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Meet Adrian: The Prince Who Can’t Read His Own Kingdom’s Secrets
Meet Adrian: The Prince Who Can’t Read His Own Kingdom’s Secrets
Adrian has a gift most people would envy: he can see magic woven into every building, wall, and ward in the kingdom — the crystal formations, the ancient protective spells laid into stone, the slow fractures spreading through it all as that magic fails.
What he can’t do is read the ancient texts that might explain why.
For months, he’s been quietly obsessed with the kingdom’s failing magic, hiding in the palace library instead of preparing for the marriage his parents are pushing him toward. He knows the price of bread. He knows how many families are struggling.
He knows, better than almost anyone, exactly how much is breaking — he just can’t find the words that explain why.
Ten years ago, there was someone who could read those words as easily as breathing. Someone who taught him to see magic differently, whose gift and his own used to spark something neither of them could quite explain.
Then she disappeared, and he never stopped wondering what happened.
When she turns up again — sooner than a ball, sooner than either of them is ready for — Adrian starts to suspect the answers he’s been hunting for were never going to come from a book alone.
Character introductions continue every two weeks.
The Glass Slipper’s Secret is a fantasy romance retelling of Cinderella where the kingdom’s ancient magic is fading, Ella can see the magic in every living thing — including what people try to hide — and Ella and Adrian’s paths cross again long before any ball.
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Check out Christmas in July Romance Event!
Find your new Christmas in July Romance Read!
Look for 26 Reasons to Fall in Love, my Thanksgiving to Christmas SWEET romance on the list. The promo runs July 17-20th.
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Meet Ella: The Girl Who Sees What Others Miss
Meet Ella: The Girl Who Sees What Others Miss
Ella isn’t the Cinderella you’re picturing.
She’s twenty-two, not sixteen. She spends her nights in the garret translating ancient magical texts by candlelight — a gift inherited from her father, a royal researcher who vanished ten years ago on a mission for the crown.
And she can see something almost no one else can: magic itself, living and breathing in every person, animal, and plant around her.
Her stepmother’s presence feels like a void where warmth should be.
Her cat Shadow glows gold-silver, fiercely loyal, more knowing than a cat has any right to be.
And the kingdom itself — its crops, its wards, its old magic — is dimming, and
Ella might be one of the only people who can see exactly why.
She’s spent a decade making herself small and careful, hiding both her gift and her grief. But some things don’t stay hidden forever — not when an old friend reappears in the market square, not when a kingdom’s magic is running out of time, and not when Ella finally stops shrinking and starts speaking the truth out loud.
Character introductions continue every two weeks — Adrian’s up next.
More details about Ella can be found on my Patreon Page next week.
The Glass Slipper’s Secret is a fantasy romance retelling of Cinderella where the kingdom’s ancient magic is fading, Ella can see the magic in every living thing — including what people try to hide — and Ella and Adrian’s paths cross again long before any ball.
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Guess what? I have a new way for you to find my stories.
Welcome to the Rene Rose Hawthorne Romance Collection
The stories I write as Rene Rose Hawthorne celebrate the quiet magic of everyday love. They’re filled with artists, artisans, musicians, bakers, book lovers, dreamers, and creative souls who discover that sometimes the most beautiful relationships begin with an unexpected conversation or a chance encounter.
If you enjoy sweet contemporary romance, meet-cute stories, slow-burn relationships, and closed-door happily-ever-afters, you’ve found the right place.
On my Payhip store you’ll find collections of heartwarming romances where creativity sparks connection, hope grows through ordinary moments, and love often arrives when it’s least expected. Whether the setting is a cozy coffee shop, an art gallery, a neighborhood festival, or a quiet workshop scented with fresh wood and warm bread, each story celebrates kindness, friendship, and the joy of finding someone who truly sees you.
This collection on my Payhip store will continue to grow as more stories become available wide and through my direct store. By purchasing here, you’re supporting an independent author and helping me continue creating stories filled with warmth, creativity, and hope.
I hope you’ll make yourself at home, discover a new favorite story, and return often as the collection grows.
Happy reading!
— Rene Rose Hawthorne
P.S. Don’t worry, you can still find my books at Amazon, with many coming soon to other platforms like Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and more!
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The Glass Slipper’s Secret: A Cinderella Retelling Where Magic is Dying and Love Isn’t Waiting for a Ball
What if the real magic in Cinderella’s story was never the glass slipper — but the girl who could see magic itself slipping away?
The Glass Slipper’s Secret is a fantasy romance retelling of Cinderella where the kingdom’s ancient magic is fading, Ella can see the magic in every living thing — including what people try to hide — and Ella and Adrian’s paths cross again long before any ball.
A Kingdom Losing Its Light
In this world, magic isn’t just spellwork — it’s visible, if you’re one of the rare few who can see it. Ella has always been able to see magic in living things: people, animals, plants, the threads of life-force running through a garden or a person’s heart. Her stepmother’s presence is a void where that magic should be. Her cat Shadow’s is gold-silver and impossibly alive. And the kingdom’s living magic, once vibrant, is dimming season by season, and no one in power seems to know why.
Ella might. Her father — the king’s royal researcher, missing for ten years — left behind ancient texts only she can translate, and a final, cryptic obsession: a pair of glass slippers that were never just for dancing.
A Prince Who Remembers
Adrian isn’t hunting for a bride so much as running out of time. His own gift runs the opposite direction from Ella’s: he can see magic in structures — the crystal wards, the enchanted stone, the built and inherited magic holding the kingdom together — and he can see it cracking. As those protections fracture, he’s under pressure to marry for political alliance — while the one person who ever made ancient magic make sense to him disappeared from his life when they were children, the same year her father vanished.
When Ella and Adrian’s paths cross again — sooner than either of them expects, and long before a ball is ever announced — old magic sparks between them exactly the way it once did. Ancient texts that neither of them can translate alone suddenly make sense when they’re together. That spark might be the key to saving the kingdom. It’s also the last thing either of them is prepared for.
Why This Retelling
I’ve always loved fairy tales for the same reason I love speculative fiction generally: they’re never really about the surface plot. They’re about what a story means when you take it seriously — what if the slipper wasn’t the point? What if the ball wasn’t either? What if the real story was about two people who’d already found each other once, and magic that was trying to tell everyone something all along?
I’ll be sharing character introductions, a look at the magic system, and the first chapters here on the blog over the next few weeks, leading up to full release. If you want the deeper look — worldbuilding notes, longer excerpts, and my behind-the-scenes process — that’s over on Patreon.
Follow along for character reveals, magic system deep-dives, and early chapters — coming every two weeks.
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Why Awkward Meet-Cutes Are the Best Meet-Cutes
There’s something irresistibly charming about an awkward first meeting.
Not the polished kind where everything goes perfectly. Not the kind where two people immediately say all the right things. Instead, the kind where someone says something a little strange, or trips over their words, or finds themselves standing in a situation they didn’t expect.
Those moments may feel uncomfortable in real life—but in romance stories, they’re often the most memorable beginnings.
That’s the magic of the awkward meet-cute.
When two people meet under slightly ridiculous or unexpected circumstances, it instantly lowers their guard. Instead of carefully crafted introductions and perfectly rehearsed conversations, they’re just… human.
They laugh.
They stumble through the moment.
They reveal little pieces of themselves they didn’t plan to show.And sometimes, those imperfect moments become the foundation for something beautiful.
Awkward meet-cutes also carry a sense of authenticity. Real life rarely gives us perfectly choreographed romantic introductions. More often, we meet people in small, ordinary ways—through misunderstandings, shared situations, or moments that feel slightly embarrassing at first.
But those moments can also be the most genuine.
Maybe two people reach for the same painting label in a gallery and bump hands.
Maybe one person accidentally assumes the other is part of the event staff.
Maybe a quiet room suddenly isn’t so quiet anymore when an unexpected conversation begins.In Gallery Mix-Up, the first meeting isn’t carefully planned or elegant. It’s a little awkward, a little surprising, and completely unintentional.
And that’s exactly what makes it special.
Because awkward beginnings often lead to the best stories. When people start from a place of imperfection, it gives them room to discover each other honestly—without the pressure of being impressive or flawless.
Sometimes the most romantic moments begin with a laugh, a misunderstanding, or a slightly uncomfortable silence.
And sometimes those awkward beginnings turn into the start of something wonderful.
Maya planned the perfect entrance.
The perfect dress.
The perfect moment.
The perfect gallery opening.There’s just one problem…
She arrived twenty-four hours early.
Sometimes the best romances begin with the wrong day, the wrong moment, and exactly the right person.
Gallery Mix-Up
A charming art-world meet-cute.Read it Here
#MeetCuteRomance #ArtRomance #RomanceShortStory
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When Accidental Meeting Turns Into Something More
Some of the best love stories begin completely by accident.
A wrong turn.
A mistimed arrival.
A place you almost didn’t go.Or in the case of an art gallery… a quiet room that was supposed to be empty.
There’s something wonderfully romantic about the idea that love sometimes finds us when we aren’t looking for it. We make plans for our day—run errands, visit a museum, stop by an event—and suddenly the ordinary moment becomes the beginning of a story.
That’s one of the reasons I love the accidental meet-up trope so much.
It carries a little bit of magic with it.
Maybe that’s why it feels especially fitting around St. Patrick’s Day, when people talk about luck, chance encounters, and unexpected good fortune. Sometimes love arrives the same way—quietly, unexpectedly, and completely unplanned.
In Gallery Mix-Up, the story begins with exactly that kind of moment. An empty gallery room becomes the setting for an awkward first meeting between two people who probably wouldn’t have crossed paths otherwise.
At first, it’s a little uncomfortable.
A little unexpected.
But that’s often how real connections begin.
Sometimes the most meaningful relationships don’t come from carefully arranged plans or perfect timing. Instead, they grow from small moments—shared laughter, an accidental conversation, or the realization that someone else sees the world in a way that surprises you.
Art galleries are perfect places for those kinds of moments. Standing quietly in front of a painting, two people might see completely different things—or suddenly discover they see the same beauty in it.
And that small connection can turn into something more.
Maybe love isn’t always about grand gestures or sweeping drama. Sometimes it’s about the quiet luck of being in the right place at the right moment.
A gallery visit you almost skipped.
An accidental meeting.
And the beginning of a story you never expected to find.
Maya planned the perfect entrance.
The perfect dress.
The perfect moment.
The perfect gallery opening.There’s just one problem…
She arrived twenty-four hours early.
Sometimes the best romances begin with the wrong day, the wrong moment, and exactly the right person.
Gallery Mix-Up
A charming art-world meet-cute.Read it Here
#MeetCuteRomance #ArtRomance #RomanceShortStory
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The Beauty of a Quiet Love Story
Not every love story begins with fireworks.
Sometimes it begins with a quiet moment.
A shared melody drifting through a room.
The soft rhythm of piano keys in the evening.
Two people pausing long enough to notice each other.In many romance novels, love arrives in dramatic waves—grand gestures, intense conflicts, sweeping declarations. Those stories can be wonderful and exciting. But there’s another kind of romance that unfolds more gently.
The quiet love story.
These are the moments that feel almost ordinary at first glance. Two strangers sitting in the same room. A conversation that lingers longer than expected. A piece of music that creates a connection before words ever do.
And yet, within those small moments, something extraordinary begins.
Quiet romances remind us that love doesn’t always have to shout to be powerful. Sometimes it whispers.
A shared glance can mean more than a dramatic speech.
A simple kindness can carry more weight than a grand gesture.
A quiet evening can change a life.That’s one of the things I love most about writing short, sweet romances like Piano Keys. In a single sitting, readers can step into a small moment of connection—one that might otherwise pass unnoticed in everyday life.
The music in the story becomes more than background. It becomes a bridge between two people. A melody that invites them to listen, to pause, and to open their hearts to something new.
Because sometimes love doesn’t arrive like a storm.
Sometimes it begins with a quiet moment,
a shared melody,
and the possibility of a beautiful story waiting to begin.
Try Piano Keys: A Sweet Meet-Cute Artisan Romance.
Some conversations happen in whispers.
Some happen through music.When two strangers share a quiet moment at a piano, something unexpected begins to unfold—notes turning into connection, and silence into understanding.
A luminous short romance about courage, music, and the fragile beauty of speaking what lives in your heart.
Piano Keys
A sweet, emotional meet-cute romance.Read it Here!
#MeetCute #SweetRomance #MusicRomance #ShortRomance #IndieRomance
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What’s Coming in 2026
As I look ahead to 2026, I’m holding plans gently.
Rather than fixed promises or rigid timelines, I’m following creative threads that have proven meaningful—stories rooted in trust, transformation, and love that grows slowly and sincerely.
Here’s a glimpse of what I’m hoping to explore next.
A New Fantasy Romance Direction
One of the stories calling most strongly is a fantasy romance series inspired by classic fairy tales—including Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and other familiar stories reimagined with warmth, emotional depth, and character-centered romance.
In these, I hope to explore:
- transformation instead of enchantment alone
- courage
- intimacy built through choice
They’re stories about becoming in a world where light and love work together to shape kingdoms. The series will start with a Cinderella-inspired fantasy romance, The Glass Slipper’s Secret, currently building on Royal Road.
A Return to Familiar Hearts
In the fall, I’m planning to return to the world of 26 Reasons to Fall in Love, spending time again with Charles, Daphne, and the quiet, creative romance that grew pie by pie. Their story reminded me how powerful it can be to let love unfold gently, and I feel there’s still more to explore there.
Letting the Romance Deepen in Fantasy
The Dragon and The Ranger began as romantic fantasy, and in 2026 I’m hoping to revise it to lean more fully into romance—deepening emotional arcs, partnership, and the choices that bind two characters together.
An Ongoing Promise
Whatever shape these stories take, my hope for 2026 is simple:
- to write romance that feels warm, earned, and hopeful
- to honor patience over pressure
- and to keep creating stories worth lingering in
Thank you for being here as the next chapter unfolds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will these stories be sweet romance?
Yes. Whether contemporary or fantasy, my romances continue to focus on emotional intimacy, slow-burn attraction, and relationships rooted in trust, courage, and care.Are the fairy tale–inspired stories retellings?
They’re inspired by classic fairy tales rather than strict retellings. Expect familiar emotional themes—transformation, hope, belonging—expressed through original characters and settings in the fantasy world I started with the short story, The First Light of Lumiare.
Do I need to have read previous books first?
No. New projects will be designed to stand alone, while returning characters will always include enough context for new readers to jump in comfortably.When will these books be released?
Because these are soft goals rather than fixed deadlines, dates will be shared only when stories are ready. The best way to stay updated is through the newsletter.Will there be more artisan romance?
Yes. Creativity, craft, and quiet connection continue to be central themes—especially when I revisit familiar characters.
If you are interested in reading my work, head to the links in the menu section, or check out The Glass Slipper’s Secret chapters at Royal Road.
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Happy New Year! Celebrating a Return to Romance in 2025 and a Free Book
A New Year and a Quiet Return to Romance
Every new year invites reflection, but sometimes the real story isn’t about resolutions. It’s about return.
For me, 2025 has been an unexpectedly meaningful year as an author. Not because everything was new, but because something I once walked away from found its way back.
Romance.
The First Time I Tried to Write Romance
The first romance I ever wrote was in seventh grade.
It was intensely confessional. Earnest. Vulnerable. A handwritten declaration of a crush on a boy at my school—one I never intended anyone else to see.
Unfortunately, someone did see it.
A “friend” took my notebook, passed it around, and by the time it made its way back to me, the damage was done. I threw out the notebook—and that story—as quickly as I could.
I didn’t just stop writing romance after that.
I stopped writing anything romantic.For a very long time.
A Reader Before a Writer (Again)
What does this have to do with the New Year?
New years often invite honesty. And honesty means acknowledging where we’ve been before we decide where we’re going next.
About five years ago, I began to realize something quietly: I loved reading romance. I returned to it first as a reader—curious, comforted, inspired. A handful of books, especially gentle, character-driven romances, reminded me what the genre could be.
Not embarrassment.
Not exposure.
But tenderness, hope, and courage.Still, writing romance felt like a stretch.
So I took a side road.
Finding My Way Through Romantic Fantasy
Before writing contemporary romance, I eased back in through familiar terrain—fantasy.
On Kindle Vella, I began writing The Dragon and The Ranger, a romantic fantasy series I’m now revising and continuing on Royal Road, with hopes of bringing it to ebook and paperback in 2026. It gave me room to explore connection, longing, and partnership behind the protection of magic, swords, and non-modern settings.
Then a romance writer kindly—and accurately—named something important for me:
The Dragon and The Ranger wasn’t romance.
It was romantic fantasy.
And that distinction mattered.
Stretching Into Contemporary Romance
If I wanted to grow as a romance writer, I needed to write romance without armor. No dragons. No enchanted barriers. Just people.
So I gave myself a small, safe challenge:
short contemporary romance stories.Meet-cutes. Quiet moments. Gentle risks.
Last spring, I released my first short romance, Rain Check. I had so much fun writing it that I immediately wrote five more—and sketched ideas for a dozen.
Somewhere along the way, something shifted.
The stories stopped being just about strangers meeting. They became stories about artists, makers, and creators—bakers, sculptors, photographers, mechanics learning to knit. People who communicate through craft when words fail.
Art became the bridge.
Creation became the language.
Romance became the reward.And without realizing it, I had returned to the genre I once abandoned—this time on my own terms.
What This Has to Do With the New Year
The New Year doesn’t always ask us to reinvent ourselves.
Sometimes it asks us to reclaim something we laid down long ago—not because it was wrong, but because we weren’t ready yet.
Writing contemporary romance in 2025 has been less about starting over and more about coming home. About offering tenderness where there was once silence. About trusting that some stories deserve a second chance.
Including the ones we tell ourselves.
As we move into a new year, I’m grateful for readers, for encouragement, and for the long arc that led me here. And I’m excited to keep exploring romance.
One story at a time.
A FREE Book for a Happy New Year!
What’s the best way to celebrate New Year’s?
You could go out and go dancing. Yes, that’s fun!
But also, you could curl up with a sweet romance.
True, this sweet romance starts on Halloween, so it isn’t quite set on New Year’s, but it is FREE, and it does involve a sweet meet-cute at a costumed community event. The book will be free December 31st through January 1st.
Kiss or Treat into Love
When the Maple Street fall festival turns the neighborhood into a river of lights and laughter, art teacher Hailey is there with paint-spattered sleeves, a booth full of tiny watercolors, and a heart she’s still mending.
Enter Jack—a Navy photographer with steady hands, a soft smile, and a way of noticing the quiet good. He comes to help for one evening… and ends up fitting into every corner of Hailey’s life.
From a bonfire with friends and cider-steam in the air, to a slow dance that steadies more than footsteps, to pizza night where sketches and photographs trade stories, Hailey and Jack learn the tender art of going slow—on purpose.
Together, they discover how love grows in small acts: a fixed game, a shared joke, a promise kept.
Get Kiss or Treat for FREE!
Note: this is a Universal Link for all readers and will go through a Bookfunnel site that will not say “free,” but once you click through, readers will find the book FREE on Amazon.
Direct Amazon US-only Link
Happy New Year’s!!!
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Rene (Rose) Hawthorne 