Growing Roots

by Kella Roberts

Courtney Clarke has three pay cash, trust no one, and never stay anywhere long enough to matter.

Then her car dies in Whispering Oaks-population practically zero-and she meets Gabe Hudson, the fallen L.A. lawyer with hero syndrome and eyes that see straight through her lies.



Gabe's got his own a ruined career, a failed engagement, and a hometown hanging on to the grudges piled up in his absence. But when the beautiful bartender with obvious secrets needs help, he can't resist playing white knight one more time.



Their connection is instant, electric, and completely inconvenient. Because Courtney's violent ex is hunting her, Gabe's past is catching up, and in a town this small, there's nowhere to hide from the past.



Love, laughter, and real drama collide in the heart of Tornado Alley, where the biggest storms aren't always in the sky.

390 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2025

About the author

I could write this in the 3rd person but... heck it: I write most (not all) of the things. I started with Star Trek: TNG fanfic when I was a kid (my first completed novel was a Mary Sue in which Wesley Crusher Got a Badass Girlfriend... who looked and spoke remarkably like myself; it had a planned sequel), then moved on to original sci-fi/fantasy concepts. I struggled with imposter syndrome and creativity-blocking depression for over ten years before I finally managed to start publishing my stories.

Finding the Right Note is my debut, and a contemporary rom-com. Which is not my usual. The second book I'm working on releasing is a small town contemporary romance. Eventually, I'll probably get around to getting my sci-fi/romantasy stuff finished, but in the meantime... Enjoy laughing your ass off at some realistic shenanigans.

When I'm not listening to imaginary people bicker and tear each others' clothes off in my head (don't worry, my therapist has a lot to work with), I'm hanging out with my kids and four furry chaos gremlins.

Reviews

[Michellelovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book. I loved it from beginning to end.

Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Shawnna Akers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Courtney and Gabe are going through their own trials while coming together as such a sweet couple. Decently paced, a few spicy scenes, small town, strangers to lovers, and personal traumas that they are each growing through. I loved that neither of them were described as perfect, they were both flawed in their own ways. Sweet book and I'm ready for Josh's book now.

[Ariel Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

a slower start, but once it clicked, i devoured the rest in a day. an emotional story with a really rewarding hea.

[Brita Mackay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Courtney Clarke has three rules: pay cash, trust no one, and never stay anywhere long enough to matter.

Then her car dies in Whispering Oaks-population practically zero-and she meets Gabe Hudson, the fallen L.A. lawyer with hero syndrome and eyes that see straight through her lies.

Gabe's got his own a ruined career, a failed engagement, and a hometown hanging on to the grudges piled up in his absence. But when the beautiful bartender with obvious secrets needs help, he can't resist playing white knight one more time.

Their connection is instant, electric, and completely inconvenient. Because Courtney's violent ex is hunting her, Gabe's past is catching up, and in a town this small, there's nowhere to hide from the past.

Love, laughter, and real drama collide in the heart of Tornado Alley, where the biggest storms aren't always in the sky.
YOU'RE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please read and pay close attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. There is some content and scenes in this book that are not suitable for all readers and could be triggering for others. Always remember that your mental health comes first at all times.

Tropes: Lawyer, Failed Engagement, Grudges, Bartender, Secrets, White Knight, Instant Connection, Violent Ex, Past is Catching Up, Love, Laughter, Real Drama, Tornado Alley, Small Town Romance, Strangers to lovers, and Personal Trauma.

Growing Roots is the 1st book in the Whispering Oaks Series by Kella Roberts.

Courtney and Gabe both have their own tribulations they are going through on their own all while they are coming together, and let me tell you they are this sweet couple.
Kella Roberts did such a stunning job with the pacing, giving us a few spicy scenes that added to the theme of the book and kept it moving forward. I loved the small-town setting and Kella gave me a favorite trope with strangers to lovers.

Both Courtney and Gabe have their own traumas and Kella did the perfect job of describing these two as far from perfect. They both have their flaws in their own ways and that helps the readers to connect with both Courtney and Gabe and it also helps to make them feel more relatable and real.

This is such a sweet book that you can’t help but love it, the town, and the characters. Now, I can’t wait to get my hands on Josh’s book.

[Kellie Waldron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabe had came back to town with his tail between his legs. He had sworn that he would never come back to this town, but what happened to him in LA drove him back.

Courtney was running from her past. Her ex and his friends. She couldn't face him or testify against him. She just needs to outrun him. Unfortunately, she broke down in a backwards town. Now can she just get things fixed and get out with out anyone seeing her.

[Mandy Larimore · Rating 4 out of 5]

One small town, two strangers, and spice I absolutely devoured. 🌳✨

This one had me hooked from page one-highly recommend. ✨🌳

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Courtney and Gabe’s story. They each had their own individual storylines and arc and came together in a way that made sense. It felt a little slow at times despite the majority of the storyline being set within a month. Whispering Oaks feels like a (very) small town community. I’m looking forward to seeing more of this town as the series progresses!