**Blurb:**

Garnet Grove has a secret, and Abby Norton is determined to uncover it.  
​  
She's a tenacious investigative journalist with a keen eye for a story, and she's going to do whatever it takes to figure out exactly what a massive rocket manufacturer is hiding in a small town in northern California. Armed with a plot to cozy up to an insider and get the real scoop on Helios, she starts digging.

But what she doesn't count on is meeting Noah, a shy but incredibly smart teacher, who works at the Garnet Grove elementary school and has ties to shady dealings done in the town decades ago.

As they get closer, she realizes just how much they both stand to lose if she pursues this story. Standing at the precipice, she has one choice: protect Noah or expose the truth and risk everything for Garnet Grove.

**Genre:** Contemporary Romance, Romantic Mystery

**Triggers:** Adult content, explicit sexual content, mentions of suicide, drinking, mentions of serious illness

**Spice Level:** High

**Publication Date:** September 30, 2026

**ARC Release Date:** September 1, 2026

**Reviews Preferred By:** October 7, 2026

**Instructions:** Thank you so much for your time and consideration! You can download an ARC from [Bookfunnel](https://dl.bookfunnel.com/kvs7p5spre), sign up for one through [Booksprout](https://booksprout.co/reviewer/review-copy/view/314562/for-garnet-grove), or get it through [PenPinery](https://penpinery.com/nikki.m.theissen/for-garnet-grove/). If you would like to review, the book will be available on Amazon, Goodreads, and StoryGraph on September 30, 2026. Thank you in advance!

For Garnet Grove by Nikki Theissen - Contemporary Romance - September 2026