kfriend 's review for:

Finding Hayes by Laura Pavlov
5.0

Oh my goodness do I love this series! And I can’t believe it’s time to say goodbye…but what an effervescently romantic, wonderfully swoony, and magnificently heartfelt farewell to Magnolia Falls. I wish I could just live here FOREVER. Finding Hayes is everything that I adore about Laura’s writing and this series- it’s effortlessly emotive, tender and sweetly cozy, and endlessly charming. Laura deftly weaves the past and present in an enchanting friends to lovers love story that left my heart so full and light. Hayes and Savannah OWNED me from the first to the last page. Definitely one of my all time favorites from Laura!

I have been THIRSTY for our firefighter Hayes to get his love story. And oh my does Laura deliver. I adored Hayes and Savannah together- two estranged former best friends with SO much history between them…so much longing…and so much misunderstanding. But the minute they cross paths again, they can’t deny the spark is still there. The spark they never actually got to explore. Until now- when Savannah needs a fake husband, and Hayes needs a good image for a promotion. Their fake marriage turns out to be the perfect safety net for them to explore their VERY real feelings…and to unpack their complicated past.

Laura’s friends to lovers are always my FAVORITE. She just has such a keen way of writing characters with great chemistry and connection that can authentically and organically evolve into that something “more.” Hayes and Savannah slowly are reminding of all that was magical between them, the ways in which they were both the only person who truly SAW the other. Their safeplace. Until things were derailed. They are so perfect for each other, after a bit of bickering, a lot of banter, and some real push and pull, they can finally unpack all that went wrong, and get back to what makes sense- their connection to each other. The chemistry is SOO good- and I just adored watching them both come into their own because of the emotional safety they find in each other. They both have baggage, they both have to trust again, but they are both a bit lot and SO thirsty for the love the other can give them. So watching them find that in each other, gah, it was just so rewarding. THey always belonged together- it just took them a minute to find their way.

I’m not ready to say goodbye to this series (especially my Beefcake who makes many magical cameos in this story) but the finale and the way everything is wrapped up filled my heart to the brim. This band of brothers and their feisty ladies feel like family- and while it’s bittersweet to reach the final HEA, it’s been such a sweet and heartwarming stay in Magnolia Falls.