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Synopsis

A bookstore owner discovers that life as a recluse isn’t for everyone in this sharp yet sweet novel about how sometimes you need to abandon the quest for love to find your true passion.

Emma Rini is in a rut so deep she could shelve books there. While her sister awaits her first baby, and her parents kick off retirement with vow renewals and travel, Emma stays put among the stacks of the family bookshop.

In fact, she can’t remember the last time she took a vacation. Or had a romance that hovered above disappointing. When her parents assume she’ll take over the shop for them without a break, she realizes she needs to get away—back to the nineteenth century. Channeling her favorite poet recluse, Emily Dickinson, Emma rents a crumbling manor house outside Amherst where she can learn how to be quietly, blissfully alone.

But becoming a world-weary spinster isn’t easy. She can’t start a fire or reason with the bunnies that are destroying the garden. She finds herself sparring constantly with the grumpy-hot architect who is renovating the manor. And then there’s the secret admirer who keeps sending her complicated floral messages…

No matter what she does, the outside world keeps knocking, and Emma starts to dream about the future. Will she forgo love for the family legacy? And will she shrink away or become the sort of bold person fortune favors?

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Understanding Our Spice Level Ratings

Not sure what spice level is right for you? Use this guide to find books that match your comfort level with romantic content.

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Level 1 - Sweet & Mild

Tender moments and stolen kisses. Sweet and innocent romance. No sexual content whatsoever. Perfect for all ages.

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Level 2 - Warming Up

Chemistry is building with passionate kissing. Light physical affection and touches. Intimate moments are hinted at but not shown on page. Sensual but not explicit. Closed door or Fade to Black

🌶️🌶️🌶️

Level 3 - Getting Spicy

At least one intimate scene that readers experience on the page. Physical descriptions are present but tastefully written. Sensual and engaging without being overly graphic. Suitable for most adult readers.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Level 4 - Fire Alarm

Two or more explicit intimate scenes with detailed descriptions. Frequent sexual content woven through the story. Varied and adventurous encounters. Not for the faint of heart.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Level 5 - Whew! Hot Damn

Multiple explicit intimate scenes throughout the entire book. Detailed, graphic descriptions of sexual content. Varied and adventurous acts featured prominently. May include kink, BDSM, or other mature themes. Strictly for adult readers seeking maximum heat.