First published 2026
Sophia Cage owns a struggling dance studio but can't bring herself to dance. Her world collapsed, leaving her a single mother picking up pieces. She tells herself she's stronger than her past, but the one thing that once saved her from darkness remains out of reach. Then Carson Woods walks in. She sees only the broken person she was when they first met. Carson built his life around protection. He shields his sister from their toxic family while running successful businesses. He trusts no one until he meets Sophia. Each accidental encounter draws him closer to the woman he tells himself he can't want. One wrong move could destroy his friendship with the Cage family and hurt the woman he's learning to crave. Carson represents everything Sophia thought she left behind. Sophia threatens the careful control Carson maintains over his world. Neither can walk away from what's building between them.
Genres: romance, contemporary, adult, adult-fiction, contemporary-romance
Vibes: emotional, healing, intimate, slow-burn, tender
Tropes: broken-hero, forced-proximity, found-family, second-chance-romance
Period: 21st-century
358 pages · Paperback · Carrie Ann Ryan
Content warnings: abuse