Everyone Calls Me James

She wasn’t looking for a fresh start—until their worlds collided.

After the tragic loss of her mother, trauma nurse Leah James needs a break from the chaos of her life. A temporary assignment in a busy emergency room promises adrenaline filled nights and fewer ghosts. But when she meets Joel Guerra, a hardened U.S. Marshal recovering from both physical wounds and the deep scars of his past, Leah quickly learns that healing isn’t always solitary.

Joel has spent years building walls no one could climb—until Leah walks in with stubborn warmth and a smart mouth that cuts through his defenses. Just as the fragile peace between them begins to grow into something deeper, his past comes crashing back: a violent case gone wrong, a child he helped raise now caught in the crossfire, and an estranged family demanding answers.

When danger resurfaces and Leah is taken, Joel is forced into a desperate race not just to save her—but to confront everything he’s tried to bury. Because some wounds never heal until you're willing to bleed for someone else.

Full of heart, suspense, and second chances, this is a story about the family we lose, the ones we choose, and the love that pulls us through the fire.