A moving story about family, forgiveness, and unexpected love—where the fault lines of a fractured past become the foundation for building something new.
Eden Hawthorne spent idyllic childhood summers in Grand Trees, a mountain town perched along a restless earthquake fault in the heart of California’s fire country. But her family and future were shattered there, and she vowed never to return—until news of her estranged mother’s illness forces her back twenty years later.
Still reeling from her recent divorce, Eden has to confront her mom’s found family, including single father Caleb Connell, who blames Eden for the seismic rift that drove her away. But as they move beyond a battle of wills, Eden and Caleb discover shared wounds and intertwined histories—and succumb to an attraction that feels fated.
When her mother’s condition worsens, Eden faces an impossible choice between the man she’s falling for and the mother she’s just beginning to forgive. And with time running out, Eden fears her decision will doom her to relive the aftershocks of past heartbreak.
Eden Hawthorne spent idyllic childhood summers in Grand Trees, a mountain town perched along a restless earthquake fault in the heart of California’s fire country. But her family and future were shattered there, and she vowed never to return—until news of her estranged mother’s illness forces her back twenty years later.
Still reeling from her recent divorce, Eden has to confront her mom’s found family, including single father Caleb Connell, who blames Eden for the seismic rift that drove her away. But as they move beyond a battle of wills, Eden and Caleb discover shared wounds and intertwined histories—and succumb to an attraction that feels fated.
When her mother’s condition worsens, Eden faces an impossible choice between the man she’s falling for and the mother she’s just beginning to forgive. And with time running out, Eden fears her decision will doom her to relive the aftershocks of past heartbreak.
Title: The Epicenter of Forever
Author: Mara Williams
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Expected Publication Date: February 1, 2026
Review:
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Who doesn't love a bit of enemies to lovers action? I know I do. And this one fit that bill really well. This is my first book by Mara Williams and I was pleasantly surprised by the story and it's progression.
Eden Haworth returns to Grand Trees, the site of her idyllic childhood summers, to care for her mother and confront old wounds. Caleb Connell is already there, caring for her mother and being the hero for the entire town. They clash and bump heads more often than not. But there's also a spark that ignites between them. Things take a turn when Eden's mother finally agrees to move back to San Francisco to seek better medical attention. Eden must leave Caleb behind but will their relationship be able to weather the storm?
I think my favorite part of this story was the setting. The descriptions of the mountains and the surrounding areas were great. I could easily picture the camp, the cabin, and the town in my mind. I love a small town romance and this pretty much set that theme. All the people in the small town knowing everyone and a new comer entering the scene. Everyone being super invested in figuring it all out.
The author did a great job presenting the emotions of the characters, as well. There was so much for all of them to work through. She tackles a ton of heavy subjects throughout the story. So much so, I felt like maybe there needed to be more pages to really. There were definitely areas that felt a bit more rushed to me. While the chemistry between the two main characters was great, I really felt like it could have used more time. And the ending definitely felt a bit rushed for me.
I have a love/hate relationship with Eden. On the one hand she has a ton of trauma she needs to work through which I can totally appreciate. From a bad childhood accident to her fraught relationship with her parents, she has things she needs to work through. And for sure those things have followed her and her relationships in to adulthood. What drove me nuts about Eden was her penchant for miscommunication. She kept so much bottled up inside her it easily caused rifts between her and those she chose to surround herself with.
Caleb was the perfect grump. Definitely a man who holds his emotions close to his chest. I liked his development but really needed more from him. I blame this on the fact that the book is told from Eden's perspective. I feel like I wasn't fully able to get to know him because I was never in his head. I prefer dual POV for a romance most of the time.
This book encompasses the idea of found family. While some of the characters are related, the characters really all do act like one big family worried about each other and what happens.
Overall, I enjoyed this even though I thought it could have been a bit longer to explore some of the intense topics. The characters were more or less relatable and definitely felt real. This book explores how mistakes can be made but also how forgiveness can truly open one's soul.
3.5/5 stars
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