Policeman Lee Christiansen has long believed he's hard to love. His intimidating personality and signature scowl have the power to scare anyone off, criminal or otherwise. He hasn't dared to believe the woman of his dreams, Emma Mackenzie, could ever see past his surly exterior to the softer side underneath, so he's only spoken to her about books and not one thing more. When a famous author comes into town and quickly becomes smitten with her, Lee is met with the agonizing possibility that he'll have to watch Emma fall for the disingenuous charmer. It'll take the help of his siblings and all of his courage to toss his hat in the ring. Will pouring out his heart be enough to convince Emma that he's worth choosing?

Librarian Emma Mackenzie prefers to live vicariously through the books she reads. That doesn't keep her heart from yearning for a certain policeman who, outside of their brief interactions at the library, doesn't know she exists. Believing she's doomed to be a side character in her own story, she's surprised when bestselling author Garrett Waterstone singles her out. Emma quickly realizes he's the kind of man she could survive losing, but wonders whether she would ever stop wishing he was Lee instead. Will she protect herself by choosing someone safe, or risk it all by choosing true love?