Phew. This book…just wow….it really packs an emotional punch. This author paints such rich and vibrant pictures with her words. The characters are so three dimensional they could almost walk off the page in all their messy, lovable, relatable humanness. I was right there with Leila and Dash feeling all the big feels - the love, the joy, the fear, the sadness, the laughter, the regret, the pain, the tears, the hope and the healing. Leila is a 33 yo woman whose life recently imploded. Homeless, jobless, and short on funds, she returns to Birch Crossing, the small town she escaped from 15 years ago to sell the house she inherited. Dash is a 40 yo construction worker and welding artist in Birch Crossing. Leila is also his wife who he married 15 years ago to protect her and has not seen her since. He also recently unexpectedly became a dad. Unbeknownst to Leila and Dash, they inherited the house together with a 30 day cohabitation requirement before any decisions are made and Dash needs to keep the house as much as Leila needs to sell it. There are many obstacles and a boatload of baggage between them and their HEA but I loved the journey to get there. The story was well written and included witty dialogue, three dimensional characters who grow, and an engaging storyline as shown through sweet moments, steam, laughs, supportive friends, painful pasts, slight danger, and all the heart squeezing love. This book is a true standalone in an interconnected series. Despite not having read the other 4 books, I was able to follow the story without feeling like I was missing things. I loved this book so much that I’m now going to go read the other books in the series.