Behind the Book: The Making of Sweet Dreams

Sweet Dreams: Behind the Book

This week marks the release of Sweet Dreams, the first book in my brand-new Cupid’s Sweet Shoppe series, and I can’t wait for you to meet Ivy Baker and Nathaniel Knight. Their story is tender, warm, emotional in all the right ways, and very close to my heart.

Today, I’m pulling back the curtain a little on how this story came to life and why Ashford Falls felt like the perfect place to begin again.

Returning to Ashford Falls

After finishing my Cupid’s Coffeeshop series, I knew one thing for certain: I wanted to come back to Ashford Falls.

This little Blue Ridge town has always felt like home to me. It’s full of neighbors who show up for each other, traditions that run deep, and families whose stories weave together across generations.

And tucked inside that world was a spark I’d planted years ago: Joy Baker’s dream of opening a bakery.

Joy’s story in Cup of Joy gave readers their first glimpse of the Baker family, a Christmas-loving, tight-knit crew full of heart, humor, and resilience. I knew one day I wanted to explore the rest of that family. That spark eventually became Cupid’s Sweet Shoppe, and the first sister to step forward with a story to tell was Ivy.

Ivy Baker

Ivy is the second-oldest Baker sister (she and Holly are twins). Ivy is steady, thoughtful, and strong in the way quiet people often are. She’s a widow carrying grief gently, privately, while still caring deeply for her family and their shared dream of building Cupid’s Sweet Shoppe together.

The moment Ivy appeared, I knew her story wouldn’t be about dramatic twists or high-conflict chaos. It would be about healing, finding courage, and letting sweetness return after a long winter of the heart.

Writing her journey felt like shaping something warm and comforting. It’s a story full of soft light and second chances.

Moodboard for Sweet Dreams

Nathaniel Knight

Nathaniel arrived not with fanfare, but with quiet strength.

A firefighter and small-town contractor, Nathaniel comes from a family woven deeply into the fabric of Ashford Falls. His father, the town’s beloved Fire Chief, died in the line of duty years ago, and that legacy shaped Nathaniel’s sense of responsibility, loyalty, and service.

He’s capable.
He’s grounded.
He’s the man people call when something breaks, including, perhaps, a heart that needs gentle tending.

Nathaniel wasn’t written to sweep Ivy off her feet. He was written to stand beside her until she was ready to stand on her own again.

And that love, patient and steady and quietly powerful, became one of my favorite parts of the entire book.

A Story That Became a Soft Place to Land

When I was drafting Sweet Dreams, I found myself gravitating toward stories that felt comforting. I wanted to write a romance full of hope, community, warmth, and gentle emotional truth, you know, the kind of book you curl up with on a rainy day.

Ashford Falls gave me that. The Baker sisters gave me that. And Ivy and Nathaniel gave me that in the loveliest way.

My deepest hope is that this book gives you a soft place to land, too!

Thank You for Welcoming the Cupid’s Sweet Shoppe Sisters

Launching a new series always feels like a leap of faith, but Ivy and Nathaniel were the perfect couple to begin this journey with.

I’m thrilled to invite you back to Ashford Falls, a town full of familiar faces, new adventures, and so many stories yet to come.

Here's to sweet beginnings and even sweeter dreams.

Coming Next: Sweet Hearts (Preorder Now!)

If you’re already falling in love with the Sweet Shoppe sisters, you won’t have to wait long for the next chapter.

Book 2, Sweet Hearts, is now available for preorder!

Cover teaser for Sweet Hearts