Locked Door

by Indie Sparks

One of us has definitely gotten our dates wrong. And it’s definitely not me.

If there’s one thing that I’m good at, it’s planning and keeping things organized. Okay, that’s two things, but they’re related, and they are the most crucial aspects of who I am.

I am a professional organizer.

So what if that national brand didn’t want to partner with me, and those TV star entrepreneurs said “no deal.”

I am an organizational savant!

I’m not escaping to this vacation rental to lick my wounds from my recent rejections. I just need a quiet place to regroup and plan my next move. To organize my thoughts.

And I’m very sorry for this seemingly nice guy, who has mistakenly understood that this house is his for the week.
Yes, I can see that he arrived before me. And, he obviously has a code that actually works for the lock on the front door, but I’m pretty sure the only reason my code isn’t working is because he used his first, which clearly deactivated mine. I really despise when people can’t maintain order.

But here we are, waiting for the property owner to return our messages. It’s late. On a Friday night. For all we know, the owner lives halfway across the globe and won’t see our notifications for hours.

I’m not going to a hotel. I cannot endure the stress of slamming doors and voices in the hallway all night long. I need my sleep. Peace. Solitude.

Okay, so it appears I made a teeny error in my calendar. Oops. But I’m not about to make another mistake and spend a week in a house with a total stranger. Even if he is a complete mess, who could seriously use my help.

It’s not like I would benefit from helping him get his life in order.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

134 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2025

About the author

Indie Sparks lives just outside Austin, Texas where she spends her days arguing with her dog about whether or not he really needs to go outside again, and writing strong heroines whose knees go weak for cinnamon roll heroes with dirty mouths and the skills to walk the talk.

She believes steamy rom-coms are the answer. The question is irrelevant.

Reviews

[Mick C · Rating 4 out of 5]

When one crazy mishap sends puts you in hiding, only to find a breath of fresh air to life. It may take a second to realize this but once you know, you know. But will one short week help get you back on track? Read this one to find out.

[jenswhitenoise · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm not having much fun these days. I'm too busy excelling at another F word lately." His eyes lift and his eyes widen. "If you're not having any fun at that -" "Failure," I clarify...

Whew. Cat and Nash with the banter right out the starting gate. The banter game is strong, the chemistry is wild, and the communication is everyone's dream. Indie Sparks does it again with an adorably cute MMC and FMC who speak each other's hidden languages. The best thing that ever happened to this Organization Influencer is to have mismanaged her schedule and be completely unorganized. These two are fun, spicy, and total opposites. Both are coming off break ups with really annoying people, career crises, and they just wanted to get away to regroup and lick their wounds (alone in a beach house). Cat shows up and there is instant attraction for Nash - she's trying to be reasonable and rational. It doesn't last long and their crystal clear communication makes this a pleasure to read. No angst, no ick.

This is part of the Rocky Start Romance series - I LOVED Changed Plan and am on to read the first in this series -these are standalone books.

Tropes:
*opposites attract
*insta lust/love
*banter

"You need a man who knows how to read your body, but still listens for your voice"

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Christy Davisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG NASH!! Yes, he is what you want in a perfect book boyfriend!! Opposites Attract Here All The Way!!!

If you love a quick read that brings all the feels this is an absolute must read here!!

Ok, I'm loving these insta lust/love novellas in this series and Locked Door gave me that opposites attract in the perfect dose. I mean Nash is a laid back game tester who is sweet but has a dominant side to him that was chef kisses my friend!! He can make you laugh and then melt your panties the next moment making him an instant keeper. Cat is struggling with her professional life and is a TYPE A all the way personality so imagine her horror when she not only goes on the wrong day for her beach rental but meets a messy gamer who wants to play for it. These two definitely have an attraction/chemistry growing between them and go from virtual strangers to instant vacation fling until feelings start to show up.

This is a quick read in one sitting for sure that packs a lot in a short span. You can expect laughs, heartfelt moments, steamy chemistry, beach vibes, slight Dom/sub moments, and a HEA you will undoubtedly love!!

I honestly love that you can lose yourself for a few hours with each book in this novella series. Each couple has a different unique meet cute type of setup that leads to fun, chemistry, heartfelt moments, spice, and a guaranteed HEA. So if you need something that hits all the spots in a quick span look no further than this one or others in this series. Highly recommend this one to anyone looking for an escape and wanting characters they can root for.

Overall: 5/☆☆☆☆☆
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶

[Brit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love opposite attract books. This novella was perfect. It was a quick read that I was sucked in. Cat was definitely uptight, and I know some reviews said they didn't connect, but I guess part of me felt for her because I have to have organization in my life. She is a workaholic that needs to have structure in her life. I ended up loving her. And Nash, oh sweet Nash! The perfect book boyfriend! I really enjoyed this book/ story. Nash helped Cat relax and learn to live. It was a sweet story!

[Mrs R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat and Nash are opposites, but it seems that they do attract!

I didn't like Cat at the beginning, she was uptight and did not make a very good impression at all, good job Nash was so easy going..... and found her attractive. She did grow on me as she started to interact with Nash and relax more, and we find out more about her recent past, which contributed to her stress.

Cat really needed someone laid back like Nash, she was too obsessed with everything having control of everything, and she probably needed some therapy to help her with her OCD, although thats probably what makes her a sucessful professional organiser. Nash was just what she needed, especially when the one place she releases that control is on the bedroom, and Nash was all too glad to take control!

I loved Nash, he was easygoing and definitely took the lead with the relationship progressing. He was sweet but also didn't let her get away with having control with everything.... like leaving a cup in the sink and not the dishwasher, lol

The epilogue was just what I hoped would happen for these two.

[Aamira · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Novellas can be tricky. You have a short amount of pages to create fully fleshed out characters and a well developed plot. This one missed the mark for me. I didn’t feel the connection between the two characters, and they were pretty flat. We learn that Cat has an organizational business and is compulsive when it comes to order and tidiness, but we don’t know where that stems from. What about her has this need for control? Because of this, she comes off as very grating. Nash is a copy and paste hero without any unique qualities that make him stand out.

The idea was there, it just suffered from poor execution.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat needs time away like we all need air. A week in her happy place will be perfect to regroup, strategize, and hide out a bit. The code not unlocking the Air BnB door might be a problem. Nash is trying to find his focus and knock out this project. The lady yelling at him and following into his beach rental isn’t going to help with his focus.

This series has yet to disappoint in the romcom department. Hilarious, slightly embarrassing, for the characters, meet cutes to those tingly, heartfelt declarations, I’m treated to a delightful palette cleanser that follows up better than most movies!

[Lynn_G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute, s3xy read about opposites who find themselves in the same vacation rental at a critical time in each of their careers.

Uptight Cat is a professional organizer who flamed out spectacularly on a Shark Tank-type show when the tech side of her pitch went offline. Betrayed by her then-boyfriend, she books a week at the beach for the air date to lick her wounds but gets the dates wrong - a first for her, but part of what she perceives as her ongoing failure.

Game tester Nash is as messy as any dudebro, but he’s a sniper in the bedroom. When he sees an opportunity to mess around literally and figuratively with the organized but frazzled anti Mrs Doubtfire who barged in as he was unloading groceries, he focuses all that ability into one h3ll of a good time for them both.

Neither are looking for their next partner, but luck may be on their sides.

I received an advance reader copy from booksirens, and I’m sharing my honest review.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oof! These two could be the textbook definition of opposites, except for how much they actually have in common. Cat is your classic Type-A workaholic overachiever. Nash, on the other hand, has the surface appearance of the ultimate slacker. But you don’t have to get very far below his surface to see how very much he isn’t like that at all. One misremembered calendar appointment and a whole lot of sparks later, and these two were an absolute joy to watch in action. Nash freed her up to live a little, and she anchored him to trust in his dreams. I'm still pretty sure that together these two could take over the world.
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the author.

[Joy Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indie gives us a seriously awesome standalone book in the Rocky Start series! Cat and Nash's story starts with a bit of confusion on Cat's calendar.. she thinks it's her week for the rental, but making a deal with Nash has her staying at the house with him. To find out what happens on the way to their HEA, dive into this wonderfully written book with complex characters and plot twists that keep you glued to the edge of your seat and turning pages throughout. I loved reading this story and highly recommend it! Don't miss out on this book!!

[Margarida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat and Nash are such a great match! Both opposites and the same in so many ways. Cat and Nash are needing a break from the real world because it all seems to be falling apart and surely a break by the beach is the solution to all their work problems. But what would happen if instead of a lone retreat, they would be faced with an absolutely stranger that thinks that it's her place and not his? Well, maybe Nash might feel that Cat is the answer to his recent struggles and he might just make himself the solution to hers
Great short and quick read

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you need a good romantic story to pick you up when you feel low then this book is the go to book.

I loved the book from the first page and enjoyed the characters and thier relationship through the book. This rom com will certainly put a smile on your face with its banter. Really enjoyed this read.

[LA FITCH · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining story of two people trying to find their way after life has given them a kicking. Nash and Cat find themselves in the same beach house due to Cat getting her dates wrong, she is a week early. Nash is a game tester and Cat is an organizational influencer, aka a neat freak. Their banter is great and they end up having lots of sex, throw in their favourite restaurant experiences and this is not to be missed.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Patricia Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute story of a workaholic and a laid back gamer getting together after one accidentally confused her week at a vacation rental. Cat definitely needed some kind of comeback after her pitch on a hot business television show didn’t go as planned and Nash was for sure that comeback, just not in the way she expected. He’s definitely the cute funny guy who is recovering from his own demons, like an ex girlfriend who stole a dream company name, but right time and right place. It was a quick read but not one I’m disappointed in. I was an ARC reader for this novel, thanks Indie Sparks!

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. I think Cat has a bit of OCD with how much she needs control in her life. Nash is like the opposite & I agree with his logic that the world won’t end if something doesn’t immediately get done. So even though she was too busy to realize her error of planning & barged in on his time for the vacation house it worked out cause their lines of work both merged for the better for both of them in the end.

[Neshaisabookworm’s Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo good!

5 phenomenal stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

10/10 do recommend!!!

If I was trying to explain what a romantic comedy book was about I would tell them to read this book!

I haven't read a romcom in ages that made me smile and laugh as much as this book has and it did it in less than 150 pages!

I'm normally a long book girlie; thanks to fantasy books and fanfics lol, and I usually don't read short books. This book read like it was 250+ pages. The pacing and details were perfect! Indie packed a lot of book into these pages.

The chemistry between these two is insane. The spice?! The freakin spice?! It was spicing okay!!!
Such a great read!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great one

Yet another fun story from Indie Sparks. This author has become a must-read one for me. Her writing style has just the right amount of sass and spice in it. These stories are fast, fun, and spicy. This story is about Cat and Nash and the mixup on a vacation rental.

[book._.lover2210 · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re a fan of opposites attract, insta-lust that surprises you by turning into something meaningful, and quirky, closed-door setups with sizzling tension, then Locked Door is the novella you need in your life.

The story kicks off with a delightfully awkward misunderstanding: two strangers, one vacation rental, and one very big calendar mix-up. Cat, a no-nonsense professional organiser (who lives and breathes control), is just trying to recharge and regroup after some major career setbacks. What she doesn’t expect is to find Nash — the charming, chaotic, emotionally intuitive man who accidentally booked the same week as her.

Cat is uptight and particular, but she's also layered and (eventually) vulnerable in a way that really worked for me. I could understand her need for control and structure, and while some readers may not connect with her right away, I appreciated that she felt real — flawed but trying. Nash, on the other hand, is pure comfort. He’s soft, patient, and genuinely lovely — the kind of book boyfriend you root for immediately. Their chemistry is instant, but what makes the relationship compelling is how they each begin to shift. Nash doesn’t try to “fix” Cat — he sees her. And Cat, despite her resistance, begins to let herself be seen.

The banter is playful and sharp, with some laugh-out-loud moments as well as quieter, tender beats that give the story emotional weight. For a novella, it balances pace and depth surprisingly well. The romantic development is quick (as expected), but not rushed — it felt like just the right amount of story for the format.

Spice-wise, it's around a 3/5: there's definite heat, tension, and some deliciously steamy moments, but it's not overly explicit. Just enough to satisfy readers who enjoy a bit of heat with their heart.

My only reason for holding back a fifth star is that I would’ve loved to spend more time with these characters — a full-length novel would’ve let their dynamic stretch and breathe even more. That said, what’s here is funny, swoony, and wonderfully satisfying.

Favourite dynamic: The subtle way Nash helps Cat loosen her grip on perfection — not by pushing, but by simply being there. It’s soft-boy magic at its finest.

Final thoughts: Locked Door is a charming, spicy little escape — perfect for when you want a romance with heart, heat, and a healthy dose of banter. Highly recommend for fans of novellas that feel like full stories.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[PagePilgrim · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you get when you throw an ultra-organised control freak and a laid-back, messy gamer into the same beach house? Chaos, chemistry, and a whole lot of fun.

Locked Door is a feel-good opposites-attract rom-com that brings together Cat — the queen of colour-coded planners — and Nash, a charmingly dishevelled video game tester who probably thinks “laundry day” is a myth. They both unknowingly book the same beach house for a getaway, and let’s just say… sparks fly (and not just from the toaster).

That said — full disclosure — this book is spicy. Like, someone forgot to close the bedroom door spicy. While I don’t mind a bit of heat in a romance, the sheer volume of steamy scenes started to feel a little excessive. I would've loved a bit more story and a bit less... cardio.

Even though Cat and Nash couldn’t be more different, I found myself rooting for both. Their personalities clashed in the best way, and watching them balance each other out was honestly satisfying. It’s enemies-to-lovers energy without all the toxicity — just plenty of laughs, warmth, and heart.

If you're after a quick, cozy read with all the feels, Locked Door might just be the perfect weekend escape.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in the Rocky Start Romance series features Cat and Nash, two people who have so much in common and yet have so many differences. Cat accidentally shows up the wrong week for her beach vacation and finds Nash staying in the rental. One thing leads to another and the two decide to share the house. I admit I found the premise a little odd. I don’t think I would have agreed to share my vacation rental with a stranger. But putting that aside, I really enjoyed the banter between the two of them and thought the author did a good job of making both characters interesting and multi-dimensional. Oftentimes novellas are just quick reads to cleanse your palate, so to speak. But I’ve read all three of the books in this series so far and the author manages to give the reader a good story, interesting characters and some spice to heat things up. These aren’t palate cleansers, but rather a delightful way to spend a few hours. Recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Locked Door by Indie Sparks is part of the Ricky Start Series. What a cute romantic comedy novella. I flew through reading this; while yes it’s short but everything feels flushed out. What I enjoyed about this tale is how it feels so realistic because who hasn’t messed up days or times? I thought the characters were good and I absolutely loved Nash. Plus he’s a video game tester which pulls at my gamer heart strings. Cat is in my opinion at the start uptight and super organized which makes sense considering her career. Then both find themselves at the same vacation rental. Oh my, their chemistry is off the charts! I really liked how Nash was determined to bring chaos to Cat’s organized lifestyle. The writing was good and kept me engaged with the story. There were times I chuckled and murmured aww, I do love a good opposites attract. I’ve really been digging this series so far and so far I’ve had a good reading experience with them all. I would definitely recommend reading if you like a quick read that can be cute and steamy.

Final review:
4 out of 5 stars

[Helen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat is a professional organizational influencer and Nash is a game tester. For someone so organised Cat makes an unheard of (for her!) mistake and gets her dates mixed up, ending up gatecrashing Nash's week of solitude in a beach rental that he needed to get his work done. Once the initial confusion is over Cat still wants the week so she has a little wager with Nash and whoever wins gets the beach house and the loser books into a hotel. But as they start to get to know each other things start to get a little heated!
This is a good story, I really felt for Cat with what she had recently been through and I think Nash was just what she needed. Total opposite to her but you know what they say about opposites attracting and this was definitely the case here. He was just so chilled and laid back despite being burned by love himself quite recently but he knew where to take charge where it counted! This turning out to be an interesting and attention holding series and I just hope there is more to come

[Laura Montesinos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cat just wanted to get away, she needed a break and was ready for a long week away from everything and everyone at the beach.

But when she went to her Airbnb, her code wouldn't work. Waiting for the host to come and let her in, someone pulls in next to her and goes inside. Thinking this is a mistake, she follows him and tells him to leave. Only to realize that she's in fact, a week ahead of schedule.

Realizing her mistake she decides to make a deal with the mysterious guy she followed into the Airbnb.

Nash has been struggling with catching glitches in the games he tests. He's been needing a distraction, little did he know, it would come in a feisty package, named Cat.

Agreeing to the deal with Cat to see who stays and who leaves, they get to know one another. One night turns to two and two to three. Nash is intrigued by Cat and realizes things about her that he shouldn't.

Just like the other two novellas in this series, this is a spicy read with a great plot probably the spiciest so far. Nash gives in all the right ways and makes you want to come back for more.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nash and Cat . . .

(Just reading the blurb, I knew Cat needed serious, intense professional help. She drove me crazy in only 60 seconds.) Organizational influencer Catalina Fairchild (“Cat”), a professional organizer with nearly three million followers, has convinced herself that she is the very best at planning and organizing. So when she and a stranger both claim to have rented a house for the week, they wait for the property owner to sort out the problem. There are all sorts of reasons that Cat could not possibly stay at a hotel. She needs her sleep and a quiet, peaceful environment to allow her genius to flourish. A little peek at her calendar, however, shows that Ms. Perfection has made an error on the date for her arranged occupancy… she is, dare we say it, “wrong” or perhaps simply “mistaken”. So where does that leave her? Will she have to share the house with game tester Nash Nocona, if he is kind enough to even make such an offer? Should we warn him he will need professional therapy if he spends even 10 minutes with the organized Ms. Perfection?

[Liz M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cat is a professional organizer with an online following. After a public humiliation, she just needs to get away and regroup, so she rents a beach house for the week. Only, she gets there and the code the owner gave her for the door doesn't work. Worse yet, some guy arrives with a bunch of groceries and he punches in a code that works! What gives?
Nash doesn't care what this woman says - this is his week. But it's pretty amusing how adamant she is even when she's wrong. And he's not sure he wants her to leave just yet.
This was funny, with plenty of banter. Nash and Cat are total opposites, and start out at odds. But they form a tenuous truce, and even end up helping each other. Turns out, they were exactly what the other needed.
But what will happen at the end of the week? Can they just walk away? Or is this more than just a vacation fling?
This had the fun and the feels all wrapped up together, and it had me smiling from the start.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick read. The two protagonists, Nash and Cat, had nice, snappy dialogue. They connected right away, with a bare minimum of conflict, so I wouldn't describe this as a rocky start romance, per se. They were obviously well suited. There were a few minor misunderstandings, but I would say they barely rocked the boat in their budding relationship.

I didn't relate to the heroine in every way; she liked a certain amount of, shall I say, manhandling, but to each his own. I was glad to see that Nash treated her respectfully both personally and professionally. She and Nash both got over some stumbling blocks in their career and they freely helped each other out.

The plot was cute and the novel was a perfect read for a lazy summer Sunday. None of the characters were fleshed out too much, being a short book. I liked the side character of the waitress at their favorite restaurant.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amber Cheek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a wonderful romance short story I recommend. I love that both the love interests were the complete opposite of each other. Cat was a clean freak, a person who lived her to organize everything in her life. Nash reminds me alot of my husband, doesn't care about the messes everywhere he lives, will annoy you on purpose and enjoy doing it. He also hides the hurt of a broken heart that his ex left him with. I think they both are exactly what they ended for each other, companionship, love, and people who care to understand them. Though there a lot of steamy scenes in these books. The story overall was entertaining, funny, and sweet. I'm glad they ended up together and bought the house that bought them together. I wish I there be a second part with them starting a family. Thank you for the opportunity. I enjoyed the story and hope to read more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Julorie Siefert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, what do you do when your world is not working right and the Mr. Right is not a Right at all but all wrong. It is time for a change of pace so you rent a place on beach to get your thought process back in the game, get work done, and get your life priorities straight. Except when you get there the code to the door does not work right and when a man gets out of the car with groceries heading for the door and enters a code and in he goes to the place you have rented. Just what you need geez. However, the handsome man’s world is not going well, his Ms. Right turns out to be Ms. Wrong and then some, and he is at the beach to try and get his head on straight and do some work. Who has gotten the dates messed up and who is suppose to have this week? How do they work it out? Especially when both are not in the mood for a relationship!

[Laerke55 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I.S have written such Amazing books i loved her book locked door . I love following fmc in her journey and i loved to read her growth as a character…. I just really love the Way these authors writes… all the books she writes is always soo good and always keeps me on my toes… the Way their writing is soo intresting.. i have loved all the books i have read by her… i love the fmc story and i love watching her realstionship with grow stronger and stronger…. i really loved the twist and turn…This really Kept my interest the whole Way and i really loves this book…this book was freaking good.. What this author comes up with next

I highly recommed that people read her book locked door .. and if you haven’t read this book yet Then What are you waiting for you are really missing out on something…. Locked door is such a good book

[Emily Bellamy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the premise behind this book! We meet Cat and Nash, who both paid for separate weeks at a vacation rental, but Cat accidentally shows up a week early during Nash’s vacation. I’ll admit, I silently screamed at the FMC for just waltzing in after this stranger and agreeing to stay in a house with him. But getting past that, the banter between Cat and Nash is so much fun to read.

The pacing of the book is very quick, because it’s a shorter story. There’s a lot to fit in within a small amount of pages. So it seems that Cat and Nash go from zero to sixty very quickly. But the author does it well!

I liked how well Nash handles Cat’s OCD and need for order and organization. I identify with her to a certain degree, and how patient he is with her is heartwarming. I’m a fan of Indie Sparks’ writing and look forward to more of her stories!