She made fun of his romance scene.
Now she has to help him rewrite it.
When podcast host Ivy Bloom roasts a painfully awkward romance excerpt on air, the lip goes viral—and the brooding, reclusive author behind it is forced out of hiding.
Porter Shaw has spent fifteen years protecting a secret buried in his hometown of Valentine Falls. The last thing he needs is a sunshine-bright podcaster dissecting his writing… or digging into the town’s most enduring legend.
But when Porter’s publisher demands a joint promotion, the two strike a reluctant deal: Ivy will help him fix the romance scenes in his book. In return, Porter will give her access to Heartlight Falls—a local myth wrapped in grief, unanswered questions, and a cold case that was never truly closed. At least, not for him.
What begins as research turns into something neither of them is prepared for.
Because the Heartlight legend isn’t just a story.
It’s a wound.
And Ivy may have just uncovered the missing piece Porter has been searching for all along.
As attraction builds and old secrets rise to the surface, Ivy and Porter must decide what’s more dangerous—chasing the truth… or finally letting themselves feel it.
A slow-burn, grumpy-meets-sunshine, forced proximity romance threaded with mystery, emotional depth, and a legend that refuses to stay buried.
Closed-door heat. All the tension and steam, none of the explicit detail.
