First published 2026
Lance Calloway has spent six years in unsanctioned cage fights, following orders without question. He fights when commanded, bleeds on demand, breaks when told. His one unbreakable rule is loyalty to his best friend, no matter what it costs him. Then comes an assignment that will test everything he believes about honor and friendship. Genevieve DeGrance arrives in Rosebrook Falls to be with the mayor's son, but the town hides dark secrets beneath its surface. Lance is tasked with protecting her, watching her every move like she poses a threat. She despises him. He cannot tolerate her presence. Yet as Lance guards Genevieve and she digs deeper into the town's corruption, their mutual hatred transforms into something far more dangerous. The more time they spend together, the harder Lance finds it to remember that Genevieve belongs to his best friend. The more she discovers about Rosebrook Falls, the more she realizes Lance is the only honest person in her life. In a place built on deception and hidden agendas, their growing attraction threatens to destroy them both.
Genres: romance, suspense, crime, action, mystery-thriller, contemporary-romance
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity, friends-to-lovers
Setting: Rosebrook Falls
510 pages · Paperback · Bloom Books