The Builder and the Bloom

By Nelle Bouchard

Her life's a ruin, her career's in ashes, and her last hope lies in a dilapidated flower shop hundreds of kilometres from everything she knows.

When marketing whiz Clara Davies hits rock bottom - complete with an eviction notice and a spectacularly failed 'visionary' campaign - an unexpected inheritance is her only lifeline. "Mountain Petals," a crumbling flower shop in the small Blue Mountains town of Blackwood Ridge, belonged to a grandmother she barely knew. The place isn't just falling apart; it's a testament to neglect. But amidst the decay, Clara discovers a secret: Nan's 'Midnight Bloom', a unique, impossibly dark flower with the potential to be so much more.

Her only chance to salvage this fragile legacy and her own future rests with Finn Bailey, the best builder in the Ridge. He's strong, skilled, and infuriatingly cynical, with a past that's left him deeply mistrustful of 'outsider's grand plans' - especially one from a city girl with flimsy shoes and ideas he's sure will fail. He sees a money pit doomed for condemnation; Clara, armed with her Nan's astonishing journal and her own bruised-but-not-broken branding instincts, sees a story waiting to bloom.

As they clash over plans and pragmatism, battling rotten floorboards, suffocating bureaucracy, and an undeniable, inconvenient attraction, Clara must not only rebuild a shop but also convince a wary builder (and herself) that some hearts, and some dreams, are worth the risk.

Can this city-girl visionary and the grumpy mountain man unearth a shared future from the ruins of the past? Or will their plans, and any chance of love, be buried under the weight of doubt and decay?

Perfect for readers who love:

Heartwarming Australian contemporary romanceGrumpy-sunshine heroes and strong, resilient heroinesEnemies-to-lovers and forced proximity tropesStories of second chances and finding home in unexpected placesSmall-town settings with a vibrant communityA beautiful, uplifting read with a satisfying happily-ever-after.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0F4K9YNPQ
• ISBN13: 9798317461584
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 170 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"