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The Focus Shift
Not yet published
Expected 12 Nov 26Heath has a messy and complicated family. His life has always been a revolving door of chaos, and somewhere along the way, he became the joke. The impulsive kid.
Now a firefighter in Baywood, his ADHD brain thrives on the adrenaline, the purpose, and the moments where instinct matters more than words. It’s the one place he’s never felt like he’s too much…or not enough.
Rochelle was raised in a world where survival meant staying guarded and never depending on anyone. She built her life surrounded by walls no one can get through.
But when Heath and Rochelle meet, something unexpected sparks between them. Beneath the sarcasm, the guarded glances, and the carefully constructed defenses, they recognize familiar pain, resilience, and a longing for more.
Underneath Heath’s easy grin and reckless charm, Rochelle sees someone similar to herself. Another person who understands what it means to fight just to survive.
For Heath, Rochelle is everything he didn’t know he needed. She’s tenacious, and the first person who sees past the labels he’s worn his entire life.
Rochelle fears emotional attachment and Heath worries she’ll leave, now that she sees who he really is.
So they must decide if they’re brave enough to trust each other.
Or will the scars they carry be the thing that tears them apart?
Author’s This is Book Five in the Baywood Hospital series. All books can be read as a stand-alone in any order. Each book has a guaranteed HEA and no cliffhangers.
Now a firefighter in Baywood, his ADHD brain thrives on the adrenaline, the purpose, and the moments where instinct matters more than words. It’s the one place he’s never felt like he’s too much…or not enough.
Rochelle was raised in a world where survival meant staying guarded and never depending on anyone. She built her life surrounded by walls no one can get through.
But when Heath and Rochelle meet, something unexpected sparks between them. Beneath the sarcasm, the guarded glances, and the carefully constructed defenses, they recognize familiar pain, resilience, and a longing for more.
Underneath Heath’s easy grin and reckless charm, Rochelle sees someone similar to herself. Another person who understands what it means to fight just to survive.
For Heath, Rochelle is everything he didn’t know he needed. She’s tenacious, and the first person who sees past the labels he’s worn his entire life.
Rochelle fears emotional attachment and Heath worries she’ll leave, now that she sees who he really is.
So they must decide if they’re brave enough to trust each other.
Or will the scars they carry be the thing that tears them apart?
Author’s This is Book Five in the Baywood Hospital series. All books can be read as a stand-alone in any order. Each book has a guaranteed HEA and no cliffhangers.
319 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Review of advance copy
This book was an experience. Honestly, I had such a good time reading it, it was also intense in the most real, emotionally layered way.
We have an ER nurse MMC and a firefighter MMC, with heavy representation of ADHD and abandonment issues. And somehow, this book manages to bring together hilarity, vulnerability, heartfelt moments, and emotional chaos without losing its sense of reality. There were so many moments when I just thought, Oh, this feels real. These emotions feel real.
I especially loved the FMC. She is NOT your damsel in distress. She's strong-willed, has a backbone, stands up for people's rights, and is that incredible best friend you want in your corner. I loved that about her.
The found-family aspect was another highlight, alongside the complicated family dynamics, unresolved issues, emotional baggage, and people holding things back until it inevitably affects their relationships. It all felt wonderfully human.
I loved the emotional clarity of this book, the humour, the messiness, and the vulnerability. Overall, a genuinely enjoyable read that gave me a little bit of everything.
Thank you to the author agency for providing me with an ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
We have an ER nurse MMC and a firefighter MMC, with heavy representation of ADHD and abandonment issues. And somehow, this book manages to bring together hilarity, vulnerability, heartfelt moments, and emotional chaos without losing its sense of reality. There were so many moments when I just thought, Oh, this feels real. These emotions feel real.
I especially loved the FMC. She is NOT your damsel in distress. She's strong-willed, has a backbone, stands up for people's rights, and is that incredible best friend you want in your corner. I loved that about her.
The found-family aspect was another highlight, alongside the complicated family dynamics, unresolved issues, emotional baggage, and people holding things back until it inevitably affects their relationships. It all felt wonderfully human.
I loved the emotional clarity of this book, the humour, the messiness, and the vulnerability. Overall, a genuinely enjoyable read that gave me a little bit of everything.
Thank you to the author agency for providing me with an ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was expeting a standard romance book, instead we got a very deep emotional roller coaster.
It has a very real ADHD representation along with heavy abandonment issues which the characters get through together.
We can see from the first chapter that Heath is so much more than he lets on, he feels so deeply and everyone keeps pushing him into his teenage “degenerate “ role no matter how much he tried to change it so he just goes along with it. What we can also see is that Rochelle is no pushover and a very strong character.
Its a very emotionally vulnerable book with the right amount of humor and i loved it!
It has a very real ADHD representation along with heavy abandonment issues which the characters get through together.
We can see from the first chapter that Heath is so much more than he lets on, he feels so deeply and everyone keeps pushing him into his teenage “degenerate “ role no matter how much he tried to change it so he just goes along with it. What we can also see is that Rochelle is no pushover and a very strong character.
Its a very emotionally vulnerable book with the right amount of humor and i loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was very emotional. I didn’t expect the book to take me on a journey of family and how DNA doesn’t make a family. Not only that, but I just expected a typical romance book. There was so much depth to the layers of all the characters involved in the story.
I felt invested from the first few pages of the first chapter. The author did an amazing job of drawing you into the story and making you as the reader really like the characters right away.
It deeply resonated with my own experience in life and with parental relationships. I loved how the author shows that “normal” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and everyone’s “normal” might look different for other people depending on their situation. And the depth of relationship that can occur as a mother or a father without it being DNA that bonded them.
I loved seeing Heath’s journey of dealing with his past and how emotionally raw he became with Rocky, the female main character of the story.
In the beginning, they just thought each other were cute. They met through a mutual friend. They both thought they were bad at relationships and bad for other people, so they had both treated sex very casually in the past. Not only that, but they chose to take a step back and build a friendship first before exploring those feelings. To go from that to being each other’s person was beautiful to watch.
They allowed space for each other to cope and heal in a way that worked for their idiosyncrasies and quirks. I absolutely loved how she also met Heath where he was, even when it was hard or inconvenient for her.
True love doesn’t force you to become or deal with something like trauma a certain way. It allows you to be who you are and to express those hopes and fears and hurt in a way that is healthy for you. Both the main characters really showed that uniquely to each other.
The sexual components of the book were very emotionally raw and beautiful. It wasn’t just sex. You could feel the emotional tie the characters were establishing with each other.
The only thing I found confusing sometimes was trying to keep track of all the names and relationships of the surrounding characters, but that is mostly due to the fact that this is a series that I jumped into the middle of.
The book is more than just a romance story. It’s a story about family, healing, and belonging.
I was provided with an ARC copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
I felt invested from the first few pages of the first chapter. The author did an amazing job of drawing you into the story and making you as the reader really like the characters right away.
It deeply resonated with my own experience in life and with parental relationships. I loved how the author shows that “normal” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and everyone’s “normal” might look different for other people depending on their situation. And the depth of relationship that can occur as a mother or a father without it being DNA that bonded them.
I loved seeing Heath’s journey of dealing with his past and how emotionally raw he became with Rocky, the female main character of the story.
In the beginning, they just thought each other were cute. They met through a mutual friend. They both thought they were bad at relationships and bad for other people, so they had both treated sex very casually in the past. Not only that, but they chose to take a step back and build a friendship first before exploring those feelings. To go from that to being each other’s person was beautiful to watch.
They allowed space for each other to cope and heal in a way that worked for their idiosyncrasies and quirks. I absolutely loved how she also met Heath where he was, even when it was hard or inconvenient for her.
True love doesn’t force you to become or deal with something like trauma a certain way. It allows you to be who you are and to express those hopes and fears and hurt in a way that is healthy for you. Both the main characters really showed that uniquely to each other.
The sexual components of the book were very emotionally raw and beautiful. It wasn’t just sex. You could feel the emotional tie the characters were establishing with each other.
The only thing I found confusing sometimes was trying to keep track of all the names and relationships of the surrounding characters, but that is mostly due to the fact that this is a series that I jumped into the middle of.
The book is more than just a romance story. It’s a story about family, healing, and belonging.
I was provided with an ARC copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
⭐⭐⭐⭐
3.5 stars, rounded up!
This was a quick read that kept me engaged, and I always appreciate neurodivergent representation. As someone with ADHD, though, I had mixed feelings about Heath’s portrayal. I know ADHD looks different for everyone, but some aspects of his characterization read more like autistic traits to me. There’s nothing wrong with that, and this is just my interpretation, but I would have appreciated more clarity around the representation.
One thing I really enjoyed was how Rocky and Heath didn’t spend forever fighting their feelings or resisting commitment. They both struggled to connect with people, but they were willing to give each other a chance and work toward something meaningful. Seeing them find acceptance and comfort in each other was lovely.
The found family aspect was heartwarming, and I appreciated seeing the difficult conversations and steps toward repairing Heath’s family relationships. Everything wasn’t magically fixed, which made that part more satisfying.
Overall, I enjoyed this and read it quickly. It didn’t blow me away, but it kept my interest and had plenty of moments I appreciated. I’d still recommend it to readers who enjoy found family, emotional growth, and two guarded people learning to let someone in.
3.5 stars, rounded up!
This was a quick read that kept me engaged, and I always appreciate neurodivergent representation. As someone with ADHD, though, I had mixed feelings about Heath’s portrayal. I know ADHD looks different for everyone, but some aspects of his characterization read more like autistic traits to me. There’s nothing wrong with that, and this is just my interpretation, but I would have appreciated more clarity around the representation.
One thing I really enjoyed was how Rocky and Heath didn’t spend forever fighting their feelings or resisting commitment. They both struggled to connect with people, but they were willing to give each other a chance and work toward something meaningful. Seeing them find acceptance and comfort in each other was lovely.
The found family aspect was heartwarming, and I appreciated seeing the difficult conversations and steps toward repairing Heath’s family relationships. Everything wasn’t magically fixed, which made that part more satisfying.
Overall, I enjoyed this and read it quickly. It didn’t blow me away, but it kept my interest and had plenty of moments I appreciated. I’d still recommend it to readers who enjoy found family, emotional growth, and two guarded people learning to let someone in.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Focus Shift by Greenleigh Adams is another wonderful addition to the Baywood Hospital Series! Heath and Rochelle absolutely stole my heart! Both carry emotional scars from their pasts, and both have learned to protect themselves rather than risk getting hurt. Watching these two slowly let down their walls and discover that they might be exactly what the other needs made for such a touching read. I especially loved Heath. Beneath his humor, impulsiveness, and easygoing charm is a man who has spent much of his life feeling misunderstood. Seeing someone recognize his worth and love him for exactly who he is was incredibly heartwarming. Rochelle's journey toward trusting someone and allowing herself to be vulnerable was equally moving. Overall, The Focus Shift is a beautiful reminder that our scars don't make us unlovable and that the right person sees beyond the labels.
I received an ARC copy from The Author Agency. Thank you for giving me the chance to read this novel and share my honest review of the novel
I received an ARC copy from The Author Agency. Thank you for giving me the chance to read this novel and share my honest review of the novel
Review of advance copy
Rochelle es enfermera de urgencias y está acostumbrada a enfrentarse a situaciones complicadas, pero cuando se trata de su vida privada no es la mejor tomando decisiones. Prefiere mantener las cosas sencillas, disfrutar de su independencia y evitar involucrarse demasiado con alguien.
Heath, un bombero con una personalidad impulsiva y tiene una forma muy particular de ver el mundo. Evita crear cualquier conexión con la gente ya que sabe que en cualquier momento lo pueden abandonar, ya ha sufrido demasiado y no piensa darle ese poder a nadie. Pero cuando conoce a Rochelle tienen una conexión inmediata y por más que ambos intenten alejarse, terminan en la orbita del otro.
______
Al inicio me costo un poco por el problema de ambos con las mujeres, en realidad con hombres y mujeres, pero era más verbal con las mujeres y eso no me encanto. Por eso no le puse una calificación mayor.
Gracias The Author Agency.
Heath, un bombero con una personalidad impulsiva y tiene una forma muy particular de ver el mundo. Evita crear cualquier conexión con la gente ya que sabe que en cualquier momento lo pueden abandonar, ya ha sufrido demasiado y no piensa darle ese poder a nadie. Pero cuando conoce a Rochelle tienen una conexión inmediata y por más que ambos intenten alejarse, terminan en la orbita del otro.
______
Al inicio me costo un poco por el problema de ambos con las mujeres, en realidad con hombres y mujeres, pero era más verbal con las mujeres y eso no me encanto. Por eso no le puse una calificación mayor.
Gracias The Author Agency.
Review of advance copy
I was thrilled to read this book and it didn't disappoint. It was fantastic. I loved the characters and the storyline in this. This was a perfectly balanced romance with tons of emotion. It is an engaging read from start to finish. It for sure had me pulled in within the first few chapters and I did not put it down until I finished it. I was fully invested in the characters and everything that was going on in the book. I liked how everything came together in the end and how it all turned out. Thanks so much to the author agency and the author for a copy of this. All opinions are my own and freely expressed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a very well written story with a beautiful depth that really made this story come alive. Heath was a firefighter with ADHD, and Rochelle was an ER nurse. The two of them together brought forth so many things that happen in daily life amongst couples. I loved being able to see that they had flaws, things to deal with and overcome. They felt real and I loved that about them. This wasn’t just a happy child that’s always perfect. It was a couple that learned and had flaws, but still loved one another fiercely. I absolutely loved this story with these two.
Review of advance copy
Emotional, sweet, and heartfelt romance. Rochelle is a strong and driven ER nurse and he’s a firefighter who has ADHD which is a definite focus in their story. They are drawn to each other when they meet and they are exactly what the other person needs. They have family and emotional issues that they need to work though but find they are able to work through them together. An honest and emotionally exposed read.
November 8, 2026
I was not expecting to like this book so much! First, we get Heath who is a MMC that has ADHD and we got to see his journey is navigating life and what he has gone through to get where he is at now. I loved that both Heath and Rochelle have complicated backstories but they way they are written we get the heaviness but in a way where it doesn't drag down the story. I loved their chemistry and the way that each of them took the time to understand each other and talk through their needs.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A solid 4-star romance! Greenleigh Adams delivers a wonderfully heartwarming firefighter x ER nurse story filled with rich found family tropes and meaningful character growth around past trauma. The writing style didn't fully click for me, but the plot, emotional depth, and characters made it a really great read
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews