He’s a brooding mechanic who trusts engines more than people. She’s a sunny bookstore owner trying to save everyone but herself. A stray dog is about to change all their rules.
Clara Evans is drowning in her family's medical debt, but the gossiping residents of Magnolia Creek would never know it. Behind the bright cardigans and cheerful smiles at her beloved bookshop, Paws and Pages, Clara is barely holding it together. When a mud-caked, shivering stray golden retriever mix shows up at her storefront, her bleeding heart won't let her turn him away. But rescuing him requires time and resources she simply doesn't have.
Wyatt Hayes has spent years building iron-clad walls around his heart. Since his ex-fiancée walked out and took his dog, the gruff owner of Hayes Auto prefers the quiet solitude of his garage over the nosy townspeople. He doesn't do favors, and he definitely doesn't do relationships.
But when the town's meddling matriarch orchestrates a shared custody arrangement for the stray, Wyatt's carefully crafted isolation crumbles. Suddenly, he is subjected to daily dog handoffs, forced proximity, and a radiant bookseller who is slowly invading his space. Wyatt quickly realizes Clara is hiding deep vulnerabilities behind her sunshine exterior—and his fiercely protective instincts roar to life.
From rescuing her during a terrifying thunderstorm to stepping between her and a dangerous local con artist, Wyatt is determined to keep Clara safe. As the golden retriever—now named Barnaby—bridges the gap between them, their emotional walls begin to fall. But with Clara’s financial secrets threatening to sink her and Wyatt’s past still haunting him, can this makeshift family find their forever home, or will the heavy burdens they carry tear them apart?
Fixing Her Heart is a swoony, heartwarming, and emotional small-town contemporary romance. Perfect for readers who love broken but fiercely loyal heroes, resilient heroines, and dogs who know exactly how to play matchmaker.
Tropes to expect:
Clara Evans is drowning in her family's medical debt, but the gossiping residents of Magnolia Creek would never know it. Behind the bright cardigans and cheerful smiles at her beloved bookshop, Paws and Pages, Clara is barely holding it together. When a mud-caked, shivering stray golden retriever mix shows up at her storefront, her bleeding heart won't let her turn him away. But rescuing him requires time and resources she simply doesn't have.
Wyatt Hayes has spent years building iron-clad walls around his heart. Since his ex-fiancée walked out and took his dog, the gruff owner of Hayes Auto prefers the quiet solitude of his garage over the nosy townspeople. He doesn't do favors, and he definitely doesn't do relationships.
But when the town's meddling matriarch orchestrates a shared custody arrangement for the stray, Wyatt's carefully crafted isolation crumbles. Suddenly, he is subjected to daily dog handoffs, forced proximity, and a radiant bookseller who is slowly invading his space. Wyatt quickly realizes Clara is hiding deep vulnerabilities behind her sunshine exterior—and his fiercely protective instincts roar to life.
From rescuing her during a terrifying thunderstorm to stepping between her and a dangerous local con artist, Wyatt is determined to keep Clara safe. As the golden retriever—now named Barnaby—bridges the gap between them, their emotional walls begin to fall. But with Clara’s financial secrets threatening to sink her and Wyatt’s past still haunting him, can this makeshift family find their forever home, or will the heavy burdens they carry tear them apart?
Fixing Her Heart is a swoony, heartwarming, and emotional small-town contemporary romance. Perfect for readers who love broken but fiercely loyal heroes, resilient heroines, and dogs who know exactly how to play matchmaker.
Tropes to expect:
- Grumpy x Sunshine
Forced Proximity (Shared Dog Custody!)
Fiercely Protective Hero
Small Town Meddling & Gossip
Animal Matchmaker / Pet Romance
He Falls First & Hard
Genre: General Fiction
Used availability for Alisson Bento's Fixing Her Heart