First impressions are ard to shake...

Big-headed ex-rugby star, Daniel Dante, refuses to believe a word celebrated ceramicist Kanako Janssen says, though why her new landlord's opinion bothers her so much is anyone's guess. She has enough to worry about, with her soon to be ex-husband refusing to sign divorce papers, Daniel's dog appearing regularly to freak her out, and an exhibition date looming.

Kanako is everything Daniel isn't, and nothing he's used to. Commitment doesn't come easily to a player who's been burnt so publicly before, but if he can't learn to trust this fresh-faced, quirky artist, he could well lose her altogether.

Like the swallows, she's only in Otago for the season, but willing or not, self-proclaimed introvert Kanako is being slowly absorbed into small town life on the lake, and she's in grave danger of falling in love with it.

Winner of both editor and agent's choice in RWNZ Great Beginnings and finallist in the Pacific Hearts Award, RUBY ISLAND is the second story in Stephanie Ruth's Otago Waters series, set in the beautiful South Island of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Each book stands alone, but reading them in order provides a deeper experience. Intended for readers who enjoy their slow-burn, feel-good romance on the steamy side. Reader discretion advised. Though this novel ends with an HEA, it also deals with the trauma of a past addiction, and a historical drowning. Sign on to Stephanie Ruth's newsletter to receive bonus short stories, prologues, epilogues, and cut scenes set in the same world.