Romance for the quiet moments — slow-burn, intimate, and emotionally charged.

I’m Erika Aylward, a romance author writing slow-burn love stories set in bookshops, small towns, and the quiet hours where everything finally feels.

Meet Erika

I write romance for readers who love emotional tension, quiet longing, and characters who fall in love slowly — sometimes reluctantly — often in the spaces between words.

My stories are rooted in atmosphere: bookshops after closing time, coastal towns that remember you, Parisian apartments full of quiet hope, and the ache of wanting something that feels just out of reach.

If you love slow-burn romance, found family, and love stories that unfold gently but hit hard — you’ll feel at home here.

Explore My Stories

My books live in places where emotion lingers — where connection builds slowly, and love arrives when it’s least expected.

A small boat on a sandy beach near the shoreline at sunset, with a lighthouse and houses illuminated by warm lights in the background.

Coastal & Small-Town Romance

Stories set by the sea and in close-knit towns, where history matters, everyone knows your name, and love has to work its way through old wounds and familiar streets.

Cozy room with a view of the Eiffel Tower at sunset, featuring a leather sofa, a wooden coffee table with books, a lamp, and a bookshelf.

Bookish & City Love Stories

Quiet, intimate romances unfolding in bookshops, apartments, and city corners — built on conversation, shared silence, and the ache of wanting something more.

If you’re drawn to slow-burn tension, found family, and love stories that take their time — stories that unfold gently but hit hard — you’ll find them here.

A cozy indoor living space with a view of a cityscape at night through large open windows. The room features a sofa with pillows, a coffee table with open books and wine glasses, candles, and a small table with two glasses of red wine. Outside, the sky shows a crescent moon, stars, and city lights.

After-Hours Romance

Emotionally charged love stories set in the quieter parts of the day — late nights, early mornings, and the moments when everything feels closer, softer, and more honest.