She’s the queen of heartbreak. He’s the one who got away.
Bailey Jones built a career writing love stories about brooding heroes. But in real life she’s never had her own happily ever after. Not with him.
Rhett Monroe was her first love. The boy who used to toss her into the lake every summer — and the man who walked away without looking back. Now he’s back — ex–Navy SEAL turned security specialist. Focused. Intense. And he’s not here for the memories.
Because someone is watching Bailey. Sending messages that feel a little too personal. Too obsessed. And Rhett is not letting her out of his sight.
He takes her to the one place a stalker won’t find her — Cedar Shores. But for Bailey, being stuck in close quarters with the man she never stopped wanting is far from simple. Especially when Rhett watches her like she’s something worth guarding. Like she’s his.
The tension that used to simmer between them now crackles. Every argument is charged with desire. Every touch lingers. And every heated look dares her to remember how good they could be.
She’s spent her career writing men who would burn the world down for the woman they love. Turns out… she grew up with one.
Welcome to Cedar Shores — where summer never really ends . . . and neither does first love.
♥️ Small Town
♥️ Friends-To-Lovers
♥️ Romantic Suspense
♥️ Brother’s Best Friend
♥️ Spicy!
Safe Haven by Lily Parker is published by Choc Lit on 23 April 2026 and you can find out more about the book on Amazon, Goodreads and Storygraph
I am excited to share my review of this book as part of the Virtual Book Tour hosted by Zooloo’s Book Tours which takes place 23 – 29 April 2026. Check the Book Tour Schedule and follow along with us to see what other early readers have to say about the book.
Thank you to the author Lily Parker, publisher Choc Lit and, of course Zooloo’s Book Tours for inviting me to be a part of this event and for providing a digital edition of this new book, first of the new Cedar Shores series to read and review.
Lily Parker
Lily Parker is a full-time romance writer, former professional matchmaker, and an avid seeker of absurd adventures. After years of helping other authors bring their stories to life, she decided it was time to write the kinds of books she’s always wanted to read.
With a knack for blending humour, heart, and unforgettable characters, Lily creates stories that pull readers in and leave them believing in love – no matter the odds. When she’s not writing, you can find her planning her next venture with her family or daydreaming about just one more happily-ever-after.
🔗 Connect with Lily
Facebook @lilyparker
Instagram @lilyparker_author
Threads @lilyparker_author
My Review
An Emotional Second Chance Wrapped in Suspense
Having really enjoyed reading Lily Parker’s Off-Limits series, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of Safe Haven, the first in her Cedar Shores series, when it was first being promoted by Choc Lit. I went into Safe Haven expecting something along similar lines. Yes, I’ll admit, I didn’t read the blurb (I know, I know… but I’m very much a cover-and-title reader and it usually works for me).
What I found instead felt far more layered.
The suspense element caught me off guard, with just enough danger threaded through to give it a real thriller edge. More than that, it elevates the story- adding a constant tension that sharpens every interaction and made it almost impossible to put down. I had to keep reading. With alternating points of view, you’re given a deeper insight into both characters, which only adds to that sense of immediacy and keeps the tension close at every turn. What I wasn’t expecting was how much it would make me feel.
At its core, this is a story that feels grounded and real. Nothing is overdone or overly polished; instead, the emotional thread feels lived in – shaped by history, by choices, and by everything left unsaid. That quiet authenticity is where the real strength of the book lies, and it’s what pulled me in completely.
Rather than relying on chemistry or surface-level desire, the romance leans into something much deeper. It’s about longing. About history. About the kind of connection that doesn’t simply disappear, no matter how much time has passed. There’s an ache running through it – something unfinished – and seeing that unfold against a backdrop of fear and uncertainty made everything feel more intense, more fragile… and honestly, it broke me in ways I wasn’t expecting.
What really stayed with me was that contrast: being hunted, everything unravelling, and yet still holding onto feelings the other person may not fully see or understand. That push and pull between vulnerability and tension was just something else.
By the time I reached the final pages, it wasn’t just the story that had stayed with me – it was the feeling it left behind. The pacing, the setting, the emotional depth… everything worked together so seamlessly that it became one of those books you don’t quite want to let go of. I genuinely wish I could go back and experience it again for the first time.
If you’ve ever lost someone, left a place that meant something to you, or found yourself quietly wondering about the paths not taken, I think you’ll feel the quiet power in these words.
#SafeHaven #LilyParker #CedarShores
#ChocLit #JoffeBooks #ZooloosBookTours #bookreview #booktour
A Personal Note from Me
There are moments in books where the story quietly steps aside, and the words begin to feel… personal. Like they’ve reached beyond the page and found something you weren’t quite prepared to revisit. Safe Haven gave me one of those moments. There’s a section—one I won’t go into detail about—that completely caught me off guard. It stopped me in my tracks, not because of the plot, but because of how deeply those words resonated. For a moment, it felt as though they had been written for me—not in any literal sense, but in that rare way writing sometimes just understands something you didn’t realise you were holding onto. It’s the way Lily Parker captures the idea of place, memory, and how closely those things are tied to people and moments in time. The sense that somewhere can still exist exactly as it always has—and yet feel completely different when you return.
“Missing that place like you miss a memory, even when you go back…”
“The places on the map, the ones you can still go to, don’t exist anymore. Not because they change, but because you do. Or the people who made them magical aren’t there when you go back.”
Those lines didn’t just resonate—they ached. Because I think, in some way, we’ve all had a place like that. Somewhere that lives a little differently in our memory than it ever could in reality again. Even now, writing this, I can feel that moment all over again. And maybe that’s the real magic of this book – it doesn’t just tell a story, it quietly reflects something back at you. A quiet reminder of the magic that still lives within the memories we carry.
See About My Reviews and Review FAQ for full star rating explanations and review guidelines. This review may also appear on my social media channels and selected book platforms. All links were correct at the time of publication. DISCLOSURE: I received a review copy of this book via Choc Lit and Zooloo’s Book Tours. As always, my thoughts are honest and my own. This review is original content. Please credit and link back if you wish to quote.
© [2026] [MoMoBookDiary]
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