Maren Whitmore was supposed to walk down the aisle, say I do, and become the wife everyone expected her to be. Instead, she ran.Leaving behind her wealthy family, a powerful fiancé, and the future carefully planned for her, Maren escapes to a quiet little town with nothing but a desperate need to start over. She isn’t looking for love. For the first time in her life, she simply wants to make her own choices.Her fresh start takes an unexpected turn when she discovers that the house she’s rented belongs to Wade Mercer, a stubborn, infuriating single father who is absolutely furious to find a stranger living under his roof. His grandmother may have rented the place to Maren, but Wade has no intention of making her feel welcome.Unfortunately, neither of them has much choice but to share the house.Between Wade’s sharp tongue, Maren’s equally stubborn nature, and his five-year-old daughter, Poppy, who is slowly finding a place in Maren’s heart, their peaceful coexistence quickly turns into a battle of clashing personalities, unexpected laughter, and feelings neither of them planned for.But the longer Maren stays, the harder it becomes to imagine leaving.Then the life she ran from begins to catch up with her, threatening the fragile happiness she’s found.When her past comes knocking, will Maren run again, or will she finally find the courage to fight for the life—and the love—she truly wants?