by Claire Cain
First published 2026
Sarah fled her abusive ex and built a new life in a small town, working for Dr. Declan Ryan. She thought the worst was behind her until her ex threatens to seek custody of her baby son. The legal battle terrifies her. A single mother with limited resources faces long odds against a man determined to hurt her through their child. Then Declan surprises her with an unexpected solution. He proposes marriage to strengthen her custody case. Sarah has harbored feelings for the quiet, brilliant doctor since she started working for him, but she knows this arrangement is purely practical. Declan wants to help, nothing more. She accepts his offer because her son's safety comes first. The fake marriage draws her deeper into Declan's world. She watches him care for her son with surprising tenderness. His family welcomes her. His small house becomes a refuge she never expected to find. Declan proves more devoted than any man she has known. Sarah discovers that loving someone means risking everything, including the security this marriage was meant to provide.
Genres: romance, domestic-fiction, contemporary, adult, adult-fiction, contemporary-romance
Vibes: character-driven, emotional, heartwarming, hopeful, intimate, tender
Tropes: fake-dating, forced-proximity, found-family, second-chance-at-love
Setting: small town
358 pages · Paperback · Independently Published
Content warnings: abuse, domestic-violence, emotional-abuse