A Mother’s Heart by Carolyne Aarsen

A single mother who dreams of home meets a contractor on the run from his past. Will he tear down their only chance at a shared future?

Claire is just a few paychecks away from moving into her beloved childhood home. When a man from her past counteroffers, the single mother fears she and her daughter will be stuck in their musty old apartment forever. If she can’t persuade the new owner to power down his bulldozer, she’ll have to watch as the house that held her fondest memories is torn down.

Nik wasn’t the kind of person who put down roots. After a childhood spent bouncing from one foster home to the next, he made his fortune flipping houses and moving on with no strings attached. But no amount of renovation could wipe away the painful memories that still lingered within his abusive foster parents’ short-lived residence. When Nik vowed to leave no wall standing, he never expected he’d have to go through his childhood crush and her spunky daughter.

As his charming new neighbor shares her recollections of happier times, Nik realizes that his heart yearns for something more permanent. When old memories bring the past into the present, can Claire and Nik finally find their home sweet home?