Off-limits & Grumpy: A Sweet Small Town Billionaire Romance

by Charlotte Mae

I hired my little sister’s best friend.
Now we’re fake dating and she lives in my house.

Sage Daniels is the last person I should fall for.

She’s sunshine in heels. I’m the storm cloud in a suit.

She’s also my employee and my sister’s best friend, which makes her very off-limits. But I needed her brilliance to save this gala and my company.

Then the press dragged my name through the mud. So, the PR team made a pretend to be in love with Sage or risk everything.

She moves into my guest room. Starts baking muffins. Builds pillow forts with my daughter.

I tell myself it’s all for show. But then she laughs, and for the first time in years, my house feels like a home.

I should’ve kept my distance. Instead, I caught myself falling—hard.

Now she has a job offer in the city. And I’m about to lose the only woman who’s ever made me believe in second chances.

Off-Limits & Grumpy is a sweet, wholesome billionaire single dad romance for fans of small towns and unforgettable happily-ever-afters. Each book in the & Grumpy - Redbud Ridge series delivers a feel-good standalone story where love arrives when you least expect it, secrets don’t stay buried for long, and happily-ever-afters are always worth the risk.

69 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2025

Reviews

[Maven_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Off‑limits & Grumpy: A Sweet Small Town Billionaire Romance by Charlotte Mae is a cozy, small town romance about Jared, a grumpy billionaire single dad whose life gets shaken up when he hires his little sister’s best friend Sage Daniels to help with his company’s high‑stakes gala and PR problems, only to find that pretending to be in love might uncover real, unexpected feelings.

Sage moves into his guest room as part of the faux romance arranged by his public relations team, and what begins as off‑limits and purely professional gradually transforms into something tender, warm, and deeply personal as they spend time together, share laughs, and let down the walls they’ve built around their hearts. The story carries fake dating, small town vibes, and sweet grumpy/sunshine energy throughout, and is part of Charlotte Mae’s & Grumpy — Redbud Ridge series, where each book focuses on a heartfelt standalone romance.

From the first chapter I felt drawn to how naturally the chemistry unfolds between Sage’s sunshine personality and Jared’s stormier, ordered life, especially in the small everyday moments; baking muffins, building pillow forts with his daughter, and sharing honest conversations slowly melt the grumpy exterior and make a house feel like a home.

I was genuinely moved by how the story balances lighthearted charm with sincere emotional growth, where both characters learn to trust each other beyond merely “playing a role,” and where community and family feel just as important as the central romance. The setting of Redbud Ridge itself adds to the warmth, with neighbors who care, gossip that’s all in good fun, and a sense that love can arrive when you least expect it. I dare describe this book as sweet, uplifting, and perfect for a quick, feel‑good read, especially if you love billionaire romances with humor, heart, and minimal angst.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars. I’m giving this book four stars because its honest characters, gentle slow burn, and small town warmth made me smile and genuinely care about Sage and Jared’s journey toward something real; though the novella length means some emotional beats are compact, what’s here feels heartfelt, satisfying, and perfect for curling up with when you want romance that feels like a warm blanket and freshly baked muffins in the morning.

[Terry T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is a sweet small town, little sister's best friend, fake dating, close proximity, single dad, billionaire romance with no cliffhanger.
Some of the lines I really like --- even if getting everything to run smoothly sometimes feels like herding caffeinated cats.----- "That no matter how far we stray, it’s the people we trust—the ones who stand beside us—that bring us home again.” --- “But life doesn’t always give us what we ask for. Sometimes, it gives us exactly what we need.” ---
What's Tessa up to? Why is the rag paper trying to destroy Jared? What's Mason up to? These and other questions will all be answered.
I loved Sage and Jared's story and I'm sure you will too. I've loved everyone of her books that I've read and I can't wait to read her next book.

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short sweet book that takes place in Redbud Ridge. I know there is a second book placed in the same town but I am unsure if this is a series with overlapping characters or just a series of books set in the same place either way different characters.

If you want a quick read, with no angst or betrayal, then this book will leave you with a smile on your face and a warm place in your heart.

[LINDA BASS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story, and I liked Sage for sticking to her small town and opening her event planner business. Once she bumped into her best friend's brother, she tried to ignore the crush that she had on him, and she promised her that he was off limits or so she told herself. I liked Jarrett and his cute little daughter who lost her mom.

[Dali Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet story of reconnecting and new beginnings.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

OFF-LIMITS AND GRUMPY is a delightful sweet romance novella. It’s a lovely interlude for any day!