My Second-Chance Romance HOLIDAYS GONE BY is coming your way in Fall 2027 from Berkley!!!

I’d ask someone to pinch me, but I don’t want to run the risk of waking up from this absolute dream come true. I’ve been keeping this secret for months, holding it close to my chest to both keep it quiet and keep it safe. There have been plenty of moments where I’ve worried that this was all going to poof out of existence somehow because wanting something this much was jinxing it. But I am pleased to say that it’s finally official.

My editor has compared it to SULLIVAN’S CROSSING meets THE HOLIDATE. I pitch it as inspired by Taylor Swift’s TIS THE DAMN SEASON. Here’s an interim blurb for you to decide:

Nothing could have prepared Larson for going back home. He hadn’t been back to Falhman’s Rift in five years—becoming the successful New York surgeon his father demanded he be. But when his old man is forced into retirement early due to illness, LARSON MCKINLEY has no choice but to step into the small town doctor role and take over the practice.

CASSIDY MARTIN, however, is stuck. An aspiring pastry chef who’s bound to the Rift and her chronic pain, she dreams of the day she’ll finally get out of town and make something of herself. But when her ex-holiday situationship shows up out of the blue for the first time in five years, Cassidy’s reality comes crashing down—along with her dreams.

Twelve years. Eight holidays. One unspoken rule: if they’re both single, they hook up for the holidays. But when Larson’s forced return to town collides with her plans to leave, old heartbreak resurfaces alongside new pressures: a health scare, obligations neither can outrun, and the truth they’ve avoided for years.

They have one more holiday to decide…

Can they go from pact to permanent?

You can add HOLIDAYS GONE BY to your Goodreads TBR here!

I can’t believe I get to do this again. It’s not something I think I’ll ever get used to, and I am so fortunate to have a THIRD novel releasing. UNDER LOCKE & KEY is so close to my heart, and it’s a love letter to the city that made the USA feel like home for the first time since I immigrated here.

Although it’s not called Frederick in the book, the heart of it is there on every page. The Pride celebration, the community Facebook group, the eclectic restaurants, and the stunning historical vibe are all front and center in this book.

Bryce and Rachel are also so special, and it was a blast getting to revisit the world I introduced in PLAYING FOR KEEPS. We have a few cameos of Farren and Sebastian, as well as a whole new cast of characters. The geekiness in this may have shifted from board games to escape rooms, but I’m sure those who enjoyed PLAYING FOR KEEPS will be pleased.

I hope that this book will resonate with those who have always felt the need to prove themselves to earn the love in their lives. Bryce and Rachel are both hurting in different ways when we meet them. They find healing not just within themselves, but also as a team and a couple. Come for the soft, shy, workplace romance. Stay for the steamy moments once Rachel lets her hair down and Bryce takes off those slutty little glasses LOL

You can order UNDER LOCKE & KEY online for delivery anywhere books are sold through this link: linktr.ee/underlockeandkey as well as a few physical copies at the following indie stores:

Curious Iguana (Frederick, MD & my local indie)

XOXO Book Boutique (Las Vegas, NV)

Smitten Bookstore (Ventura, CA)

Copies of PLAYING FOR KEEPS and I THINK OLIVE YOU are also available in physical form at XOXO Book Boutique and Burn Bright Books (Rochester, NY)

Thank you to everyone who has supported me through each of these releases, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Much Love,

Tristen Crone

I would love to be on the Barnes & Noble bestseller list, so I would appreciate it if you could preorder today and help me make that happen! Your support means the world to me, and I am so grateful!

For those that do preorder, I will have some awesome art cards & a bookmark that I will be sending out (internationally).

Just click on the images or links below to order, and enter your information for the preorder goodies as well!

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/under-locke-key-tristen-crone/1147557619?ean=9798992227567

This book is dear to my heart and a love letter to all those who have felt like they needed to earn love. You are worthy just as you are! I hope Bryce and Rachel make you feel seen and appreciated!

Much love,

Tristen

I have my pass pages for UNDER LOCKE & KEY which means it's almost ARC* and preorder time! It also means that I will be picking one follower to get a guaranteed eARC before anyone else!

If you'd like a chance to get your hands on an early copy all you need to do is:

1. Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tristencrone?igsh=dm5yYzV1cnBvODh4

2. Like this post on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJwuvuNAAc5/?igsh=dTNsZmg1cmszMHpt

3. Tag a friend in the comments on the Instagram post

Extra entries for those who share the post on their Instagram stories (and be sure to tag me there so I can see it!)

Enda May 26th, open Internationally, winner will be contacted via DM on Instagram

*ARC = Advance Reader Copy

I am so excited to share the cover for my third book, UNDER LOCKE & KEY, with you all! It’s a spin-off of my debut novel, PLAYING FOR KEEPS, and is an Adult Contemporary Romance centered around escape rooms, this time instead of board games.

Without further ado…

Release is set for July 2025, and I will send out an email when ARCs become available and when pre-orders go live!

Special thanks to my publisher, Lake Country Press, Character Art Designer @vivsketchess, and Cover Designer @Rae.Valtera

If you’re so inclined, I’d be super appreciative if you could share the cover, whether on your socials or just by reposting what I’ve posted on mine here:

Instagram:

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@tristencrone/post/DJEr2uJAZ9_?xmt=AQGz-_M_8yX1LRRTmIcOg2Izllajb5DDES_5ECT5ltd-IA

Tiktok:

@tristencroneCover Reveal for my escape room-themed Adult Contemporary Romance, UNDER LOCKE & KEY! Releases July 2025, ARCS & Pre-orders coming soon @Lake Country Press

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Twitter: https://x.com/TristenWrites/status/1917577970408886442

Thank you for your support, it means the world to me!

Much Love,

Tristen

#1 I have moved over to Substack because so many of you lovelies joined after my PLAYING FOR KEEPS giveaway as part of 4 Years of Fat Girls in Fiction, and Mailchimp was being a pain.

#2 I have some gorgeous character art and a brand new (stunning) cover for UNDER LOCKE & KEY—the interconnected-standalone spin-off of PLAYING FOR KEEPS!

Speaking of the cover, I’ve posted on my socials, but this is also a last call to sign up for the cover reveal! So if you’d like early access to the UL&K eARC list, this is a great way to get to the front of the line!

The sign-up form is linked here: https://forms.gle/rma6qWJ2s1J9PNko7

Graphics will be sent out sometime next week with the reveal date! I can’t wait to share Bryce and Rachel with you.

If you’re into a cinnamon roll MMC with slutty little glasses and forearms to die for that’s starting an escape room business to prove he’s more than just a shy guy… and a FMC overcoming the pressures of being an only daughter and navigating the hellscape of D.C. corporate culture while trying to find what she’s been missing… this is the book for you. No third-act breakup. An adorable historic town. Meddling friends. And open-door spice with dirty talk.

I’ve also gotten some character art commissioned for UL&K, so without further ado:

Bryce and Rachel’s first kiss at their local Pride parade (art by @talitasami on Instagram)

Some steamy times after getting caught in the rain (art by @dazzlingjedi on Instagram)

I appreciate your support and hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Much love,

Tristen Crone