The Weight of Ashes (Colson Creek #4) by Erin FitzGerald

ABOUT THE BOOK

She was the one who got away. Now she’s back, and trouble’s right behind her.

Tristyn Henderson was my best friend. The girl I wanted more than my next breath. Then she disappeared—no goodbye, no explanation—just gone. Now she’s home in Colson Creek, showing up at church and Sunday dinners like a ghost. Won’t look me in the eye. Won’t tell me why she left—and she’s furious with me.

My situation changes overnight, and so does hers when danger shows up on her doorstep. So I don’t give her a choice.

She stays with me. Under my roof. In my space. Too damn close to forget what we were… and everything we never got to be.

But Tristyn’s secrets run deep. And the closer I get, the more I realize she’s protecting more than her heart.

To keep her safe, I’ll have to lean on my brothers, face what came between us, and fight like hell for the second chance I should’ve never lost. Because this time? I’m not letting her run away again.

MY REVIEW

I couldn’t wait for Ben and Tristyn’s story, and it’s everything I hoped it would be. Karma finally caught up with my favorite Benson, but don’t worry—Ben’s got this handled, thanks to the loving support from his people.

Ben is the charming player and joker. He’s the guy who lights up a room, but behind that playful facade is a deep sense of loneliness and confusion. The worst part? The one woman he truly wanted hates his guts, and she’s back in town after disappearing for years. To make matters worse, she’s just discovered that he’s a daddy to an adorable little girl named Leah.

Tristyn owns her anger toward Ben, and it’s a slow, emotional journey to find out why. Despite feeling closer to the Benson family than her own, the memories of their shared Sundays and church gatherings sting with bittersweet nostalgia, especially when it comes to Ben. Growing up as friends, only to have those feelings complicated now, is painful.

Ben and Tristyn’s story is a beautiful friends-to-lovers romance with so much heart and longing. It’s not the question of whether they will be together, but when. They’ve been carrying the weight of misunderstandings and poor choices for far too long, wallowing in their own heartache, only to be brought together again by danger and a sweet little girl.

I genuinely believe Ben deserves all the happiness in the world, especially after being such a rock for his family. He’s always shown so much love and support, especially when interacting with his nieces and nephews. I’ve always thought he’d make an amazing dad. And Tristyn is the perfect blend of sass and common sense that Ben needs to keep him grounded and happy.

Again, Erin Fitzgerald has outdone herself. Her beautiful, heartfelt prose and fantastic character development are what bring me back every time. The Benson clan is an absolute favorite of mine, and I can’t wait for more wonderful stories to captivate me and make me smile.

If you want to read a book, a series, or an author that will leave you feeling happy and wanting more, I recommend anything written by Ms. Fitzgerald.

Thank you to Ms. Fitzgerald for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

Colson Creek Series

1 We All Fall Down (2025) – my review
2 The Greatest of These (2025) – my review
3 The Wages of Silence (2025) – my review
4 The Weight of Ashes (2026)
5 The Price of Vengeance (2026)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Erin loves a strong, snarky heroine and a gooey cinnamon roll hero. You’ll find some grumpy/sunshines, dominant alphas, teddy bears, courage, strength, and grit. Her characters have seen a bit of life and carry their burdens, and their real-to-life struggles require happily-ever-afters, since real life has enough sorrow.

Follow Erin on her website, Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, and Twitter.