AdCraft Creative Review

Sap Secrets

by N/A

Contemporary Romance · Small Town Romance · Mystery Heat 3/5 Maplewood, Vermont March 5, 2026
gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview · 1K

Headlines

#HeadlineAngleEmotion
1POV: You just found out you're a dad.Surprise BabyShock
2He's a firefighter. She's a surprise mom. They're soulmates.Hero in Uniform & Protective DadHope
3Grumpy firefighter. Sunshine mom. Secret baby. Small town chaos.Grumpy x Sunshine Healing JourneyIntrigue
4One night. One baby. One murder. Welcome to Maplewood.Mystery & Romance BlendCuriosity
5He didn't know he was a dad. Now he's obsessed.Hero in Uniform & Protective DadSwoon
6Small town gossip. Big family secrets. And a baby no one expected.Small Town Unexpected FamilyIntrigue
7She survived. Not because of him, but in spite of him.Empowerment & Breaking CyclesInspiration
8I don't just want your today, Evie. I want all your tomorrows too.From One-Night Stand to ForeverRomantic longing
9He's a big, tough man. With a squishy heart.Grumpy x Sunshine Healing JourneyTenderness
10My heart dropped, and my knees almost gave out. Evie.Hero in Uniform & Protective DadFear/Devotion

Excerpt Frames

EXCERPT 1

POV: You're in labor, in a pizza shop, and you didn't even know you were pregnant. What would you do?

She lurched, lifting her head off the seat. “No,” she said, her expression panicked. “Not possible.”

Find out what happens next. Tap to read Sap Secrets.

EXCERPT 2

He was the town playboy. Then he held his son for the first time. The way he SCREAMED.

A tidal wave of emotion hit me, dousing me in joy, fear, and awe. ...Before I knew it, I was crying. And I was not a crier.

Get ready to ugly cry. Grab your copy now!

EXCERPT 3

POV: You're healing from trauma, feeling unworthy, and the man who loves you says THIS. My heart.

'You are magnificent,' I said. 'Beautiful and brilliant and so fucking capable. Maybe you’ve made some mistakes along the way, just like the rest of us, but you are so far from a disappointment.'

He falls first and hard. Experience their journey.

EXCERPT 4

She finally confronted her toxic past. The way I cheered. This is for everyone who broke free.

“You don’t get to do this anymore,” she said calmly, her head held high. ... “I’ve already made it on my own, Dad. I survived. Not because of you but in spite of you. Now please go, and I’d appreciate it if you never spoke to my family again.”

Claim your power. Read Evie's story.

EXCERPT 5

He's a muscled firefighter with tattoos, but his heart? Pure gold. My favorite kind of hero.

'I’m all yours, Evie. Be gentle with me,' he said, his voice full of tenderness and vulnerability. 'I may seem like a big, tough, manly man, but I have a squishy heart.'

Swoon over Jasper. Order Sap Secrets today!

Characters

Jasper Lawrence

Jasper Lawrence

Male Main Character

Tall and muscular with a wide, hairy chest, tan skin, and arms covered in ink. He has messy hair, often sticking up in every direction, and striking green eyes that can be dark with emotion or bright with determination. His face features a sharp jawline, stubble, and a signature lopsided grin with a single dimple. He's often seen in a Maplewood Fire Department T-shirt or a blue T-shirt and worn jeans, never skipping leg day.

"The 'good-time guy' firefighter and paramedic who discovers he's an instant dad to a surprise baby, forcing him to confront his playboy past and step up as a protective, emotionally open hero."

Evie Marino

Evie Marino

Female Main Character

Curvy with dark hair, often pulled back into a messy bun or ponytail, sometimes appearing stringy or dirty when distressed. She has expressive dark eyes and pouty lips. Her skin can be pale, sweat-soaked, tearstained, or flush a soft to bright pink when embarrassed or aroused. Described by herself as 'lumpy, dumpy' postpartum, but by Jasper as 'lush, sexy,' with 'thick, delicious thighs.'

"The 'buttoned up' New Yorker with a traumatic past who unexpectedly gives birth and becomes a single mom, forcing her to confront her fears of abandonment and learn to trust the charming firefighter who is her baby's father."

Vincent Lawrence

Vincent Lawrence

Baby

A tiny, perfect newborn with long eyelashes and tufts of curly black hair, balled-up fists, and rosebud lips. As a three-month-old, he becomes 'chubby and drooly' with 'thigh rolls,' often with a binkie. At four months, he has green eyes, arched brows, a single dimple matching Jasper, and chubby cheeks that wobble when he giggles. He's affectionately called a 'meatball' and often seen in a blue hat or sailor outfit.

"The adorable surprise baby who brings two unlikely parents together amidst small-town drama and a murder mystery."

Frankie Dunne

Frankie Dunne

Supporting Character, Friend

Tiny, 'five foot nothing,' wiry, and feisty, with impressive biceps and a generous collection of colorful tattoos. Her honey-colored or wild hair is often pulled into a ponytail or knot, and she typically wears a tank top with coveralls tied around her waist. She frequently sports a scowl, but can be visibly emotional.

"Evie's 'badass mechanic' friend, tiny and wiry with impressive biceps and tattoos, who is fiercely loyal and protective despite her gruff exterior and anti-man stance."

Ruby

Ruby

Supporting Character, Friend

Tiny with red hair cut into a bob, a full sleeve of tattoos on her left arm, and expertly applied winged eyeliner. She exudes confident cool, even while 'forty-three months pregnant' and in her 'eternal whale phase.' Her style is bright and bold, exemplified by checkered maternity dresses and oversized lime green cardigans. During labor, her hair sticks to her face; later, she rocks a messy bun and a lime green silk kimono.

"Evie's heavily pregnant, bright, bold, and stylish best friend who owns a boutique and is a fierce proponent of Evie and Jasper's romance."

Josh Lawrence

Josh Lawrence

Supporting Character, Brother

A 'bear of a man' with dark hair and a full beard, he is a 'thicker, more serious version of Jasper,' stockier and 'freakishly strong.' He often wears a hat and sunglasses, making his expression hard to read, and his cheeks can flame above his beard when flustered. He inherited his father's stern 'look.'

"Jasper's stoic, 'smart one' older brother who returned from Wall Street to run the family farm, hiding a past heartbreak that makes him guarded but fiercely protective of his family."

Chief Nolan Foster

Chief Nolan Foster

Supporting Character, Police Chief

A formidable man, the size of an oak tree, with muscular arms. He is often in full uniform with aviator sunglasses that are 'frankly a little too sexy.' He can appear gaunt and pale with eyes rimmed with fatigue due to stress, and has a bearded cheek. He has a thick mustache (implied family trait) and can smirk even when dripping wet.

"The straitlaced Police Chief with a legendary mutual hatred with Frankie, who is respected but stressed by the town's murder investigation, all while dealing with his 'wild' grandmother."

Celine LeBlanc

Celine LeBlanc

Supporting Character, Potential Love Interest

Small, barely five feet tall, looking like a 'tiny fairy sprite' but carrying herself 'like a mafia enforcer.' She has wild red hair flying, wears jean shorts (half-zipped) and a lacy black bra with no shirt, and carries sparkly pink Crocs that catch the sunlight.

"A wild, defiant kindergarten teacher and single mother who crashes into Maplewood, immediately clashing with (and intriguing) the stoic Josh Lawrence."

Core Tropes

Small Town Romance Surprise Baby Secret Baby Hero in Uniform Grumpy/Sunshine Found Family Single Mom by Surprise Forced Proximity Hero Proving Himself Small Town Gossip Murder Mystery Family Secrets Unexpected Fatherhood He Falls First Competence Kink