A Grump Next Door: A Small Town Mistaken Identity Sweet Romance

I came home to heal—not to be mistaken as the girlfriend of the grump next door.

After burning out in Boston’s cutthroat kitchens, I returned to Lavender Lane with a cracked heart, singed dreams, and zero intention of falling in love.
My only plan? Help my aunt recover, keep her bakery afloat, and avoid trouble at all costs.

But trouble finds me anyway.
One smoky oven mishap. One too-curious crowd.
And suddenly, the whole town is convinced Dean Carter—my broody, flannel-wrapped neighbor with a grudge—is my boyfriend.

Dean is quiet. Stubborn. Still mad I left town without saying goodbye.
Yet somehow, he keeps showing up—fixing shelves, steadying ovens, catching me when my doubts trip me up. And when his gaze lingers, the rest of the world fades.

There’s a sweetness under his grump. A slow-burn pull I can’t ignore.
And just when life finally feels safe again, my past comes calling—offering the career I once chased in the city I thought I wanted.

Now I have to
The dream I left everything for…
or the man who’s been right next door all along.

A Grump Next Door is the first standalone in the Love on Lavender Lane series. Perfect for fans of slow-burn chemistry, small-town gossip, and the kind of sweet romance where mistaken identity leads to unexpected love.