Amelia Simone's Blog

This week Wild Tides is officially out in the world, and with it… the Evergreen Rescue series comes full circle.

When I first sat down to write about a tight-knit island community full of first responders, found-family friendships, and the kind of love that takes root in the middle of chaos, I didn’t know it would grow into a four-book series. I didn’t know these characters would become some of my most personal, or that this fictional corner of the San Juan Islands would feel like coming home every time I opened a new document.

But here we are, four books, countless rescues, a web of mystery woven through the town, and couples who fought hard for their HEA.

Wild Tides brings us to the final chapter with Lee and Violet, two people who have been orbiting each other for years without ever realizing their stories were pulling them toward the same place.

Writing “The End” on this book was bittersweet. I hope this final installment brings the same sense of closure, warmth, and satisfaction that it brought me.

Most of all, I want to say thank you.

Thank you for coming back to Evergreen Rescue again and again.
Thank you for loving these characters, recommending the books, messaging me your theories, and making this world feel alive far beyond the pages.
This series exists because readers like you kept showing up.

I can’t wait for you to dive into Wild Tides. And while this marks the end of Evergreen Rescue, it definitely isn’t the end of the stories simmering in this world- or the ones coming next.

Happy Reading!

Amelia

The post Wild Tides Is Here — And the Evergreen Rescue Series Is Complete appeared first on Author Amelia Simone.

Love, Danger, and Small-Town Secrets: The Lighter Side of Romantic Suspense

There’s a reason readers can’t resist a good romantic-suspense story. The mix of heart-pounding moments and heart-melting chemistry scratches a very specific itch- the one that makes you stay up too late reading just one more chapter.

But not all romantic suspense has to be dark or gritty. Some of us love the softer side of danger, the kind that comes wrapped in found family, flirty banter, and the kind of emotional tension that feels real instead of terrifying. That’s exactly where my Evergreen Rescue Series lives: the lighter, more hopeful edge of the romantic-suspense spectrum.

Why Readers Fall for Romantic Suspense

At its core, romantic suspense is about trust under pressure. When danger closes in, the masks fall off and we see who people really are. The stakes force honesty, and that vulnerability makes the romance hit even harder.

It’s adrenaline with heart. Readers crave that balance between fear and faith, action and intimacy. It’s why authors like Catherine Cowles and Claire Kingsley have such loyal followings. Their stories blend danger with tenderness, protective heroes with fierce heroines, and a community that rallies when it matters most.

How Evergreen Rescue Fits In

My Evergreen Rescue world was born from real life and personal roots. My dad was the sheriff in a rural county, so I grew up watching first responders and volunteer search-and-rescue teams jump into action when someone went missing. That quiet bravery, the kind that happens off the record- stuck with me.

When I began researching the series, I dove into real-life rescues and training techniques from the San Juan Islands, where volunteers coordinate by boat, helicopter, and on foot. Their work inspired the fictional Evergreen team—men and women who show up even when it’s messy, dangerous, or thankless.

Each book in the series centers on a rescue that changes everything:

Hidden Harbor — Anya Rose came to the islands to rebuild her life, not to fall for the volunteer rescuer who keeps showing up when she least expects it. But when past secrets surface and danger hits close to home, trusting Drew Fenwick might be the only way to finally stop running.Deep Waters — When Rae agrees to take care of her cousin’s kids for the summer, a decade-old lie and a rash of break-ins force her and first responder Zach Fenwick to depend on each other in ways neither expected.Fast Currents — Glass artist Lucy Mirren lives for fire, focus, and solitude—until persistent park ranger Clayton Robertson ropes her into a community fundraiser and chips away at the walls she’s built. Between banter, sparks, and second chances, she’ll have to decide whether trusting him is the biggest risk of all.Wild Tides — Violet Fenwick is tired of being everyone’s fragile flower—especially her brother’s best friend, broody author Lee Murphy. When an injury puts him under her care, living together blurs every line between friendship and forever, and resisting the pull between them might be the hardest rescue yet.

The danger may kick off the story, but the real rescue happens in the heart.

The Appeal of the “Lighter Side”

Not every reader wants high-body-count thrillers or shadowy villains. Many crave stories that make them feel safe while still feeling something. The Evergreen Rescue Series offers that balance: enough suspense to quicken your pulse, enough heart to leave you smiling.

It’s about strength that looks like vulnerability, bravery that’s quiet, and love that grows in the aftermath of chaos. The storms pass—but the people who weather them together stay.

For Fans of Catherine Cowles and Claire Kingsley

If you love:

Protective heroes with tender cores

Smart, resilient heroines who show their fair share of bravery

Small-town communities that feel like family

And romance that delivers both adrenaline and comfort,

Then you’ll feel right at home in the Evergreen Rescue Series.

Start with Hidden Harbor, where one call changes everything.

➡️ Explore Hidden Harbor and the Evergreen Rescue Series

The post Love, Danger, and Small-Town Secrets: The Lighter Side of Romantic Suspense appeared first on Author Amelia Simone.

There’s something timeless about a protective hero—the one who steps forward when things go wrong, who shields others even when his own heart is on the line. It’s a trope as old as storytelling itself, but in the Evergreen Rescue Series, it isn’t just fiction, it’s personal.

I grew up in a rural county where my dad served as sheriff. From an early age, I knew what it meant for people to drop everything when the call came in. I remember hearing about Explorers—the young volunteers who trained alongside law enforcement—and about the local search and rescue teams who went out in the middle of the night, rain or snow, when someone didn’t make it home. That quiet, selfless bravery stuck with me.

Real Heroes in the San Juan Islands

When I started shaping Evergreen Rescue, I knew I wanted to set it somewhere that felt both breathtakingly beautiful and deeply human. The San Juan Islands offered both. Remote, windswept, and utterly alive with natural danger, they have real volunteer search and rescue teams who respond to emergencies by boat, helicopter, and on foot—often in conditions that would send most of us running for cover.

While writing, I read through their training protocols, rescue debriefs, and local news stories. I learned how they coordinate with the Coast Guard, how they plan a search grid, and what it means to keep your head clear when someone’s life depends on it. Those details became the heartbeat of the series—the realism that anchors the emotional chaos.

Turning Duty into Desire

In Wild Tides, Lee Murphy’s protective streak isn’t just about heroism, it’s a flaw and a strength all at once. He’s the kind of man who will always take the hit to spare someone else. For Violet Fenwick, that instinct is both infuriating and irresistible.

Every hero and heroine in the Evergreen Rescue Series faces the same test: what happens when protecting others starts costing them their chance at love?

That tension—the clash between duty and desire—is what makes the protective hero trope so addictive. It’s not about dominance; it’s about devotion.

The Real Appeal of the Protective Hero

We love these characters because they make us feel safe, not small. They see the danger, face it anyway, and still make room for tenderness. It’s that blend of strength and vulnerability that makes readers fall hard.

In small-town romance, that protective instinct ripples outward. It’s not just one man guarding one woman—it’s a whole community watching out for each other. That’s the pulse of Evergreen Rescue: found family forged under pressure, and love that feels earned.

The Story Behind the Story

Writing this series reminded me how much courage lives quietly in small towns. Every day, there are real people—neighbors, volunteers, parents—who drop everything when a call comes in. They don’t do it for glory. They do it because someone needs help.

That’s the kind of love I wanted to write about. The kind that shows up when it’s messy, inconvenient, and terrifyingly real.

Your Invitation to Evergreen

If you’ve ever fallen for a story where a gruff hero softens, or where danger brings two people closer than they ever intended, the Evergreen Rescue Series might be your next favorite read. Start with Hidden Harbor, where a single call threatens to change everything.

➡️ Explore the Evergreen Rescue Series here.

The post Why We Love Protective Heroes: Inside the Evergreen Rescue Series appeared first on Author Amelia Simone.

If you’ve been waiting to escape to Friday Harbor with a swoony small-town romance full of emotional depth, protective heroes, and a dash of mystery… Hidden Harbor is finally here!

For a limited time, you can grab the ebook directly from me before it launches on Amazon. This early access is available through  Amelia’s Payhip/BookFunnel Site, but only until Wednesday, June 26.

After that, Hidden Harbor will be available everywhere it belongs:

Ebook on Amazon

Free to read in Kindle Unlimited

Paperback for book lovers who like to hold their HEAs in their hands 

So whether you’re a direct-sale supporter or a KU binge-reader, this one’s for you.

If you love small-town romance with a twist of mystery, found family, flirty banter, and green-flag men who give great hugs… you need to meet Drew Fenwick.

About the Book

Secrets stay buried if you never let anyone get close.

But when my past comes knocking, my best friend’s broody brother won’t let me handle it alone…

This was supposed to be my fresh start – new name, new business, new me. In my yoga studio, I can breathe, smile, and pretend I’m nothing but sunshine and serenity. Keep it light, keep my distance, and maybe I can believe I’ve left my past behind.

Until it comes looking for me.

When my estranged family resurfaces, threatening to drag me back into the life I barely escaped, I know I should handle it alone. It’s what I’ve always done. But that’s impossible with my best friend’s grumpy older brother everywhere I turn. As a Search and Rescue leader, he’s elevated protectiveness to an art form.

Drew Fenwick is gruff, broody, and so serious it hurts – everything I’m not. I should keep my walls up, ignore the way my pulse jumps when he’s near.

But the more time we spend together, the more his steady presence makes me want something I never dared hope for – someone who stays.

Hidden Harbor is book 1 in the Evergreen Rescue Series but can be read as a stand-alone. Grab it today if you’re a fan of:

·         Grumpy x Sunshine

·         Protective Hero

·         Best Friend’s Brother

·         Secret Past

·         First Responder Hero

·         Banter and Spice

·         Found Family Shenanigans

·         Small Town Romance

·         Dual POV

The post Now Available: Hidden Harbor – Early Direct Access + KU Launch Coming Soon! appeared first on Author Amelia Simone.

Hi!

Match Play is reader for your e-reader! If you want early access, you can grab it via my direct store. Match Play will release via Amazon on 6/7, and it’ll go into Kindle Unlimited about that time if you prefer to wait. (I’ll be sitting in a corner, giggling, while I wait for y’all to read the speed dating scene. )

 

Also, *cough* chapter 1 may be an ode to my cooking skills… or lack thereof. lol There’s a reason all of the men in my books cook, y’all. 

 

Match Play may be featured in the June KU Obsession newsletter. If you haven’t heard of KU Obsession, it highlights new KU romance releases, and you can sign up here: https://kuobsession.com/

 

Match Play Chapter 1:

The photo hit me like a softball to the face, and I stopped scrolling. She wore a glittery silver dress and had flowers in her hair, a lanky boy wrapped around her like a pretzel, mugging for the camera. How were we old enough for Rob and Eva to have a teenager going to Homecoming? Seeing their daughter so happy and carefree reminded me of the days before their betrayal. Had I ever been that open and trusting? Their daughter’s sweet smile and cherubic cheeks hinted at an unguarded childhood at odds with my own.

I suppressed a flash of envy. Resentment and anger had faded to disappointment long ago. I didn’t really want what Eva had, but I wished I could think of our past with something other than disillusionment.

Rob had been my first love. Eva, my college roommate. Them together? My first heartbreak. As much as my life had changed since we lived together, Eva’s had changed more. It was tempting to see if she and Rob were still together. After so long, it shouldn’t matter.

Slowly, a high-pitched beeping broke through my trip down memory lane, and I bit back a curse, sprinting from the couch to the kitchen, my heart in my throat. Keep reading 

Match Play – Chapter 1 Keep ReadingMatch Play – Direct Store $3.99Match Play – Amazon Preorder $4.99

Happy Reading!

Amelia

The post Your Perfect Summer Read is Here! appeared first on Author Amelia Simone.

Don’t miss out! Forbidden Flame is available through Book Funnel for newsletter subscribers for a limited time: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cr6rkhhfmo

FORBIDDEN FLAME by AMELIA SIMONE

I ran off to Vegas because I wanted to start a family, even if it meant parenting solo. But I didn’t expect to run into my brother’s best friend my first night out.

He blocked my best prospect and made me an offer I couldn’t refuse: he’d do daddy duty. The catch: I had to marry him first.

He’s the high school football coach, and a charmer with testosterone to spare, but will he make a good dad?

One quickie ceremony and a knee-weakening honeymoon later, I can’t help looking at my new husband differently. He’s more than the heaux he claims to be.

But what happens when we return to our small town? I can’t afford scandal, and Campfire *loves* a good story.

Keeping my marriage on the down-low is my best bet for self-preservation. Too bad my husband wants to make me his for real…

Keeping secrets in small-town Campfire is a losing proposition. Can Ivan and Izzy form a real family, or are their vows destined to be nothing more than tinder for the gossip fires?

Join us around the campfire, where you can pour out your troubles and seek solace in friendship and love.

Forbidden Flame is book one in the Campfire Council Series but can be read as a stand-alone romance. The book is first person, dual POV. The newly elected city council of Campfire, WA, is ready to win hearts and rebuild their small town, but can this sisterhood of the wine-soaked campfire find love amid the flames?

❤️ Brother’s best friend
❤️ Marriage of convenience
❤️ Romcom with low angst
❤️ Banter and spice
❤️ Small town romance with found family
❤️ Dual POV

The post Forbidden Flame is F R E E for a limited time! appeared first on Author Amelia Simone.

Tinder Embrace, book three in the new Campfire Council Series has a gorgeous cover that features one of my favorite things: hot air balloons!

I grew up crewing for hot air balloon pilots in the Willamette Valley and recently had the opportunity to check out the Prosser, WA balloon rally. It was gorgeous! Most pilots try to Splash & Dash on the Yakima River nearby, and visitors have a great view from the bridge or the water. It was the first time I’d gotten to see so many pilots Splash & Dash, and so cool!

I drew on my hot air ballooning experience quite a bit while writing Tinder Embrace. Sophie is a teacher with a piloting side-hustle who crash-lands on Davis’s farm. (Side note: while members of my family have been in a crash of sorts, they’re not common, I promise!)

Tinder Embrace is up for pre-order now and releases 11/17/23!

You can grab a chance at an early copy on GoodReads between 10/16/23-11/15/23.

Happy Reading!

Amelia

Tinder Embrace Giveaway on GoodReads Tinder Embrace eBook Pre-Order on AmazonTinder Embrace on GoodReads

Love takes flight when a crash-landing beauty meets a grumpy farmer.

When Sophie Dunham crash-lands her hot air balloon on Davis Pruitt’s hops farm, she vows to help him heal and keep up with chores as penance, even if her secret crush on the grumpy farmer twists her in knots.

Davis can’t believe his bad luck. Sophie, the bubbly second-grade teacher with a hot-air ballooning side-hustle, crash-landed, and now she won’t leave. The attraction between them is hot enough to lift twenty balloons, but he’s been down the commitment road once before. Davis’s first marriage failed, and he’s not ready to open himself up to love again. Plus, she’s one of his sister’s best friends.

Love is in the air, but will Sophie and Davis let past mistakes keep them grounded, or can they find the courage to take flight together?

Join us around the campfire, where you can pour out your troubles and seek solace in friendship and love.

Tinder Embrace is book three in the Campfire Council Series but can be read as a stand-alone romance. The newly elected city council of Campfire, WA, is ready to win hearts and rebuild their small town, but can this sisterhood of the wine-soaked campfire find love amid the flames?

The post Tinder Embrace Cover Reveal! appeared first on Author Amelia Simone.

Love takes center stage when Eve and Brady team up to co-direct the high school play. Will their students learn more about love than their lines, watching passion ignite between their chaperones? Find out in SMOKE SHOW, available now!

Passion burns bright in this sizzling opposites attract romance!
SMOKE SHOW’s unofficial slogan: never mess with an artist proficient in Photoshop.  They. Will. WRECK. You.

Bachelor auction shenanigans and artsy pranks make SMOKE SHOW a not-to-be-missed installment in the Campfire Council Series! You can check it out today in KU, e-book, or paperback.

Happy reading!

Amelia

Smoke Show eBook on AmazonSmoke Show Paperback on Amazon Smoke Show Chapter 1 Preview Smoke Show Paperback Special Discreet Version on AmazonSmoke Show on GoodReads

Kissing your co-director is a sure way to fan the flames of gossip…

Eve Pendleton moved to Campfire for a fresh start. She’s agreed to help the town council with their bachelor charity auction, but hosting it at the high school is a no-go unless she agrees to co-direct the winter play with the principal. Brady Gleason is handsome, but awfully strait-laced for Eve’s tastes. Besides, her fresh start didn’t include plans for a new man… Can she make room in her heart and her new life for a man whose icy exterior hides a flame only she can quench?

Brady Gleason can’t stop thinking about Eve. Loud, chronically late, and generally a thorn in his side, she gets on his nerves—but her prickliness conceals a pain he can’t help but try to soothe. He’s learned the hard way that risk means loss. Can Eve encourage him to open his heart one last time if it means finding love?

Eve and Brady are both skeptical about happily-ever-afters. Will their budding romantic production be a one-night flop, or have they found the roles of a lifetime together?

Join us around the campfire, where you can pour out your troubles and seek solace in friendship and love.

Scroll up and grab your copy today!

Smoke Show  is book two in the Campfire Council Series but can be read as a stand-alone romance. The newly elected city council of Campfire, WA, is ready to win hearts and rebuild their small town, but can this sisterhood of the wine-soaked campfire find love amid the flames?

The post Lights, places, passion! appeared first on Author Amelia Simone.

Hi ,

Smoke Show, book two in the new Campfire Council Series has not one, but TWO new covers! I worked with graphic artists at GetCovers to develop a couple cover and discreet version.

Eve and Brady are about to find out that kissing your co-director is a sure way to fan the flames of gossip…

Smoke Show is up for pre-order now and releases August 25th!

You can grab a chance at an early copy on GoodReads between July 24-August 23.

Happy Reading!

Amelia

Smoke Show Giveaway on GoodReads Smoke Show eBook Pre-Order on AmazonSmoke Show Paperback on AmazonSmoke Show Paperback Special Discreet Version on AmazonSmoke Show on GoodReads

Kissing your co-director is a sure way to fan the flames of gossip…

Eve Pendleton moved to Campfire for a fresh start. She’s agreed to help the town council with their bachelor charity auction, but hosting it at the high school is a no-go unless she agrees to co-direct the winter play with the principal. Brady Gleason is handsome, but awfully strait-laced for Eve’s tastes. Besides, her fresh start didn’t include plans for a new man… Can she make room in her heart and her new life for a man whose icy exterior hides a flame only she can quench?

Brady Gleason can’t stop thinking about Eve. Loud, chronically late, and generally a thorn in his side, she gets on his nerves—but her prickliness conceals a pain he can’t help but try to soothe. He’s learned the hard way that risk means loss. Can Eve encourage him to open his heart one last time if it means finding love?

Eve and Brady are both skeptical about happily-ever-afters. Will their budding romantic production be a one-night flop, or have they found the roles of a lifetime together?

Join us around the campfire, where you can pour out your troubles and seek solace in friendship and love.

Scroll up and grab your copy today!

Smoke Show  is book two in the Campfire Council Series but can be read as a stand-alone romance. The newly elected city council of Campfire, WA, is ready to win hearts and rebuild their small town, but can this sisterhood of the wine-soaked campfire find love amid the flames?

The post Smoke Show has TWO hot new covers! appeared first on Author Amelia Simone.

Hi ,

Forbidden Flame, book 1 in the new Campfire Council Series has a gorgeous cover and blurb!

The Nemitz family (first seen in Mister Marriage) are back and funnier than ever. Izzy O’Reilly and Ivan Nemitz have their hands full keeping their hasty marriage a secret.

Can Ivan and Izzy form a real family, or are their vows destined to be nothing more than tinder for the gossip fires?

Forbidden Flame is up for pre-order now!

Forbidden Flame Pre-Order on AmazonForbidden Flame on GoodReads

A good girl gone rogue.
A charmer with an overprotective streak.
Are their $49 vows the investment of a lifetime?

Ivan Nemitz:

Spotting my best friend’s sister at the bar in Vegas was the beginning of the end. She wasn’t allowed to be hot, but I couldn’t ignore her once I saw it. Izzy O’Reilly about made me swallow my tongue, all tall blond curves and seduction. Her baby-making mission stalled me in my tracks before I realized it was the perfect opportunity. A quickie wedding to the delectable Izzy would give me everything I wanted. Namely, her. One hot weekend, and we’d both walk away satisfied, my honor intact. But what about my heart?

Izzy O’Reilly:

Making a pregnancy pact with Ivan Nemitz was a terrible idea, but I didn’t have much choice, did I? He was the perfect donor. Handsome, charming, and intelligent, he was the entire package. If only he didn’t come with the baggage of my small town’s expectations. He insisted on marriage first, and I yielded, sure he was the fastest way to what I wanted: a baby of my own. One hot weekend, and we’d both walk away satisfied, my dream of a family intact. But what about my heart?

Join us around the campfire, where you can pour out your troubles and seek solace in friendship and love.

Forbidden Flame is book one in the Campfire Council Series but can be read as a stand-alone romance. The newly elected city council of Campfire, WA, is ready to win hearts and rebuild their small town, but can this sisterhood of the wine-soaked campfire find love amid the flames?

The post New series & new cover reveal! appeared first on Author Amelia Simone.