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Before We Meant It
Mae Miller has never been accused of playing it safe.
Confident, chaotic, and incapable of keeping her opinions to herself, she's perfectly happy spending a few weeks in Red Hollow helping her best friend prepare for motherhood before heading back to her real life.
Then Jace Hayes walks back into it.
Professional football has given Jace everything he ever thought he wanted—fame, success, and a career most people would kill for. But after years of living for everyone else, the future he's spent decades chasing suddenly feels a lot less certain.
Especially when Mae Miller starts feeling a little too much like home.
What begins as playful banter and undeniable chemistry quickly turns into something neither of them planned for. Between snowy Montana nights, cowboy coffee, and a ranch that has a habit of changing people's plans, they're forced to face a truth neither wants to admit.
Some connections are impossible to ignore.
And some goodbyes become a lot harder when you're no longer sure you want to leave.
Before We Meant It is a small-town western sports romance featuring a golden-boy quarterback, a fiercely independent heroine, found family, forced proximity, slow-burn tension, and two people learning that the right person can change everything.
Confident, chaotic, and incapable of keeping her opinions to herself, she's perfectly happy spending a few weeks in Red Hollow helping her best friend prepare for motherhood before heading back to her real life.
Then Jace Hayes walks back into it.
Professional football has given Jace everything he ever thought he wanted—fame, success, and a career most people would kill for. But after years of living for everyone else, the future he's spent decades chasing suddenly feels a lot less certain.
Especially when Mae Miller starts feeling a little too much like home.
What begins as playful banter and undeniable chemistry quickly turns into something neither of them planned for. Between snowy Montana nights, cowboy coffee, and a ranch that has a habit of changing people's plans, they're forced to face a truth neither wants to admit.
Some connections are impossible to ignore.
And some goodbyes become a lot harder when you're no longer sure you want to leave.
Before We Meant It is a small-town western sports romance featuring a golden-boy quarterback, a fiercely independent heroine, found family, forced proximity, slow-burn tension, and two people learning that the right person can change everything.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 11, 2026
About the author
Sunday J. Wilder
2 books12 followersHi, I’m Sunday.
I’m a romance author, twin mom, firefighter’s wife, and lifelong believer that the best love stories aren’t about perfection—they’re about finding the person who feels like home.
I write contemporary romance full of heart, humor, emotional tension, and characters who spend far too long pretending they don’t belong together.
If you love small towns, yearning, found family, road trips, cowboys, football players, and men absolutely obsessed with their women, you’re in the right place.
When I’m not writing, you’ll find me chasing twins, drinking coffee that’s gone cold three times, and dreaming up new stories from Red Hollow, Montana.
Thanks for being here. I hope you find a story that feels like home.
Follow my author journey on Instagram @sundayjwilderwrites
I’m a romance author, twin mom, firefighter’s wife, and lifelong believer that the best love stories aren’t about perfection—they’re about finding the person who feels like home.
I write contemporary romance full of heart, humor, emotional tension, and characters who spend far too long pretending they don’t belong together.
If you love small towns, yearning, found family, road trips, cowboys, football players, and men absolutely obsessed with their women, you’re in the right place.
When I’m not writing, you’ll find me chasing twins, drinking coffee that’s gone cold three times, and dreaming up new stories from Red Hollow, Montana.
Thanks for being here. I hope you find a story that feels like home.
Follow my author journey on Instagram @sundayjwilderwrites
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Before We Meant It - Book 2 of the Red Hollow Series by Sunday J Wilder
A little bit sports, a little bit city, a little bit country and a whole lot of great reading. A must-read gem.
SJW has created an unforgettable Red Hollow world. The environment, surroundings, places, humor, dialogue, wonderful dynamics and strong and loveable main characters as well as side characters will have you giggling and kicking your feet. Once you visit, you won't want to leave. As a reader, I could feel the love, affection and emotion she imparted into her characters to write her books.
Meet your new favorite redhead, Mae, and your new favorite swoon-worthy NFL football star, Jace.
Mae: smart, sassy, feisty and foxy. Independent and likes to play with fire.
Jace: golden boy, pro athlete country boy, so kind, caring and gentle with intentional actions and reactions to the love of his life.
Right out of the gate, the book is engaging and funny. There is tension and yearning. Expect to laugh and cry. The fluid writing feels like a warm hug.
Thank you SJW for the opportunity to read BWMI.
Favorite Quotes:
"Don't live life with regrets."
"When everything slows down, that's when I feel everything."
"Well, Jace, if you wanted a show, why didn't you just ask?"
A little bit sports, a little bit city, a little bit country and a whole lot of great reading. A must-read gem.
SJW has created an unforgettable Red Hollow world. The environment, surroundings, places, humor, dialogue, wonderful dynamics and strong and loveable main characters as well as side characters will have you giggling and kicking your feet. Once you visit, you won't want to leave. As a reader, I could feel the love, affection and emotion she imparted into her characters to write her books.
Meet your new favorite redhead, Mae, and your new favorite swoon-worthy NFL football star, Jace.
Mae: smart, sassy, feisty and foxy. Independent and likes to play with fire.
Jace: golden boy, pro athlete country boy, so kind, caring and gentle with intentional actions and reactions to the love of his life.
Right out of the gate, the book is engaging and funny. There is tension and yearning. Expect to laugh and cry. The fluid writing feels like a warm hug.
Thank you SJW for the opportunity to read BWMI.
Favorite Quotes:
"Don't live life with regrets."
"When everything slows down, that's when I feel everything."
"Well, Jace, if you wanted a show, why didn't you just ask?"
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is everything. Sunday’s writing feels as though you’re there with the characters experiencing every emotion they are. Jace and Mae surely have the physical attraction but the emotional connection hits you in the heart the hardest. There were so many instances where the emotions were so high that I wanted to bawl like a baby. This story has a way of breaking you apart and putting you back together in the most beautiful way.
Even after time apart, Jace and Mae come back together as though time makes no difference. This man never stops wanting to shout from the rooftop how in love he is with Mae. When they’re in a room together, you can tell that the only people they see is each other. The friendship between these two was one of the most wholesome, down to earth relationships I’ve ever read. Every moment was full of love, fun, and the kind of connection you get only once in your life.
Even after time apart, Jace and Mae come back together as though time makes no difference. This man never stops wanting to shout from the rooftop how in love he is with Mae. When they’re in a room together, you can tell that the only people they see is each other. The friendship between these two was one of the most wholesome, down to earth relationships I’ve ever read. Every moment was full of love, fun, and the kind of connection you get only once in your life.
Review of advance copy received from Author
i loved this book so much! i already miss it. i miss jace and mae and the other characters in red hollow and that means it was a good book — when i can’t stop thinking about it after i’ve read the last page.
i usually compare media to other types of media, so if i had to, i’d say take allie and dean from off campus, put them in virgin river, and write it like chestnut springs (Elsie Silver) and you’d have Sunday’s Before We Meant It :’)
but every aspect of Sunday’s writing, plot, characters, and settings are all uniquely her own. the side characters and cowboy coffee shenanigans made me laugh out loud, and i really loved the small roadtrip jace and mae take back home. AND THE SNOWFLAKES, THE TREE SWING!!! i just loved it
*ARC REVIEW*
i usually compare media to other types of media, so if i had to, i’d say take allie and dean from off campus, put them in virgin river, and write it like chestnut springs (Elsie Silver) and you’d have Sunday’s Before We Meant It :’)
but every aspect of Sunday’s writing, plot, characters, and settings are all uniquely her own. the side characters and cowboy coffee shenanigans made me laugh out loud, and i really loved the small roadtrip jace and mae take back home. AND THE SNOWFLAKES, THE TREE SWING!!! i just loved it
*ARC REVIEW*
August 12, 2026
How I love this series! Returning to Red Hollow felt like coming home; the characters are like family! Before We Meant It is an incredible friends-to-lovers romance. Throughout the story, we follow Jace and Mae as they navigate their evolving feelings for one another. Full of fun humorous moments and witty banter that will leave you laughing out loud. Their journey is not just about discovering love; it's about understanding what truly matters most in life and the importance of holding on to those who care for us.
August 11, 2026
Jace Hayes. That is the review.
Jace.
Hayes.
Jace.
Hayes.
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨ A Kitchen Table Review ✨
First and foremost I wanna Thank Sunday for inviting me to her table and showing me the behind the scenes of writing this book.
Jace Hayes what a surprise he was - way more than a QB for the Houston Highlanders. A man who puts on a face for the people, for the game, who hides behind laughter but deep down wants more but doesn't know how or that he can have it all.
Mae Miller passionate about her Sports Medicine career - a woman who hides behind her fiery attitude, sassy remarks and Physical therapist mindset, who has locked away the softer side and want for more because being vulnerable can only set you up for disappointment.
Two people who saw beneath each other's masks and found the trust to share the most vulnerable pieces of themselves - finding out that you can have it all, you just gotta let go and trust the other will catch you.
Jace and Mae will have a special place in my heart, the banter is cheeky, the secrets are sacred and the hearts were yearning before they meant it ❄️
First and foremost I wanna Thank Sunday for inviting me to her table and showing me the behind the scenes of writing this book.
Jace Hayes what a surprise he was - way more than a QB for the Houston Highlanders. A man who puts on a face for the people, for the game, who hides behind laughter but deep down wants more but doesn't know how or that he can have it all.
Mae Miller passionate about her Sports Medicine career - a woman who hides behind her fiery attitude, sassy remarks and Physical therapist mindset, who has locked away the softer side and want for more because being vulnerable can only set you up for disappointment.
Two people who saw beneath each other's masks and found the trust to share the most vulnerable pieces of themselves - finding out that you can have it all, you just gotta let go and trust the other will catch you.
Jace and Mae will have a special place in my heart, the banter is cheeky, the secrets are sacred and the hearts were yearning before they meant it ❄️
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews