Special Delivery

by Christine Layne

Sierra Rockford wants her happily-ever-after, fairy tale ending―she’s dreamed of finding her prince charming for as long as she can remember. The only problem is the scar left on her heart from falling too hard and too fast. It’s made her more careful about the men she chooses to date.

When a handsome delivery man makes a guest appearance at Sierra’s workplace, she’s immediately taken with him. He seems to be everything she’s looking for in a guy, which means he’s probably too good to be true. But after a surprisingly wonderful date, she thinks he just might be worth the trouble.

As Sierra warms to the idea of having found her forever, life throws her a curve ball in the form of another handsome suitor. This one is a regular customer, who also happens to be wildly successful and rich. He asks Sierra for an impromptu date and it promises to be something out of the fairy tale she’s been seeking.

After years of thinking she’d never find anyone to spend the rest of her life with, Sierra now has two men to choose between. One has the means to give her anything she wants, and the other only has himself to give. The decision won’t be easy, but Sierra will have to pick either her fortune 500 prince, or her special delivery pauper.

81 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2026

About the author

Christine Layne is an adult romance author currently residing in Colorado with her husband and two children.
When she's not writing, Christine enjoys painting, playing with her kids, and watching movies with her husband. She can almost always be caught with a mug of tea in her hands, no matter what she's doing.

Reviews

[Megggg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally was smiling the entire time I was reading this story!! Such a fun read!

[Amber Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Special Delivery by Christine Layne is a sweet, charming novella that delivers all the cozy, feel-good romance I was hoping for. Sierra is a relatable heroine. She is romantic at heart but cautious after past heartbreak, and I loved watching her navigate her feelings when not one, but two very different men enter her life.

The delivery man romance was especially swoony, and the contrast between true connection and fairy-tale fantasy made the story engaging despite its shorter length. For a novella, it has surprising emotional depth while still staying light and enjoyable.

A quick, cute read with heart. Trigger warning for attempted sexual assault. Perfect if you’re in the mood for a short, romantic escape.

[Nifer Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐3🌶️ Third Person Single POV
Sierra and Noah
A fun, quick read that's sweet and spicy with a hint of bitterness. TW for attempted SA

[Gayla Storz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Special Delivery is a fast paced romance novella that was a cute read with some spice. Noah became Sierra’s hero at the end. This book was a sweet, charming romance of a book.

[Karen Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special Delivery by Christine Layne is a delightful, fast-paced romance anchored by a charming meet-cute and believable characters. Sierra immediately won me over with her clear boundaries and self-awareness—I especially appreciated realistic details like her insisting on seeing drinks poured and refusing to feel obligated to a wealthy customer just because he shows interest. These touches made her feel authentic and relatable.

Noah is a genuinely sweet love interest: respectful, kind, and very much a Prince Charming without the money. Their chemistry develops quickly but never feels rushed or forced. Despite the novella length, the conflict feels natural rather than manufactured, which is no small feat.

The gala scene and resolution were particularly satisfying. I loved that Noah arrives out of breath after running up thirty flights of stairs—a refreshingly realistic detail compared to the typical flawless romance hero moment. The ending delivers exactly what the story promises without overstaying its welcome.

This is an enjoyable, well-crafted quick read perfect for fans of meet-cute romances, coffee shop settings, and cosy holiday love stories.

[Chile at NoShelf.Control · Rating 3 out of 5]

Special Delivery is Christine Layne’s first published romance novella!

Sierra and Noah have a nice little meet-cute and are immediately drawn to each other. From there they have a whirlwind romance, including a spicy scene (with safe and consensual consent!, misunderstandings and miscommunications, and a rescue right at the nick of time.

This was a fun and quick read, but I did feel like it was a bit rushed and it ended rather abruptly. However, I’d still recommend it if you’re looking for something light and sweet!

Trigger Warnings:
- Adult Language
- Adult Sexual Scenes/Situations
- Attempted SA

Thank you so much to Christine for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own!

P.S. This book and the cover art are AI free!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sierra and Noah are cute together. I found Noah very endearing. The fact that he was kind of shy around Sierra was sweet. I liked Sierra but there was that one moment where, I did think she was in the wrong and she needed to apologize not Noah.

Ahh, this is a sweet, romantic read. Sierra realized that love will find you when you are not looking for it. Yet, when "he" is standing right in front of you, don't dismiss it. While this is a short read, it still felt like a complete one. I never felt like anything was missing or that it was rushed. The romance between Noah and Sierra is good. On a scale of one to ten, I would rate the spice as a six. I will be checking out more books by Christine.

[Brittany T · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute novella to read, it was short and sweet but gave you alot of feelings and emotions. There was moments I was laughing because I seen myself in my younger days doing the same thing, then there were parts where I was so mad at Sierra. But over all the two main characters were amazing and well built for such a short story. I love their relationship and how it began but also how it represented some of the things life throws at us sometimes to make us question things. Definately worth a read you should add it to your tbr!!

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special Delivery was a quick, fun read with a touch of Prince & Pauper vibes I adored! Sierra’s choice felt right, and Noah was absolutely swoon-worthy. He was exactly the kind of guy you root for. Alex? Total NOPE. I loved the whirlwind romance and the playful instalove, and it kept me turning pages the whole way through. Perfect for a light, steamy escape with a heart-grabbing love triangle twist.

[Cindy Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet, cute quick read and Sierra and Noah are just adorable. For being such a quick read the characters were well thought out and the story was very well written.