Lilacs for Lucy - A friends to Enemies to Lovers Romance: Victorian Valentines by Amber Mae Weston

Lucy Hargrave spent years being rejected by medical schools, her dream of becoming a doctor denied at every turn. Returning home in 1856 as a trained midwife, she expects a place where her skill will finally be valued—and a chance to leave the past behind. But William Ashford, a newly minted doctor and the childhood friend who once laughed at her ambition, has returned too. When Farmer Jones’ pregnant daughter falls ill, treatment becomes a competition. The whole town watches to see who will handle the case best. For Lucy, it’s a chance to prove her skill and secure her place. For William, it’s an opportunity to make amends—and perhaps win back the woman he never stopped thinking of. Old wounds, anonymous letters, and one perilous birth force them to choose: will rivalry keep them apart, or can forgiveness take root—like lilacs after a hard winter? A no-spice Victorian rivals-to-lovers novella of pride, trust, and second chances.