pulled me out of the story occasionally. Maybe potentially the book needed to be a little longer to fluff all of what happened out a little bit more?

The small town vibes in this book were immaculate. If you're looking for something cozy, fast paced and quick to read this one is definitely for you! I cannot wait to see what happens next in Juniper Falls, I'm hoping to see some Wren or Bree or my kindle soon! Do yourself a favour and pick this one up!

[Katie Thayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Beta Review✨
Finding Home
(Juniper Falls Book 1)
By Laura Hartwell

We may not be related by blood, but chosen family bonds run so much deeper in my opinion, and personal history.

“Harper, babe, watching you come might be the sexiest thing I have ever seen. I was powerless to stop it. You're a siren, and I can’t get enough.”

“You are free to do whatever you want. There’s no pressure, we just want to see you happy, and hun, you look so happy when you’re with him.”

I love Jace and Harper!!! What a great book to kick off a new series, I love everything about their story! Seeing the struggles Harper has gone through and grown from. How great of a mom she is to sweet Lizzie girl and the family she has created for her and Lizzie in Juniper Falls. Seeing Jace fall hard and fast for our girl and showing up for not only Harper but her daughter is the sweetest. I could keep gushing about this book, but trust me you just need to read it! Oh and there is Microtropes where she squ!rts and he comes in his pants! Their story is spicy, fun and so heartwarming. I want to visit Juniper Falls!

Thank you so much Laura for the honor to Beta read for you!

Tropes:
Small Town
Single Mom Raising A Child With Autism
Found Family
He Falls First

Spice Starts at: 38%

Spice: 2/4
Stars: 5/5

Available on September 8th

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book stole my heart! Jace and Harper were the sweetest couple.

Harper is such a queen. She got pregnant at nineteen and the father wanted nothing to do with her or the baby. His family even paid her to leave town. Now she's 23 and not only is she a single mom to her autistic 4 year old daughter, but she also owns and runs the local spa.

Jace is a contractor and is in Juniper Falls to rebuild a strip of shops. From the moment he lays eyes on Harper he's a goner. Thankfully the feelings were mutual. But Harper has some very tall walls for Jace to climb over before she will give him a real chance.

Jace is the swooniest green flag. He does everything in his power to show Harper the way feels and that he is all in. He is the epitome of "acts of service". And the way he was with Lizzie, Harper's autistic 4 year old daughter, melted me! He was so patient and just seemed to get her and see her. And don't even get me started on the immediate connection between his golden retriever, Tink, and Lizzie. It brought me to tears multiple times.

I think I loved the town of Juniper Falls and the found family Harper had created as much as I loved Jace and Harper. And Jace's family is so dang sweet! They immediately and unconditionally opened their arms to Harper and Lizzie and it was so beautiful to see!

This whole book was just beautiful and I can't wait for y'all to read it!

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the blurb for this book, I was excited to read it. Harper is a single mom with an autistic child, who moves to a small town after her family abandoned her at the age of 19. However, she quickly finds her people and starts a new life in Juniper Falls. Four years later, in walks Jace and an insta-relationship starts.

I cannot quite put my finger on it, but something about the way the relationship started was a little too quick for me. The spicy scenes were spicing but there was not really any relationship development and it was all about the looks. And they were going like rabbits every time they saw each other, instead of having a conversation. It just made it exhausting to read and don’t get me wrong, I like spice, but I also need a bit more substance emotionally. That’s just me. Also did we really need the sister to bring up the age difference like that? It just gave me major ickiness.

However, the parts of the book I did enjoy was learning about Lizzie, her autistic child, and the representation was good. I liked how Jace tried to get to know her and learned about the condition and was accepting etc. I think this area could have been developed a bit more and it would haves added a bit more depth to the relationship with Harper and Jace.

Thank you Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read this book.

[Saartje’s literartea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not going to lie, these types of romance stories are my total guilty pleasure: a shitty family, amazing friends, a small town with cozy vibes, and a man who will fight anyone who messes with you.


At first, my blood was boiling reading how Harper was being treated. Thankfully, she was able to get to a place that was safe and a good starting point for her healing journey. I was so excited about a possible book about her roommates, but then…well, I guess that's out of the question? (No spoilers, but DAMN).


Juniper Falls has so many sweet and adorable characters. And I mean, if it was possible, I would also like to watch strong men chop wood if it means meeting a rugged, tattooed prince charming who is good with his hands, tools... or both :)

One thing that made it a bit hard to keep up with details was the pacing. It felt off at times. shifting quickly from a humorous conversation to a spice scene, then to bonding with the adorable daughter, and right into the quick revelation of why her ex is in town.

Overall, it has that classic Harlequin romance vibe which I love and kind of expected reading the blurb.

I'm definitely curious to see if there will be another book!

Thank you to the author and Love Notes PR for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[MacKenzie Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW | Finding Home by Laura Hartwell

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

Thank you so much to Laura Hartwell and Love Notes PR for giving me an advance reader copy of Finding Home!

Tropes:
*Small Town
* Single Mom
* He Falls First
* Found Family
* No Third-Act Breakup

I laughed out loud several times while reading this book. I also had a few tears at some super sweet moments. I fell completely in love with Jace and Harper.

Jace is in Juniper Falls because his company is working on a project in town. When he meets Harper at a town festival, he falls hard and fast for her. And somehow, throughout the book, he just happens to be in the right place at the right time. There was something about the way he showed up for Harper and her daughter that just made me fall for them.

Harper is a single mom raising her autistic daughter in the small town of Juniper Falls. She arrived there at 19 and pregnant after her family turned their backs on her. Over the years, the people of Juniper Falls became the family and support system she needed.  The found family aspect of this story was one of my favorite parts.

If you love the emotional, funny, and heartfelt feel of Abby Jimenez's books, I definitely think you'll want to give Finding Home a try!