A clean-but-cozy small-town romance novella with second chances, furry sidekicks, and a slow-burning spark that might heal them both.

She came to rescue animals. He needed rescuing too.

After her divorce and a career burnout, flirty optimist Evie Langford trades high heels and heartbreak for muddy boots and mutts in the quirky town of Hazel Bluff. She’s here for a fresh start—volunteering at the local animal rescue, baking lemon muffins no one asked for, and pretending her life isn’t held together by caffeine and goat hair.

Dr. Nate Hawthorne isn’t looking for complications. The ex-Army medic turned small-town veterinarian has enough baggage to fill a barn. He keeps his past sealed tighter than a kennel door—until Evie crashes into his life with wild ideas, neon-colored shoes, and a talent for pushing buttons he thought were long disconnected.

When a spring festival and an unexpected rescue mission force their worlds to collide, their undeniable chemistry starts wagging its tail. But past wounds and a misunderstanding threaten to pull them apart before they can figure out what’s worth saving.

She’s rebuilding her life. He’s built walls around his. Can love find a way in?

Perfect for fans of later-in-life romance, grumpy-sunshine dynamics, small-town charm, and slow-burn love stories with heart, humor, and a whole lot of pets.