The Framing Plan: A Later-in-Life Small Town Romance (Timber Ridge Restorations Book 1)

Every solid building needs a true foundation. Some just take a lifetime to find it.At forty-eight, architectural surveyor Claire Montgomery has rebuilt her life from the foundation up. After two decades of watching her ex-husband claim sole credit for her blueprints, she walked away from Seattle with an independent consulting license and a simple rule: never compromise her autonomy for anyone again. Her career-defining contract? Stabilizing the historic Blackwood Timber Lodge before corporate developers condemn it to the wrecking ball. Master timber framer Ben Hayes doesn't need an outsider telling him how to swing a hammer. At fifty-two, the rugged contractor has spent six years hiding behind hard labor and quiet grief, guarding his family's business and keeping his heart locked down tight. The mountain freeze is setting in, the sixty-day deadline is brutal, and the lodge's century-old stone foundation is on the verge of catastrophic failure. Forced to work shoulder-to-shoulder amidst the sawdust and the storm, professional skepticism quickly turns into undeniable heat. Ben's unhurried reverence melts Claire's guarded defenses, while her structural brilliance shows him a future worth fighting for. But when corporate threats put everything they've built on the line, they must decide if they are willing to step out of the shadows-and frame a life together on solid bedrock. WHY READERS LOVE TIMBER RIDGE: - Seasoned, Competent Leads: 48-year-old heroine & 52-year-old silver fox hero.- Classic Tropes Done Right: Grumpy/Sunshine, Forced Proximity, Blue-Collar Tradesman.- No Third-Act Miscommunication: Grown-up emotional accountability, a deeply satisfying grovel, and real-world stakes.- Atmospheric Setting: Cozy, rain-swept Pacific Northwest mountain town.- High Heat & Heart: Dual POV, open-door steam, and a guaranteed Happily Ever After. The Framing Plan is a full-length standalone novel and Book 1 in the interconnected Timber Ridge Restorations series.