Release Day Love: Mark Walker, Maple Syrup, and the Dare That Changed Everything

It’s finally here. Strictly Friends is out in the world! I’ve waited so long to share this story with you, and I’m still grinning thinking about all the twists, laughter, and heart you’re about to dive into. There’s a lot I could say about this book (and believe me, I will), but today, I want to talk about Mark Walker, our reluctant, maple-spiced hero, and why he holds such a special place in my heart.

Mark wasn’t supposed to be the star of the show. He’s quiet. A little too self-deprecating. A guy who would rather fix your porch than talk about his feelings. But that’s precisely what made me fall for him and why I think you will, too.

When we first meet Mark, he’s staring at his reflection in a bathroom mirror, groaning that he doesn’t look like Hugh Jackman. (Spoiler: he doesn’t need to.) He’s only attending a ridiculous celebrity lookalike event because his sweet, meddling parents roped him into it, complete with a syrup sales pitch and a note in his suitcase daring him to “come home with a story you can’t tell us.”

That double-dog dare from his mom? That’s the soul of this story.

Mark isn’t just a good man. He’s the kind of son who puts his parents first. The type of neighbor who shows up when no one else does. He’s been living quietly, almost invisibly, holding everything and everyone together except himself.

Until he walks into that convention and meets a man who looks exactly like him.

The bonding. The dare. Thee absolute confusion that follows . . .

What I love most about Mark is that even in the chaos, mistaken identities, long-lost family secrets, and the wildest maple-syrup-meets-love story you’ve ever read, he never stops being him. Honest. Loyal. Surprisingly funny. That rare kind of man who listens more than he talks and doesn’t realize how much people need someone like him, until the right woman looks him in the eye and says, “You matter.”

If you love romance characters with heart, a little mystery, a lot of family, and heroes who don’t know how handsome they are until you show them, Strictly Friends might just be your new favorite.

Thank you to everyone who’s preordered, shared, reviewed, or messaged me about this book. Truly. This story means a lot to me, and I hope it touches you too.

Now go meet Mark. You’ll be glad you did.

—Ruthie 💛

P.S. Let me know if you’d fall for a guy who owns a sugar shack. This might become a thing.