In 1891 Harmony Lake a whisper at sunrise is old news by supper.
Josephine “Jo” Jensen—jam maker, pie baker, and secretly the most competent woman in Harmony Lake—has plans for her future. Unfortunately, everyone in town has plans for her too… including Gabe Hansen—the man most folks assume is her beau, though he’s never gone so far as to ask for the position. But Jo would rather do almost anything than confront the misconceptions that hem her in.
Then her former schoolmate, newly trained photographer Timothy Trigg, returns home—disgraced, jilted, and clumsy enough to shatter 47 of her jars with a single stumble. He uses his artist’s eye to repay what he owes, and in the process, sees Jo more clearly than anyone ever has. Jo has spent years trying to stay safe and invisible. Now, suddenly and inconveniently seen, she finds nothing feels safe least of all the yearning.
From sunrise swims to pie-baking contests, horseback rides to country dances, Jo and Timothy spark more whispers than Harmony Lake can hold, and Gabe is anything but amused. When the rumors threaten to pull them under, Jo and Timothy strike a bargain that blurs every line between pretend and real, until no one is sure where illusion ends and truth begins—though the whole town has an opinion.
Perfect for fans of clean, slow-burn romance, this heartwarming story will leave you smiling long after the last page—because sometimes the first step toward love is a stumble.
Tropes you'll love: fake engagement, jilted groom, childhood friends to lovers, slow burn, mutual pining, small-town gossip, quiet heroine finding her voice, hero falls first, competence romance.
