The Man Who Pretended Not to Love Her: A Small-Town Grumpy Sunshine Romance (Maplewood Hearts #23)
Yash Shetty
That was the lie he kept repeating.
Ryan Cole doesn’t do relationships. He keeps his distance, avoids complications, and never lets anyone get close enough to matter.
Until Lily Harper.
Bright, kind, and impossible to ignore, Lily is everything Ryan has spent years avoiding. She sees through his silence, challenges his walls, and refuses to walk away—even when he gives her every reason to.
But Ryan has his reasons for staying distant.
A past he hasn’t healed from.
A loss he never truly moved on from.
So he does what he knows best—
He pretends he doesn’t care.
But pretending becomes harder with every moment they share.
As Lily steps back to protect her own heart, Ryan is forced to face the truth he’s been running from…
That the one thing he’s afraid to lose
is the one thing he never meant to find.
Now he has a choice—
walk away before it becomes real…
or stay and risk everything for something that might actually last.
Perfect for readers who love:
- Grumpy x sunshine romance
- Emotional small-town love stories
- Slow-burn relationship development
- Protective, guarded heroes
- Clean and wholesome romance
Welcome back to Maplewood, where even the quietest hearts find their way to love.
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The 'Maplewood Hearts' series
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- The Doctor Who Came Back: A Small-Town Forced Proximity Romance by Yash Shetty Book #4
- The Sheriff Who Guarded Her: A Small-Town Protector Romance by Yash Shetty Book #5
- The Teacher Who Believed in Him: A Small-Town Healing Hearts Romance by Yash Shetty Book #6
- The Baker Who Waited for Love: A Small-Town Slow Burn Romance by Yash Shetty Book #7
- The Farmer Who Chose Her: A Small-Town Opposites Attract Romance by Yash Shetty Book #8
- The Mechanic Who Fixed Her Heart: A Small-Town Grumpy Sunshine Romance by Yash Shetty Book #9
- The Librarian Who Found Love: A Small-Town Opposites Attract Romance by Yash Shetty Book #10
