Showing results by author "Lona Edwins" in All Categories

Ruby, a determined café owner, and Erik, a reserve military officer, are drawn together by chance and coffee at Morning Haven. What begins as playful banter and quiet companionship soon turns into something deeper. But when Erik’s duty calls, fear of attachment leads him to walk away, leaving Ruby heartbroken. Miles apart, they struggle with the weight of their choices—Ruby trying to move forward, Erik realizing that pushing her away was the worst mistake of his life. A moment of clarity brings Erik rushing back, but Ruby isn’t quick to forgive. He must prove he’s ready to stay.

Avery Beaumont’s world shatters when ruthless critic Julian Cross calls her restaurant “forgettable.” Fueled by fury, she crashes an elite culinary event, ready for war — but Julian is more than he seems. Their clash ignites something deeper, a rivalry laced with heat neither can ignore. When Julian steps into her kitchen, proving he can cook as well as he critiques, the lines between competition and desire blur dangerously. As tension simmers, Avery fights to keep control, but Julian refuses to stay at arm’s length.

When small-town mechanic Quinn Foster meets Dr. Lana Monroe, a polished, big-city dermatologist with a protective Great Dane and a guarded heart, sparks fly faster than a misfired spark plug. Lana’s car keeps giving her excuses to visit the garage, but it’s Quinn’s steady charm (and total lack of skincare knowledge) that keeps her coming back. As they navigate flat tires, skincare lessons, and one very judgy dog, they start to chip away at each other’s walls.

Ryan Carter, an overworked paramedic, stumbles into Hart & Bloom, a flower shop, in search of a last-minute birthday gift for his sister. There, he meets Holly Hart, a florist with a quiet strength and a warm sense of humor. Despite his exhaustion, something about Holly—and her massive dog, Tank—grounds him in a way he hasn’t felt in years. After their first meeting, Ryan keeps finding reasons to return, convincing himself it’s just for the flowers. But as their easy banter turns into something more, he finally asks Holly out.

He came to Maplewood to escape the flames. She’s spent her life holding everything together. When sparks fly, will they fight each other, or fight for something more? Leah Brooks has spent years keeping her late father’s beloved grocery store running, her community close, and her heart firmly guarded. She doesn’t have time for feelings, or for the quiet, steady firefighter who keeps showing up with polite smiles and a dangerously charming orange tabby named Val.

Grounded Hearts is a slow-burn romance rooted in second chances, quiet strength, and unexpected beginnings. When Emma Cole, a fiercely independent landscaper, takes a job for a newly arrived Air Force officer, she has no interest in complications — especially not the handsome, disciplined Captain Ryan Maddox. But a scrappy stray cat named Tango keeps showing up between them, blurring the lines between boundaries and belonging. As seasons change and their connection deepens, Emma must confront her fear of abandonment, and Ryan must decide if he’s ready to put down roots.

Nora Bennett, a children’s book illustrator new to the city, crashes her bike in a park while swerving to avoid a squirrel. Bruised and embarrassed, she’s tended to by a calm, kind paramedic named Liam Carter—and his unexpected partner, a French bulldog in a service vest named Mattie. Nora is immediately charmed by both, especially Mattie, who offers emotional support in the form of face licks and tail wags. Days later, Nora volunteers at a local safety fair and is surprised to run into Liam and Mattie again.

Margot Blake runs her mornings with surgical precision: leash in one hand, matcha in the other, and exactly fifteen minutes to stride the quiet streets before diving into cosmetic crises. But schedule-shattering chaos arrives on four lanky legs when her greyhound, Paulie, spots a squirrel and rockets straight into Officer Dean Rizzo, detonating a cup of espresso across his uniform. One mortified apology, a flustered dermatologist, and a surprisingly charming cop later, Margot’s orderly life begins to fray in the most inconveniently delightful ways.

Fire. Flavor. Secrets buried deep. Emilia Hart has poured everything into Firetrail Farm: her independence, her sweat, and every last dollar. Known for her rare and dangerously potent hot peppers, the land is her pride and only source of peace. But when a brooding chef with a short fuse shows up uninvited, claiming a deal with her missing cousin, her quiet life ignites in more ways than one. Rafe Moreno has one shot left to save his career, and it starts with Emilia’s peppers. The Ember House is betting on him to deliver a breakout menu, and failure isn’t an option.

Librarian Wren Holloway has always found comfort between the shelves of Kanewood’s sleepy library until a rowdy midnight drag race pulls her into the orbit of Officer Dean Maddox, the tattooed cop with a gravel rough voice and a past that refuses to stay boxed away. One late night noise complaint ends the racket on her street, yet it sparks a far louder storm inside Wren’s heart and inside Dean’s guarded conscience.

Sadie Carter is fighting to keep her late father’s bookstore afloat while nursing a heart bruised by betrayal. She trusts exactly two things: herself, and Bear, her loyal Labrador with a taste for chaos. Enter Noah Grayson, the rugged town carpenter with a slow drawl, sawdust on his sleeves, and a talent for getting under Sadie’s skin. When Bear knocks him flat in the middle of Main Street, Sadie’s carefully ordered life starts to splinter.

When photographer Lila Monroe stumbles across a handcrafted bench in an autumn-lit park, she sees the perfect shot. What she doesn’t see coming is her cat Biscuit launching himself into a nearby woodworking studio—and into the life of Caleb Mercer, a quiet, stubborn craftsman with a cat of his own and a serious dislike for chaos.

"Embers and Blooms" is a heartfelt romance that blends slow-burning attraction with themes of resilience, growth, and trust. Olivia Reynolds, a fiercely independent gardener, has spent years nurturing her plants and her solitude—until a stray cat and a persistent firefighter, Henry Carter, start disrupting her carefully built walls.

Looking for a feel-good romantic comedy with heart, humor, and a whole lot of cupcakes? Plates and Playbooks follows Sophie Hayes, a fiercely talented caterer with a chaotic kitchen crew, a mischievous dog named Finn, and zero time for romance. Enter Logan Carter, a charming football star sidelined by injury — and unexpectedly smitten after Sophie spills goat cheese on his suit. What starts as a catering gig quickly turns into late-night texts, flirt-filled tastings, and a birthday dinner that nearly ends with a kiss... until Logan’s ex crashes the party.

Emily Carter has enough on her plate - back-to-back night shifts at the ER, a hospital scandal threatening her best friend’s job, and a black lab named Pippen who thinks he’s a lap dog. The last thing she needs is Logan Reid, the tattooed mechanic with a reckless streak and a crooked smile that should come with a warning label.

Rory West delivers cinnamon rolls, oddball errands, and unapologetic sarcasm all over town, just not at the posted speed limit. Officer Jack Nolan lives by the law, drinks his coffee black, and writes her tickets like it’s a personal hobby. Their mutual dislike is legendary. So when they’re forced to team up for a dog-friendly charity run, things go from frosty to full-on flaming disaster.

Burnout and Bluff is a clean, high-stakes romance where speed meets strategy — and love plays the ultimate wild card. Professional poker player Kayla Lane has spent years mastering control, never betting on anything she couldn’t read. But when she crosses paths with Jace Walker, a bold, charismatic race car driver with a bruised past and a need for speed, sparks fly faster than a checkered flag. Thrown together by a sponsorship campaign, they clash in photo shoots, flirt over poker chips, and discover a connection neither of them saw coming.

Sheriff Luke Calloway likes order. As the steady protector of Maplewood, he keeps the town running smoothly until free-spirited artist Eleanor Evans arrives, leaving a trail of paint-splattered chaos in her wake.

What happens when a guarded cop with a haunted past collides with a headstrong nurse who refuses to let him hide? After a high-speed crash lands Officer Danny Cooper in the ER, Nurse Lena Harris expects the usual — stubbornness, sarcasm, and emotional walls. What she doesn’t expect is to care. Not just for his injuries, but for him. Danny's used to keeping people at a distance, but Lena’s quiet strength, and the tiny, scene-stealing chihuahua named Sparky, start to crack through his armor. As Lena and Danny’s connection deepens, so do the risks of getting too close.

If you're a fan of opposites-attract romances with humor, heart, and a one-eyed dog named Jimmy, this story is for you. When tightly wound surgeon Dr. Grant Whitaker crosses paths with free-spirited gardener Kenna Lane, his perfectly controlled world starts to unravel, in the best possible way. She's barefoot and humming in the hospital courtyard. He's determined to avoid the chaos she brings. But Kenna, with her stubborn optimism and dirt-smudged hands, proves impossible to ignore.