When a shy schoolteacher makes a bold proposition, a former baseball player must face his raucous past in this small town romance.

Dedicated kindergarten teacher Erin MacDonald isn’t the type to make the first move on a man—especially gorgeous David McCay, her secret crush. But when a crisis involving one of her pupils offers a chance to help the pro baseballer turned local brewery owner, Erin goes way out of her comfort zone. So way out she makes a shocking suggestion!

David moved to the Colorado mountain town to look after his sister and her son. Now he’s a stand-in parent to his nephew, trying to fight his attraction to Erin . . . who just propositioned him. David is nobody’s hero. So why can’t he convince the sweet, kindhearted beauty that she deserves better than him? Is it because they’re the perfect imperfect match?

Titles in the Crimson, Colorado series include: A Kiss on Crimson Ranch ~ A Second Chance at Crimson Ranch ~ Suddenly a Father ~ A Very Crimson Christmas ~ A Baby and A Betrothal ~ Always the Best Man ~ Christmas on Crimson Mountain ~ Romancing the Wallflower ~ Sleigh Bells in Crimson ~ Coming Home to Crimson ~ Anything for His Baby ~ Love at First Bark ~

This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Title:  Romancing the Wallflower
Series:  Crimson, Colorado #8
Author:  Michelle Major
Published:  August 22, 2017 (Original),  May 26, 2023 (Reissue)
Publisher:  Harlequin Special Edition
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Romancing the Wallflower is the eighth title in the Crimson, Colorado series, featuring Erin and David, an unlikely couple on the surface… but still waters run deep for this couple.

Erin is a kindergarten teacher, a woman who sees herself as “just average”, it’s how she’s been treated most of her life, so she’s come to believe that lie.  In fact, she’s amazing with kids, building them up, leading them into their future with a steady hand, a kind word, and a belief that they can do anything they put their minds to.  It was heartwarming to see Erin slowly begin to chip away at that “average” belief, to see herself as others do.  It’s going to be an uphill battle, but she’s slowly learning to see that she has so much more to offer than she’s been told by the wrong people.

David will cross paths with Erin when his nephew, Rhett, gets into some trouble in class.  Erin has such a way with Rhett; her gentleness will help this young boy in ways that his uncle cannot.  David is a former professional baseball pitcher. Well, he was before he made a choice that was the right thing to do, but the wrong way to do it, and he lost his career in the big leagues.  

Now, he’s a brewmaster and the owner of the local brewery pub in Crimson.  He’s not big on relationships, believing he’s not good enough for the long haul, so his romantic life has been baseball groupies and casual one-night stands for years now.  Erin is different.  The attraction between them sparks like fireworks, but neither believes that they’re “good enough” for the other.  It’s going to take a little boy, friends in town, and a few shake-up moments before this couple comes to realize that they are exactly right…for each other.  But first, there will be heartache, mistakes, and just might involve some serious groveling on David’s part before they get back on track to their happy ever after ending.

I enjoyed Romancing the Wallflower by Michelle Major so much.  Erin and David work so well together, even when they believe they have no future.  Their story is emotional, well-written, and believable. If that’s your kind of romance, then you’d love their story.

I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

If you love this author’s work, please visit our Michelle Major page for other titles that you may have missed over time.

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)