Lucy Alvarez has chosen Cutter's Creek for a very specific reason: she believes no one will think to look for her there. In Hiding in Cutter's Creek, Harley Wylde introduces a former FBI agent whose carefully constructed new identity offers a chance to escape a dangerous family history and the consequences of her past. Yet the quiet town she selects for its anonymity becomes complicated when seven-year-old Molly Morrison and her observant father, Blake, begin breaking through the defenses Lucy has spent years developing. With an extended opening excerpt that reveals just how difficult it is for Lucy to abandon her instincts, this romantic suspense story explores the tension between staying safe and allowing herself to belong somewhere again.
Romantic Suspense
Date Published: November 6, 2026
Publisher: Changeling Press
I came to Cutter’s Creek with a false name, a beat-up car, and one rule -- don’t get attached.
After years with the FBI, a prison sentence, and a family legacy I want no part of, disappearing seems like the smartest thing I’ve ever done. Lucy Alvarez could pour coffee at a small-town diner and leave the second trouble found her.
I didn’t account for Molly Morrison -- or her father.
Seven-year-old Molly slips past defenses trained professionals never could. Blake is quiet, observant, and far too good at noticing everything I don’t say. I should keep my distance from both of them. Instead, I find myself building a life I never expected to have.
Then my past finds me.
I’ve always known when to fight and when to run. But this time, running means leaving Blake and Molly behind. And I think I’m finally done running.
WARNING: Hiding in Cutter’s Creek includes references to human trafficking, organized crime, incarceration, violence, and past trauma. It also includes strong language and sexual content intended for adult readers.
Lucy's background creates an interesting contradiction at the center of Hiding in Cutter's Creek. After spending years learning how to find people who do not want to be found, she must now use that same knowledge to make herself disappear. Even the most ordinary parts of her new surroundings become exercises in threat assessment. She studies roads, evaluates exits, and questions the motives behind simple interactions. The opening excerpt shows how deeply those professional habits are embedded in her thinking, making her attempt at an ordinary life more complicated than simply changing her name.
Harley Wylde also gives Lucy a compelling emotional conflict. Her determination to avoid attachments begins to unravel when Molly Morrison and her father enter her life. The possibility of belonging to a family creates a new vulnerability for someone who has survived by remaining ready to leave. With her dangerous past threatening to intrude on that growing connection, the story links its romantic stakes directly to Lucy's struggle for safety and independence.
Copyright ©2026 Harley Wylde
Lupita
I pulled into Cutter’s Creek on a Tuesday afternoon, and the town didn’t seem to notice. The gravel lot beside the gas station was empty except for a pickup with a boat trailer hitched to it, and my ten-year-old Civic rolled to a stop with the cracked side mirror catching a gray sky. The gas station doubled as a bait shop, according to the hand-painted sign in the window, which told me most of what I needed to know about the place before I ever cut the engine.
Hiding in Cutter's Creek will appeal to romantic suspense readers who appreciate protagonists with complicated pasts, carefully guarded identities, and the skills to recognize danger before anyone else does. Lucy's experience with the FBI, her incarceration, and her connections to organized crime give her a distinctive background that shapes how she approaches both personal relationships and the unfamiliar community around her.
Readers drawn to small-town romance involving single parents and unexpected family bonds may also appreciate the developing relationship between Lucy, Blake, and Molly. The story's combination of a woman trying to escape her past, a child who breaks through her emotional defenses, and a man who notices more than she wants him to creates tension on both personal and suspenseful levels. Because the book includes mature sexual content and references to trafficking, violence, and past trauma, it is intended for adult readers comfortable with darker romantic suspense themes.
Harley Wylde is an accomplished author known for her captivating MC Romances. With an unwavering commitment to sensual storytelling, Wylde immerses her readers in an exciting world of fierce men and irresistible women. Her works exude passion, danger, and gritty realism, while still managing to end on a satisfying note each time.
When not crafting her tales, Wylde spends her time brainstorming new plotlines, indulging in a hot cup of Starbucks, or delving into a good book. She has a particular affinity for supernatural horror literature and movies. Visit Wylde's website to learn more about her works and upcoming events, and don't forget to sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive discounts and other exciting perks.
Author on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok: @harleywylde
Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress
Preorder Today
Save 15% off any order at ChangelingPress.com with code RABT15
Lucy's arrival in Cutter's Creek is supposed to mark the beginning of a life where no one knows who she is or what she has survived. Yet the excerpt reveals that the habits which helped her survive are also preventing her from experiencing the peace she came looking for. Her exchange with Ruth at the diner is particularly revealing: a simple question about whether she intends to stay becomes more difficult to answer than any of the practical questions about employment. That moment captures the conflict at the heart of Hiding in Cutter's Creek. Lucy knows how to disappear, but the possibility of building a future with Blake and Molly may finally give her a reason to stop running.
Be the first to see cover reveals, upcoming releases, exclusive excerpts, author features, and more. Join our growing community of readers and book lovers.
No comments:
Post a Comment