"This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,
May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet."
When seventeen-year-old Sam and Lil are cast as Romeo and Juliet, their onstage chemistry echoes the real connection growing between them offstage. But their story is far from simple. With Sam's father's strict anti-dating stance, the fragile health of his sister Annabelle, and their shared desire to honor their values, their budding romance faces serious obstacles.
Forced to make the hardest decision of their young lives, Sam and Lil choose to walk away-believing it's for the best.
As the years pass, life continues to pull them together at unexpected moments, stirring memories, regrets, and the question that never quite fades:
what if?
In this poignant YA/NA crossover romance told in dual point-of-view,
This Bud of Love
explores the quiet strength of faith, the beauty of second chances, and the enduring power of a love that never truly let go.
Reviewers say:
"a coming of age and coming to Christ love story"
"Heartfelt. Sincere. Raw"
"coming of age story with real life experiences and conflicts"
"an emotional rollercoaster worthy of the Bard himself."