Let Me Count the Ways

A Sugar Pine Springs Stand-Alone Novella

By: Laurel Osterkamp

Narrated by: Jama Smith

Emma makes lots of reckless decisions, like sleeping with Theo, the rule-obsessed sheriff who’s SO not her type. Then again, he’s got this knack for making her feel seen, heard, and desired....

In Sugar Pine, Colorado, Emma Jacobs can sell you the perfect romance novel, but she can't write her own happy ending. When a rival bookstore threatens her beloved shop’s survival, she transforms it into The Pretty Pinecone, a haven for love stories, complete with wine tastings and poetry nights. There’s just one problem—Theo Baird, Sugar Pine's infuriatingly handsome yet uptight new sheriff. He’s determined to shut Emma down over every minor infraction.

What begins as a battle of wits quickly becomes an attraction neither can deny. As Emma’s Valentine’s Day event approaches, featuring anonymous love confessions and Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s passionate verses, the line between adversaries and lovers begins to blur. But when disaster strikes, both must decide if they’re brave enough to risk their hearts on the most daring venture of all—falling in love.

Let Me Count the Ways is a sparkling, small-town romance about finding courage in poetry, passion in the unexpected, and the one person who makes breaking the rules worthwhile.

©2026 Laurel Osterkamp (P)2026 Laurel Osterkamp

A Valentine's Day Romance Novella

A Valentine's Day centered novella that stars a romantic bookstore owner and a rule obsessed sheriff.

Emma Jacobs is the owner of Sugar Pines romance only bookstore, The Pretty Pinecone. Emma spends most of her free time reading romance stories and poetry penned by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, but she needs to do something out of her comfort zone to stir up some hype surrounding the Pretty Pinecone. In honor of Valentine's Day, Emma decides to host an event surrounding poetry and romantic secrets which will be accompanied by a wine tasting. Only one thing is standing her way of the perfect event: Theo Baird. Theo is the hot new sheriff in town who keeps finding infractions that may shut Emma's event down if she can't remedy them in time. As Valentine's Day approaches, Emma finds her heart torn between multiple men and the need to protect her bookstore.

This was another fun novella set in the small town of Sugar Pine, Colorado. It was really fun learning more about this community. We started off with its archeological center, then its theater, and now we venture to its romance bookstore. This one had such a fun romantic vibe that accompanied the reading experience, even though Emma made poor decision after poor decision.

The fact that this one is set around Valentine's Day in a romance only bookstore is so fun. The Illicit Ink event was a great touch, and the idea of getting a bunch of romance readers together to share their romance secrets sounds like a great time.

This book truly felt like an homage to all the romance readers out there who would rather spend their day curled up with a cozy romance than pursuing love themselves. Emma is the living embodiment of a book girlie, so it was fun following her unexpected love story. Her attitude toward the world is a tad jaded, but she is also a romantic at heart, so I found her voice to be very interesting.

The romance itself wasn't my absolute favorite, as I didn't feel the love triangle worked in a story this short. In a story like this, it is obvious that Emma and Theo are going to end up together, so it was a tad odd that there was even another guy in the picture. He was a British poet though, so at least he fit Emma's romantic fantasies well. I guess this subplot added some tension, but it felt a bit like a distraction from the other story elements to me.

Overall, I had a great time with "Let Me Count the Ways." It was fun to return to Sugar Pines (though this one would work great as a stand alone too) and see some familiar faces. This is a perfect read to sit down with on Valentine's Day because it features the holiday and is short and sweet. I didn't love the romance element as much as the other books in this series, but the vibes are impeccable. Emma was a great protagonist, and I hope that readers check out her happily ever after!

Audiobook Note: Jama Smith returns to the world of Sugar Pine to narrate this one. I like the way that they narrated Emma even more than Penny (from "Back to December"), so that was a fun surprise! Smith played Emma so sassy and fierce, which fit her vibe perfectly. I hope that Smith returns for future volumes, because they bring this series to life perfectly!