Before We Break: A Small-Town Grumpy Sunshine Romance (Willow Valley)

It took my parents. Now it’s taken my brother, too, leaving me a single guardian to a little boy who needs so much more than I have to offer. To add insult to injury, Clio Marsden, the beautiful distraction across the hall, shows up at the wrong place at the right time, making herself essential to me. Now she’s my fake fiancee in a meddlesome town that runs on rumors. It turns out there’s a lot more to Clio than sunshine and optimism. Beneath the warm smiles and compassionate heart, Clio’s damage lies dormant, keeping her tethered to the past that shaped her. I can’t be the man who sets her free, even if she’s becoming impossible to ignore. My nephew loves her, the whole town loves her, but I’m determined to be the exception. Two years ago, I drove halfway across the country to find my long-lost sister. In the process, I found a home. Willow Valley is the epitome of small-town charm, complete with meddling neighbors and a grumpy landlord with molten eyes and a chip on his shoulder the size of Kentucky. One minute he’s threatening to evict me, and the next I’m wearing a ring on my left hand and slow dancing in the town square.