Scoop Me Up (Love in Maplewood #7)

2025 | Contemporary | LGBTQ+ | Romance

Falling for a straight guy is putting extra nuts in the rocky road to my life goals...

I have two opening my own ice cream shop and falling in love. My fantasy? Falling in love with a guy who’ll help me run my future ice cream shop.

But my teaching job doesn’t exactly have me rolling in dough, and my love life doesn’t exactly have sprinkles on top, so every year my dreams seem farther and farther away.

At least until this year, when I decide to compete in the Maplewood Scoopfest flavor competition. If I win, owning an ice cream shop would be within reach.

But the love life thing? Well, it’s even sadder now, because I have a huge crush on Gabe, the ridiculously hot, straight single dad to one of my students. He’s only in town for the summer, and—what the heck was I thinking?—I offered to let him stay in my guest bedroom. Now I have to see him, talk to him, hear him. All the time. Even my favorite ice cream isn’t enough distraction when all that deliciousness is right under my nose.

I’m resigned to pine in silence—to Gabe, that is. My friends are sick and tired of hearing about my pointless crush. Then, one night, he leans in for a kiss. But he’d been drinking and now I don’t know if that was just the whiskey talking, or if Gabe’s flavor preferences might just be changing.

With the highest percentage of LGBTQIA+ residents in Vermont, Maplewood is a town where everyone belongs. And with festivals year round, there’s always something fun happening! This multi-author, low-angst queer series features ten standalone romances—each set against the backdrop of a different festival. Come for the celebrations, stay for the happily-ever-afters!

Riley Long (Author)