Paper Flowers

by Ashley Barela

After losing his wife, Luke Beckett moves to the quiet town of Stonebrook, hoping to rebuild a life for himself and his young daughter, Sadie. Taking a position as a third-grade teacher at the local elementary school, he doesn't expect the past to come crashing back, especially not in the form of the woman who once broke his heart.
Newly divorced and determined to start over, Dayna Carter accepts a job as Vice Principal at Stonebrook Elementary. She's ready to leave the past behind until she walks into the building and finds Luke Beckett on the other side of the faculty office.
As old wounds resurface and sparks begin to fly, Luke and Dayna must decide if the past is too painful to revisit or if love deserves a second chance.

Genres: Romance

402 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2025

About the author

Ashley Barela has always believed in the magic of a good story. A stay-at-home mom and devoted wife, she spends her days raising two incredible daughters and her nights chasing fictional daydreams across the page.
Paper Flowers is her debut novel and the first step in a journey she never quite expected but always hoped for.
Tucked away in sunny California, Ashley lives for fast-paced mornings, and heartfelt words. She's happiest with a book in one hand and a cold Dr. Pepper in the other, savoring the little things that make life feel like a story worth telling.

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read from Ashley but I guarantee it won't be the last. Dayna enjoys being vice principal of her school, she loves the kids most of the teachers especially her best friend Cara. Now stood here talking to this cute little girl whilst making her a flower out of paper she's knows this is what she's meant to do. Until she turns round and comes face to face with her past and also this little girls dad. Luke knew with everything that has happened they needed a new start finding this teaching job was the perfect solution a new start in a new small-town. Now seeing the woman who broke he's heart years ago talking to his daughter, this isnt what he expected. This is a story of coping with loss, heartbreak and jealousy. Both main characters have insecurities and apprehension about their past and how that will affect them now. Sometimes your in a place you didn't necessarily think you wanted to be but realise it's the perfect place to heal. I loved everything about this story and hope that Cara and Luke will get a book of their own, because there's definitely hidden secrets between them. Make sure to add this to your tbr list you won't regret it ❤️

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a second chance romance, Luke and Dayna have history, suddenly after years they are in the same place. For Luke there is a lot to overcome, but he is such a lovely character, (and Sadie) Dayna hasn’t had the love and support, in this story it hits that her past has been full of unhappiness. The turn around and trusting someone again was great to read. The paper flowers is such an apt title, riding the wave of grief, with love and support.
Thank you for my arc. BookSirens, I provided a voluntary review.

[Emily-Rose Brlevich · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the idea of the story and the characters and the stories behind them. I also enjoyed the dual POV throughout the story.

[Book Addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

The metaphor of Paperflowers as a title suggests something delicate yet intentionally crafted—symbolizing how beauty and strength can coexist in vulnerability. This story is just that, a second chance romance blossoming from love lost as a teen, it is a heartfelt and emotionally resonant story that captures the delicate beauty of life’s fleeting moments. The main characters both moving on from similar but different love losses and helping one another. Heartwarming journey of renewal and love lost....

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

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautiful book was mainly about grief and moving on. The romance was beautiful too but it took second place to Luke’s and Sadie’s stories about loosing a spouse and a mother, for me. I liked the side characters and look forward to a second book in this series.

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

[Heph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such an easy and cozy readdd!! It made me smile, giggle, laugh, crash out and almost cry. (I mostly crashed out because of Dean— that man pissed me off 😭)

I genuinely loved this. Like actually, truly loved it.
I had never read a romance book about grief, second chances, and elementary school. This was my first, and I loved it!!

Luke and Dayna had to learn how to make room for love again.

First of all—“whiskey-colored eyes”? The way I WOW’d when I saw it. That is so beautiful!! It’s literally stuck to my head like poetry, my heart too!! I melted. You could tell that man was still down bad from the very first look.

And then DEAN—ugh.

You dey go na😭 Like please sir, you had your chance, go stand over there.

The way I felt like giving him one or two uppercuts in most scenes!!! 😂 With his useless possessiveness and unnecessary tension. For a while, I was face-palming myself to Dayna whenever she entertained his conversations.

Now onto our sweet little angel, Sadie. That girl was emotionally intelligent— extremely. She was also very funny. And she wasn’t written like a cliché “wise kid.” She felt so real. Real six-year-old energy with enough sass and sweetness to be very relatable. Our Slim Sadie❤️😂 ( I knew it was an Eminem reference from the moment I read it and I giggled when Luke explained it 😂🫶🏼)

Now, Dayna. I loved her. I loved her mouth. I loved her boldness. I loved her directness. She made me laugh out loud multiple times and her iconic little comments too😂😂😂 She was acting like a cheeky teenager most of the time😭😭 I liked her tho, she loved Sadie soooo much and she respected Julliette.

Also—shoutout to Mrs. Emily!!! She was such a blessing in the story. She was the warm, solid, grounding side characters who didn’t try to fix anything but made everything better just by being present. Everyone was supportive and I loved it!!

AND NOW. LUKE.
Let’s talk about this man. 🌚Because I had NO idea this man— underneath all that Teacher wareva— was packing respectful freak 😹😹
Like one minute he’s softly parenting and grieving and asking for consent (which I deeply appreciated, by the way—he asked before kissing her and it made me melt❤️), and the next minute….😹😹😹
He was everything, tho. But also?? He was doing things. That man is lowkey a full-blown Daddy and the smut was smuttinggggg🌚🫶🏼

There were a few scenes that felt a little rushed, especially some of the convos—I wanted just a little more breathing room in certain moments. But It still didn’t pull me out of the story. I still fell in love with all of them.

This was such a soft, warm, slightly spicy, beautifully written story about rebuilding something sacred in the aftermath of pain. Definitely a good and easy read for me—and I can’t wait for Liam’s book(Ashley told me he was getting one😛😛😛 Maybe with Cara?🌚)

I’m so glad I got to read the ARC of this book🫶🏼

[Anime Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐ s
Absolutely love it
It's not many second chances I read that I come across ones that genuinely make me feel completely and utterly fulfilled and good.
This book is not dramatic in ANY WAY
pretty straightforward since the beginning
No bad or messy situations that tear apart or distance the MCs

Absolutely love. LOVE. L O V E how they both Dayna and Luke know each other so wholly....every expression, every breath, every movement...
Only true love does that to people
Reading them....made me pray to god that when love finds me, may God bless me with a man who knows me like Luke knows Dayna.

Some tears were shed. Mostly on Sadie's part.
That little 6 year old is smarter than most grown ups
And I absolutely love the close knit school faculty
(With the exception of dean the douche)
I felt the ending was abrupt. I was hoping for an epilogue that ties everything up together beautifully .
I'm content. This books made me so happy

[iris ઇଓ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I found the book to be too fast-paced and the writing was really irregular throughout which made it difficult to concentrate on the story. My original rating was 2 stars but it changed after Luke and Dayna got serious with each other. Dayna and Sadie's bond was the redeeming factor of the book and while I didn't enjoy this much, I would read the sequel [if there is one in the making].

Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This was a sweet second chance romance for Luke and Dayna. I like how things unfolded naturally between them. I especially liked how they both treated Luke’s daughter Sadie’s feelings with care and the great banter from the side characters who all (except one jerk) were very likeable and supportive. This was my first Ashley Barela book but it won’t be my last. I am already looking forward to book two in the Stonebrook series!

[Heidi Marshburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet redemption second chance story! Luke a widower moves himself and his 6year old Sadie move back to his hometown. His first week working at the elementary school he runs into his first love Dayna. They realize they love each other and with the help of Sadie they form a joint path to life together as a family.

[Ruba Abu Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Paper Flowers’ by Ashley Barela is my first book by this author, and hopefully it won’t be the last.

It’s heartfelt and heartwarming. I particularly appreciated the thoughtful title of the novel and the dynamics of interaction between the characters.

Many thanks to BookSirens for the e-ARC.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second-chance romance, the sweetest baby girl ever, a bright green flag MMC.

I cried a couple of times. Luke is so sweet and the love he has for the 3 women prominent in this book is beautiful.

Hoping that there is a book 2 with Liam because, please!! 😍 I need it!

[Araceli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tugged at my heartstrings! Loved it!