Part of The Cage Family
First published 2026
Sophia Cage stands in her struggling dance studio, unable to do the one thing that once saved her from darkness. Her world burned. Now she raises her child alone and fights to keep her business alive. She tells herself she's stronger than her past, but she can't make her body move to the music anymore. Carson Woods walks into her life at the wrong moment. She sees only the broken woman she was when they first met. He doesn't trust people. He spent years protecting his sister from their dangerous family while building his business empire. One wrong move with Sophia could destroy his friendship with the Cage family and hurt the woman he tells himself he can't want. Each accidental encounter makes it harder for Sophia to walk away. Carson has inserted himself into the Cage family orbit. She needs one night to pretend her world didn't shatter. He needs to keep everyone at arm's length. Neither gets what they planned.
Genres: romance, contemporary, adult, adult-fiction, contemporary-romance
Vibes: emotional, healing, intimate, introspective, tender
Tropes: broken-to-whole, found-family, second-chance-romance, slow-burn
Period: contemporary
264 pages · ebook · Carrie Ann Ryan
Content warnings: abuse