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The Ground We Stand On
Juliana Falcone left Harmony Lake eight years ago with a suitcase full of ambition and zero intention of ever coming back. Not once. Not ever.
But one phone call brings it all crashing down. Her father’s in a coma.
And just like that, she’s back in her hometown.
She expects hospital visits, family tension, and a temporary disruption to the life she built in D.C.
Temporary, she tells herself.
What she doesn’t expect is how close her father’s excavation business is to imploding. Or how much that suddenly matters to her.
Then there' s Luke.
Her brother’s best friend. Practically family.
And once, the boy she loved before she left town and changed everything between them.
Only Luke isn’t a boy anymore.
He’s taller, broader, built from years of hard labor and discipline. A man who works with his hands and carries himself like he knows exactly what he’s capable of.
And he isn’t happy to see her.
He’s distant. Cold. But every interaction is charged in a way neither of them acknowledges out loud.
They work too close. Stand too near. Remember too much.
As Juliana fights to hold everything together, the past she thought she'd buried threatens to resurface, forcing her to confront the feelings—and the man—she left behind.
The Ground We Stand On is a steamy, slow-burn, second-chance romance about desire, coming home, and the man you never really stop wanting.
But one phone call brings it all crashing down. Her father’s in a coma.
And just like that, she’s back in her hometown.
She expects hospital visits, family tension, and a temporary disruption to the life she built in D.C.
Temporary, she tells herself.
What she doesn’t expect is how close her father’s excavation business is to imploding. Or how much that suddenly matters to her.
Then there' s Luke.
Her brother’s best friend. Practically family.
And once, the boy she loved before she left town and changed everything between them.
Only Luke isn’t a boy anymore.
He’s taller, broader, built from years of hard labor and discipline. A man who works with his hands and carries himself like he knows exactly what he’s capable of.
And he isn’t happy to see her.
He’s distant. Cold. But every interaction is charged in a way neither of them acknowledges out loud.
They work too close. Stand too near. Remember too much.
As Juliana fights to hold everything together, the past she thought she'd buried threatens to resurface, forcing her to confront the feelings—and the man—she left behind.
The Ground We Stand On is a steamy, slow-burn, second-chance romance about desire, coming home, and the man you never really stop wanting.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2025
14 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Maya Runske
3 books1 followerI write contemporary romance with an emphasis on emotional depth, slow-burn connection, and characters who feel like people you might actually know.
My stories explore vulnerability, trust, and the complicated ways love shows up when we least expect it. I’m especially interested in flawed characters, quiet tension, and relationships that unfold gradually rather than all at once.
I’m a Philly native who spends her days working in insurance and her nights thinking about love stories.
I live with my husband, our spunky daughter, my kind and thoughtful stepson, two cats, and one dog who has a lot of opinions and no hesitation sharing them.
I’m so glad you’re here.
My stories explore vulnerability, trust, and the complicated ways love shows up when we least expect it. I’m especially interested in flawed characters, quiet tension, and relationships that unfold gradually rather than all at once.
I’m a Philly native who spends her days working in insurance and her nights thinking about love stories.
I live with my husband, our spunky daughter, my kind and thoughtful stepson, two cats, and one dog who has a lot of opinions and no hesitation sharing them.
I’m so glad you’re here.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 25, 2025
A great read, a wonderful ending
The characters were amazing and the story unique. A great story of a never ending love so strong from youth to adulthood that inspired me to read on to find that their love was as strong as a fairytale ending.
The characters were amazing and the story unique. A great story of a never ending love so strong from youth to adulthood that inspired me to read on to find that their love was as strong as a fairytale ending.
February 8, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. It's definitely your run of the mill small town romance, but I wanted something easy to read yet still entertaining, and this hit the mark. It had those moments that give you that butterflies feeling, and I loved that. Well written, would recommend.
January 4, 2026
Such a feel-good story that will bring us all back to the innocence of youth, and remind us of good and bad decisions we've made along the way. Highly recommend!
February 5, 2026
Ok
Typical second chance small town ,nothing new but worth a read .It didn't hold my attention too long ,ok characters but not enough angst
Typical second chance small town ,nothing new but worth a read .It didn't hold my attention too long ,ok characters but not enough angst
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews