PUMPKIN SPICE AND PAPERBACKS
Rachel Carter has spent the last decade building a life she can rely on.
As the mayor of Haven Valley, she keeps her small New England town running through festivals, meetings, and traditions that never seem to slow down. After losing her husband, she never expected romance to be part of her story again-she's far too busy holding everything together.
Jace Mercer prefers it that way.
Quiet, private, and new to most of the town again, the mechanic keeps his distance from gossip, obligations, and attention. He shows up when needed, fixes what's broken, and disappears just as quickly.
Until the Fall Festival changes everything.
When Jace unexpectedly creates a lantern-lit corn maze for the town's biggest event, Rachel finds herself pulled into his orbit in a way she can't quite explain-and can't quite ignore. What begins as small, careful conversations turns into something deeper, quieter, and far harder to walk away from.
But Haven Valley notices everything.
And when the town starts watching them a little too closely, Rachel must decide whether protecting her carefully built life matters more than finally letting herself be seen again.
In a town full of traditions, pumpkin spice, and paperbacks, love might be the one thing she never planned for-but exactly what she needs.