A Contemporary Romance Novel

Charlotte Hayes thought inheriting her aunt's Victorian mansion would solve her problems. Recently divorced and career-crashed, she plans to renovate the crumbling bed & breakfast and sell it fast. What she doesn't expect is Jake Morrison—the maddeningly attractive contractor who insists on preserving every "authentic" detail that's driving up costs and delays.

Jake left his high-powered architectural career after a building collapse that haunts him still. Now he crafts with traditional methods in the small town of Maple Grove, where perfection means safety and every joint matters. Charlotte's efficiency-first approach clashes with everything he believes about preservation—until they discover love letters hidden in the mansion's walls.

The letters reveal Eleanor Whitmore and Thomas Rivera's forbidden 1920s romance, but they're more than just a historical love story. Eleanor and Thomas operated a secret network helping immigrants escape persecution, and their hidden legacy could save Maple Grove from corporate development. Phoenix Holdings wants to build a massive resort that would destroy the town's authentic character forever.

As Charlotte and Jake uncover more secrets—hidden rooms, water rights worth millions, evidence of a humanitarian network that spanned decades—they realize they're fighting for more than just historical preservation. They're battling for the community's right to control its own future.

But Phoenix Holdings plays dirty. Vandalism, legal threats, and financial pressure mount as the corporation tries to force individual property owners to sell. When Jake's family crisis threatens to pull him back to corporate employment, Charlotte must choose between guaranteed money and uncertain community partnership.

Eleanor and Thomas risked everything for love and justice in the 1920s. Can Charlotte and Jake find the same courage to preserve their community—and their hearts—in the face of modern corporate power?