A single mum. A grumpy gardener. Can they let love bloom?
Busy librarian and single mum Tansy Perkins doesn’t have time for love – she’s either lost in a book or in a pile of homework.
Grumpy gardener Jack Reid has sworn off relationships since his divorce. Right now, he’s only interested in growing flowers, not feelings.
So when a hurricane forces Tansy to move her library into Jack’s pristine botanic gardens, it’s safe to say that neither of them are thrilled by this new distraction. But soon the chemistry between them grows impossible to ignore …
Will they dig in their heels, or let love take root?
About The Author
My Review
Set in post-hurricane Houston, the story follows Tansy, a devoted single mom and librarian, and Jack, a grumpy yet principled botanical gardens director. Thrust into reluctant proximity when their institutions must share space after storm damage, the two clash over nearly everything—until working together on a community festival forces them to reconsider the stories they’ve told themselves about love, vulnerability, and connection.
The stakes are real—both personally and professionally—as Tansy and Jack navigate single parenthood, emotional wounds, and a high-stakes grant competition that could secure or dissolve their futures. Yet despite the external tensions, it’s the inner evolution of the characters that truly anchors the novel.
Tansy is thoughtful, overextended, and fiercely devoted to her daughter and her community. Jack is guarded, emotionally scarred from a failed marriage, and deeply rooted in his work. Their chemistry is slow-burning, delightfully combative, and grounded in mutual respect that builds organically. Sweeney doesn’t rush their connection—she allows their vulnerability to unfold with patience and authenticity.
This book is a celebration of second chances, not just in love, but in life—and proof that even amid ruins, something beautiful can grow.
My Rating
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