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Celestia Cove #3
Defensive Desires
Not yet published
Expected 30 Mar 27Entering his final season of college hockey, Zander Ramos is more lost than ever. Evicted from his apartment, failing his English class, and stuck working at his aunt’s romance-only bookstore, he’s never felt more out of place.
Until he’s paired with a tutor—who just happens to be the one girl he can’t seem to forget.
Zoe Matthews.
After a one-night stand gone terribly wrong, Zoe and Zander cut ties. But being forced back into each other’s orbit makes it impossible to ignore the pull still lingering between them. Zander hasn’t forgotten what they had—and he’s determined to prove it wasn’t just a mistake. Zoe, however, would rather do anything than revisit the past.
With a full plate as a student, author assistant, and caregiver to her ailing father, Zoe doesn’t have time for distractions. Especially not one like Zander. But when he discovers her carefully guarded, steamy bucket list and offers to help her complete it, keeping her distance becomes harder than she expected.
No strings. No promises. No feelings.
It should have been simple.
Until it isn’t.
Zoe and Zander must decide if they’ll keep up their defenses, or if they’re willing to give into their deeper desires and allow love to heal them both.
Until he’s paired with a tutor—who just happens to be the one girl he can’t seem to forget.
Zoe Matthews.
After a one-night stand gone terribly wrong, Zoe and Zander cut ties. But being forced back into each other’s orbit makes it impossible to ignore the pull still lingering between them. Zander hasn’t forgotten what they had—and he’s determined to prove it wasn’t just a mistake. Zoe, however, would rather do anything than revisit the past.
With a full plate as a student, author assistant, and caregiver to her ailing father, Zoe doesn’t have time for distractions. Especially not one like Zander. But when he discovers her carefully guarded, steamy bucket list and offers to help her complete it, keeping her distance becomes harder than she expected.
No strings. No promises. No feelings.
It should have been simple.
Until it isn’t.
Zoe and Zander must decide if they’ll keep up their defenses, or if they’re willing to give into their deeper desires and allow love to heal them both.
Unknown Binding
Expected publication February 23, 2027
About the author
Sarah A. Bailey
17 books1,173 followersSarah fell in love with reading as a child, starting with the Magic Treehouse Series. She quickly learned that books can take her to all the places she always dreamed of going, and allow her to live endless lifetimes in the one that we are given.
Sarah believes that a good, fluffy romance novel can make even the darkest days a little bit brighter. She believes in love stories readers can root for, the kind that will make even the skeptics believe in all that cheesy stuff like soulmates. She longs to produce stories that readers can pick up, and regardless of what’s weighing them down in life, feel a little lighter when they finish.
Sarah was born in California and raised in Southern Oregon, and still considers herself a Pacific Northwest gal at heart; right down to being a coffee snob, collecting hydro flasks, adamantly believing in Sasquatch, and feeling like rain-drenched forests are a form of therapy. Sarah now resides in North Carolina with her husband, Mike, and their dog-baby, Rue. When she’s not writing, she’s likely reading, and if she’s not reading, odds are she’s out searching for a decent cup of coffee, or a rainy pine forest.
Sarah believes that a good, fluffy romance novel can make even the darkest days a little bit brighter. She believes in love stories readers can root for, the kind that will make even the skeptics believe in all that cheesy stuff like soulmates. She longs to produce stories that readers can pick up, and regardless of what’s weighing them down in life, feel a little lighter when they finish.
Sarah was born in California and raised in Southern Oregon, and still considers herself a Pacific Northwest gal at heart; right down to being a coffee snob, collecting hydro flasks, adamantly believing in Sasquatch, and feeling like rain-drenched forests are a form of therapy. Sarah now resides in North Carolina with her husband, Mike, and their dog-baby, Rue. When she’s not writing, she’s likely reading, and if she’s not reading, odds are she’s out searching for a decent cup of coffee, or a rainy pine forest.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
I'm so proud of queen sarah
Review of advance copy received from Author
New favorite book of all time and I would give this a million stars if I could.
Full RTC to come. Thank you to Sarah and her team for the early copy ❤️✨
Full RTC to come. Thank you to Sarah and her team for the early copy ❤️✨
November 12, 2026
ohmygoodness!!! fave in the series so far! review to come <333
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews