Welcome once again to my series; A Year of Tropes. This month we’re talking about the Grumpy/Sunshine trope!
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As you already know, I’m not a big fan of lying. I like to think of myself as a pretty straight shooter, so you can believe me when I say Grumpy/Sunshine is one of my favorite relationship tropes!
If I were an animal, I imagine I’d probably be a cat. A little aloof, mysterious, and a sucker for a good laser pointer. And my best friend would probably be a wiener dog because she loves a frank!
Just kidding! She’d be a corgi because she’s so cuddly, friendly, and everyone who meets her thinks she’s just the cutest thing ever!
In our relationships as best friends, we kind of embody the Grumpy/Sunshine trope, which is to say that the trope doesn’t have to always apply to romantic relationships. It could describe parents with their children, siblings, or (obviously) best friends.
That said, much of the popularity of this trope focuses on romantic relationships over other meaningful connections such as the ones stated above.
Take for instance two of my favorite movies as examples:
If you’re familiar with this series, you know every movie I pick is my favorite movie 😂. To be fair to me, I’m not big on watching TV, so I get my audio-visual fix through the ultimate form of cinema – movies.
And these two are movies that hold a special place for me. When I had access to nothing but my great aunt’s collection of VHS’s and TBS, these were two movies I didn’t mind watching over and over again.
10 Things I Hate About You follows Cameron James, new to Padua High School, who wants desperately to date It Girl Bianca Stratford. There’s only one problem, Bianca is absolutely forbidden by her father to date anyone until her somewhat cantankerous older sister finds a boyfriend of her own. And since Kat – the aforementioned cantankerous sister – refuses to sully herself with the pishposh of high school romance, Cameron and Joey (Mr. Popular who also wants to date Bianca) launch a somewhat sinister plan. They hire Australian bad boy Patrick Verona to seduce Kat with all his… teenagey wiles? As you can imagine, many a shenanigan ensue.
Not only was 10 Things I Hate About You inspired by The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare, it also sparked my own life long crush on Heath Ledger.
10 Things I Hate About You is quite the cultural powerhouse when it comes to teen romances. For its time, Kat was a pretty extreme character who bucked the typical typecast, and that she remained mostly untamed was a feat within itself for a genre that doesn’t always look too kindly at strong willed female protagonists. Typically, such a character would have to learn a lesson and ease up on her defiant ways to ultimately earn the love she craved.
Kat does soften but only because she first feels seen and admired for who she is by Patrick. It’s not the perfect movie, obviously, but I think it does Grumpy/Sunshine rather well between Kat and Patrick.
A Low Down Dirty Shame likewise features a grumpy character (Andre Shame played by Keenen Ivory Wayans) falling in love with a sunshine character (Peaches played by Jada Pinkett-Smith). But that’s where most of the similarities between the two movies end.
A Low Down Dirty Shame follows former Detective turned private investigator Andre Shame as his last case as a detective comes back to haunt him. He learns that the drug kingpin he thought he’d killed, and who Shame blames for the death of his squad, is actually alive and looking for his ex-girlfriend turned informer, Angela. Sonny Rothmiller, his former colleague turned DEA agent, charges Shame with tracking her down and bringing her in for her own protection. The only problem is… Angela is Shame’s ex-girlfriend too.
Obliviously, things get very complicated for Shame and Peaches.
Unlike 10 Things I Hate About You, critics did not love A Low Down Dirty Shame. It was even rated in a few "Top 10 Worst Movies” lists at the time of its release. To be fair, A Low Down Dirty Shame isn’t my favorite title by Keenan Ivory Wayans, but it remains beloved in my heart anyways for its high quotability and re-watch rate in my family.
And therein lies the beauty of tropes, as I’m so found of harping about. Two vastly different stories brought together only through their use of one particular trope.
Tropes don’t have to be the end all be all to a story. In my opinion, tropes are at their best when they’re used as just one of the building blocks to bring a story together.
Change of Heart
A Novel
Published in 2025
Campbell Andrews despises exactly three things in life: incompetence, tardiness, and love stories. Making partner at her law firm at thirty-four, she has no time for anything or anyone else. And certainly no respect for those who choose love over work. That is, until she wakes up in Heart Springs -- her own personal hell. The good news? She's not dead. She's been magically transported to a small town straight out of the Hallmark channel, complete with a meddling mayor, seasonal festivals, and friendly townsfolk. Cam can't stand it, but in order to make it back to her real life, she has to fulfill three tasks... foremost among them, experience true love. It seems impossible. But anything's possible with a change of heart.-- Publisher description
Some Like It Scot
A Novel
Published in 2025
"She lives her life on the fly. His heart is double-knotted to home. Can two different souls create a life together?"-- Provided by publisher.
Can't Get Enough of the Duke
Published in 2026
USA Today bestseller Lenora Bell continues her sparkling, sensual Thunderbolt Club series with a marriage of convenience between a grumpy, combat-scarred duke and his cheerful and beautiful ward.War hero Deckard Payne, Duke of Warburton, made a battlefield promise to become guardian to orphan Analise Crewe. He certainly didn't agree to marry the girl! But that's exactly what happens when he's forced to wed her to save her honor. The last thing Analise wants is a loveless marriage to a brooding--albeit handsome--duke who lives in a gloomy castle and keeps his doors--and his heart--tightly locked. He's determined to keep her at arm's length--but she's not easily deterred when there's a tough case to crack. Warburton never wanted a wife. Especially an inquisitive and far-too-pretty whirlwind who upends his regimented life. Her sunny, winning ways charm everyone she meets and soon she's unearthing buried secrets, plotting love matches, and shining light into even the darkest of hearts...his own.
Her Time Traveling Duke
Published in 2025
"Magic meets science and sunshine meets grumpy when a love spell whisks a Regency-era duke to modern times. Rose Novak, a free-spirited museum employee who dabbles in magic, has had her share of disappointments. So when she tries a little spell for a romance with an "old-fashioned gentleman," she doesn't really expect it to work...especially literally. And yet, the duke from a painting she admired at the museum is now standing in her apartment, demanding to know who abducted him. A man of science and truth, Henry Leighton-Lyons, the Duke of Beresford, has searched tirelessly for a way to turn back time and be with his late wife again. Instead, just as he's about to pose for his portrait, he's ripped centuries forward by a feckless, scantily dressed-and utterly bewitching-woman who believes in nonsense like crystals and astrology. Unable to immediately reverse her spell, Rose vows to help Henry return to his own century, even though disguises and high jinks are required to get their hands on an enchanted astrolabe and master the art of time travel. But it's hard not to fall for the irritable yet honorable duke. Little does she know that he's starting to wonder: did a reckless love spell get it right, after all?"-- Provided by publisher.
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries
Published in 2023
"In the early 1900s, a curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town to study faerie folklore, where she discovers dark fae magic, friendship, and love. Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on dryadology, the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world's first encylopedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party--much less get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog Shadow, and the Fair Folk to that of friends or lovers. So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hransvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: the dashing and insufferably handsome Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of her research, and utterly confound and frustrate Emily. But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones--the most elusive of all faeries--lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she'll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all--her own heart"-- Provided by publisher.
Under Loch and Key
Published in 2024
"A woman discovers that not all monsters are her enemy-the opposite, in fact-in this new paranormal romance by Lana Ferguson, author of The Fake Mate. Keyanna "Key" MacKay is used to secrets. Raised by a single father who never divulged his past, it's only after his death that she finds herself thrust into the world he'd always refused to speak of. With just a childhood bedtime story about a monster that saved her father's life and the name of her estranged grandmother to go off of, Key has no idea what she'll find in Scotland. But repeating her father's mistakes and being rescued by a gorgeous, angry Scotsman-who thinks she's an idiot-is definitely the last thing she expects. Lachlan Greer has his own secrets to keep, especially from the bonnie lass he pulls to safety from the slippery shore-a lass with captivating eyes and the last name he's been taught not to trust. He's looking for answers as well, and Key's presence on the grounds they both now occupy presents a real problem. It's even more troublesome when he gets a front row seat to the lukewarm welcome Key receives from her family; the strange powers she begins to develop; and the fierce determination she brings to every obstacle in her path. Things he shouldn't care about, and someone he definitely doesn't find wildly attractive. When their secrets collide, it becomes clear that Lachlan could hold the answers Keyanna is after-and that she might also be the key to uncovering his. Up against time, mystery, and a centuries old curse, they'll quickly discover that magic might not only be in fairy tales, and that love can be a real loch-mess"-- Provided by publisher.
Outdrawn
Published in 2023
"Noah Blue's finally got her foot in the door. After clawing her way to the top of the charts with her webcomic, she's garnered enough attention to earn a full-time position at a comic company re-launching their cult classic comic: Queen Leisah. Queen Leisah is predicted to be an instant bestseller with movie deals already in the making. Things are falling into place. There's nowhere to go but up ... as soon as she gets one person out of her way. Sage Montgomery has always been the best artist in every building she's stepped foot in. Raw talent's gotten her webcomic to the top of the charts every month for the past eight years. She's been the best for as long as she can remember. Sure, her career has plateaued but that can be fixed with a big, mainstream comic. She was promised full creative control over Leisah. Instead, she got a shared credit with the one artist who's been breathing down her neck since college. The one artist who has a fighting chance of being better than her. Sage and Noah have to work as a team--or, at least appear to work as a team. They thought the hardest part of the relaunch would be drawing together. But that's easy in comparison to resisting their feelings for each other." -- Provided by publisher.
10 Things That Never Happened
Published in 2023
"FAKE AMNESIA. REAL FEELINGS? REAL PROBLEMS. Sam Becker loves-or, okay, likes-his job. Sure, managing a bed and bath retailer isn't exactly glamorous, but it's good work and he gets on well with the band of misfits who keep the store running. He could see himself being content here for the long haul. Too bad, then, that the owner is an infuriating git. Jonathan Forest should never have hired Sam. It was a sentimental decision, and Jonathan didn't get where he is by following his heart. Determined to set things right, Jonathan orders Sam down to London for a difficult talk...only for a panicking Sam to trip, bump his head, and maybe accidentally imply he doesn't remember anything? Faking amnesia seemed like a good idea when Sam was afraid he was getting sacked, but now he has to deal with the reality of Jonathan's guilt-as well as the unsettling fact that his surly boss might have a softer side to him. There's an unexpected freedom in getting a second shot at a first impression...but as Sam and Jonathan grow closer, can Sam really bring himself to tell the truth, or will their future be built entirely on one impulsive lie?"-- Provided by publisher.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown
Published in 2021
"Eve Brown is a certified hot mess. No matter how hard she strives to do right, her life always goes horribly wrong--so she's given up trying. But when her personal brand of chaos ruins an expensive wedding (someone had to liberate those poor doves), her parents draw the line. It's time for Eve to grow up and prove herself even though she's not entirely sure how. Jacob Wayne is in control. Always. The bed and breakfast owner is on a mission to dominate the hospitality industry and he expects nothing less than perfection. So when a purple-haired tornado of a woman turns up out of the blue to interview for his open chef position, he tells her the brutal truth: not a chance in hell. Then she hits him with her car supposedly by accident. Yeah, right. Now his arm is broken, his B&B is understaffed, and the dangerously unpredictable Eve is fluttering around, trying to help. Before long, she's infiltrated his work, his kitchen and his spare bedroom. Jacob hates everything about it. Or rather, he should. Sunny, chaotic Eve is his natural-born nemesis, but the longer these two enemies spend in close quarters, the more their animosity turns into something else. Like Eve, the heat between them is impossible to ignore and it's melting Jacob's frosty exterior."-- provided by publisher.
You Had Me at Happy Hour
Published in 2024
"O' little town of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania--it may be charming, but Julien Boire can't wait to get out of there. Soon he'll be leaving to take an advanced wine course that will put him on track to become a master sommelier. Meantime, his OCD demands he keep clear of distractions, especially the hot new hire at his aunt and uncle's restaurant, Martin's Place. Which should be easy, because Greg Harlow is as ill-suited to Julien as a bold cabernet is to a delicate salmon entrée. Charismatic and confident, Greg is a TikTok mixologist who could charm a paper bag--even one as tightly wound as Julien. One thing they do have in common: neither wants a relationship. Greg's history with dating is ... complicated. Yet working together isn't. First, they're teaming up to launch a series of happy hour events at Martin's Place. Then they're agreeing to a no-strings sex pact that involves new worlds of experimentation. Nothing is off-limits. Except a future. It's exactly how Julien wants it. Except for the little part of him that wonders if maybe he's about to lose the kind of happy that could last much longer than an hour ..." -- Back cover.
The Romantic Agenda
Published in 2022
"Joy is in love with Malcolm. Malcolm wants to date Summer. Summer is in love with love. And Fox is Summer's ex-boyfriend. Thirty, flirty, and asexual, Joy is secretly in love with her best friend, Malcolm, but she's never been brave enough to say so. When he unexpectedly announces that he's met the love of his life-and no, it's not Joy-she's heartbroken. Malcolm invites her on a weekend getaway, and Joy decides it's her last chance to show him exactly what he's overlooking. But maybe Joy is the one missing something...or someone...and his name is Fox. Fox sees a kindred spirit in Joy-and decides to help her. He proposes they pretend to fall for each other on the weekend trip to make Malcolm jealous. But spending time with Fox shows Joy what it's like to not be the third wheel, and there's no mistaking the way he makes her feel. Could Fox be the romantic partner she's always deserved?"-- Provided by publisher.
Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore
Published in 2025
"A powerful plant witch and a grumpy alchemist must work together in order to save their quiet little town in this debut cozy fantasy. Guy Shadowfade is dead and Violet Thistlethwaite doesn't know what to do with herself. Having spent her life as the dark sorcerer's right hand, the powerful witch is now at loose ends. But she does know one thing: she doesn't want to be evil anymore. For once, she wants to sprout peonies instead of poison. The quaint town of Dragon's Rest, she decides, will be her second chance at life--a place where she can set down roots, open a flower shop, keep her sentient (and mildly homicidal) houseplant out of trouble, and quit dark magic after a lifetime of villainy. While Violet's vibrant bouquets and feats of plant magic soon charm the welcoming townsfolk, nothing she does seems to impress the prickly yet dashingly handsome Nathaniel Marsh, an alchemist sharing her greenhouse. What Violet doesn't know is that Nathaniel is desperately seeking a second chance of his own. But just as Violet thinks she's pruned away all the thorns of her nefarious former life, a mysterious blight threatens her new home and a figure from her past comes knocking. Violet and Nathaniel must work together through their fears, their pasts, and their growing feelings for one another to save their community. But with everything she's built on the line, Violet can't help but wonder...does a villain like her truly deserve to grow her own happily ever after?"-- Provided by publisher.
All the Right Notes
Published in 2023
"Quito Cruz might be a composing and piano genius, but he's a few notes short of success. Broadway, here I don't come. But Quito knows what the problem is. Or rather who. Because ever since that night in college-with pretty-boy jock Emmett Aoki-his inspiration has been completely MIA ... Now Quito's beloved dad wants him to put on a charity performance in his hometown. And there's one hella big string attached: convince Emmett--now one of Hollywood's biggest stars--to perform. It's all shaping up to be the biggest musical fiasco of Quito's life. Especially when that undeniable vibe with Emmett is still there. But there's nothing simple about falling for a closeted movie star ... even when he's pitch-perfect"-- Provided by publisher.
Hot for Preacher
Published in 2026
"When country singer Dixie Pearl's van breaks down in the middle of nowhere, Tennessee, it feels like rock bottom. Sharp-tongued Dixie prides herself on her independence, but after recent health struggles, her dream of making it big has never felt more out of reach. It's pure luck that the burly bearded man who hauls her out of the ditch is a beloved local minister. Dixie's used to dive bars, truck stops and 2:00 a.m. brawls, not kindhearted preachers--especially one this hot. For Jack Carter, being hospitable comes with the territory, but there's something extra-special about Dixie. He's dealt with his fair share of, um, quirky parishioners. But nobody's ever challenged him like firecracker Dixie, stirring an attraction Jack's not sure how to reconcile with his life of devotion. Dixie wants nothing more than to get out of town and back to Nashville, but the white-hot sparks between her and Jack are almost enough to make her want to stay...but only if she can fit their worlds together without letting go of the dreams she refuses to leave behind." -- Back cover.
Give Me Butterflies
A Novel
Published in 2025
"Millie has never taken the expected path. Her childhood love for bugs and science led her to entomology, and her role as a curator, inspiring museum visitors every day. It's her dream to run her own department--so when a rare director position opens, she is determined nothing will distract her from her goal. Especially not Finn, her grumpy coworker with his permanent scowl, electric blue eyes, and endless supply of astronomy ties. Not that she's spent time noticing any of those things. Finn doesn't mean to glare at everyone, but he's juggling his role at the museum, navigating the grief of losing his sister, attempting to make his nieces smile, and trying not to ruin dinner for the fifth night in a row. He can't afford to let anything slip, and certainly doesn't need more to deal with--especially not Millie literally stumbling into him, with her bright smile and sunny optimism. He bugs her. She's too starry-eyed for him. They want nothing to do with each other. But with Finn on the interview committee, avoidance is impossible. And Millie soon realizes it's one thing when a job is on the line. It's quite another when it's her heart"-- Provided by publisher.
Hearts in Circulation
Published in 2025
Little Creek's circulation librarian Hayley Holt's fears come true when her bookmobile breaks down and a rockslide traps her in the small hollow of Turkey Grove. Mechanic Levi Redding's gruff demeanor clashes with the vibrant librarian--now also his temporary houseguest--but their forced proximity sparks a connection, and an exchange of letters awakens love.
Love is a War Song
Published in 2025
"A Muscogee pop star and a cowboy who couldn't be more different come together to strike a deal in this new romantic comedy by Danica Nava, author of The Truth According to Ember. Pop singer Avery Fox has become a national joke after posing scantily clad on the cover of Rolling Stone in a feather war bonnet. What was meant to be a statement of her success as a Native American singer has turned her into a social pariah and dubbed her a fake. With threats coming from every direction and her career at a standstill, she escapes to her estranged grandmother Lottie's ranch in Oklahoma. Living on the rez is new to Avery--not only does she have to work in the blazing summer heat to earn her keep, but the man who runs Lottie's horse ranch despises her and wants her gone. Red Fox Ranch has been home to Lucas Iron Eyes since he was sixteen years old. He has lived by three rules to keep himself out of trouble: 1) preserve the culture, 2) respect the horses, and 3) stick to himself. When he is tasked with picking up Lottie's granddaughter at the bus station, the last person he expected to see is the Avery Fox. Lucas can't stand what she represents, but when he's forced to work with her on the ranch, he can't get her out of his sight--or his head. He reminds himself to stick to his rules, especially after he finds out the ranch is under threat of being shut down. It's clear Avery doesn't belong here, but they form a tentative truce and make a deal: Avery will help raise funds to save the ranch, and in exchange, Lucas will show her what it really means to be an Indian. It's purely transactional, absolutely no horsing around...but where's the fun in that?"-- Provided by publisher.
The Book Tour
A Novel
Published in 2026
"In this sizzling romantic comedy, sparks fly between a debut author and her mismatched publicist as they jet from one city to another on her book tour. Despite her popular motivational podcast and sold-out speaking events, Ana Movilian's hard-to-please mother isn't thrilled she quit med school to build an influencer career. But now that Ana's written a buzzy self-help book and has a packed tour schedule ahead, she can finally prove she made the right career choice. Things are going smoothly. In fact, this is everything she's ever dreamed of. Until, of course, her beloved publicist drops a bomb: she's leaving. And her replacement is none other than scowling, serious Ryan Grant--the man who Ana had kicked off her publication campaign. Ryan specializes in highbrow nonfiction, and after his early fumbles with media promotion, the signs are clear: he doesn't get Ana's book. Or her. And now they're stuck touring the country together for the next two weeks, which feels like a nightmare . . . even if he does fill out his shirt nicely. But with each stop, Ana's assumptions about Ryan take new shape--a decidedly more appealing shape. Soon, their growing attraction starts to feel like a ticking time bomb, but crossing that line could derail both of their careers. And they each have bigger dreams at stake than the bestseller list."-- Provided by publisher.
Honey and Heat
Published in 2025
"She's known as the Ice Princess. He's got a reputation for melting hearts...except hers. Let the rivalry begin. Cynthia Kumar always wins. She's successful, competitive, and knows exactly what she wants: to be the heir to her father's multimillion dollar business. Except, her father just chose his successor and it's not her...it's her one-night stand. Rohit Patel can't believe his luck. He's just landed the opportunity of a lifetime, his future is once again on track, and the woman he just spent the night with could be the love of his life. Except, she's his new boss's daughter and now she hates him. When Kumar Constructions falls under scrutiny, both Cynthia and Rohit are determined to see its tarnished reputation restored to its original glory. As they each try to swoop in and save the day, their game of one-upmanship fails spectacularly, leaving them no choice but to set their differences aside and work together. But as their partnership to save the company--and their feelings for one another--blossoms, they'll have to decide what's more important...their careers or love?"-- Provided by publisher.
Sunshine and Spice
A Novel
Published in 2024
"When two complete opposites agree to fake date in order to solve their cultural dilemmas, they find the only force more powerful than an immigrant mother's matchmaking schemes might just be true love. Naomi Kelly is a problem solver. She'll do anything to make her new brand consulting business a success. When she lands a career saving contract to rebrand the Mukherjee family's failing local bazaar, she knows she has to nail this one. But as the "oops" baby of a free-spirited Bengali mother, Naomi's lack of connection to her roots represents everything Gia Mukherjee disdains. Enter, Dev Mukherjee. Dev knows everything his mother wants...including for him to get married, like, yesterday. When Gia hires a matchmaker (without, you know, asking him), Dev vows to do whatever it takes to avoid ending up in the same cold, loveless marriage his parents shared. When a potential match mistakes Naomi for his girlfriend, the solution to both their problems becomes clear: Naomi will pretend to date Dev in order to sabotage his mother's matchmaking efforts in exchange for lessons in Bengali culture. Flawless plan, right? But as Naomi and Dev bond over awful dancing at Garba, couples cooking classes, and rebranding the bazaar space as a team, they start to realize that while their relationship may be fake, their feelings for each other are starting to become very real. As the line between reality and rumor blurs, Naomi and Dev must confront what it means to fit the mold, and decide how much they're willing to risk for love"-- Provided by publisher.
Overdrive
Published in 2024
"Shantal knows one thing in life: that success means everything. So when she gets the call to move from London to Brazil, to test out her racing simulator on high performance Formula One racing drivers, she leaves her life behind, and goes. Because she'll do anything to succeed... Darien knows one thing in life: passion is everything. It's his passion for driving that has led him to the heights of motorsport, a coveted seat as a Formula One driver. When his team insists he moves to Brazil to trial a new racing simulator and racetrack, he goes. Because the one thing he is more passionate about than cars, is Brazil, his home. When Shantal and Darien meet, sparks aren't just flying from the gearbox. Darien knows from the moment he meets Shantal that she sends his heart into overdrive, and Shantal can't keep her eyes off of the gorgeous driver. But in the high stakes world of Formula One, there's no room for error, and there's definitely no room for romance on the racetrack..."--Publisher.
Overdue
Published in 2025
"Is it time to renew love or start a new chapter? Ingrid Dahl, a cheerful twenty-nine-year-old librarian in the cozy mountain town of Ridgetop, North Carolina, has been happily dating her college boyfriend, Cory, for eleven years without ever discussing marriage. But when Ingrid's sister announces her engagement to a woman she's only been dating for two years, Ingrid and Cory feel pressured to consider their future. Neither has ever been with anybody else, so they make an unconventional decision. They'll take a one-month break to date other people, then they'll reunite and move toward marriage. Ingrid even has someone in mind: her charmingly grumpy coworker, Macon Nowakowski, on whom she's secretly crushed for years. But plans go awry, and when the month ends, Ingrid and Cory realize they're not ready to resume their relationship-and Ingrid's harmless crush on Macon has turned into something much more complicated. Overdue is a beautiful, slow-burn romance full of lust and longing about new beginnings and finding your way"-- Provided by publisher.
Let's Give 'em Pumpkin to Talk About
A Quirky Pumpkin Spicy Small Town Rivals to Lovers Fall Romance
Published in 2025
Just for the Cameras
Published in 2026
"Graydon St. John doesn't do drama--or public appearances. The brooding defensive end for the San Francisco Foghorns prefers silence, solitude, and avoiding headlines. But when a league-wide PR scandal forces him into a media stunt at the city zoo, he's suddenly face-to-face with squawking birds, nosy fans, and the zookeeper who seems to hate his guts on sight. Maple Baker loves her flamingos. Loud, pink, messy? Sure. But they're hers. And the last thing she needs is a grumpy football player stomping into her sanctuary with a bad attitude and a bigger ego. Unfortunately, they've been paired for the zoo's new public outreach program, and the cameras are already rolling. The banter is sharp. The tension is electric. And the more they pretend to play nice for the press, the more their fake flirtation starts to feel like something dangerously real. But when family secrets, viral fame, and a PR romance gone off-script threaten everything Maple's worked for, Graydon must decide if he's willing to fight for love--or let it slip away to protect her"-- Provided by publisher.
The Baby Dragon Cafe
Published in 2025
"IF I COULD GIVE 6 STARS I WOULD" ?????<p>'Qureshi's gentle, Hallmark Channel-esque storytelling hits the spot. Readers seeking a soft and sweet love story will be pleased.' <strong><em>Publishers Weekly</em></strong></p>
Mickey Chambers Shakes It Up
Published in 2023
Mickey Chambers is an adjunct instructor with a meager summer class schedule and too many medical bills, courtesy of her chronic illness. Picking up a bartending gig seems perfect. Sure, Mickey' never done this before, but the grumpy bar owner, Diego Acosta, might be the perfect man to teach the teacher... if he wasn't so stressed. Diego is worried he's running his late wife's bar into the ground. Add the pressures of returning to college part-time at forty-two, and it's no wonder he's making rash decisions. When he finds out that Mickey is the teacher of his online writing course, it's a complication neither was expecting. As Mickey starts reenergizing The Saloon with cocktails, karaoke and an optimism even Diego can't ignore, they struggle to keep things professional. But all it takes is one sip, one kiss, to shake both their worlds forever. - adapted from back cover
Role Model
Published in 2024
"The hits just keep coming for Troy Barrett. Traded to the worst team in the league would be bad enough, but coming on the heels of a messy breakup and a recent scandal... Troy just wants to play hockey and be left alone. He definitely doesn't want to "work on his online presence" with the team's peppy social media manager. Harris Drover can tell standoffish Troy isn't happy about the trade, but Harris doesn't give up on people easily. Even when he's developing a crush he's sure is one-sided. And when he sees Troy's smile finally crack through his grumpy exterior... That's a man Harris couldn't turn his back on if he wanted to. Suddenly, Troy's move to the new team feels like an opportunity--for Troy to embrace his true self, and for both men to explore their growing attraction. But being together behind closed doors is one thing, and for Troy, being in a public relationship with Harris will mean facing off with his fears, once and for all." -- Amazon.com.
Story of My Life
Published in 2025
"Launching a brand new small town romance series from #1 New York Times bestseller Lucy Score. Romance novelist Hazel Hart seeks to overcome her writers block by leaving the big city to buy a house sight unseen in Story Lake, PA. The house comes with a spot on the town council and that's where the trouble begins"-- Provided by publisher.
Church Girl
Published in 2024
Aaliyah Montgomery isn't just ditching her wedding. She's also fleeing her suffocating small town and her family's expectations. She's got plans--for college, for finding herself. But landing a job in Chicago that fits her schedule isn't easy. Good thing Von Howard is desperate to find a live-in nanny. Bad thing that he's a gritty, grumpy, gorgeous tattoo artist carrying as much baggage as he has ink. Von's new hire is inexperienced and a fire hazard in the kitchen. She's also all thick curls, thicker curves, and a distracting mix of innocence and sensuality. After the upheaval of a divorce, he just needs a nanny, not a sneaky link. Meanwhile, Aaliyah is bonding with his seven-year-old and showing an unexpected flair for tattoo art. Who could resist? Yet deep down, Aaliyah's still running--from her feelings and her fear of losing herself to someone else's expectations again. Even as their pasts return to haunt them, their undeniable heat says maybe it's time to stand and fight for a love they didn't see coming.
All's Fair in Love and Pickleball
Published in 2025
"When a young woman must win a pickleball competition alongside her longtime rival to save her family's business, sparks fly on and off the court in this charming romcom. Bex Martin's life isn't where she thought it would be at twenty-four. She dropped out of college and moved back home to her small, Southern California hometown to help out at her parents' racquet club after her dad got sick. But over a year later, she's still there, teaching pickleball to seniors, grieving her dad, and trying to help her mom keep the business afloat. Her only distractions are her application to fashion school in Los Angeles and the brooding, grumpy tennis pro, Mateo, who was hired to take over teaching Dad's tennis lessons. The one thing he seems to loathe more than Bex's sunny, colorful presence is the sport of pickleball. When Bex discovers that her mom is way behind on paying her dad's bills, she concocts a plan - compete in and win the amateur pickleball tournament, which comes with a $20,000 prize. But when her best client and potential tournament partner, Loretta, sprains her ankle, Bex has only one person to turn to for help: Mateo. He agrees to play alongside her in the tournament as long as Bex agrees to write him a glowing referral for the prestigious coaching job he's after. Now Bex has to spend every waking moment practicing for the tournament that could save her beloved racquet club with the man she can't stand. But as Mateo starts to open up on and off the court, Bex realizes there's more to his scowling exterior and snobby tennis 'dude. With a delightful supporting cast of hilarious septuagenarians and a steamy send up of all your favorite romance tropes, All's Fair in Love and Pickleball captures the heart, humor, and fun of America's fastest growing sport"-- Provided by publisher.
And then There Was the One
A Novel
Published in 2025
"Set in 1930s England, in a quaint village in the Cotswolds, Georgiana Radcliffe has accidentally become an amateur detective after helping solve four murders in a single year. When the chairman of the village council turns up dead, everyone agrees with the official ruling of a heart attack, but Georgie can't help but suspect that the council chairman is a fifth victim. Now, murder tourists are flocking from around the country, in hopes of becoming sleuths themselves. Along with her reporter friend, she reaches out to a famous London detective for assistance in ascertaining why they have become a magnet for murder. But the fancy detective is simply too busy-or can't be bothered-to help, and instead dispatches his secretary, Sebastian Fletcher-Ford-a posh womanizer who, truthfully, is just trying to get out of his hair, much to practical, no-nonsense Georgie's dismay. But as they investigate in the charming Buncombe-upon-Woolly-with plentiful scones, sheep on the village green, and murder tourists at every turn-Georgie finds that her previous assessment of Sebastian may have been wrong, and rather than solving a murder, she may be solving for love instead." -- Provided by publisher.
10 Marchfield Square
Published in 2025
"When a minor criminal is murdered in the smallest residential square in London, elderly heiress and landlady Celeste van Duren recruits two of her tenants to investigate. Her cleaner, Audrey, knows everyone and is liked by all, while failed writer Lewis is known by no one. He hates his job, hates his life, and he's not that fond of Audrey either--but Celeste is persuasive. As they hunt for clues in and around the Square, they discover everyone has something to hide, including their fellow residents. Audrey and Lewis must find a way to work together if they're to find the killer in their midst. Assuming of course, there's just the one . . . Cozy crime enthusiasts will not be able to get enough of Marchfield Square and its residents."--Amazon.com.
Happy After All
A Novel
Published in 2025
"When a romance author meets a mysterious stranger, love is the last thing she expects to find in a funny and heartfelt novel about second chances by a New York Times bestselling author. A city girl leaves her life behind in LA to start over in a small town... It's a cliché, but it's also Amelia Taylor's life. And her new life as a romance novelist and motelier is going great-until Nathan Hart checks in. Of course he's disastrously handsome, thoroughly disagreeable, and seems to be set against Amelia on sight. Of course there's smoldering tension between them that can't be ignored. They'd make the perfect enemies to lovers story. It's one of Amelia's favorite tropes. But the man in room 32 seems genuinely broken, and it's going to take more than romance tropes and wishful thinking to get past his wounds. As a tentative friendship grows into a deeper connection, Amelia and Nathan both realize that facing each other's painful secrets takes courage. Do they dare take the risk and hope it ends happily after all?"-- Provided by publisher.
