Sap & Secrets: A Surprise Baby Firefighter Romance

Maplewood #1

by Daphne Elliot, Vanessa Edwin (Narrator), Connor Crais (Narrator)

A Surprise Baby Firefighter Romance from Amazon Bestselling Author Daphne Elliot

Nine months ago, I had one perfect, reckless night with Jasper Lawrence, the tall, tattooed firefighter who made me feel fearless. I told myself it was a mistake I’d never repeat.

Then he finds me at the Maple Festival… in labor with our surprise baby.

The best part? I had no idea I was pregnant.

Now Jasper is everywhere. The two of us stumble through new parenthood together. And he doesn’t just step up, he moves in. Almost. He pitches a tent in my backyard and sleeps outside so he’s never far away from us. He’s a shirtless, helpful menace who cooks, cleans, and cuddles our son. He makes me feel safe, seen, and wanted. And I hate how much I love it.

Every time I shove him away, he shows back up, golden retriever energy and all, with coffee and pastries in tow, ready to carry the baby, the groceries, and occasionally me.

I came to Maplewood, Vermont, to discover my independence. But it’s hard to keep my distance when the town’s been shaken by danger, the scars from my past refuse to stay buried, and the firefighter I should absolutely avoid keeps setting my world on fire.

Turns out the biggest threat to me in America’s most charming small town might be the man who won’t stop rescuing me.

Author ’ s Sap & Secrets is a small-town romance featuring a curvy black cat, a tattooed golden retriever, and a (very cute) surprise baby. If you enjoy acts of service, small-town shenanigans, and maple syrup madness, you will not be disappointed.

Series 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, Firefighters, Small Town Romance, Surprise Pregnancy, Forced Proximity, Found Family, Contemporary Romance

Audible Audio

Published February 5, 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

[Gry ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

reminder to take your birth control✨🥰

[Jetscarbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 stars ⭐️ (possible spoilers ahead) meh. (I actually rated this 2 stars at first, then the more I thought about it, I’ve edited it to 1 star)

I did not like h, and she’s the biggest reason for the low rating. The writing is fine, but the plot was odd.

⛔️There are way too many characters thrown at you in this book. I GET that it’s the start of the series, but we don’t need to know all the senior citizens in that town, all the pets, and all the other insufficient townspeople.

⛔️There’s also way too much filler. One example- there is a whole chapter about h’s friend giving birth. Idc about her friends.
There’s whole chapters of just inner dialogue.

It started off good, then it went downhill for me.
H is a fireman/EMT worker. He’s called to their festival and we meet h, who is in labor (but she didn’t know she was pregnant) We find out as they are loading her into the ambulance, H is the daddy. 💥💥

We find out that H and h had an ONS 9 months ago. H is considered an manho.

There’s some goofy plot about somebody being murdered. 🤷‍♀️

So H steps up RIGHT AWAY to be daddy and help h out. h will continue to treat him terrible throughout the WHOLE BOOK
The poor guy even pitches a tent in her yard so he can help her with the baby. 😱
h has these 2 VERY annoying friends. Like….i almost DNF because of Frankie. They are super nosy and they insert themselves into everything.

Well, of course H’s family is telling H “you need to protect yourself. You need paternity tests. You need some type of custody agreement” because dude was sleeping in her yard and basically having to beg her to let him be a dad.

h was literally so insufferable.
These MCs had ZERO chemistry. There’s zip about h that made her so desirable. Well, I guess he liked her thick thighs 🙃

Then they start smexing. Oh gawd the cringe! He calls her “mama” during smex. 🥴 He has a “milking” kink. I discovered during this book, I don’t like a man calling his woman “mama” eek.

why the fk are these two not wearing protection?
H says “I thought you couldn’t get pregnant if you’re breastfeeding” ummmm. Yeah. These two made me *facepalm* a bunch.

About 84% in, we have the 3rd act breakup. She found the papers the lawyer made for the custody stuff. She didn’t even let him explain he didn’t file anything and the papers were made at the beginning. Check out how h reacted. YIKES

“Without waiting for him to respond, I threw the door open and climbed out, then I unhooked Vincent’s car seat from its base with a violent jerk. The sharp movement startled him awake, and he wailed”

There’s no grovel or anything- h gets caught in a fire. H rescued her. This is all tied to that dumb murder plot. Mainly it’s all setting stuff up for the next book- which is H’s grumpy brother and the new teacher who has an autistic kid. She runs around in just her bra. 🙄 (which H made a point to tell us in his POV that he wasn’t going to stare at her boobs) sweet 🤐

I guess you can say it ended as an HFN because h was still flip-floppy about her feelings. So bizarre

[Capt.]

TBR: Streets saying FMC is mean mean 🤤that’s my jam. FMCs should be more cruel and meaner.

[Becky · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an arc of this book. Hard DNF. I’m usually a fan of the pregnancy trope. First no was the best friends names were “Ruby and Frankie” in this age of abusive woman with same name? Could barely get past that.
This was a surprise pregnancy to both mom and dad.
The dad was treated like he knew all 9 months and abandoned them. The man showed up everyday with a coffee and breakfast and ready to help and for some reason that would piss her off. Her friend “you deserve better” girl WHAT.
The narrative “he’s a player” was mentioned but nothing in the story to support that. At least not up until the 45% mark I made it to.
I usually love Daphne Elliott books but this was just NO and I felt angry the whole time reading it.

[Aleksandra]

initially marked as dnr because of manhoe mmc, but people saying fmc is mean to mmc so I’m in 🤞🏼 she should be meaner if anything

[Alina]

Why are all the reviews so far up the MMC's ass and praising him for " stepping up", as if that's not bare fucking minimum... istg if i heard one more dick sucker gushing over what this man did for his OWN CHILD and MOTHER OF HIS CHILD, i will start to tear my hair off.
i heard people are disliking this book because the fmc is mean to the manhoe who knocked her up
i didn't read the book but i say she should have been MEANER. #BringBackBitchyWomen

[abby :)]

thank you to the author agency for the copy!

having enjoyed other daphne elliot books, i was excited for this one. accidental pregnancy/surprise pregnancy can really hit sometimes for me. sadly this book just wasn't it. we jumped into the story immediately and not in a good way. i felt like i had no idea who any of our characters were and when i got to about forty percent i just couldn't anymore. plus the mystery plot line was not it for me, maybe i missed that element in the synopsis but i just don't love romantic suspense novels, thats on me tho.

sadly this was a dnf but i do recommend other books from this author.

[Ashley Chavez · Rating 1 out of 5]

i wanted to love this but the fmc was just so mean to the mmc . she she just kept saying all this stuff without any proof like him being a playboy !

[Sandy (Sandy.Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Daphne Elliott always delivers cozy, small town romances, and Saps and Secrets fits right into that comfort read lane. The small town setting was charming, and I genuinely loved the surprise pregnancy trope, one I will never get tired of. The MMC was a standout for me. His willingness to step up and do whatever it took to support her, even while she kept pushing him away, was really sweet and swoony.

That said, there were a few elements that pulled me out of the story. The murder subplot in particular felt a bit extra and unnecessary for the overall vibe of the book, and some other moments left me feeling mildly frustrated rather than fully invested.

Still, the epilogue definitely caught my attention, and I am intrigued enough to continue the series to see how things unfold next. A solid 3 star read with tropes I love, even if not everything fully worked for me.

[Jazmin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf at 35% I couldn’t take it anymore!!! I am all for bashing men and being mean. BUTTT she was mean for no reason at all. Ok he’s a playboy (we literally don’t have any evidence of this) but he’s obviously not playing around with you!!! Imagine your baby daddy shows up for YOU and his child and you give him 30 minutes a day to see his child. GTF GIRL. He should’ve took her ass to court! THEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN she says i’m parenting with a stranger. Oh idk get to know the man then?!?!? Talking about I don’t wanna depend on him and he leaves. Hell better to find out now than later! The book started off good. Even though I would’ve put their first encounter as the prologue. Now I don’t know diddly squat about the characters fr and I don’t feel the urge to keep reading .🤷🏾‍♀️

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the author’s agency, and I am so glad I did because I can already tell this new series is going to be something special. Sap and Secrets gives you grumpy sunshine romance, small town charm, and a murder mystery simmering in the background. It sounds like a lot, but Daphne Elliott blends it all together in a way that feels fun and addictive.

The story pulls you in right away. A surprise baby reveal happens at the Maple Festival, and while Evie is trying to process that life-changing moment, a murder is unfolding in the same town. It is chaotic in the best way and sets the tone for everything that follows.

Evie is the grump here, and she has every reason to be. Her family never supported her. Her father spent years calling her things like fat and loser, and that kind of cruelty sticks with you. She carries those wounds into adulthood, and she is scared to let anyone get close because she is convinced they will treat her the same or disappear when she needs them. Watching her try to rebuild her life in this new town is emotional and relatable.

Then there is Jasper. He is a full cinnamon roll golden retriever of a man. He works at the fire department and on his family’s farm, which might be connected to the murder. He and Evie had a one night stand, and when he finds out he has a son, he steps up immediately. He sleeps in a tent outside so he can be close without invading her space. He sends her coffee every morning. He shows up every time she calls. He is patient and steady and determined to be there for both Evie and baby Vincent. She is hesitant, and even when she starts to let her walls down, things do not magically get easier. That slow, careful shift in their relationship is one of the best parts of the book.

I also want to give Daphne Elliott a huge shout out for her representation. She continues to write plus size heroines with depth and heart, and this book includes thoughtful PCOS and PTSD representation that feels natural and respectful. It is the kind of inclusivity I want to see more of in romance.

I devoured this book. It is warm, heartfelt, a little twisty, and full of characters you want to root for. If this is the energy for the rest of the series, I am absolutely ready for more

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i have been itching to dive into daphnes work for a hot minute now and when this book was announced i knew this book would be the perfect timing as i am a sucker for a secret/surprise baby trope!! this was a PHENOMENAL audiobook, the narrators and the production itself was *chefs kiss* and i am so grateful to have received the ALC!!

the book in its entirety was an absolute delight, i only had a few issues through out and that mainly stemmed from the way the fmc treated the mmc sometimes. i am down bad for a mean fmc always BUT when the mmc has proved time and again from the get go that he is there, he is supportive and fully invested in you and your baby the constant doubting him and being mean to him because of her trust issues can only go so far before i start to think a little inner self working needs to be done before jumping into anything else. i adored evie truly, i could empathize with where she was coming from and i dont dislike her at all but this was definitely a huge issue for me at times!

that being said, every other part of this book was perfection. i absolutely loved the way this book started and couldnt help but giggle a time or two over their first few interactions even though they were NOT having a great time, i certainly was.

i think this is really fun for the girlies that love gilmore girls and that love a little bit of suspense and mystery in their books… i am already very excited to return to maplewood in the future and see where this series goes!!

[Kaya Grigsby · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, so writing this review is honestly frustrating.Sorry this is so long
SPOILERS BELOW (edited review)

The plot itself is solid. Evie has a one night stand with Jasper that leads to an oops baby. The catch is that Evie does not even know she is pregnant until she is literally in labor. Jasper, who is a paramedic, is on duty when he finds her, realizes what is happening, and then she tells him the baby is his. The book starts off strong and I was immediately invested.
Then we get to know Evie and everything goes downhill. She is genuinely one of the worst written FMCs I have read. She is incredibly selfish and treats Jasper like absolute trash from the very beginning. Her reasoning is his supposed playboy past, which she was not even around for and which the book does not really even give proof of until around 40 to 50 percent. We are just expected to accept her behavior.

Jasper on the other hand is amazing. From the moment he finds out the baby is his, he steps up. He never questions it. He cries when he holds his son for the first time. He immediately starts getting her house ready for a baby, buys car seats and installs them, has food delivered to her daily, shows up every time he is off work, does her dishes, laundry, and cleans without ever being asked. He respects her space, leaves when she asks him to, and never oversteps. He is everything you would want in a partner and a father.
Evie uses her trauma as an excuse to treat him terribly and never actually works through it. She limits Jasper to thirty minutes a day with his own son. When he wants to be around more, she refuses, so he literally pitches a tent in her yard just to be close in case she needs anything. Instead of letting him sleep on her couch like a normal person, she makes him stay outside for months. Months. She even admits she is awful to him and then continues to be awful.

Somehow Jasper still falls in love with her. This is a very slow slow slow burn. They do not even get together until around 70 percent, and even then it feels more like lust than love. I did not really believe the romance at that point. Of course there is also a third act breakup even though they have only been together for a few weeks in the book. It feels rushed and unnecessary.

Another thing that bothered me was that her friends, especially Frankie, initially condone her treatment of Jasper. Frankie eventually comes around and advocates for him, but it took way too long. Also the friends being named Ruby and Frankie kept taking me out of the story. I am assuming it is a coincidence, but the association is hard to ignore.

Then there is a murder subplot that gets a lot of buildup for what ends up being a pretty unimportant character. We also do not really get answers, which I am guessing is because there is another book coming. I just did not like how much time was spent on it for the ending to feel so rushed.

This book had a lot of potential and an incredible MMC, but the FMC and the pacing completely ruined it for me. I wanted to add the this wasn’t a poorly written book. Daphne Elliot is a phenomenal writer and will definitely pick up her books in the future. This one just wasn’t my cup of tea for the reasons I listed above.


🌶️🌶️/ 5
⭐️⭐️.5/5

[⌜Linaraxx⌟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

Thank you to Daphne Elliott & The Author Agency for the eARC.

Sap & Secrets starts with a strong hook when Evie suddenly goes into labor, unaware she was pregnant. Jasper, who works in emergency services, is called in and is revealed to be the father, which sets the emotional tone for the story…

The writing is smooth & atmospheric, the small-town setting feels vivid and immersive. The pacing allows space to focus on emotions and character development. Evie and Jasper feel realistic & layered, with quiet tension running between them. Some side characters could have been explored more, but they still add to the story.

The murder subplot felt intense but necessary. While it was a bit much at times, it was also interesting, and I liked how it connected the whole story together.

Overall, this was an emotional and engaging read. I’m very excited for the second book in the series, & my expectations are already high. I’ll definitely be reading more from Daphne Elliott!!

Releasing January 26th!

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh. That was hard to read.

I kept hoping things would start getting better but it kinda got rougher and ended in a very unsatisfying way.

I could review more but I'm not feeling it. This reviewer wrote the review I would have if I cared more: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Feeling irritated by the constant push away, the murder mystery that never made sense, the manwhore past with present perfection, the manhating best friend who then encourages her to get with him and then pushes her to not, the family pushing him to lawyer up, the sleeping in the backyard... and on and on.

This book could have been good. I like strong heroines but this one was so hard.

Ugh.

[Demi Silvio · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 30. Not sticking around for things we hate in 2026. Found myself rolling my eyes the entire time. FMC was a bitch UNWARRANTED. And her friends supporting it sent me to the moon. All reviews say its like this the whole book so I’m def done. And the murder sub plot?! Don’t PMO. Everything is weird and I don’t like it

[Afton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful surprise this story was! Imagine Gilmore Girls and Bourbon & Proof had a baby - this is exactly what you’d get.

There’s a touch of mystery, a journey of self-discovery, and a quirky small town where everyone knows everyone’s business… but also shows up when it really matters.

And did I mention there’s a firefighter and a surprise birth?! Because yes - that prologue will grab you immediately and refuse to let go.

[Kimberlyyyreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Daphne and her team for sending me an E-arc!

The surprise baby trope is personally a trope I enjoy; only a few people are able to execute it in a manner that doesn't feel repetitive or unoriginal. Daphne was definitely able to succeed in writing a great surprise baby romance.

Evie has PCOS and was told by doctors that, due to her medical condition, she was basically infertile and could never be pregnant.

Evie is used to being on her own; having a complex relationship with her family has taught her that the only person who will ever have her back is herself. Evie has recently started a new chapter in her life, she has finally escaped NYC to restart and settle down to her new job in the sweetest small town in Vermont. She's taking care of herself and has a steady close group of friends, she expects to finally live a tranquil life.

One wild night stand and nine months later, she's unknowingly going into labor in a small town's pizzeria. An emergency call is made, and the first responder on sight? Well, it happens to be the very same firefighter she slept with and the father of her surprise baby!

Jasper, the firefighter and baby daddy is basically a golden retriever with the patience of a saint. He is quick to step in and becomes the father every man should be. He assists in diaper changes, house chores, and consistently shows up for Evie and the baby.

Jasper and Evie are a slow burn; Evie has to learn to trust, and Jasper learns to be patient. As surprise co-parents, they both learn that despite their fears, they are both amazing parents who show up for the baby boy. Their romance is honestly the sweetest. My favorite thing about this romance is that Jaspers relience, this man literally sleeps in a tent outside in respect of Evie's boundaries and stays there every night to help to take care of the baby, but Evie as well.

I think what really brought down this book for me was the mystery plot; there wasn't a balance between the romance and mystery. If this strictly had been a romance, I'm sure my review would've been different but there were some attributes of the mystery that didn't make sense to me.

I'm inherently a plotical person, I'm a Bisexual Mexicana reader and reviewer, so there were some parts of the book that left me questioning some details of the book. In this small town, there's been a murder, and unfortunately, cops happen to be involved. One of them makes a consistent appearance, and Jasper is friends with him as well.

I understand that first responders have relationships with cops due to the nature of their work, but as I said, my personal beliefs and values are also going to be reflected in my reviews for this book. I'm ACAB, therefore I don't believe or support cops in any way. The police chief in this book is talked about in a friendly manner. His name is Nolan, and it seems that this book is teasing perhaps a romance between him and one of Evie's friends, which is a complete turn-off as a BIPOC reader.

In continuation, Jasper makes a mention of the "Green Mountain Boys" which is a militia group formed in the 1770's, I did some brief research on them, and they basically are known for fighting against New York settlers. They now today have ties with the national guard and who fought during the American Revolution. Etan Allen, known for funding the Green Mountain Boys, isn't directly tied to owning slaves, but his daughter was and his brother, Levi allen as well.

Ethan Allen's daughters participantion in owning slaves was recognized in 2020, and there is actually a plaque that acknowledges Lavania (kept as a housekeeper) and her son, Francis Parker in Burlington, Vermont.

This isn't shared in the book by any means, which is interesting but I think it's important context to share and history to share.

Resources: Rutland Herald and Vtdigger

Critical thinking is a must! I wouldn't be the reviewer or the reader that I am without pointing this out. Overall, a cute romance but the nuaince behind having cop characters and mentions of historical figures needs to be recognized.

[Zoe · Rating 1 out of 5]

sorry i get that you have PCOS but cmon there is no way you didnt have an inkling you were pregnant

[jenelle ｡･:*˚:✧｡]

DNF @ 30%

*deep sigh* I don’t even really know where to start. So I know everyone raises and cares for babies differently, I really genuinely get that. But the way the author talked about the baby and how he was cared for felt so unrealistic. The baby was 3 days old, she just came home to a surprise baby shower, and he’s “fast asleep in his baby swing”? Idk. I really don’t judge moms but that choice felt weird. Like….go for the bassinet.

I usually love a romantic suspense, small town murder subplot but for whatever reason it just felt awkward in this book. Like it didn’t fit the getting and vibe. And on top of that, it just felt unnecessary.

Aaannnndddd speaking of unnecessary. The way the FMC treated the MMC. I felt like the author was just creating conflict out of no where. I really couldn’t figure out what the big issue in this book was suppose to be because
1. Surprise baby is born
2. Mom is super cool with it and excited and supported by everyone
3. Dad is surprised but super cool with and excited and supportive and supported

Like….cool, where do we go from here? 😵‍💫

Overall, do not recommend, sadly.

Thank you for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Arty Statiras · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review! thank you for letting me in on the secret early!

this book was a solid 2.5 for me,.

love the surprise pregnancy angle, its one of my favourite tropes - surprise to everyone including MMC was definitely a first for me.

This book had a lot of potential and I feel like there were a few things that let it down for me.

whilst I loved a lot of the characters, and fell in love with the town of Maplewood it was a bit of a disjointed read.

you'd be mid stream of consciousness about one topic, and it would strangely side bar into something else. even the streams of consciousness were a bit too.. not how an inner monologue would work? not sure how to describe it. over explained?

a lot of stuff was really factual and accurate, which I loved. The baby milestones and hormones and breastfeeding scenarios etc.

what I would REALLY have loved is a better focus on the crime sub plot. it's barely touched upon. you don't get into the mystery and the intrigue of it all very much and then all of a sudden at 90-something percent a barely mentioned character is arrested and it is still unclear why. not sure if its part of a grand plan across the series, but I finished thinking "that can't be it, that isn't where it ends" i saw a whole bunch of missed opportunities to really hone in on what zi presume is a big ag coverup plot.

it was a lot of those little mundane baby life scenes with a dash of crime in the very distant background. there was excess detail where their could have been implied actions, and then other things were left unanswered.

the love story was very insta-love and from the on-set it was a case of 'how will they?' rather than 'will they?' and I feel like that meant it needed a stronger murder sub plot to keep you engaged. I did enjoy watching the healing journey though.

as a nursing mum a few of the sex scenes gave me a small ick, but everyone is different so I tried not to factor that into it.

I am hoping that book 2 REALLY expands into the murder plot, rather than just the back and forth of daily life, if it picks up the thread at all.

I know its the first book, so it was a set up for the series to come but it was ALOT of names and characters and their back stories to throw out. could have done with some surface level introductions that get fleshed put in future books.

it felt rather rushed, and also contradictory. Jasper is a play boy, but no evidence of that? no run ins with other women, etc. love that he steps up but he is honestly so obscenely available and helpful and dependable ad you have Frankie says "he isn't good enough" ? maybe compared to Superman, but even then.. what?

overall I did enjoy it, despite what it may seem like in this review. maplewood is definitely the kind of place I picture when I think of small town Vermont.

[Sarah_A6210 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this. I like Daphne Elliot. I've enjoyed her other books. I love firemen tropes. Small town. Surprise pregnancy. Dad's that are totally on board and all in. Even when they have no idea about the pregnancy until literally arriving on scene to the emergency being sudden labour and it being from a one night stand and I love murder mystery tropes.

You'd think this book was everything I love. Yet I DNF'd at 28%. I just can't. The fact I saw Chapter 9 and thought oh god there's still so much longer of this. It's time to call time.

To be honest, my main reason for DNFing, I hated the FMC. I get it, surprise pregnancy, you don't really know the dad, it was a 1 night stand but this man shows up again and again, while working 3 jobs, never sleeping, being respectful of space but wanting to be there for his son. The innermonolgue acknowledged how much he was doing, how much he was showing up and being supportive. Yet she still couldn't give him a break.

You say you know legally he's allowed more visitation than you are letting him have, he hasn't complained once, yet you're still mean and at this point just because you want to be.

I understand it can be hard to trust people when you've been hurt in the past but this just screamed this man could jump through every hoop and it still wouldn't be enough.

I didn't like one of her BFF's, again just mean girl vibe. There were lots of characters introduced where at one point I thought I'd missed a previous book trying to work out who was who.

The whole side plot of whodunnit, made no sense, was set up oddly from the start because that wasn't the main focus of the book and then wouldn't be mentioned but a random comment would be dropped in.

I just didn't connect with this book the way I was hoping too.

I was extremely fortunate to receive this book as an Arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own. As always, thank you for this opportunity.

[De Rijdende Boekenwurm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Daphne Elliot for providing the eARC. This is my honest opinion.

When Life Throws Secrets Your Way

In 'Sap & Secrets' Evie suddenly collapses in pain. Jasper, who works for the fire department and ambulance service, is called to her side. It soon becomes clear that Evie is in labor, completely unaware that she is pregnant. To her shock, Jasper, someone she isn’t in a relationship with, is the father of the baby. The story follows how they navigate this unexpected situation, from uncertainty to the vulnerability of their emotions.

Daphne Elliot writes in a smooth and vivid style, making the atmosphere of the story immediately tangible. The combination of nature, secrets, and subtle underlying tension gives 'Sap & Secrets' a distinct and original tone. The small town setting and the maple trees on the farm are described so vividly that it feels as if you are walking through them yourself. The gentle pacing allows time to get to know the characters and their emotions, with a clear focus on mood and character development.

Evie and Jasper are layered characters, and their emotions and hidden motives add depth that makes the story feel truly human. The tension between them is felt just beneath the surface, and the subtle way their feelings are portrayed makes it almost tangible. The supporting characters could have been developed a bit more, but they still contribute to the story’s dynamic.

Themes such as trust, hidden truths, and personal growth run throughout the narrative. 'Sap & Secrets' is a captivating story in which emotions and secrets are at the heart, with moments of recognition and small surprises that linger long after reading.

Secret pregnancy | Unexpected father | Small town drama | Hidden secrets | Emotional tension | Personal growth | Family dynamics | Slow-burn romance | Nature as setting

[Kali Jean · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a DNF for me. I made it 112 pages / 32% and there was NO spark or tension or burn at all between the two main characters. Also one of the best friends was kinda just an annoying bitch - and she wasn’t written to be that way, she just reads like one… I decided it wasn’t worth trying to force myself through

[Shana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.85⭐️ | 3.25🌶
I enjoyed this one, loved the dynamic between Evie, Frankie and Ruby as well as Jasper's bond with Vincent and his determination to be Evie's support. However, Gabe's forcing the papers on Jasper didn't feel right to me and I felt like the third act conflict that late into the story was unnecessary. Still enjoyed myself though and cannot wait for book 2. Thank you to the author agency for the arc.

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚ARC REVIEW📚

*sigh* I’ve been trying to figure out a way to talk about how I felt about this story without coming across as saying it’s a good and/or bad story because it is actually both but also not. Yeah … I bet you wanna be inside my head right now! LOL

First, let me say that I feel enough about it that I will be listening to the audio when it releases in about a week. I love the narrators and it’s going to be performed in duet. I mean that’s #winning right of the bat! I had a hard time “connecting” with a lot of this story when I read it and my hope is that Connor & Vanessa’s performance might change that. It’s happened before so fingers crossed. For now though, I am squarely in the middle of the road with this story.

Even though I admired a whole lot about Evie, on the flip side I really didn’t understand her treatment of Jasper on many occasions. It was borderline cruel and unusual punishment of sorts and I was twitchy. On the flip side of that, I found that Jasper may have “turned the other cheek” way too many times. Their treatment of each other changed dramatically probably about halfway thru and the relationship building truly began and while that’s outstanding, I have to wonder how many future readers might “give up” on this story before they even get to the “good stuff”! *shrug*

The surprise pregnancy trope, plus size issues and infertility issues, I feel were done really well and felt very genuine. I really like it when a story incorporates IRL circumstances and the author incorporates them in a respectful and thoughtful way.

The mystery portion of this story is still a mystery to me (see what I did there) and I can’t really wrap my head around the why of it all, but I trust that Daphne will reveal it all when the time comes and as each book releases in this series, we will get a bigger picture. This is what she does so I’m not unhappy about it it’s just that I’m used to binging her series and not having to wait LOL

I’m looking forward to more stories in Maplewood and seeing some of these side characters getting fleshed out a bit more. I’m invested in this town and its shenanigans already!

Update >>> 🎧ALC REVIEW🎧

🎧This performance really brought it all into a different focus for me! As I mentioned in my “book” review just last week, my experience with this story wasn’t “bad” but I had trouble really connecting with a lot of what was happening. I liked it enough that I knew I’d be listening to two of my favorite narrators perform the story in duet and you want to know what happened? A whole lot of circumstances and actions happening to and between Jasper & Evie didn’t give me pause anymore. As a matter of fact, I saw them in a whole new light. I remember being frustrated and twitchy at so many different things but 🎙️Connor & Vanessa🎙️ brought a whole different perspective with their performances and I think it is because they not only narrated this story, but truly became Jasper & Evie, and I felt it!

Listening to a story being performed is very different than reading it. At least that is what I have learned in my #AudioEra journey thus far these past few years. But try as I might, I’ve never really been able to express how or why that happens, but it does! Sometimes it’s good and others it isn’t. I’ve had stories be completely flipped because of it, and although Sap & Secrets didn’t need to do backflips for me to “like” the story, it did do a cartwheel when I listened to it! Do with that information what you will :)

I'm increasing my rating of the story from 3 stars to 4 because the performance was outstanding and because it really gave me a whole new perspective on the story itself!

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I want to give a huge thank you Daphne Elliot and The Author Agency for providing me with an arc. This has been promoted all over my Instagram and I’ve been dying to get my hands on it. So when I got that email I felt like I had received the best early birthday present.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

My initial thoughts:
(PS this only my second Daphne Elliot book) but after reading this it will not be my last. This book was such a cute read from beginning to end. And If it’s any indicator for how much I enjoyed it, I devoured it in less than 48 hours. Now I’m a sucker for a firefighter romance. But I will admit I was skeptical with the accidental pregnancy trope. However, the way it was handled here was perfect. Neither of them of knew. So we got to watch them both stumble as well as succeed.

Our MMC Jasper is the embodiment of golden retriever boyfriend. I adored him and this man deserves the world. His positive outlook on life and pure devotion to Vincent & Evie is beautiful. I love that he let Evie take her time and worked slowly to push down her walls. Why can’t Jasper exist in real life?!?!

Then of course we have our FMC Evie. Boy oh boy our girl has been through it. I love that she was essentially the “grump” in this relationship. Typically it’s always the female being the sunshine one. But I loved the role reversal. She has not had it easy growing up. But through all her trauma she continues to persevere and put herself and her son first. Her strength and resilience is inspiring and I related to her on so many levels.

Now the only reason I have this book a 4⭐️ instead of 5 was for two reasons. (PS I’m being nitpicky don’t judge me) Number 1, I was not a big fan of the background murder mystery accruing in the story. I felt like it took too much of the story and all I wanted to do was get back to Jasper & Evie’s relationship progression. Essentially I just wanted more of this perfect couple. Number 2, now I’m going to have to be a bit vague here because spoilers. But some of the ending relationship drama plot points felt rushed and then just brushed over. I had to go back and re-read to make sure I didn’t miss anything but I like we were just going to sweep past that like nothing happened. Cool cool.

Now even with that said. I still throughly loved and enjoyed this book. This series is off to a great start and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Especially after we introduced to Josh and Celine. So with 100% certainty I recommend this book! Please check it out when it releases January 26th

[Stacey Kelley · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a book I should have DNFd.

The FMC in this book is wholly unlikable and insufferable. I understand you had a horrible childhood with horrible parents, but that doesn’t give you carte blanche to be a total jerk to the father of your child. The man that has been there from day one and done everything to support not just the baby, but you as well. And these two have zero chemistry between them.

And why on earth would an EMT of all people think that you couldn’t get pregnant while you’re breast feeing???? That was the point I should have DNFd.

Then there’s the side characters. Side characters are important, but Ruby was annoying, and Frankie was insufferable. I also could not care less about the senior citizen Maple Street Mafia. And her boss’ relationship status and how she ended up with the company? Who cares? That information added nothing to the story and seemed to be there just for the word count.

And there is so much unnecessary filler and internal monologues. Seriously, I don’t care about every nuance in how the company you work for operates.

Calling this a romantic suspense is a stretch because if I were the MMC, there would be no romance with the FMC. The suspense part is mentioned in the beginning, but then there’s virtually no mention of it again until it’s the end. Even after we find out who, we never get a true explanation as to why. Romantic suspense is my favorite genre. I need the majority of the book to be about said suspense, and I want clear resolution. This is not that. Needless to say, I won’t be reading the rest of the books in this series.

[Rachel Santillan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this so badly, it wasn’t horrible. It was just…..boring.🤷‍♀️

This might simply be an author not for me situation. I actually went back to check if I’d read anything else by her because some of the characters felt oddly familiar. Even though this is book one, I kept feeling like I already knew these characters, but I couldn’t place where from. When I checked my past ratings, I realized I’ve given similar scores to a couple of her other books. It feels like the ideas and plot are there, but the execution is missing something. Flavor, tension, depth, something.

The black cat energy was strong, and I did appreciate that the FMC had moments of self reflection and recognized that she was being a complete bitch. That self awareness helped, but it still made it hard for me to understand why or how Jasper was falling in love with her outside of physical attraction. We are told that Jasper sees her claws as emotional walls and wants to be there for his son and be the dad his own dad was, but I did not feel the emotional connection between Jasper and Evie. It needed more buildup and more shared moments, not just internal debates and reflection.

That said, Jasper is five stars. I loved that he stood up for himself. Evie, on the other hand, needs improvement.

The biggest letdown for me was the murder subplot. It was extremely anticlimactic. You cannot weave in drama like that and then not fully execute it. When we finally find out who is responsible, the shock is clearly meant for the characters, not the reader. As a reader, it felt more like who is that again? There is no real explanation, no why, no buildup, and no aftermath. The story just moves on. The same goes for Evie’s boss and the whole chemical investigation. There were so many unanswered questions and loose threads that it felt unfinished and confusing.

Overall, this read was just okay. I think I am done with this author’s work. Not because she is bad, she is just not for me.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️/ 2🌶️

This one had a Hallmark movie vibe. The side-character, the cozy vibes and the swoony moments were so fun to read. 💕

Jasper and Evie were wonderful MCs. Evie, with her struggles, and Jasper, with his 'all in' attitude, were perfect for each other.

Although the murder storyline was not needed, it made us meet the other characters, so I can't wait to see if we get their stories.