by Hazel Reed
Running from a life she no longer wanted, artist Elara Vance's car breaks down on the edge of the one-horse town of Havenwood. She's rescued by Julian Croft, a quiet, reserved carpenter twice her age with a past etched into the lines on his hands. He offers her shelter, a safe haven from the storm, but his guarded heart is a fortress she never intended to breach. In the quiet rhythm of his small-town life, amidst the scent of sawdust and the laughter of his young daughter, Elara discovers a love that doesn't need loud declarations, but speaks in silent, steady gestures.