Murder at the Water Wheel by Ruben D. Gonzales

Murder at the Water Wheel

Book Four of the Black Mountain Mystery Series

by Ruben D. Gonzales

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Book Blurb:

When Liz’s latest fiancé turns up dead in the pond of Black Mountain’s new Historic Water Wheel tourist trap, it turns the town upside down. With a promising holiday season approaching and small businesses up and down Main Street depending on the sales, Mayor Franklyn Shaw asks Emma to look into the case of her ex-sister-in-law, so business, including the Shaw’s businesses, will get back to normal and people’s jobs will be saved. Although hesitant to add the task to her already busy photography business and publishing the biweekly Black Mountain Post, Emma decides to look into the case when Liz’s former boyfriend is arrested for the murder. Will Emma’s ancestral gift of aura reading be enough to solve the case or will an innocent man take the blame and a murderer go free? 

Excerpt:

Chapter One 

Saturday at Dawn

Like most people, I enjoy a good wedding. Especially when it is someone else’s. But when my big brother’s widow told me that she and Trent Cochran planned to get married in the fall, I thought it was a bit premature. I mean, Becky had only just started seeing the guy. Did she even know Trent? I mean, really know him. Can any of us say we really know a person? 

Now, I admit he was good looking, in a tall, dark, and lean way, but getting married? Wow! 

“So, what happened to Drew Carter,” I asked when I saw her after I heard her wedding plans, trying to remember if Becky had told me why she ended it with her former boyfriend. “I thought you and Drew were hot for each other. He’s such a nice guy.” 

“Drew’s nice, Emma,” she told me then, “but he doesn’t have ambition. He’s just happy to be working at the lumber mill for fifteen dollars an hour. I need someone with more ambition. You know, I have my boys to worry about. Trent has more ambition.” 

“What about Eddie Jordan,” I had asked about another nice guy she saw after my big brother, her husband, was murdered. We all grew up with Eddie and now he coached at the Black Mountain High School. 

“All Eddie wanted to do was play games. He wasn’t serious about anything if it didn’t involve sports.” 

Of course, all that ambition or seriousness doesn’t do you any good if you end up dead the morning of your wedding. 

Becky’s opinion aside, I always had mix feelings about Trent, especially his dark orange aura. The color of an aura I associate with people who can’t make commitments. 

I’ve always been able to see a person’s aura. When I was young I thought everyone could. It wasn’t until my grandmother, Louise Looking Bird, explained that my aura reading ability was handed down to me by my Cherokee ancestors. A special gift that not just everyone had. 

I use my aura reading gift in my portrait photography. I found I got the best results if I clicked the shutter at the moment of a subject’s aura’s rightest moment. My old editor praised my work saying, my shots captured the real essence of people, and their likeness was so real it was as if the subject was only caught between breaths. 

So, the wedding plan went forward and the morning after the big rehearsal dinner Trent Cochran threw at the Shaw Winery, I donned my heavy parka, grabbed my camera, and clenching my teeth, I went for a walk with my dog, Blue. The old pro photographers I used to work with always said never go anywhere without your camera because you never know what you might see. 

The first freeze of the season swooped down the mountain in the morning catching the small mountain town in a surprise early winter of ice and cold. The kind of cold you meet with strong hot coffee and double layers of clothes. Since I was out so early, I thought I’d take a few photos of the sunrise over the frozen town. 

My dog, Blue, never feels the cold like people, so pulled on her leash dragging me along, happy to be outside. I got Blue as a gift for solving a murder two years ago and we started a rough get acquainted period but came out the other end better for our trial. We’ve settled into kind of a mother - teenage daughter type of life together, in the little mountain town of Black Mountain I moved back to after swearing I never would. Except in this relationship, Blue was more the mother and me more the daughter. 

We walked along a tributary of the Swannanoa River, right before a wide bend that flows at the northern edge of town. In the old days, like a hundred and fifty years ago, before electricity, the river’s powerful flow turned a big water wheel at the mill. It drove the saw that cut the lumber and crushed the grain that made the Shaw family the richest in the Valley of the Three Forks. 

Although I’m part Shaw, I’ve tended to shy away from the recognition because they are a greedy bunch. The Shaw family owns just about everything in town including the bank, general store, real estate company, and the renovated historic water wheel where they sell tourist souvenirs, mountain crafts, wine from their vineyard, and baked goods from the community women who make the best pies in the state. 

In a major irony, it appeared that I inherited the same business genetic make-up that drove the founding fathers of the Shaw clan. I returned to my childhood home to open my own business, a photography studio. A good many people, mostly men, laughed at my choice of an enterprise since these days everyone carries a phone camera and thinks of themselves as the next Ansel Adams. But through a varied menu of services and products I’ve managed to survive in the business world, thank you very much. 

At the bend in the river, where Main Street straightens out, Blue and I approached a trio of County Sheriff cruisers, lights flashing in the early morning light, and several red trucks and a vehicle from the volunteer rescue squad. A big crowd started to form in front of the historic water wheel complex. Not one to miss an opportunity to capture a moment, I clicked off several shots of the flashing lights reflecting off the water, with the mill a dark shadow looming over the scene. 

“What’s going on?” I asked Shelby Shaw when I saw her in front of the mill. Shelby is the mayor’s wife and the manager of the mill. As she stood outside the yellow taped off area, I shot a profile of her with the mill in the background. Even in the morning her aura brimmed out in a dark gold, a sign of people having trouble.  

“I can’t believe it,” she moaned. 

“What?” 

“I found Trent Cochran, down in the water wheel pond,” she said. “Looks like he’s dead.” 

Author Bio:

I was born and raised in East LA. After college I spent two years with the Peace Corps teaching elementary school in a small African village by day and reading and writing by candlelight at night. Before I retired from full time work, I was Director of Development for the City of Winston-Salem, NC and spent many seasons traveling throughout the small towns in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Now I write full time and teach part-time with the local community college system.  

My first novel of historical fiction was, The Cottage on the Bay, published by Moonshine Cove Publishing and came out in 2018 and my second book, Murder on Black Mountain, the first in a mystery series, came out in 2020 from Fire Star Press. The second book in my Black Mountain Mystery series came out in 2022 by Indigo Sea Press, the third book in the series came out in June 2023, and the fourth book in the series released in August 2025. I have a recent mystery book, Cabana Bay, published with The Wild Rose Press released on May 14, 2025, and an action/adventure book released on September 22, 2025.  

 

Favorite Writing Tools on the Frontier by Caroline Clemmons

 I write using a desktop computer now.  In fact, I like to listen to classical music while I write. On the frontier, writing wasn’t as simple as popping open a laptop! Historians and fiction writers know that the tools of the trade shaped how stories, records, and letters were created in the Old West. Let’s explore the everyday implements that kept the West in touch and paved the way for modern storytellers. 

Quill Pens and Reed Pens 

In the 1800s, quill pens—made from large bird feathers—were the most common writing tool before steel nib pens became mainstream. Quills needed regular cutting and dipping, but their fine lines suited everything from ledgers to heartfelt letters. Reed pens, used earlier, fell out of favor but are still worth a mention for their influence on writing’s evolution. 

Metal Nib Pens 

By the mid-nineteenth century, steel-nibbed dip pens had mostly replaced quills. These pens offered better durability, were less expensive, and were easier to use for people living far from trading posts or towns with stationers. A steel pen, a bottle of ink, and a steady hand—those were the tools of many a frontier correspondent. 

Pencils—Yes, Even Mechanical! 

Pencils were surprisingly common in the Old West—both the classic wooden type and early mechanical pencils! Easier to use on the go, they required no ink or sharpening on the spot (especially the mechanical kind). Soldiers and travelers preferred graphite for convenience and legibility, keeping stubs in pockets for everything from making notes to sketching a map.  Plus, letters written in pencil didn’t smear if they got wet, an important plus for travelers who might get caught in a rainstorm or have to ford a river or creek. 

Ink and Inkwells 

Powdered or liquid ink, usually black or dark blue, paired with a small glass or ceramic inkwell was a standard desk accessory. Ink was precious on the frontier; spilling it meant a delay in correspondence until the next shipment arrived—sometimes by stagecoach or telegraph delivery wagons. 

Paper and Notebooks 

Paper could be scarce and valuable on the frontier, with folks often using scraps, ledger books, or folded sheets for letters. Some writers reused envelopes or stitched their own paper together into makeshift notebooks, especially in Army regiments or remote settlements. 

Why This Matters for Western Readers

For today’s historical and romance readers, seeing the right details in a romance when the heroine pens a letter to her beau adds depth and authenticity to the characters and their world. Next time the heroine pens a secret letter or the cowboy tallies supplies, you’ll know just what’s lying on their desk—or tucked into their pocket. 

What writing or communication details do you love seeing in Old West stories? Share your favorites in the comments! 

The Roomate Agreement by A. Akinosho

 

 

One apartment.

One fake boyfriend.

One agreement waiting to be broken.

The Roommate Agreement

The Agreement Series Book 3

by A. Akinosho

Genre: Billionaire Fake Dating Romance

One apartment. One fake boyfriend. One agreement waiting to be broken.

Makayla:
I’m tired of my dad playing matchmaker.
As a music teacher juggling life with sickle cell disease, I don’t have time—or energy—for forced dinner dates with “eligible men.”
So, I come up with a plan: find a fake boyfriend, let him move in, and make it believable.
Daniel was never supposed to say yes.
He’s a grumpy, emotionally walled-off lawyer who hates chaos and clings to solitude.
But now he’s in my apartment—tall, brooding, infuriatingly neat—and fitting into my world way too easily.
I don’t believe in love. Not when life has taught me it rarely sticks around.
But something about him feels dangerously real.

Daniel:
Something about her captured my attention the moment I met her.
I knew I was in trouble.
Controlled and always alone—that’s who I’ve been.
But I said yes before I could stop myself.
Because moving into her tea-scented, music-filled home was the only way I could be close to her.
She’s sunshine and sharp edges. She hums while stirring honey into her cup and smiles through pain like it’s nothing.
This was supposed to be pretend.
But with every stolen glance and late-night conversation, the line between real and fake keeps slipping.
She doesn’t believe in love.
I never thought it was possible.
But living with her is rewriting everything I thought I knew—
And walking away might not be an option.

 

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**Don’t miss the other books in the series!**

The Handshake Agreement

The Agreement Series Book 1

He promised her the world, Then abandoned her at the altar.

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The Marriage Agreement

The Agreement Series Book 2

The best laid plans sometimes crumble, but fate has the perfect detour.

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A. Akinosho lives in her own little nest in Illinois. An avid reader and enjoy reading thrillers, suspense and romance novels (partial to romance genre). When, She’s not reading or keeping up with life. She enjoys writing and creating twist to stories. She loves writing about diverse characters, friendship and overcoming challenges through, what is perceived as a weakness.

 

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Falling On Southport by M.J. Slater

Falling On Southport

by M.J. Slater

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Book Blurb:

Perfect marriage. Prestigious family. Political privilege. Abigail Lethican’s world unravels when her husband admits to infidelity. Reeling from his betrayal, she follows him—only to become the prime suspect when he turns up dead. With her trial looming and the media circling, she finds an unexpected ally in her handsome and enigmatic neighbor. As they search for the truth, Abigail discovers her husband's polished facade concealed a maze of dangerous secrets. Sometimes, the deadliest lies hide in plain sight.

Excerpt:

My grandfather stood erect. His powerful form was equally matched against Jim’s. My grandmother sat in her wheelchair. She was immaculately coiffed with the cardigan of her twin sweater set arranged over her petite shoulders, but her expressionless face remained intent on the wall in front of her.  

“Hello, Grandfather!” Bounding down the stairs, I leaped down, hugging him hard and breathing in his scent. “It’s so good to see you.” I kneeled and took my grandmother’s hand in my own. “Hello, Grandmother, I’m your granddaughter, Abigail.”  

My grandmother looked up and smiled. “That’s so nice. You know, you have such a nice face, dear. Maybe you can help me. Do you know when they serve lunch on this flight?”  

My mother stepped in and wheeled her mother to the kitchen. “Yes, ma’am, lunch is being served right now. Allow me to take you to your seat.”  

“She’s getting worse,” I said to no one in particular. “Yes, she is. The doctor is not very positive about her progress. The nature of Alzheimer’s, you know,” Grandfather said, looking up at Jim and clapping him on the shoulder. “I’ve been talking to your fella here, Abigail, and I approve. He has a fine head on his shoulders. I’d better go check on your grandmother and maybe sneak a canapé or two.”  

Alone now, I looked at Jim and smiled. “So you’ve met Grandfather. What do you think?”  

“I mean, he’s great. I feel giddy. It’s crazy that the senator is your grandfather. He’s been behind every major piece of legislation for forty years.”  

“Well, he’s still just Grandfather to me. I’m glad you got a chance to meet him. He means a lot to me.”  

Devin walked in, slightly unstable. “Aha, I see you’ve met the esteemed senator and worshiped at his alter no doubt.” Miraculously the words were not slurred. Jim’s fist clenched. “I just introduced myself. You know, you should consider yourself lucky to have such a great man in the family. My grandfather was best known for his moonshine.” He paused. “Then again, maybe you would have had more in common with him than you do the senator.”  

Devin’s face grew dark and his chest puffed up, the rage rolling off of him toward Jim. I cut in between them, immediately hit by the smell of alcohol on my brother’s breath. “Relax! Cut it out. This is not the place to start one of your childish fights. Also, you stink of booze. It’s not even two in the afternoon. Keep it together. Dad is going to kill you. Maybe you should go have some coffee. Or let’s all go get something to eat in the kitchen. Mom made deviled eggs. You both like those. Maybe you could bond over that.”  

Devin’s hostility toward Jim set off alarm bells in my head. He was a born curmudgeon, but his new predilection for plain cruelty was off-putting. “Just ignore him,” I whispered in Jim’s ear as we headed toward the kitchen door. “Apparently, he and Dad had a big fight. He’s just upset and taking it out on you.”  

“That’s no excuse for it. If he wasn’t your brother, I would have taken a swing at him.” 

Author Bio:

M. J. Slater is a native Chicagoan. After attending the University of Chicago, she spent 15 years in finance. She loves film noir, yoga, and walking along Lake Michigan with her dog. She lives in the suburbs with her husband and two girls.

My Favorite Frontier Holiday Scenes by Caroline Clemmons

When my children were young, we would watch It's A Wonderful Life every Christmas.  My youngest daughter and I still watch it.  I started thinking about how my characters might have celebrated their holidays in the 1880s in Texas. Here are a few of my favorite images, drawn from both history and the frontier families in my books.

Tucked-Away Christmas Trees and Homemade Decor 

Christmas trees weren’t common in every frontier home until the late 1800s, but when families had one, it was often a scrub cedar or pine, tucked in a corner to save space. Decorations came from what was on hand: strings of popcorn or cranberries, yarn, homemade paper chains, cookies, and sometimes dried fruit or nuts—pecans especially, if the harvest was good. No glittering glass baubles, but plenty of charm and ingenuity. 

Gift-Giving and Stockings 

Gifts were simple, heartfelt, and practical: maybe a handmade doll, a knitted scarf, a tin cup, a cake, or—if you were truly lucky—a shiny new penny in your stocking. Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about receiving just a tin cup, a peppermint stick, and a heart-shaped cake—and feeling wealthy indeed. In my stories, I love depicting children’s delight over small treasures, and the tenderness of parents who made every morsel of Christmas magic from scratch. 

Community Feasts and Gatherings 

No frontier holiday was complete without music, laughter, and a hearty meal—even if it wasn’t extravagant. Game, cornbread, beans, dried fruits, and pies (vinegar pie was a prairie staple) filled plates. Cowboys and settlers would sometimes gather at the largest home, or even in a barn or blacksmith shop, for public celebrations, swapping songs played on fiddles, mouth organs, and singing carols late into the night. Special dances, like the famed Cowboy Christmas Ball in Anson, Texas, remind us how cherished these moments were. 

Holiday Worship and Reflection 

On the prairie, Christmas Day often started at church or with a prayer at home. Gratitude, hope, and togetherness were what people focused on, reflecting on the year that had passed and the bonds that held them close—no matter storms, drought, or uncertain futures. 

Resilience and Joy 

Frontier families knew how to make do—turning hardship into opportunity, and scarcity into celebration. Their holidays glowed with warmth, community spirit, and a belief that together, they could face anything. The scenes I write—whether candlelit gatherings, children at their first real Christmas tree, or couples sharing precious moments beside a roaring fire—are my tribute to the enduring joy and hope found on the Texas frontier. 

Share your favorite historical holiday memory, or let me know which frontier scene you’d most like to step into!

 

Brian by Alisa Jean

 

 

Sweet heat.

Sharp skates.

One perfect shot at forever.

Brian

A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series Book 4

by Alisa Jean

Genre: Hockey Sports Romance

Sweet heat. Sharp skates. One perfect shot at forever.

Brian Anderson has always been the good guy—center for the Los Angeles Quakes, team peacemaker, and top scorer. He’s watched his teammates fall in love one by one, but he’s stayed far from the line of fire—until a fierce left winger blindsides him in a no-holds-barred charity game. Alexis Barlowe doesn’t care about NHL fame. She’s too busy raising her daughter and guarding her heart after one betrayal too many.

Brian is determined in his pursuit, and Alexis eventually lets him in. He’s everything Peter, her ex, wasn’t—kind, dependable, crazy about her and her daughter. But when a woman from Brian’s past shows up five months pregnant and claiming he’s the father, Alexis’s walls come crashing back down.

The test says the baby is his. But Brian swears it’s not true. As secrets unravel and old wounds reopen, both must decide if love is worth the risk—or if their happily ever after is just another story cut short.

Brian:
Hockey Romance
He Falls First, Insta Love
Single Mom
Secret Daughter
She Plays Hockey
Insta Family
Confirmed Bachelor
She Doesn’t Believe In Love
Perennial Good Guy

 

 

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Lincoln

A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series Book 1

 

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Luka

A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series Book 2

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Matthew

A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series Book 3

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Alisa Jean is the pseudonym for award-winning authors Marla A. White and C J Bahr. They first teamed up over thirty years ago over a bottle of Zima (don’t ask) while polishing their gear for a horse show. They’ve since moved on to better beverages and writing novels. Separately, Marla prefers to murder characters in the usual way, while C J uses paranormal means. The long-time best friends joined together as a writing team through their mutual love of hockey. Wonder twin powers activated! Their hockey romances examine flawed characters with heart, humor, and sexy sizzle.

 

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All or None by Clive Fleury

 

 

As bodies pile up and bombs go off, Detective Ryan finds murder is the least of his problems—family secrets and a distracting romance threaten to blow his investigation apart.

All Or None

A Detective Ryan Mystery #2

by ,

Genre: Cozy Mystery 

Returning to Sydney, Detective Ramesh Ryan is promoted to the Homicide Squad. Zoe Yang joins him there. Now a detective herself, she is assigned as his junior partner. Straight up, the cops are off and running-investigating the discovery of a murdered company director. Following the clues, Detective Ryan finds that this and a second murder may be linked to past events.

As the pressure mounts for a quick solution to the case, the detective finds that he too, is in the killer's crosshairs. But Ryan is distracted from the investigation by a romantic encounter with an old university friend. He also worries about his mother, Mumta, and her new obsessive desire for grandchildren from her only son. Could this be linked to her recent medical tests? And there's another pressing problem-the plague of rats in his apartment block.

Detective Ryan's hands are well and truly full!

 

**New Release – Nov 11, 2025!**

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Off Season

A Detective Ryan Mystery #1

Detective Ryan navigates drug overdoses, a mysterious foot on the beach and a long-buried cold case.

Detective Ramesh Ryan's career with Sydney's prestigious Organized Crime Unit is on the up, until he loses a court case against the city's most powerful drug dealer. In disgrace, the detective is relocated to the tiny Australian beach town of Barton.

It is off-season in Barton-when its few criminals usually take a well-earned rest. But not this year! With the detective's arrival, the town suddenly becomes murder central. Two bodies are discovered in the space of days, both victims of drug overdoses. Then a mysterious foot is found washed up on the beach, and memories are awoken of an unsolved cold case of the teenager who disappeared fifteen years ago. Add to this a blossoming romance, along with a contract taken out on Ryan's life, and it's clear that the detective has jumped out of the Sydney frying pan into the Barton fire.

What follows is an action-packed adventure, thrilling at every turn-where truth and lies are almost impossible to separate, and unexpected twists are the order of the day.

 

Praise For OFF SEASON

 

“Off Season is a sensational and thrilling mystery that will take its reader on a journey of ups and downs and twists and turns galore while always entertaining and thrilling you!”

 —Aimee – GOODREADS review

 

“Attention grabber. Moves quickly and smoothly. Informative. Enjoyable. Don't miss.”

—Margaret – GOODREADS review

 

“Fleury masterfully crafts a narrative that is both fast-paced and intricately plotted. The story kicks off with a bang and maintains its momentum throughout, with each chapter ending on a tantalizing cliffhanger. The plot is peppered with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers interested.”

—J. Komrie - GOODREADS review

 

“Great build-up of suspense, a layered plot, and an enticing protagonist. Takes a lot of turns, which I love. This is definitely a page turner for anyone who loves a good crime mystery.”

—Carolina Rolim – Verified AMAZON reader review

 

 

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Clive Fleury is an award-winning writer of books and screenplays and has worked all over the world as a Film/TV director, writer and producer. He has written six books, most recently 'All Or None', the second novel in the Detective Ryan Murder Mystery series.

 

'All Or None' sees Detective Ryan back in the thick of things. His latest investigation into a mysterious death couldn’t come at a worse time. He discovers his mother is hiding a troubling secret and is further sidetracked by a new romance. Fans of who dunnit's, crime thrillers, and cop and detective stories will love this novel. 

 

Clive's other books include 'Off Season' - book one in the Detective Ryan Murder Mystery series; 'Kill Code' - a dystopian science fiction novel set in a world facing climate change;  ‘Scary Lizzy’  - a novel about an eight year old girl, who befriends an African child ghost –  and the teen action adventure book; ‘The Boy Next Door ‘ -  a story of what happens when a teenage girl has a crush on her next door neighbor, who isn’t all he seems.  He also co-wrote ‘Art Pengriffin and The Curse of The Four’ - a young adult fantasy adventure about a teenage boy who discovers his father was Merlin the Magician.

 

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Crafting the Perfect Western Romance Heroine: Inspired by Grit by Caroline Clemmons

 

As an author of Western romance, one of the questions I’m often asked is how I create heroines that feel both historically authentic and deeply inspiring. The secret lies in looking beyond the well-polished images of the Old West and diving into the raw, often heartbreaking accounts left behind by the women who settled Texas in the 1880s. 

I’ve found invaluable insight within the diaries and letters of these women, not just on how they lived, but on the indomitable spirit that defined their existence. Texas in that era wasn’t for the faint of heart. The environment could be harsh, the weather unpredictable, and help was often miles or days away. Women who came from the Eastern United States, expecting a more genteel frontier experience, frequently found themselves unprepared for the realities of prairie life. Many, tragically, didn’t survive the challenges. 

But the women who did were described in a single word—grit. Grit was more than stubbornness; it was a blend of resilience and adaptability, a refusal to surrender, no matter how dire the circumstances. Whether that meant fighting off prairie fires, patching up sod houses, or foraging for food during hard times, these women pressed forward with determination. 

Reading the firsthand accounts left by these women brings their struggles—and their triumphs—to vivid life. Day after day, they faced hardship, from failed crops to isolation, yet their spirit shines through every sentence. When I craft my heroines, I draw upon these voices, striving to capture not only their endurance but also their hopes, humor, and fierce love for family, land, and freedom. 

In my stories, my heroines are not damsels waiting to be rescued. Instead, they face adversity head-on, often saving themselves or working side by side with the hero to overcome challenges. They might make mistakes, feel fear, or shed tears, but ultimately, it is their grit—the quality those early Texan women carried—that enables them to not only survive but thrive. 

For today’s reader, such heroines offer inspiration that transcends time. Their lessons are clear: Strength is found in perseverance, courage is cultivated through adversity, and hope is a vital companion on even the hardest trails. By channeling the essence of those diary entries into my heroines, I aim to honor the real women who helped shape Texas—and to encourage every reader to find a little more grit in themselves. 

Thanksgiving Overruled by Libby Kay

 

 

Cozy up this season with the newest Pinegrove FD Romance book!

Thanksgiving Overruled

A Pinegrove FD Novel Book 3

by Libby Kay

Genre: Contemporary Small-Town Firefighter Sapphic Romance

Everyone wants to hear those three little words during the holidays…

Where’s the casserole?!

Winnie Kerr wants to utter another three-word phrase to her girlfriend, but Thanksgiving has other plans. After spending far too much time on work, this legal eagle decides an impromptu road trip to visit her sister is the perfect time to tell her girlfriend she loves her. What could go wrong during a few days away from work, right?

Mari Balogh has a problem, she’s madly in love with her girlfriend and cannot get those three little words off her tongue. After being burned before from her unsupportive family and a string of bad breakups, this paralegal is guarded. She happily agrees on a road trip to Pinegrove, eager for the space to profess her affections. How hard can it be, right?

From a little trespassing and a kitchen nightmare to a surly cat and a series of misunderstandings, the road to I love you is rife with hiccups. Can these two find their way to happily ever after? Or will their relationship go up in a puff of sweet potato casserole scented smoke?

But Pinegrove has proven that love is never overruled!

Return to small-town Pinegrove, Georgia, the romantic setting of Libby Kay’s endearing novels, When Sparks Fly and Old Flames, as well as the 2026 novel about another of the hunky firemen in town. Don’t miss any of the action or romance!

 

**NEW RELEASE!**

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**Don’t miss the other books in the series!**

 

When Sparks Fly

A Pinegrove FD Novel Book 1

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Old Flames

A Pinegrove FD Novel Book 2

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Libby Kay lives in the city in the heart of the Midwest with her husband. When she’s not writing, Libby loves reading romance novels of any kind. Stories of people falling in love nourish her soul. Contemporary or Regency, sweet or hot, as long as there is a happily ever after—she’s in love!

When not surrounded by books, Libby can be found baking in her kitchen, binging true crime shows, or on the road with her husband, traveling as far as their bank account will allow.

Libby cohosts the Romance Roundup podcast with Liz Donatelli where they recommend romance books and interview authors, influencers, and publishers. Check it out for your weekly dose of romance!

 

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