Gnome One But You: A Short Story Romance

by Katie Fitzgerald

Babysitting for her hard-to-please sister-in-law, Eve, is making life difficult for Hazel. So is the landscaper who broke Eve's garden gnome. Still, Jeremy has a certain mischievous charm that Hazel can't quite ignore, and he manages to boost her confidence when it's at its lowest point. Will love bloom this spring?

29 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 15, 2025

About the author

Katie Fitzgerald is the author of two collections, Library Lovebirds and Literary Lovebirds, five stand-alone short stories - All Year with Anthony, Batter Together: A Short Story, Green Gloves: A Short Story Romance, Gnome One But You: A Short Story Romance, and Strangers in the Sand: A Short Story Romance - and a novel in flash, The Bennetts Bloom.

Her short stories and flash fiction appear online at Havok Publishing, Syncopation Literary Journal, Painted Pebble Lit Mag, Spillwords.com, Spark Flash Fiction and Micromance Magazine. Her serial romance, "The Plus One Pact" appears quarterly in Clean Fiction.

She is a 2024 Sparkie Award recipient for Best Romantic Suspense, a 2024 nominee for the Pushcart Prize, and was a finalist in three categories of the 2025 Cupid Prize. A graduate of Vassar College and a trained librarian, Katie resides in Maryland with her husband and five kids.

Katie's work also appears in the following anthologies:
✿ Wither and Bloom
✿ Of Ink & Paper
✿ Crowns: A Heartbooks Anthology
✿ A Winter Promise: A Dragon Soul Press Anthology
✿ Summer Sweethearts: A Contemporary Romance Collection
✿ Tails, Scales, & Tiaras
✿ Another Chance to Get It Right: A New Year's Eve Anthology
✿ Written Tales Chapbook XV: Echoes of Ink
✿ 12 Days of Book-Club-Mas
✿ The Dragon Bone Journal: 2025 Issue
✿ Recipes for Romance: A Sweet Valentine's Day Anthology
✿ KissMet Quarterly : Spring Issue
✿ Unconventional Love: Anthology on the Expanse of Love
✿ A Serendipitous Summer
✿ The Zest of the Lemon Volume 2: Capturing Slices of Life and Beauty

Reviews

[Chele Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

can a gnome play cupid?

This is such a cute, quick story. I really felt for Hazel trying to live up to impossible standards. And i really despised her sister-in-law Eve with all her demands! She made me mad! Ugh. But hurray for Jeremy the landscaper for building Hazel’s confidence.
I listened to this on my way home from work via my phone app and it made a mundane drive much more entertaining!

[Jennifer Whalen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable short story

An absolutely adorable short story. I love the way Katie writes and I’m always amazed at how much depth and romantic tension she can pack into her stories. This sweet romance is sure to put a smile on your face and you can read it over your morning coffee! I absolutely recommend it, five stars!

[Nancie Blume · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really short story but still thought it was a cute one. I loved how Jeremy was able to help Hazel see herself for the good person she was and benefited her relationship with her brother's family in the end for the better

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, fun, quick read. A+ on characters in such a short format.

[Elise Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this sweet romance featuring a down-on-herself nanny named Hazel and a gardener named Jeremy who sees the good qualities in his new crush.

It was a quick read perfect for spring!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an early copy of this story and adored it! The MMC is so charming, and I loved the way he helped the protagonist see herself more clearly. A classic Katie Fitzgerald romance!

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, that was so sweet. A very quick read, though very enjoyable. Loved it! 4☆

[Mahoghani 23 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always Be You

Short story about a woman allowing others to tell her she's not good.

Then comes along a handsome guy who sees her worth and shares it with her.