Sunshine and the Grumpy Groundskeeper

by Susanne Ash

She’s sunshine and spontaneity. He’s grumpy and prefers trees to people. Too bad she keeps getting lost in his woods.

Children’s book author Daisy Harper came to Mountain Laurel Lodge for one reason—to find inspiration for her next big adventure story. The only problem? She has zero survival skills, a tendency to wander off-trail, and an overly enthusiastic Yorkie mix named Rascal who causes chaos wherever he goes.

Enter Rowan Callahan, the lodge’s brooding, no-nonsense groundskeeper. He prefers solitude, routine, and not rescuing city girls from the wilderness. But when Daisy’s editor—a longtime lodge guest—pulls some strings, Rowan gets roped into keeping an eye on her.

She’s too chatty, too cheerful, too impossible to ignore.

He’s too gruff, too guarded, too ridiculously handsome for her own good.

And the more time they spend together, the harder it is to deny their growing attraction—especially when one misty mountain evening leads to an unforgettable kiss.

But Daisy isn’t here to stay. She has a book to finish, a career to chase, a life waiting for her back home. And Rowan? He learned a long time ago that people always leave.

Unless, of course, she can convince him that sometimes, the best love stories are the ones you never see coming.

Welcome to Mountain Laurel Lodge

Nestled deep in the heart of the North Carolina mountains, Mountain Laurel Lodge is more than just a retreat. It’s home to the Callahan family, a group of gruff yet good-hearted brothers and cousins who never expected love to show up at their doorstep.

Each book in the Mountain Laurel Lodge series is a standalone sweet romance, but the interwoven family stories make them best enjoyed in Spark Between Us – A fake dating romance featuring Ivy Callahan & her brother’s best friend. (Series prequel)Sunshine and the Grumpy Groundskeeper – A grumpy/sunshine romance between a reclusive groundskeeper and a lost, hopelessly optimistic children’s author. The Sweet Chef and the Corporate Queen – A single mom, opposites attract romance when a laid-back chef falls for a high-powered CEO—and her adorable daughter. Rescued in the Storm – A friends-to-lovers, second chance romance when a wilderness guide finally sees his best friend in a new light after saving her from danger. Practically Perfect Together – A fake fiancé romance when a fun-loving activities coordinator helps a workaholic impress her business partners. The Heiress and the Handyman – A hidden identity romance when a runaway heiress in disguise turns a mountain man handyman’s life upside down. Full of heartfelt romance, family bonds, and swoon-worthy mountain men, the Mountain Laurel Lodge series is perfect for readers who love small-town settings, slow-burn chemistry, and rugged heroes with soft hearts.

Come visit Elk Ridge and fall in love with the Callahan family today!

Genres: Romance

109 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 25, 2025

About the author

Susanne Ash writes sweet contemporary romance. When she's not busy putting pen to paper, she loves to cook, knit, and head out exploring with her husband and daughter. She lives close to the beach in beautiful South Carolina. You'll find that her setting is often a fictionalized version of her surroundings and the places she's visiting with her family.

Reviews

[Kremena Koleva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Началото си беше многобещаващо - хумор, който правеше толкова забавно действието и героите. Туристическа ложа в гората, момиче от града и местния водач - това поначало си предполага един куп недоразумения. Героинята пише детска книга и я илюстрира с горските животни като малка общност. Лута се по непознатите горски пътеки в търсене на вдъхновение и личен поглед върху обитателите им. Но когато едно момиче с развихрено въображение, но с нулев опит в живота на открито, се заеме със задачата да обикаля навред в съвсем неподходящо оборудване, единствено някой с повече умения може да я запази жива за времето на престоя й.
Според мен, разкошно начало, идея с голям потенциал, но начинът на водене на разказа постепенно се разпадна. Стори ми се доста елементарен, без възможност да повярвам на героите и с неоправдано количество повторения на едни и същи банални фази. Малко повече фантазия в диалозите щеше да превърне тази весела история в добра книга!

* "It's easy to love something when you know it's temporary. When it's an escape, not reality."

[Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one didn’t work for me. The cute romantic parts had too much telling verses showing and the drama felt too manufactured for me. This is a novella, just focus on the romance. A little angst is good but the H was so whiny for half the book and there was way too much interference from his family. There’s just too much here for a solid novella. I think it would have worked better as a novel. It needed more development.

[Rebecca White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely

I enjoyed the magical story creation and the way Daisy's imagination broke through Rowans grumpiness. I loved the way Daisy just let her mind run wild even when it got a little dangerous.

[Chanuki Ranasinghe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love this series. Such a cozy romcom and no spice! Love love love it!

[Hilma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunshine and the Grumpy Groundskeeper by Susanne Ash is one of the best grumpy sunshine novels I have read. When Daisy goes to a mountain retreat to get inspired for her children’s novel about woodland creatures, she meets groundskeeper Rowan, who does not know how to handle her sunny character.

From the very first page I loved Daisy. She is great character, sees magic in everything and she is so happy. Together with her dog Rascal she wants to explore the wood and comes up with lots of ideas. Rowan gets roped into showing her around, because she is a city girl and gets distracted very fast. I loved their interactions; I had to smile a lot while reading this delightful book. Rowan has been hurt and that’s why he keeps to himself. Daisy brings the magic back into his life. Their excursions into the woods are so funny! Daisy sees everything as a story waiting to be told. As they spent more time together, Rowan gets looser and I loved how Daisy brought that about. Near the end of the story something happens and that brought tears to my eyes.

The writing style of this short novel is flowing and the book is easy to read. I had a really hard time putting the book down. There is banter, romance, drama, laughter, and thankfully all ended well. If there would be a book Daisy wrote, I would love to read that one! So maybe Susanne Ash can write this story as well? I would love to see all the creatures Daisy mentioned and wrote about.

This was the first book in the Callahan family series and I can’t wait to read the next books.

If you want to read a great grumpy sunshine novel, with a wonderful FMC, a good plot and story-line, funny situations, and a flowing lovely writing style, you have to read this book.

[Terry T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is a sweet small town, sunshine/grumpy, opposites attract romance with no cliffhanger.
Some of the lines I really like --- "You're kind of good at this. The whole rescuing thing. Very heroic. Like a rugged mountain version of a knight in shining⁠—" ---- "You know, some people are worth lowering those walls for. Even if it's scary. ---- After all, the best stories have both structure and magic. Maybe trails do too. ---- "did you just defend my impracticality?" --- "I just hate people who dim other people's light." --- "Sometimes the best teachers are the ones who seem gruff on the outside but know exactly when to be gentle." --- "My dad used to say the people who see magic in ordinary things are the ones who make life worth living." --- "Do you ever wonder if the places where we don't fit... maybe they're not our places? Maybe we're not the ones who need to change?" ---- "Dreams are funny things. Sometimes they change when we aren't looking. Sometimes they grow to include things we never expected." --- "Whatever you decide, make sure it's what will bring you joy, not just success. They're not always the same thing." --- to trust that some paths, though difficult, are worth taking. --- who taught me that the most magical trails are the ones we're brave enough to follow, even when we can't see where they lead. ---
What's Evie up to? What's Liam up to? What's Janet up to? These and other questions will all be answered.
I loved Daisy and Rowan's story and I'm sure you will too. I've loved everyone of her books that I've read and can't wait to read her next book.

[Randi Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute way to kick off a new series! I absolutely adored Daisy right from the very start. I loved her whimsy and how she saw magic in everything- even when it got her into predicaments! Thankfully, the grumpy groundskeeper- Rowan- is able to step in and keep her out of too much trouble. The dynamic between these two was really fun. They are certainly very much opposites, but I also loved how they brought out other sides to one another. He helped keep her grounded and safe... and she added a little bit of magic into his otherwise serious life. The stories that Daisy would come up with for all the creatures she'd encounter, and Rowan's reluctant amusement kept me smiling throughout. This was a super quick read- easily read in a sitting or two, I think- but didn't feel rushed or lacking... just the perfect quick romance to keep me smiling and add a little whimsy to my day! I can't wait to see what is going to happen next in the series!

Sunshine and the Grumpy Groundskeeper is a closed-door romance with kisses only and minimal minor language.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly delightful book! Rowan and Daisy (and Rascal) will enchant you. Susanne Ash offers an amazing glimpse into the magic of the mountains ("The forest feels different at night...the darkness itself is a secret shared between those brave enough to walk through it.") and allows you to open yourself to whimsy and delight in the every day. There is humor galore ("Your dog's wearing a sweater...It's his adventure outfit...") and thoughtful moments that can be a life guide for us all ("the unmarked trail ahead doesn't fill me with fear. It fills me with possibilities."). Gift yourself with the magic and possibilities in Sunshine and the Grumpy Groundskeeper-and sign up for the Bonus Epilogue on the author's newsletter, a perfect follow-up.

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunshine and the Grumpy Groundskeeper is a sweet, whimsical, clean, opposites attract romance. Daisy, author of children's books, is pure sunshine and sees animal back stories everywhere she looks. Rowan, a keep to himself grounds man, is voluntold by his mother that he will be Daisy's guide on their lodge's mountain trails. I loved the conversations between these two main characters, Daisy's imagination, and the loving, supportive Callahan family. This charming romance was a delight to read. It is fairly short, though it does not feel rushed, so it was easy to fit into one afternoon. I adored my time at Mountain Laurel Lodge!

[Tami Willard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clean Standalone Rom-com Interconnected Series HEA

First book of an interconnected series that has characters overlapping throughout the series. Each book could be read as a standalone but better if read in order.
She's trying to write a children's book and needs some inspiration. Her time staying there is to do research. He's been burned before by a city girl. The last thing he wants is to be her guide. How do these opposites in personality get along? What happens when she is needed back in the city?

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute. Daisy is the epitome of “sunshine” with her optimism and fox print leggings. Rowan was very sweet as well. I like that he was grumpy, but gentle and kind as well. I appreciated that the story got started right away and that there wasn’t a ton of different characters holding up the story.

I do wish there was a bit more depth to Daisy and Rowan’s relationship. I wasn’t quite sure why they liked each other and there weren’t really any obstacles in their way to overcome. This was a nice, quick read though.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy is at Mountain Laurel Lodge to get inspiration for her children’s book. Rowan Callahan is volunteered by his mother to be Daisy’s guide on the mountain trails. This is the first book in the Callahan family’s books. A sweet, clean romance by Susanne Ash. Loved the characters, especially Rascal. Good storyline that is interesting from beginning to end. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.

[Sandra Hartzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a free copy of this book, but this is my voluntary and honest opinion. Daisy Harper writes children’s books, and goes to Mountain Laurel Lodge for inspiration, but she has no survival skills, and Rowan Callahan finds her when she is lost, and saves her from the wilderness traps. As they spend time together, they are drawn to each other, but she isn’t staying. A delightful book about relationships, trust, and making future plans.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy Harper’s mind works a little, okay a lot, differently from most people, she turns events into stories that involve encounters with wildlife. She is a ray of sunshine that can brighten any day. Well, maybe except for Rowan Callahan’s. Rowan is too busy protecting his heart from possible hurt. Their story is whimsical, entertaining, and thoroughly fun. They make the perfect balance for the other. I completely enjoyed this book and look forward to revisiting the Callahans.

[Lynn Hyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mountains and Peace

Daisy is a bundle of joy and magic. Rowan is a quiet, practical keeper of hiking trails. As their worlds collide, the relationship is fun, and the conversations are delightful. The rest of the Callahan family is loving, supportive, and a delight. The epilog is beautiful as well. I look forward to the rest of the Callahan stories.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daisy and Rowan

This is a fun and interesting story. I enjoyed getting to know and love Daisy and Rowan, and the rest of the Callahan family. I love Daisy and I enjoyed seeing the grumpy groundskeeper grow and learn some things about himself and others especially Daisy. I can hardly wait to read the next book in the series.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

This is the first book in Susanne Ash’s The Callahans of Elk Ridge series. As the title implies, this is a grumpy/sunshine sweet romance. This plot to this book was so precious and cute. Our FMC is a children’s author who is researching for her book and the MMC is a groundskeeper at the lodge his family runs. I loved the outdoor descriptions. This made me want to go on a vacation to the mountains and stay in a lodge. Our FMC sees magic in the outdoors and I really enjoyed reading those parts of the book. We get our HEA and Susanne Ash wrote that in such a beautiful way. These characters are so well developed and the plot is engaging. This book was like a breath of fresh air, easy to read with some depth to it.

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whimsical romance novel. This is a good start to a new series, with interesting characters and a romance that will capture you. Fun to read.
I received a copy of this book from the author. I am leaving a voluntary and honest review.

[Delta A Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a cute little cozy read. At first I hated the MFC because she was written very child like but she kind of grew on me. And I loved how she “aggravated” the MMC it made me a laugh a few times

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book.
I wish I was more like Daisy.To see magic in everything.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Use your imagination and you can see everything that is going on in this book.
Quick read and quite entertaining.

[SarieBerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute, Love that it was centered in nature, the way the animals became so much a part of the story was really fun. This was very clean on every level.

[Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clean and fun romance 💘

Something nice and sweet to unwind the day before bedtime! I really enjoyed reading this and can't wait to continue with the Callahan family. I wished it was a little bit longer but at the same time it was the perfect length before my tired eyes would fall asleep 😴

[Eliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m loving this series. I liked the prequel novella too