Rock Bottom Love: Book 3
Publication Date: February 10, 2026
From the “queen of sweet romance” (Falon Ballard) Sophie Sullivan, comes a small-town, opposites-attract romance about two people who end up with more feelings than they bargained for after pursuing a summer fling.
Tired of living in the shadow of her famous parents, Charlotte Ashford gladly left behind a life of glitz and glamour to pursue her true passion: becoming a counselor. However, when a viral video upends Charlie’s plans, she wonders if the real key to discovering herself is through her late father.
Grayson Keller has finally settled in one place, surrounded by family, and secure in his business. By his third summer as owner, Get Lost Lodge is thriving. Whatever happens, Grayson is perfectly content with his quiet life and careful heart. That is, until he meets Charlie, whom he can’t seem to get out of his head.
On the surface, Charlie and Grayson have nothing in common, but they can’t fight their attraction to each other. They’ve both been hurt before, and they’re not looking for anything serious. The solution is easy: they’ll date, have some fun, and walk away unscathed. Right? Or, maybe this once, they can see past the hurt to what, or who, is on the other side waiting for them.
Maybe This Once is the third book in the Rock Bottom Love series by Sophie Sullivan. Set in a small town on the water in Michigan at Get Lost Lodge, we’re immersed immediately into Charlie’s life as she runs away from California after her life implodes.
Grayson is the owner of the lodge and runs it with his family members. Grayson and Charlie have an immediate attraction when their paths cross in town before getting to the island. But will it amount to anything since Charlie’s hiding out and Grayson doesn’t know her backstory? Both are afraid of connections and love for different reasons, and we learn why, even though neither of them shares their feelings.
We get to know them a little at a time. They both have layers to them that need to be pulled back. I loved how Charlie and her uncle, who owns a cabin at the lodge, get along as they get to know one another. It was great being back in Smile and reconnecting with characters we’d met before. His niece, Ollie, is a force to be reckoned with, with so much energy and spirit.
The story has a good flow and plenty of drama. There are emotional ups and downs along with Charlie’s secrets and even lies of a pretty big magnitude. Some unlikable characters add a dark element to the story.
There are vivid descriptions of scenery and details, along with plenty of action. There’s romance and ultimately love, but the story ended abruptly with some loose ends, especially if this is the last book in the series. I’d love to reconnect with everyone in a holiday novella! (Hint, Hint)
Maybe This Once is a contemporary romance that had me wishing for s’mores and hot chocolate after a day of boating, hiking, or fishing with Grayson and the others.
SOPHIE SULLIVAN is a Canadian author as well as a cookie-eating, Diet Pepsi-drinking, Disney enthusiast who loves reading and writing romance in almost equal measure. She writes around her day job as a teacher and spends her spare time with her sweet family watching reruns of Friends. She has written Ten Rules for Faking It and How to Love Your Neighbor, and has had plenty of practice writing happily ever after as her alter ego, Jody Holford.
