False Start

(Third and Long Book 2)

Conquest Publishing, 2026

Good time girl Jif Pritchard is the human embodiment of “girls just wanna have fun,” but when a classroom emergency leaves her and her students traumatized, she knows it’ll take more than blithe optimism to help them all feel safe again.

Former firefighter Miles Porter is recovering from the injury that stole his career and almost took his life, so forgive him if he’s a little bit grumpy. When he and his therapy dog Nix are assigned to Jif’s classroom, he isn’t quite sure what to make of either her or the pack of third graders that are equal parts shell-shocked and excessively high-spirited. And that’s putting it mildly.

As Nix works his magic on her students, Jif is fascinated by his handler. His quiet stoicism and equanimity anchor her in the midst of her whirling anxiety. Meanwhile, Miles realizes there is far more to the flighty young teacher as she shares why it’s so important her students feel safe at school.

But when their burgeoning romance is tested by Jif’s fancy-free lifestyle and Miles’ unwavering obsession with returning to firefighting – no matter the cost – both of them will have to look for healing in unexpected places if they want to find their way forward together.

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