Saltwater Sawdust

SALTWATER & SAWDUST: Where a House Becomes a Home — by Velora Fox

A coastal fresh start. A single mom rebuilding her life. And the carpenter next door who helps her believe in home again.

SALTWATER & SAWDUST: Where a House Becomes a Home is a spicy, comforting small-town coastal romance with neighbors-to-lovers chemistry, found family vibes, and gentle emotional healing. If you love cozy domestic moments, steady protective heroes, and slow-burn love that feels like safety—this story is for you.

✅ Available formats: eBook + Audiobook
✅ Instant digital delivery: Download immediately after purchase and start reading/listening right away.

Sneak Peek from SALTWATER & SAWDUST

Olivia arrives in Seabrook, a quiet coastal town, with a broken heart, a packed car, and one promise to herself: one year. One year to breathe. One year to heal. One year to rebuild a life for her daughter, Emma—far away from the noise that nearly swallowed them whole.

Nana Rose’s old cottage is supposed to be a temporary refuge… until Olivia meets Jack Miller, the steady carpenter next door who knows every creak in the house—and every way it’s been held together through the years. Jack is calm, capable, and impossible to ignore… especially when his kindness starts slipping past Olivia’s carefully built walls.

Between community gossip, unexpected help, and the slow magic of everyday repairs, Olivia starts to realize Seabrook isn’t just a stopover. It’s a place that pulls you in. A place that feels like solid ground.

And Jack?
He might be the first person who makes Olivia believe that home isn’t a place you run to…
it’s something you build—piece by careful piece.

About SALTWATER & SAWDUST: Where a House Becomes a Home

Olivia doesn’t come to Seabrook looking for romance.

She comes looking for quiet.

After a season of chaos that left her heart bruised and her nerves raw, Olivia packs up her life and drives until the air changes—until the noise fades into ocean wind and the world feels soft enough to breathe in again. She has one rule, one boundary, one promise she refuses to break:

One year.
A year to heal. A year to stabilize. A year to rebuild a safe life for her daughter, Emma, without being pulled back into the storm she escaped.

Nana Rose’s cottage is supposed to be temporary—a place to hide out, regroup, and get through the days without shaking. The house is old and imperfect. It creaks when it’s cold. It sighs in the wind. It carries memories in every corner.

But it’s hers for now.

That should be enough.

Then Olivia meets Jack Miller next door.

Jack is Seabrook’s kind of steady—the kind that comes from showing up, from fixing what’s broken, from making promises and keeping them quietly. He’s a carpenter with strong hands and calm eyes, the kind of man who notices details most people miss: a loose hinge, a sagging porch step, the way a door sticks when it rains.

He knows Nana Rose’s cottage too. He knows the story of the house and the way it’s been held together through the years. He knows how to repair it without erasing its history.

And he knows Olivia is hurting.

Jack doesn’t pry. He doesn’t demand explanations. He doesn’t try to “save” her with words. He offers help like it’s normal—like she’s allowed to accept kindness without owing anything back.

At first, Olivia refuses.

Because accepting help feels like risk.
Because trusting anyone feels dangerous.
Because building a life for Emma means protecting her—at all costs.

But Seabrook has a way of pulling people into its orbit. The town is small enough that everyone notices, and warm enough that people show up anyway. There’s community gossip, yes—but there’s also community care. Someone drops off soup. Someone offers a recommendation. Someone fixes a leak before it becomes a disaster.

And Jack keeps showing up.

With a toolbox. With patience. With the kind of calm that makes Olivia’s nervous system unclench a little at a time.

Slowly, the repairs become a rhythm.

A porch step fixed here. A window sealed there. A late afternoon spent sanding wood while Emma laughs nearby. Cozy, domestic moments that don’t feel flashy—but feel real.

And Olivia realizes something she didn’t plan for:

She doesn’t just feel safe in the cottage.

She feels safe with Jack.

Because Jack isn’t a whirlwind. He isn’t a risk disguised as charm. He’s steady love—built in small choices and quiet loyalty. The kind that respects boundaries, but still stays close enough to catch you when you wobble.

As Olivia heals, the cottage changes too—not into a different house, but into a home. One built piece by careful piece. One that makes room for laughter again. For warmth. For the possibility of staying.

But the hardest part isn’t fixing the house.

It’s letting herself believe she deserves a life that isn’t survival.

And that love—real love—doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.

Sometimes, it’s simply a man next door who keeps showing up… until you finally stop waiting for him to leave.

Why You’ll Love SALTWATER & SAWDUST

Perfect for readers who love:

• Small-Town Coastal Romance

• Single Mom + Fresh Start

• Neighbors-to-Lovers (quiet, steady connection)

• Found family + community vibes

• Gentle slow burn + emotional healing

• Protective, hands-on hero (carpenter MMC)

• Cozy domestic moments that feel like coming home

Steam Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

What to Expect

✅ Cozy Seabrook coastal vibes
✅ A single mom heroine rebuilding her life
✅ A steady carpenter hero who fixes things (and keeps showing up)
✅ Slow-burn romance built on trust and small moments
✅ Found family warmth and community care
✅ Kid-inclusive romance done with tenderness
✅ A satisfying emotional payoff

Digital Formats & Instant Access

This is a digital product. No shipping required.

eBook

Download after checkout and read instantly on your phone, tablet, Kindle app, or computer.

Audiobook

Download immediately after purchase and start listening right away—perfect for commutes, chores, or cozy nights.

✅ Instant download: You’ll receive access immediately after checkout so you can start reading or listening right away.

What Readers Are Saying (placeholder — swap with real reviews later)

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A warm, healing romance that felt like a deep breath.”
“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The small-town vibes + found family energy had me hooked.”
“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jack is the definition of steady-love—quietly obsessed in the best way.”

FAQ

Is SALTWATER & SAWDUST a standalone?
Yes, it can be enjoyed as a standalone small-town romance.

Is it more cozy or more dramatic?
It’s primarily cozy and healing, with real-life emotional stakes and a gentle slow burn.

How spicy is it?
Steam level is 🌶️🌶️🌶️.

How do I get the eBook and audiobook after buying?
After checkout, you’ll get instant access to download your files and start immediately.

About the Author — Velora Fox

Velora Fox writes romance with warmth, slow-burn tension, and characters who find home in the people who choose them.

Connect with the author: https://www.instagram.com/authorvelorafox/

Ready to Build Something Real?

Get SALTWATER & SAWDUST: Where a House Becomes a Home now and download your eBook + audiobook instantly—then sink into a coastal romance where healing is gentle, love is steady, and home is built one careful piece at a time.