Dr. Lacey Sturm is having a banner day?if banner means catastrophic. Her lab springs a leak, her apartment becomes uninhabitable, and her boyfriend turns out to be a walking red flag. With nowhere else to go, she lands on the doorstep of her estranged cousin, determined to rebuild her life one awkward step at a time.
Enter Colin: a brilliant, gentle, maddeningly handsome engineer who seems to know her heart better than she does. Even stranger, Lacey has been dreaming about a man who looks exactly like him for years.
As she untangles lab mysteries, mends old wounds, and tries not to overthink every interaction with Colin, Lacey discovers that sometimes the universe gives you a nudge. Or a shove. Or a recurring dream. And as they grow closer?through late-night talks, shared laughter, and a connection that feels written long before they met?she begins to wonder if trusting her heart might be the bravest thing she's ever done.
But when fate hands you exactly what you've been dreaming of... will you be brave enough to believe it's real?
Tropes:
Outdoorsy
Cousins Reunited
Scientist + Musician
Small Town
Shady Ex
No Spice
Autorentext
Cori Wamsley is a sweet romance author, writing coach, and publishing consultant who specializes in emotional-arc storytelling and character-driven fiction. Her novels explore identity, healing, and the courage it takes to begin again, blending heartfelt relationships with themes of personal transformation.
As the founder of Aurora Corialis Publishing, she helps authors develop clear, compelling narratives and build sustainable writing careers. With a background in editing, coaching, and small-press publishing, Cori brings a holistic understanding of both craft and industry to her work.
She is the author of Ashes and Other Inheritances, the upcoming Exactly What It Looks Like, and several earlier titles. Cori lives in Pennsylvania with her family, where she continues to write stories that invite readers into emotional clarity, hope, and connection.
Follow Cori on Instagram, Threads, or TikTok @coriwamsley_author.
Learn more at coriwamsley.com.