Maple & Moonlight

Maplewood #2

by Daphne Elliot

As a single mom rebuilding my life from scratch, I don’t need help. And I definitely don’t need the attention of a six-foot-three maple farmer with a beard and a hero complex who looks at me like I’m a problem he didn’t sign up for.

My landlord is broad-shouldered, permanently unimpressed, and entirely too comfortable telling me when I’m wrong. I think he’s grumpy, rigid, and overprotective. He thinks I’m chaos in Crocs.

Falling for Josh Lawrence was never part of the plan.

But then he starts showing up.

For my son when he’s overwhelmed.

For my daughters when they need someone steady.

And for me when my hands won’t stop shaking.

I didn’t come to Vermont looking for a protector. I don’t need rescuing. But somewhere between harvest festivals, pumpkin canoe races, and quiet mornings in the sugar shack, the man I swore was just an annoyance becomes my safe place.

And when my dangerous past resurfaces and threatens the new life I’ve built, the grumpy maple farmer next door becomes my fiercest protector, ready to stand by my side while I fight for my family.

Because it turns out maple farmers are a lot like their trees: quiet, stubborn, and surprisingly sweet when the pressure builds.

Series Blurb: Welcome to Maplewood, Vermont. America’s Most Charming Small Town has some dark, sticky secrets. Come for the maple syrup, festivals, and cheese wars; stay for swoon.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Small Town Romance, Contemporary Romance, Found Family, Friends To Lovers, Forced Proximity

474 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 22, 2026

About the author

In High School, Daphne Elliot was voted “most likely to become a romance novelist.” After spending the last decade as a corporate lawyer, she has finally embraced her destiny. Her small town steamy novels are filled with flirty banter, sexy hijinks, and lots and lots of heart.

Daphne is a coffee-drinking, hot-sauce loving introvert who spends all her free time in her garden. She lives on a small farm in New England with her husband, two kids, two dogs, twelve backyard chickens and a hive of Italian honeybees.

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Reviews

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much. I was truly locked in on this couple right from the start.

I felt for Celine and her kids so much. They are trying to start fresh after getting away from an abusive husband/father and they end up in our lovely town of Maplewood. ALso, the end up renting a beautiful home from Josh. A stoic, but gentle bear of a man, who has left his corporate job in the big city to run the family maple farm.

He may come off as a grump and find this chaotic family overwhelming, but he NEVER has anything but the utmost respect for Celine. She may not persieve that from him, but it's the truth. He can't keep himself, nor his dog away. Though they have a few miscommunications when she assumes a few things about Josh, they quickly become friends and her kids fall for him immediately too. And did I mention his dog? Yeah, his dog choked me up a few times.

If you are an animal lover, you are gonna fall for this pup, no doubt.

Anyway, besides the dog, I also got pretty emotional for Celine a few times. She is carrying so much and not the least of which is guilt for how long she stayed with her ex. He may now be in prison, but she isn't quite free herself. That makes her guarded with Josh. However, he is patience, steady, and there whenever she needs him. Even when, no, ESPECIALLY when, she's reluctant to ask for help.

I just genuinely loved their love story so much. I highly recommend this one. Even if it's your first by the author.

Narrated in the duet style by Sean Masters & Emma Wilder. They were wonderful and had me smiling so much.

5 Stars
2.5 on the spice scale

CW: Abusive ex, panic attacks & anxiety, recounting harm to a child, gun violence, gas-lighting

*Thank you to Ear Candy Promos & the author for an ALC of this title.*

[Southern Lady Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am generally a sucker for romances with a little something dangerous simmering beneath the surface… but I didn’t know I needed one that also had a cozy small town element!!

Throw in a single mom of three looking to start over and a hot farmer? I’m just gonna go ahead and grab a napkin to wipe the drool off my face 😂😂 Because I loved the first book in this series and everything else I’ve read by Daphne Elliot - I new I would like this one and I did!

***I also really appreciate how delicately our MMC / Hero handled a neurodivergent child!

HOUSEKEEPING:
* Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
* Reader Age Suggestions: adult
* Content Warnings: abusiv3 ex
* Kindle Unlimited: ✅
* Part of A Series: ✅ / Can it be read alone?: yes but the whole series is good!

**Thank you to The Author Agency for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR🖤

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This took me awhile to read because my period made me to emotional on single moms who was dealing with being a single parent, new town and her abusive in law who wouldn't leave her be. Yes I felt bad for Celine she had so much on her plate with all the new things her family had to go though. Plus a landlord who is a grump to her kids but still made sure they were safe 🧡

Josh had his own drama the town, his farm and new ppls he's renting and he's annoyed because they are ruining how he operates things. Poor Josh. But I love how he made time for each child. I think it showed more with him and Julian. Wish the other kids got more time with Josh. But I understood. The relationship took time because both wanted to go slow and Celine was still dealing with her past.
We got the whole town and the murder from the last book costing the town money because now they are painted as a murder town.

We get to see the new couple which im eh with.

Low angst, sorta om drama/no ow, drama, secondary characters, sexy times, no virgins or manwhores

Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶

Slow-burn
Push away from both sides
Praise kink
Found family
Autism (one of the children)
Mentions of DV
Mentioned off page child abuse
Safe sex
Hea
Epilogue

[Cups of Fiction · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC Review

2.5 ⭐️ – Enjoyable, but something’s missing

I was first introduced to Maplewood and Josh in the Dad Coms series, specifically book 3 where the FMC is Josh’s younger sister, and I’ve been intrigued by this small Vermont town ever since.
Josh fits the classic grumpy on the outside, soft on the inside MMC trope. While that is usually a winning combination, there wasn’t anything particularly unique about him here. Celine, on the other hand, was easy to root for. She is a traumatized single mother raising three kids after escaping an abusive marriage.
Honestly, the kids were the highlight of this book. Their individual relationships with Josh are what really brought out his character, especially his bond with Julian, the youngest, who is neurodivergent. Those moments added warmth and depth that the romance itself sometimes lacked.
Celine and Josh’s relationship starts off rocky, shifts into friendship, and then becomes a series of hookups driven by Celine’s hot and cold behavior, while Josh patiently insists he will wait for her forever. I understand that Celine had a lot going on and wasn’t in a place for a relationship, but it never fully felt like she was actually falling for Josh. It came across more like she was blowing off steam, while Josh was the one truly in love. Their eventual HEA felt less like a natural progression and more like a conclusion reached because Josh is a good guy, unlike her ex, and the kids loved him.
Most of the plotlines, aside from Celine’s past, felt underdeveloped. There was so much potential here that didn’t quite land. The abundance of small town side characters also didn’t help, especially the “mafia” group, who were more insufferable than intriguing. I found myself mixing up several of the women, and the murder subplot left me with more questions than answers. I understand it is meant to carry into future books, but even the parts directly tied to Josh and Sugar Moon lacked any real resolution.
The pacing felt uneven as well. The slow burn was enjoyable, but the ending felt rushed, which made the emotional payoff fall a bit flat.
Overall, this had all the ingredients for a great small town romance, but it just didn’t come together as strongly as it could have.

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 5 out of 5]

5🌟, 2🌶️

This was such a feel good, quietly emotional read that hooked me without trying too hard.

It made me laugh, it made me feel, and it had just enough tension to keep me fully invested. The small town charm and underlying themes about kindness and healing gave it so much heart.

Celine’s story really stayed with me. The way she pours everything into her kids while running on empty felt so real, and watching her slowly learn to lean on someone else hit in the best way. The kids brought so much life to the story, and I loved how fiercely they loved. And Josh… he truly snuck up on me. The quiet care, the patience, the way he shows up without making a big deal out of it, it just made everything feel deeper.

The romance builds with so much intention, and by the end I was completely sold on them. Add in the touch of suspense in the background and it just pulls everything together.

This was one of those books that leaves you feeling warm and a little emotional, and I loved every second of it.

~~~~

Huge thank you to Daphne Elliot & The Author Agency for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Home in Maplewood



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💛💚❤️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋🙂😁😛
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration

Characters & Plot Summary

Celine arrives in Maplewood with her three children after escaping an abusive marriage, determined to build a safe, independent life without relying on anyone. She rents a cottage on Josh Lawrence’s maple farm, and their first meeting is memorable for all the wrong reasons when a melted Lego project fills the kitchen with smoke. Josh comes across as gruff and rigid, while Celine assumes he is another man trying to tell her how to live. That awkward introduction sets up a slow burn romance built on trust instead of instant attraction.

What I appreciated most was that the story never forgot Celine’s children. Josh wins them over long before he wins Celine. His gentle patience with Julian, her neurodivergent son, especially during moments when Julian becomes overwhelmed, showed exactly who Josh was beneath the permanent scowl. One of my favorite scenes was the pumpkin boat race, where Josh quietly helps Julian build confidence instead of taking over. It perfectly captured the heart of the story. As the harvest festival approaches and Celine’s dangerous past begins catching up with her, both characters have to decide whether love means rescuing someone or simply standing beside them while they fight their own battles.

Highlights & Limitations

The emotional healing in this book felt earned. Celine’s fear, resulting from her history with her ex-husband who is now in prison, doesn’t disappear overnight, and I appreciated that the author let her setbacks feel realistic. When she receives the threatening “Found You” card, I could immediately understand why all of her carefully built confidence started crumbling again. The story never treats trauma as something love magically fixes.

Josh completely won me over because his actions always spoke louder than his words. He keeps showing up for Celine’s family in practical ways, whether it is helping the kids settle into farm life, supporting Julian, or simply making himself available without demanding anything in return. I also loved the found family element. Maplewood sometimes felt almost comically nosy, but the community became an important part of Celine’s healing. Josh has his own issues as well, stemming from all the stress he endured while working in the world of high finance.

If I had one criticism, it would be that there were a lot of side characters and ongoing town storylines competing for attention. I occasionally wanted a little more time focused on Josh and Celine instead. The ending also wrapped up quickly after spending so much time on the slow build. I would have happily listened to another hour just watching this new family settle into their future together.

Narration & Performance

Emma Wilder and Sean Masters were an excellent pairing. Emma Wilder is fantastic at capturing the constant anxiety simmering beneath the surface of Celine, she excels at sounding scared and anxious. She made even quiet conversations feel emotionally layered, especially during scenes where Celine struggled to trust the kindness around her.

Sean Masters was exactly what I imagined for Josh. His deep, steady delivery fit the grumpy maple farmer perfectly, but he also softened noticeably during scenes with the children. Those moments gave Josh so much warmth without changing who he was. Together they made the romance feel authentic, and I never had trouble distinguishing between the emotional beats and the lighter moments.

Final Opinion

This ended up being much more emotional than I expected. I came for the grumpy farmer romance, but I stayed for the story of healing, family, and learning that accepting help does not make you weak. The romance develops at a believable pace, and Josh’s relationship with Celine’s children became every bit as important to me as the love story itself.

My favorite part was watching Josh earn Celine’s trust one small gesture at a time instead of relying on grand romantic speeches. That made the emotional payoff much more satisfying. If you enjoy slow burn small town romances with meaningful character growth, supportive found family, and narrators who bring every emotion to life, I would absolutely recommend giving Maple & Moonlight a listen.

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[Afton · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Literally laugh-out-loud funny with such a sweet, heartfelt storyline!

This book truly has it all - humor that actually makes you laugh out loud, a strong and engaging plot, and just the right touch of suspense to keep you flipping pages. I loved how it balanced light, fun moments with deeper themes, especially the reminders about kindness and how we treat others.

And let’s not forget the golden retriever farmer… because honestly, that just made it even better. There’s something about that charm and setting that added so much warmth to the story.

Overall, this was such a fun, feel-good read with a little bit of everything, and I found myself enjoying every second of it.

[⌜Linaraxx⌟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

~Arc Review~

⭐️ 4/5

This book was honestly such an emotional ride. Celine’s story really hit, everything she went through & how she’s just trying to rebuild her life for her kids felt so real. You can really feel how hard it is for her to trust again, but also how much she loves and protects her children.

Josh was such a good balance to everything she’s been through, kind of grumpy at first but actually so sweet and patient, especially with the kids. His bond with them was honestly one of the best parts.

The romance builds slowly and feels natural, which made it even better. Some parts were a bit predictable, but I was still fully into it the whole time! Loveeeeed the writing and I will for sure read more books from Daphne!!

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

#RealTalk: Daphne Elliot was put on this earth to write this story. This is the writing I became obsessed with merely a year ago! This is the reason she can have all my money every time!

The fact that I have to wait 3 more weeks for this outstanding feelgood story to hit my ears is a travesty! But I shall overcome …

I felt this story on a deep personal level because, reasons. I did a lot of crying while I read this story. It wasn’t “angst” crying but rather more of a “I feel you and I see you” kind of emotion and I just couldn’t hold it in on a lot of occasions. I had no idea the personal connection that I would have to this story before I began and truth be told, I might have chosen not to read it if I had. I am ridiculously glad that I experienced this journey.

In the “content warning” portion of the book there’s a statement that states “if you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” That’s one of the truest statements that I have ever read in my life! My personal life and experience tell me of its rightness. Because of this, it is one of the most difficult circumstances to incorporate in a story, imo, but Daphne slayed! I am not sure I have ever been this impressed with a story that holds these circumstances. The level of respect and integrity I felt pour from this story made me awestruck. Maple & Moonlight will sit at the very TOP of my top reads for 2026.

Everyone in this story grew and developed in one way or another. The children, Josh and Celine grew as individuals and also as a unit. Celine & Josh grew as friends and as a couple. There was potential for all of this growth in this story and Daphne made sure to take advantage of that and nurture it and leave no one behind. There are a lot of deeply emotional moments (again, not dramatic angst) in this story but also a whole lot of fun and humor. It was a perfect blend and my romance fiction loving heart loved every moment of it. The story is incredibly relatable and very realistic and flowed organically. I honestly can’t think of a single moment I twitched.

ALC REVIEW

🎧Listening to this story almost broke me is the best of ways. I cried a lot. Again. Not because the story is sad or angsty, but because it’s the opposite and MY GOD, single mothers are so unbelievably resilient and add in a special child and the slay even harder. I cannot express how realistic this story truly is. My listening experience cracked me wide open and that’s all Emma & Sean. Casting Emma Wilder as Celine and Sean Masters as Josh quite possibly could be at the top of my #FavoriteCasting. As I was listening, I felt like I was living the story and I’ve sat here for over 10 minutes trying to find the right wording to that feeling so maybe whomever might be reading this review could feel my feeling, but I got nothing. You just have to trust in what I say.

Final thoughts … Listen to this story or read this story or do both. But you should at least do one. #trust

[Megan | Megan.Reads.Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Daphne Elliot and The Author Agency for the ARC! These are my honest thoughts.

I am OBSESSED with this series! I was anxiously awaiting the Grumpy Farmer book after Maplewood Book #1, and I honestly loved Josh even more after his story! I loved getting to know him, getting to see all the sides to him, and watching this story unfold.

Celine was this bundle of chaos, and I thought her character arc was beautiful. There were times when I totally knew where she was coming from, feeling so overwhelmed and lost to the daily grind of just... keeping things going, to keep helping her kids process and giving as much as she could, to the point of running on fumes. I loved that Josh and Celine were both grumpy(ish) in their own ways towards each other, and getting to experience that tension and chemistry build....... big fan. Their slow burn relationship and timeline was something special, in the sneaky way in how this quiet, patient, loving man who SHOWS UP.

READ IF YOU LOVE:
- Grumpy farmer x Teacher
- New-to-town
- Single mom, mom of multiples, + trauma-survivin' mama
- Wayne, the goodest boy
- Neurodivergent rep (child)
- Romantic suspense
- Small town
- Found family
- Neighbors-to-lovers

[Hatshepsut · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ah, another insufferable douchebag heroine. Does this author specialize or sth?

[Jamie Abel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one was even worse than the first one. I rarely give up on books but the FMC was so awful I was getting angry listening to her story. She’s always snarky about how she can take care of her child on her own, then her son literally gets away from her right after…. Then she places the blame on the MMC who had nothing to do with it. I stopped reading when she went to apologize to the MMC and when he said he was sorry too, she got MAD at him again for “taking the apology from her too”?!?! Ugh I hate this character. Excited to delete this series from Audible :(

[Ren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't finish. I get that Celine is traumatized by her exhusband but the automatic hostility towards Josh just grated on my nerves.

[Camii · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Josh me hizo sentir que quería algo más.
Más que una madre.
Más que mi pasado.
Más que una mujer que necesitaba ser salvada"

Josh se merece una medalla por ser el hombre mas amable, paciente, comprensivo y tierno del mundo 😭♥️. Celine es una mamá soltera de tres niños maravillosos y llegaron al pueblo buscando un nuevo comienzo y a medida que conocemos su historia descubrimos que fueron víctimas de un hombre abusivo y agresivo que los maltrataba mucho y por esa razón Celine es una mujer precavida a la que le cuesta no estar a la defensiva y vive buscando el peligro ya que no se siente segura....🥺💔.

Josh al principio era muy gruñón con ellos pero no era molesto porque cuando se leía su punto de vista era todo lo contrario a su personalidad exterior, desde el primer momento se preocupo por ellos y siempre intento que Celine se sintiera segura y suficiente haciéndole ver que era una buena madre y que tenía que estar orgullosa de los niños que crío, lo que mas ame era que el era un hombre que prestaba atención a cada detalle, les dió a todos un lugar seguro donde podían ser felices sin sentirse inseguros o teniendo que estar "tranquilos" para no molestar, el les dió libertad y lo mas lindo era el apreció que tenía por Julian siempre lo trato con mucho amor y sabía que lo podía molestarlo y cambio cada cosa que podía hacerlo sentir incómodo en su casa y eso fue lo que me termino de enamorar ♥️🫂

[Cokiereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book is a single mom romance, its more than that. Its a book about a woman who went through hell and protected her kids. She started completely over and came out the other side.

Celine is a single mom of three kids whos moved to the sweetest small town ever. And no joke, shes not prepared for the amount of kindness she gets shown. A teacher who is starting over shes super nervous. Her ex is a MAJOR ex in the most ex way. And the place they've moved to? Josh's (the big brother from book 2!) Maple farm. Grumpy, (judging at first!) Josh whos definitely not ready for a single mom with three kids... at first.

Josh doesn't know how to handle this. He's not used to kids running around his farm. Especially these kids. They've been through it and they've got some slight baggage.

Their mom though, shes definitely guarded. She was treated poorly and shes had to work hard for where she is now. Honestly, anyone would have their shields up.

But they slowly come together. Takes time. And this sweet town? If you read book 1, you know what happened. They haven't healed. Lots of town drama.

But watching these people slowly build a family? And get out of their comfort zones? Pure magic!

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maple and Moonlight book two of the Maplewood series. The book begins with the second interaction of Josh and Celine, the first one occurred at the end of book one. He’s responding to the fire alarm alert that was set off due to an oven Lego mishap. He is renting out his small cottage on his property to Celine and her three children. He has been running the family farm after he decided to leave the city and everything negative that it represented. He had an unexpected heartbreaking ending to a relationship and of course it has caused him to become a cynic. He thinks he’s happy enough living on the farm with his best bud Wayne -his beloved dog.

Celine has relocated due to the need of safety and seeking the sanity for herself and her children. She’s cautious of everyone due to the abuse that she and her children have been through via her ex husband. She’s ready to start over in a new place and get back to teaching, and a situation where her children can thrive.

It’s another slow burn in the series of Josh fighting off having a relationship with his new tenant and Celine is fighting the pull because she really has lost all trust in others and has serious doubt about herself. Loved how Josh and Celine came together by the end.

There continues to be some fallout in the community due to the decision the town leaders have made. The end of the book ends in a cliffy for the mayor and I plan to continue the series.

[What.Nikki.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

[Shana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ | 2🌶
Celine and the kids were perfect for Josh and vice versa. Their moments were precious. Everyone fit. Phyllis was mad though. That was unhinged and frankly, Bitsy can take a long walk off a short pier because what she did was uncalled for.

[Leslie Shortt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. I looked forward to it since the FMC had to chase down her autistic son in just her crocs and sports bra at the end of the last book. But this isn’t what I was expecting at all. The FMC constantly emasculated the MMC in the name of not losing her independence. It was like if the liberal women’s rhetoric was a book, this would be it 🙄 “make men small because women are superior”. I like my book boyfriend’s protective. I like my FMCs to be independent and saucy, but be stronger because she knows her man is going to back her up when needed. It just made this book feel frumpy and like a huge hole was missing. I would also say a good 70% of the book just reiterates all of the ways that the characters are sensitive to each other’s feelings and how they cater to the autistic child. Everyone’s feelings were ultra catered to except for the MMC. He was just expected to take the scraps people threw at him. We get it and it didn’t need to be repeated every few sentences. I don’t know if I will continue the series because Gabe’s story “hook” feels like it’s going to be much of the same in the next book. No thanks.

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maple & Moonlight was such an emotional, tender small town romance. Definitely check trigger warnings before diving in because this story deals with some heavy topics, but I thought Daphne handled them with so much care and compassion. At its core, this is a story about healing, safety, trust, and learning how to live again after surviving the unimaginable.

Josh completely stole my heart. He comes across as this gruff, standoffish farmer at first, but underneath all that awkward grumpiness is the most patient, steady, genuinely kind man. He wasn’t smooth or overly charming. He just showed up. Again and again. For Celine. For her kids. For all the little things that mattered. The way he slowly became this safe place for her family absolutely melted me.

And Celine’s journey really hit emotionally. Watching her try to rebuild herself after everything she’s endured felt so raw and believable. She moves to Maplewood hoping for a fresh start with her children, determined to keep everyone at arm’s length, especially her grumpy landlord neighbor. But little by little, Josh breaks through those walls in the quietest ways. Showing the kids around the farm. Making them feel welcome. Seeing her when she feels invisible. Helping her believe she deserves more than survival.

I’m not gonna lie y’all...this is a SLOW burn. Like sloooow slow. And as someone who needs the spicy stuff to happen before 50%, I definitely felt the pace of this. The wait was worth it because the emotional build between Josh and Celine was EVERYTHING. But if you aren't a slow burn girlie, just know this one will feel slow until about the 60% mark. But one of my favorite parts of this whole book was Josh refusing to rush her. Even when Celine tried to keep things casual or push him away, he basically said, “You’re worth waiting for.” SIR! The emotional maturity? The patience? The way this man loved her so gently while letting her heal at her own pace had me hooked.

I also loved the found family aspect woven throughout the story. Maplewood feels cozy and welcoming despite everything hanging over Celine’s past. It's the home she needs and seeing her slowly find community, friendship, confidence, and a sense of belonging again was so beautiful. The hurt/comfort vibes in this book were top tier, and it wasn't just Josh healing her.

There’s also a layer of suspense running underneath everything with Celine’s past threatening her new life, and I thought it added just enough tension without overpowering the romance. But truly, this story shines most in the quieter emotional moments. The walls slowly coming down. Josh bonding with the kids. Celine learning what safety and care can feel like again.

And the AUDIOBOOK?!?! SO GOOD. Emma Wilder and Sean Masters absolutely brought this story to life. Emma captured Celine’s anxiety, vulnerability, and gradual growth so beautifully, while Sean Masters made Josh feel warm, grounded, patient, and incredibly swoony. Sean legit can do no wrong for me, so I knew I'd love him. A grumpy, gruff, swoony farmer? Yup. sign me up. His voice for Josh honestly fit him perfectly. Their performances added so much emotional depth to the story and made all those tender moments hit even harder.

This one definitely took its time getting there, but by the end I was fully invested in this little town and these characters. Josh and Celine’s relationship was a slow burn, but emotional and deeply healing in the best way.

What to Expect
🍁 Single Mom
🍁 Grumpy x Sunshine
🍁 Neighbors to Lovers
🍁 Small Town
🍁 VERY Slow Burn
🍁 Hurt/Comfort
🍁 Found Family
🍁 Protective Hero
🍁 Healing After Trauma
🍁 Emotionally Supportive HERO
🍁 Woman Starting Over
🍁 Suspense Elements
🍁 Cozy Autumn Vibes

[Lori Lasater · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than book 1, but the FMC was a little too prickly especially in the beginning

[Erin Henderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fool me once? Fine. Twice? That’s a me issue.

[Gel]

Insufferable FMC. She’s was just flat out nasty and mean. And the narrators voice for the audio was annoying. Switched to the kindle version and it didn’t help.

[Cass_saag · Rating 2 out of 5]

I….. did not enjoy this book. There was no flow for me. Celine annoyed me. I felt zero chemistry between the two mains and the sex scenes made me cringe. The ending also didn’t feel like an ending? It was just like a continuation of the story. Idk, nothing really happens.

[Corrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW - Thank you Daphne and The Author Agency for the opportunity 🥰

Maple and moonlight is the perfect small town cosy romance. I’ve been looking forward to this one since we were introduced to Celine and Josh in Book 1.

What really stands out for me in this book is the balance between cosy and emotional. You get the sweetness of small town life but still the depth in the story line with healing, trust, and starting over. It gave me all the hurt/comfort vibes in the best way. I loved that this book didn’t feel as focused on the mystery like the first! I felt like Josh and Celine’s connection was genuine and organic. The way he melts for her and her kids… swoon! 🥹

Josh honestly stole my heart. I’m a sucker for a grumpy x sunshine trope and Daphne has done this so well! Beneath all that grumpiness he’s steady, caring and shows up in the quiet ways that matter most. Favourite thing about Celine was she didn’t need saving, she was a strong single mum who stood up and took care of herself and family.

✨ Tropes:

* Single mum
* Grumpy x sunshine
* Small town romance
* Neighbours to lovers
* Hurt/comfort

✨ Quotes:

“Matchstick. Small. Dangerous. One spark and you’ll light the place up. Lot of power in a tiny package.”

“Thank you for not trying to fix me.”

“I’ll wait forever if you want me to.”

Overall, this was such a wholesome, emotional read that left me feeling happy. If you love soft, sweet romances with protective heroes and strong heroines, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.

⭐️ Rating: 4 stars

[The Good Girl Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨
🍁Maple & Moonlight
🧡Celine + Josh

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Daphne Elliot for the ARC for Maple & Moonlight. We have been waiting to get back to Maplewood and we are leaving with so many questions. Celine and Josh’s story was just sooo good! Their love was a slow burn, we got to see Josh build a relationship with the kids and a friendship with Celine. All he wanted was to be there for all of them and he was patient and understanding, he would have waited for forever. There is just something so good about a strong single mom who is not willing to lose her independence and a grumpy maple farmer who is patient and loves her because of it. Celine was such a great character and we loved seeing her strength and growth in finding her safety. And it was the way Josh made her feel safe without pushing or forcing her. It was the little things and the way he loved her kids. We loved his bond with sweet Julien but also with the girls. He built a relationship with all of them. And we got to see some of our favorite micro tropes! We don’t want to give anything away, but this man earned his place in the family. And of course there is the on going mystery and a little suspense. We can’t wait to find out what happens next.

[Pageturner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook review performed in duet which was brilliant both narrators were great.

Jasper has given up his finance job to come home and work the maple farm. He is the town grump but really he is grieving his parents deaths and also the loss of a child he thought was his. His ex girlfriend got pregnant and he thought the child was his however it turned out she had, had an affair and it was another man’s.

Celine is a mum to 3 children one of which is neurodiverse. Her husband was abusive and escalated to hurting her and the children she managed to get him put in prison but his mother won’t give up. She is a teacher and she is struggling with guilt for staying with the children’s father and how it turned out and also settling everyone into a new town.

I loved how Josh just wanted to keep everyone safe and looked after he loved the kids as much as Celine. He was quick to fall but didn’t push Celine. I loved how Celine puts the kids first and was open and honest about what she felt she could give.

The town is in a bit of a spiral around the murder from the first book but not much more on this storyline however kind of hoping for a police chief/Frankie book soon.

[De Rijdende Boekenwurm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Daphne Elliot for the ARC. This is my honest, voluntary review.

Where Soft Light Hides Sharp Edges

‘Maple & Moonlight’ unfolds like a slow exhale on a quiet autumn evening, warm, almost comforting, yet laced with something deeper that lingers just beneath the surface. What begins as a seemingly soft and atmospheric story gradually reveals emotional layers that carry a surprising weight.

The pacing leans into a slow burn rhythm, allowing space for the characters to breathe, to hesitate, and to unravel in their own time. This deliberate structure creates an intimacy that feels almost intrusive at moments, as if stepping into thoughts that were never meant to be shared out loud. The quiet moments speak the loudest here.

The emotional core of the story is where it truly shines. There is a subtle tension woven through the connections, shaped by unspoken feelings, past wounds, and the fragile hope of something new. Nothing feels rushed or forced. Instead, it builds in small, meaningful increments that make every glance, every choice, feel significant.

There is also a certain softness to the atmosphere that contrasts beautifully with the underlying emotional complexity. It creates a balance between comfort and unease, making it difficult to fully settle while reading. That contrast lingers long after the final page.

While the story may not aim for dramatic twists or high intensity plot turns, it thrives in its emotional depth and quiet storytelling. It is a story that asks for patience and rewards it with a lingering sense of connection.

A gentle kind of story, but one that leaves a surprisingly lasting imprint.

enemies to lovers | slow burn | small town romance | forced proximity | grumpy sunshine | emotional healing | he falls first | cozy autumn vibes | found family

[Kat (IG: bookish_kat_reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Author

I really wanted to lose myself in the woods of Vermont with this one, but I’ve walked away feeling like I caught the tail end of a festival rather than being a part of it. There is something so specifically charming about the "chaos in Crocs" energy of a single mum trying to rebuild, and I was more than ready for Josh Lawrence to be the steady, bearded anchor she didn't know she needed.

After being the standoffish mystery man in the previous book, seeing Josh’s softer side was easily the highlight. He’s the kind of hero who doesn't just fall for the woman; he builds a bridge to her children too. The way he managed to connect with each of the kids individually was beautiful to watch. His interactions with Julian were particularly top-tier, though I did find myself wishing the other two children hadn't been glossed over quite so much. They were clearly carrying their own heavy burdens, but Julian’s situation was so involved that their struggles felt like they were pushed to the periphery.

That sense of being crowded out extended to the rest of the town as well. Maplewood is a lovely setting, but this time around, the sheer volume of characters made the plot feel a bit congested. It was hard to keep track of everyone, and the way the world was reintroduced felt like it was trying to be a first-in-series and a sequel at the same time. It left me feeling a little confused about where I was supposed to be looking.

The pacing is what really got me. We spent so much time in the cosy, slow-burn atmosphere of the sugar shack that when the "dangerous past" finally caught up with us, it felt like someone hit the fast-forward button. Everything came to a head in the final stretch, which meant the suspense didn’t have room to breathe and the resolution felt rushed rather than earned. The overarching series mystery is still ticking along in the background, but it didn't feel like we gained much ground in this instalment.

At its core, this is still a very easy, comforting read. If you’re here for the "grumpy protector" trope and a man who knows how to handle a family in flux, Josh will absolutely deliver. It’s a sweet enough visit to Vermont, I just wish the ending had been given as much space to grow as the romance

[RootsfortheVillain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was thrilled to return to Maplewood, Vermont, also known as America’s Most Charming Small Town. Now that the past few months are finally behind him, all Josh wants is to focus on the farm and put the murder that changed the town out of his mind. He never expects his new tenant, a single mom with three kids, to burst into his world wearing a sports bra and Crocs. All Celine wants to do is find a safe place for her family after leaving her abusive ex. She is not prepared for the grumpy farmer who is so great with her autistic son and always seems to know how to support her when she needs it the most. When danger comes for Celine, she finds Josh to be her fiercest protector.

I loved Secrets and Sap, so I was really excited to read about Josh and Celine. Their chemistry is great, and I liked how Josh supports Celine while letting her grow and see how great a mom she is, even with everything she has to juggle. It was interesting to see how the events of the previous book were still affecting the town and Josh’s farm. It looks like Maplewood's troubles are far from over, and I am curious to see what will happen next. We may be getting some enemies-to-lovers in the future.

Maple & Moonlight is out now!