Evergreen Grump

She inherited a forest. He inherited its secrets.
This Christmas, they'll discover that the deepest roots grow from the unlikeliest soil.

When burnt-out social media strategist Juno Bell unexpectedly inherits a struggling tree nursery in the remote Cascade Mountains, she sees a chance to reboot her life-and maybe go viral while saving the land. But Frostwood, Washington, doesn't do influencers. And Silas Evergreen, the reclusive forester who guards the forest like a vow, definitely doesn't do TikTok.

Their first meeting ends with Juno flat on her back in the mud and Silas glaring like she's personally offended the trees. But when rare heritage saplings start vanishing and anonymous threats arrive in the mail, they're forced into an uneasy alliance. As they follow clues through snow-dusted trails and midnight stakeouts, their frosty banter melts into something dangerously warm-and undeniably real.

Now, with a greedy developer scheming to pave over the oldest Douglas fir in the county and a century-old land covenant hanging by a thread, Juno and Silas must decide: Is this just a temporary truce... or the beginning of something evergreen?

Perfect for fans of:

• Slow-burn grumpy/sunshine romance with spicy cabin-in-the-woods tension
• Cozy winter mysteries (no violence-just stolen saplings, small-town secrets, and one chaotic goat)
• Modern holiday stories that blend TikTok fame with timeless forest magic
• Emotional depth, authentic connection, and heartwarming found family

Evergreen Grump is more than a rom-com-it's a love letter to the wild places that heal us, the promises worth keeping, and the quiet courage it takes to plant yourself where you're needed most.

Grab your favorite blanket, pour a mug of spiced cider, and fall in love under the pines.

(Standalone holiday romance with HEA. No cliffhangers. Contains one-eyed goats, flannel shirts, cinnamon rolls, and a grumpy hero who secretly sketches the heroine when she's not looking.)