A Romantic Times Top Pick Romance
Phlox Miller was never the pretty girlāand no magic mascara or miracle serum, not even one created by her own company, was ever going to change that. Now sheās the brilliant (and still slightly nerdy) CEO of one of the hottest beauty brands in the country. But after a devastating accident, she escapes to her country home in Connecticut to heal in peace and figure out what comes next.
What she doesnāt expect is Jared Connor, her estateās prickly new caretaker. Heās rugged, standoffish, and clearly determined to keep his distance. But Phlox didnāt get where she is by backing down, and soon her attempts at friendship start to break through his armor. What begins as a slow burn connection quickly turns into something far more intenseāand far more dangerous to his carefully guarded secrets.Ā
Because Phlox has no idea who he really is.
And when his past catches up with them both, the only way forward may destroy the fragile trust theyāve built.Ā
Next to You is a steamy standalone grumpy x sunshine romance featuring a scarred, reclusive billionaire, a brilliant but wounded heroine, and a love that just might be worth stepping into the light for. No cliffhanger. All the heat. And a guaranteed happily ever after.
Julia Gabriel writes contemporary romance and womenās fiction filled with emotional depth, relatable characters, and satisfying happily-ever-afters. Her books have been selected as Top Picks by RT Book Reviews, and praised by critics at RT, Kirkus, and others as ānuanced,ā āheart-wrenching and emotional,ā āwell-crafted contemporary romance,ā and ādeeply moving storytelling.ā
When sheās not writing, Julia is either teaching in the MFA in Popular Fiction program at Emerson College or getting lost in her latest quilting projectāan obsession that sometimes finds its way into her stories. She lives in New England with too much fabric and just the right amount of coffee.