Midsummer Night

Midsummer Night

A Pine Lake Chronicles Novella

Sometimes the best journeys begin when you're not looking for love.

Sophie Reynolds arrives in Pine Lake, Wisconsin, with her professional armor firmly in place. After a devastating career setback, the successful Chicago photographer has been reduced to shooting small-town festivals for travel magazines—a far cry from the high-profile assignments that once defined her. Pine Lake's annual Midsummer Festival should be just another job: capture the quaint charm, deliver the photos, and move on.

But Pine Lake has a way of surprising people.

Mark Hamilton is equally skeptical about the town's supposed magic. Returning after a ten-year absence to make difficult decisions about his family's lakeside cabin, he's determined to keep his visit brief and his emotions in check. The last thing he expects is to find himself drawn to a fellow outsider who sees through Pine Lake's picture-perfect facade.

When Sophie and Mark team up to explore the festival together, their shared cynicism gives way to an unexpected connection. As they navigate flower crown ceremonies, traditional dances, and floating lantern wishes, both begin to see Pine Lake—and each other—with new eyes.

Then a summer storm changes everything.

Stranded together in the Hamilton family cabin, their careful professional distance dissolves into intimate conversation and shared vulnerabilities. In the flickering firelight, they discover that some connections transcend logic, timing, and all the reasons why they shouldn't work.

But morning always comes, and with it, the return to their separate lives in Chicago. Can a love born during one magical midsummer weekend survive when the festival lights fade and reality returns?

A heartwarming standalone romance that introduces you to the enchanting world of Pine Lake—where second chances bloom, healing happens, and love has a way of finding you when you need it most.