First published 2026
Rosie Mayfield owns a bookstore in Heartwood Hollow, but her family's curse dooms every romance to heartbreak. She conjures her ancestor's ghost, hoping he can break the curse. The spirit agrees to help, but only if Rosie brews a potion that will let him pass peacefully to the other side. The recipe requires ingredients that only one person in town can provide: Jack Haggerty, who runs the local gaming shop and despises her. Jack has banned Rosie from his store and considers her a walking disaster. When his dead grandfather suddenly appears, Jack's skepticism crumbles. He agrees to help his beloved grandpa move on, but working closely with Rosie ignites an attraction he never expected. As they gather ingredients together, both fight their growing feelings. Rosie believes the curse makes love impossible. Jack starts having second thoughts about sending his grandfather away forever, but he can't bring himself to tell Rosie the truth.
Genres: romance, fantasy, adult, adult-fiction, contemporary-romance
Vibes: charming, emotional, romantic, slow-burn, whimsical
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity, found-family, second-chance-romance
Setting: Heartwood Hollow
400 pages · Paperback · Union Square & Co.