by Rosina Lippi
First published 2008
John Dodge steps off the bus in a small South Carolina town with one mission: rescue a struggling stationery store from bankruptcy. The community welcomes him with open arms, but John discovers that business isn't his only challenge. Next door runs a widow who owns her own shop, and John finds himself drawn to her quiet strength and independence. He tries every approach he can think of to win her attention and affection. Yet each attempt fails. The woman remains distant, locked behind walls built from old wounds and losses that still shape her daily life. John begins to understand that her past holds a grip stronger than any business plan or romantic gesture. The town watches as these two careful people circle each other, both wanting connection but struggling with the courage it requires. John must decide whether to push forward or accept that some hearts need more time to heal than others are willing to wait.
Genres: fiction, romance, contemporary-romance
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, second-chance
Setting: Lambert Square, South Carolina
Period: 21st-century
368 pages · Hardcover · Putnam Adult