Julian Bennett has spent years restoring the historic homes of Restoration, a small town where the past lingers in every wall and every window. He knows how to save a house—how to strip away the damage, repair what’s broken, and make something beautiful again. What he doesn’t know is how to do the same for his own heart. After a devastating loss, he swore he’d never risk loving anyone again. He’s kept that promise by staying focused on his work, keeping people at a distance, and telling himself that some things aren’t meant to be rebuilt. Elena Marchetti came to Restoration looking for a fresh start. She left behind a career, a marriage, and a version of herself she no longer recognizes. When she inherits a dilapidated row house that has been in her family for generations, she sees it as her chance to build something new—a life of her own making, one that doesn’t depend on anyone else. The last thing she expects is to find herself working alongside a man who looks at her like he’s already seeing what she could become. As Julian and Elena strip away layers of wallpaper and neglect, they uncover more than just the bones of a forgotten house. Hidden in the walls are photographs, love letters, and the story of a romance that was never given a chance. The house has been waiting for someone to restore it. But as the walls come down, so do the barriers Julian and Elena have built around their hearts. Tender, atmospheric, and deeply moving, Building a Romance is the first novel in the Restoration Series—a story about learning to risk love again, and discovering that some things are worth saving, even when you’re terrified of losing them.