Tender Cuts: A Novella

By Ophelia Lux

In the heart of Maplewood, a picturesque small town known for its charming main street and old-fashioned values, local butcher Owen Callahan takes immense pride in his family's generational shop. With his strong hands, easy smile, and unwavering dedication to his craft, he's a beloved fixture in the community-until a fiery new arrival disrupts his routine.

Lena Monroe, a sharp-tongued vegan chef from the city, has come to town to open The Green Fork, an organic, plant-based caf right next to Owen's butcher shop. To her, his trade is barbaric, outdated, and everything she stands against. To him, she's an infuriating whirlwind of complaints, protests, and unsolicited opinions about his work. Their feud becomes the town's favourite entertainment, with arguments spilling into the street, passive-aggressive window signs, and even a misguided local betting pool on who will cave first.

But when unexpected events forces them to work together-whether it's a town festival, a shared business crisis, or a snowstorm trapping them inside-Lena begins to see that Owen isn't just a heartless meat-carver, and Owen realises there's more to Lena than her judgmental glares and tofu recipes. As sparks fly between them, so does the question neither wants to ask: Can two people with such opposing views ever carve out a future together?

Sometimes, the best love stories are the most unexpected-especially when they come with a side of compromise.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0DXQDP3L1
• ISBN13: 9798311317474
• Release Date: February 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 108 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.0" x 8.0"