The One With The Secret Crushes: A Small Town Romance

Alexis Anne

May 2025 · Lost Creek Book 1 · Alexis Anne

About this ebook

How do you get two crazy, stubborn, (wildly in love and in denial) kids (adults) together?

Have the meddling small town book club set them up on a surprise blind date!

When Mackenzie Howard moved home after a decade away, she hoped her former high school best friend (and secret crush), Scott Shaw, would finally see her as much more than friends. Instead, he didn't recognize her at all and she's spent the last six months avoiding another mortifying run-in, which is hard to do in a small town like Lost Creek.

Grouchy bar owner Scott Shaw is tired of waiting for the right time and place to confess he's head over heels in love with Mackenzie. But ever since returning to Lost Creek, she's avoided him at all costs and he doesn't know why.

The book club is ready to meddle. While Mackenzie mistakenly believes no one knows about her feelings for Scott, and Scott thinks he's kept his crush mostly under wraps, the entire town of Lost Creek is well aware that they are destined to be together and helps the book club trap them on a surprise blind date.

Now with Mackenzie's full attention (finally), Scott sets out to romance the pants off her (literally, hopefully) and prove that not only does he remember everything about their friendship, about her, but the only relationship he wants going forward, is forever. 

Ratings and reviews

This novella is dual POV, well written, and a sweet and steamy, small town, friends-to-lovers romantic comedy. I enjoyed the thread of a relationship that Scott and Mackenzie held dear. I enjoyed Scott’s quiet, patient devotion. I enjoyed Mackenzie’s more dramatic feelings. I laughed at the secondary character shenanigans. I’m looking forward to more in this setting. I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This is the first story in the "Lost Creek" small town romance series. This one is about Mackenzie and Scott. They were best friends in high school and "secretly" crushed on each other. Now she has returned home but he acts like she does not exist. I loved this story and the characters! Great story with small town vibes and meddling people.

Oh my gosh! Sweet and spicy and simply so much fun. From a whole bunch of misunderstandings and miss-communications to full steam ahead, Mackenzie and Scott were adorable together. They also have the best, most devious supporting cast I think I’ve met in a while. Which means I'm quickly falling in love with the entirety of Lost Creek and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book. I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.

About the author

Alexis Anne is a USA Today bestselling author of steamy contemporary romances. She used to spend her days as an archaeologist surveying undeveloped parts of Florida, but now she writes books for a living. She's the mother to two men-in-training, wife to the Sexy Editor, hiker, bourbon expert, chocolate lover, and television show binger.