First Draft Love: A Hilarious Small-Town Romance of Second Chances

by Lefki Karantoni

A secret pen name, a nosy mechanic, and one very public case of writer's block.
Joanne Whitaker has written twenty-six spicy romances under a pen name no one in Polson, Montana knows, and she intends to keep it that way. But when someone glimpses a steamy scene on her laptop at the local café, her carefully guarded secret life begins to unravel.
Enter Hank Miller, the town mechanic with grease on his hands and mischief in his smile. He's far too intrigued by the bashful writer who turns red at the mention of her own words. When he offers his help with her next book, Joanne expects disaster. What she doesn't expect is inspiration.
As this unlikely duo set out to finish Wild Wyoming Nights, their fictional lovers aren't the only ones finding themselves in ridiculous situations — molasses mishaps, skunk invasions, and unmentionables on pitchforks are just the beginning. Somewhere between laughter, late-night writing sessions, and shared coffee refills, Hank and Joanne discover that love, like any good story, is never finished on the first draft.
First Draft Love is a clean, laugh-out-loud small-town romance about courage, creativity, and the joy of second chances. Perfect for readers who love witty banter, tender chemistry, and happy endings that sneak up when you least expect them.

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 8, 2025

About the author

Lefki Karantoni has always been fascinated by words. From an early age, she tried to shape the ideas swimming in her mind into stories she could share with others. Though she now lives in England and has travelled widely, she is always Greek at heart. That sense of heritage and belonging forms her love for coastal settings, whether she is writing about small American towns, sunlit islands, or the emotional landscapes of her characters. She continues to explore many genres, guided by a love of language and a desire to connect with readers through the worlds she creates.