Sometimes love grows in the most unexpected of places All that Town Gardener Clara Evernelle wants is to spend the rest of her days using her magic to grow gardens and try to write her book . . . and never leaving her beloved town of Moss. But after the Goddess Celebration, Clara Evernelle is unexpectedly tasked with a quest by The Goddess herself. She must travel to the Town of Dwindle and grow a garden there. She has only one month to complete the task. If she fails, she will not come home. Much to her dismay, Clara has also been assigned a Goddess-Given protector, Hesper Altanfall. Hyper-independent Clara, who would rather eat thorns rather than ask for help, is set on making Hesper's life miserable. Despite her best efforts, Clara can't phase Hesper even a little. All leather, crossbows, and a mushy heart, Hesper is as sexy as she is smitten, and Clara wants to smite. Nevertheless, these two make their way across enchanted woods, share one too many tavern beds, fight off gaggles of foes, and work together to rebuild Dwindle one garden bed at a time. They grow closer each day, but Clara must stay focused. She's had one too many losses, and Hesper might be her biggest one yet. But Dwindle and Hesper may just find their way into Clara's heart anyhow, unearthing secrets about herself, her magic, and the world that she never thought possible.