Unsteady: How to Fail at Flirting

by Abby Knox

Skylar
They call me the redheaded Rapunzel, except I’m not trapped in a tower and I don’t need rescuing. What I need is a contractor. Enter: Finn, the sexy, competent older brother of my best friend's new beau. He has the skill to make my bookstore dreams come true, but he's also a big problem. He has a way of hammering through my flirty, superficial persona, exposing my inner feelings. He's in town to do one job, and one job only, and yet all we do is talk...and touch...and kiss...and other things that should not be happening at a job site. We need to set some firm boundaries if we're going to get through renovations in time for opening day.

Finn
Weeks ago, I came to Songbird Ridge to check on my flighty younger brother who said he'd fallen in love and was never coming back home. And now, here I am, obsessed with a flirty, redheaded siren who's in way over her head. Her bookstore plans are simple, but she needs help. The more time Skylar spends hanging around the job site, though, the less work gets done. What can I say? I like the way she talks. I like it when she overshares. I like breaking through her walls and seeing what's really underneath. And I have to admit I like the kissing that happens sometimes. Sometimes? Okay, a lot of the time. There's more -- a lot more -- but I'm not one to kiss and tell. Let's be clear: this is not how I behave on a job site. But there must be some magic in the mountain air because nothing makes sense anymore. All I know is, I've fallen hard and I'm not mad about it.

Genres: Romance

99 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2026

Reviews

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

She built walls with a smile. He knew where to press.

Skylar has a dream, a storefront, and no room for another man who talks big and disappears. Her future bookstore is supposed to be where she finally plants roots, but the renovation is bigger than her budget, her plans are messy, and her guarded heart is harder to rebuild than any old building in town.

Finn shows up steady, skilled, and far too observant for her comfort. He’s older, grounded, and used to taking responsibility, but Skylar gets under his skin with her teasing mouth, sharp edges, and the softness she hides. What starts as job-site tension turns into something harder to control.

The more time they spend together, the more their boundaries blur. Their chemistry is playful, physical, and intense, but the real risk is emotional. Finn doesn’t just want the flirt she shows the world. He wants the woman underneath, the one who’s afraid needing someone will cost her everything.

Skylar knows how to charm, deflect, and run before things get too real. Finn knows how to stay, listen, build, and make his intentions impossible to ignore. Between sawdust, strawberry pie, stolen kisses, and one impossible deadline, she sees that being cared for doesn’t mean being trapped.

Skylar’s flirtation starts as armor, but Finn’s steadiness makes her question what she’s been protecting herself from. He shows devotion through patience, honesty, and staying present when she gets scared. Their dynamic begins with playful job-site tension and intense chemistry, then deepens into trust, caretaking, soft dominance, and vulnerability.

This is a small-town, age-gap romance filled with flirtation, protective devotion, bookish dreams, found home, and the heat of two people who cross every careful line. It’s sensual, fast-blooming, and rooted in what happens when the right person doesn’t rescue you, but helps you build.

The Elevator Pitch: A guarded bookstore dreamer hires the one man steady enough to see past her charm and dangerous enough to make her want more. As renovations heat up, every boundary between work, desire, and trust starts to blur. What begins with sawdust and flirtation becomes a fast, intimate reckoning with home, vulnerability, and the terrifying comfort of being chosen.

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥 Ultra-Steamy / Erotic Romance

[Carolee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby Knox’s Unsteady: How to Fail at Flirting is a warm, engaging addition to the Songbird Ridge series, blending small-town charm with a character-driven story about ambition, vulnerability, and unexpected connection. Skylar’s dream of opening a bookstore gives the novel a strong emotional center, and Knox does an excellent job of making that goal feel both personal and inspiring. Finn’s arrival adds a steady counterbalance to Skylar’s energy, and their dynamic helps the story move with humor, heart, and an easy sense of momentum.

What makes this installment especially enjoyable is its approachable style and satisfying emotional arc. Knox writes with a light touch, giving readers plenty of witty banter, supportive community moments, and believable growth between the leads. Fans of contemporary romance and cozy small-town settings will likely appreciate how the book balances playful dialogue with sincere reflection, making it a pleasant and memorable read.

As the fifth book in the Songbird Ridge series, this novel will be especially rewarding for readers already familiar with the earlier installments, though its central storyline is easy to follow on its own. Overall, it is an uplifting, entertaining read that should appeal to anyone looking for a heartfelt story with appealing characters, a vivid setting, and an optimistic sense of possibility. Readers may also appreciate knowing that the book includes brief references to difficult family experiences.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Book Snob Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved these two. They were so funny, especially Skylar, I laughed so hard at her thoughts, and the straight forward things she would say, like him being a thirst trap while they were “working” together, or how she refers to his slutty tool belt….funny af. She is such a handful and handle her he does. He’s a patient thinker that knows what he wants, with a shit ton of money…so you know that helps. Definitely my favorite couple of this series for sure, I just loved their vibe and how they just went together. These two put me in my happy place, mostly with their shameless flirting and laughter, but you know what I mean. These two were definitely my idea of couple goals.

Safe read, with an instant bumbling attraction couple who is hilarious with their shameless flirting and can’t keep their hands or any other body part away from each other. They were hilariously funny couple goals that made my heart happy. Loved the epilogue and hea. 10 out of 10 definitely recommend.

[Aggie Worth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so wish this book were 500 pages! I love Abby Knox's writing style and all the characters' banter. It's either their really funny dialogues or internal monologues or off-the-charts spice. All the people in Songbird Ridge are brilliant, every couple we get to meet is just "normal". Not too politically correct, not artificial, not speaking like a literary character, just normal, with normal, human, funny, sometimes frustrated approach to the daily challenges, friends and family, which is more often than not failing in some way. So human.
I will be repeatedly going back to this book as well as the others in the series as it's my very much feel-good way of spending an evening.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[J Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy.

Skylar and Finn live in different cities, but fate clearly didn’t get that memo. Finn swings into town to check on his brother Oliver (yep, from the last book), and somehow ends up helping Skylar with construction on her bookstore. He fully plans to head home… but he definitely wasn’t prepared for Skylar being this funny, this sassy, or this impossible not to fall for.

And listen—if you’re like me and sometimes need a quick breather at work, this one is perfect for sneaking outside with a drink and getting lost in a few chapters. It was the best little escape.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 5 of Songbird Ridge: A Year in the Life. For maximum enjoyment read the books in series order.

'But there must be some magic in the mountain air because nothing makes sense anymore. All I know is, I've fallen hard and I'm not mad about it.'

The characters were very appealing and likeable and complicated and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and well paced. World building continues to impress and be solidly drawn. Another great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finn was so smooth in this story, slowly breaking down the walls around Skylar's heart and making her fall for him while he pulled strings behind the scenes to ensure it happened. The story flows so smoothly, is full of steamy trysts that would make OSHA cringe and has a bookstore as the main focus. Seriously, what's not to love about all of that.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Dee Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another quick and easy read from Songbird Ridge. This time Skylar and Finn unexpectedly find each other and as always the instalove is strong and deep. But Skylar has been unlucky in love and doesn’t trust so easily, so there’s a little angst and a little heartache mixed in with the flirty banter, sweetness, swoons and steam.
I’m looking forward to my next quick visit to Songbird Ridge.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 - 4 stars.

I've been looking forward to reading Skylar and Finn's story after seeing their first meet in the previous book from this series. The connection and chemistry between them was good, I liked seeing them together, and that despite misunderstandings they were able to be open with each other and Finn took the time to show her what she meant to him.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cynthia Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 5 of Songbird Ridge: A Year in the Life story of Skylar and Finn. Now that was a wild and beautiful story of trust and new adventures. I loved how grumpy Skylar was at Finn and how cute Finn was throughout the whole story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was off the charts sexy!!!! And ridiculously sweet and fun at the same time😍😍😍Finn and Skylar are so much fun together….I LOVE how he just breezes past her walls like he’s busting down drywall 🥰🥰🥰 Their banter was a ball to read🤩🤩🤩.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. It is a sweet romance where Finn falls for Skylar and he tries to give her her dreams. He succeeds and wins her heart at the same time.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun short story with wild, strong attraction, whimsical, and honest flirting. It's nice when one can behave spontaneously, surprisingly, and unconventionally with a great outcome.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has given us a fast-paced story that pulls us into the lives of Finn and Skylar. The heartwarming story keeps us turning the pages with humor, connection, trust issues, determination and steam.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kyareth14 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed every story in this series. Skylar and Finn met and from the very first moment the attraction between them was very strong, but they lived in different cities. But Finn was convinced that he would help Skylar to build her dreams with him always by her side.

[Tracey Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Read!! Wonderful characters!! Excellently written... Great Chemistry..I loved seeing their interactions and watching the relationship grow.. I love a book that makes me smile.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fifth book in the series. Fin and Skylar are wonderful characters, They each fall at their first meeting. He wants to make her dreams come true. Love these two,.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Esme Greiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skylar is known as the “redheaded Rapunzel” with a flirty, chaotic exterior—and Finn, the competent, steady contractor who shows up intending to help his brother. Instead he meets Skylar and falls for her instantly. Can Finn get Skylar to give love with him a chance?

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional feel good read

This is an exceptional feel good story. Loved Finn and Skylar. She’s the flirtiest woman ever but Finn gives as good as he gets. Fast paced, well written, great in depth characters with loads of sexy puns and I loved every word.