Sap & Secrets by Daphne Elliot

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Surprise Baby Firefighter Romance from Amazon Bestselling Author Daphne Elliot 

Nine months ago, I had one perfect, reckless night with Jasper Lawrence, the tall, tattooed firefighter who made me feel fearless. I told myself it was a mistake I’d never repeat.

Then he finds me at the Maple Festival… in labor with our surprise baby.

The best part? I had no idea I was pregnant.

Now Jasper is everywhere. The two of us stumble through new parenthood together. And he doesn’t just step up, he moves in. Almost. He pitches a tent in my backyard and sleeps outside so he’s never far away from us. He’s a shirtless, helpful menace who cooks, cleans, and cuddles our son. He makes me feel safe, seen, and wanted. And I hate how much I love it.

Every time I shove him away, he shows back up, golden retriever energy and all, with coffee and pastries in tow, ready to carry the baby, the groceries, and occasionally me.

I came to Maplewood, Vermont, to discover my independence. But it’s hard to keep my distance when the town’s been shaken by danger, the scars from my past refuse to stay buried, and the firefighter I should absolutely avoid keeps setting my world on fire.

Turns out the biggest threat to me in America’s most charming small town might be the man who won’t stop rescuing me.

Sap & Secrets

Sweet, Swoony, and Sexy

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💚💛
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋😉😎🤯
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration

Character Backgrounds and Plot Summary

Evie Marino moved to Maplewood, Vermont, hoping for a fresh start and a chance to build an independent life away from the emotional wounds left by her upbringing. Living with PCOS and having been led to believe pregnancy was unlikely, the last thing she expects is to go into labor during the town’s Maple Festival without ever realizing she was pregnant.

The firefighter who responds to the emergency is Jasper Lawrence, the man she shared one unforgettable night with nine months earlier. Jasper discovers in the middle of a medical emergency that he has a son, and instead of panicking or running away, he immediately embraces fatherhood.

What follows is a small-town romance built around surprise parenthood and reluctant co-parenting. Jasper throws himself into caring for both Evie and their newborn son. He installs car seats, brings meals and coffee, handles chores, and even pitches a tent in Evie’s backyard so he can stay close without crossing boundaries she has firmly established. Meanwhile, Evie struggles with trust, shaped by years of criticism and disappointment from the people who should have supported her most.

Adding another layer to the story is a mystery surrounding Maplewood that hints at darker secrets beneath the town’s charming surface.

Highlights and Limitations

Jasper absolutely stole this book for me. Too often in surprise pregnancy romances, one parent hesitates or resists responsibility. Jasper does the exact opposite. He cries when he first holds his son, eagerly learns how to care for a newborn, and consistently shows up. His love language is clearly acts of service, and his devotion never feels performative. Whether he is cleaning Evie’s kitchen, dropping off pastries, or quietly waiting outside in that backyard tent, his actions demonstrate who he is.

Evie’s journey is more complicated. Her reluctance to trust Jasper stems from a childhood filled with emotional abuse and insecurity. While I appreciated that her fears had genuine roots, there were moments when her resistance became frustrating because Jasper repeatedly proved himself trustworthy. Readers who enjoy grumpy heroines protecting wounded hearts may empathize with her, while others may wish her emotional growth happened a bit sooner.

The small-town setting is another strength. Maplewood feels lived in, complete with quirky residents, festival traditions, and plenty of gossip. The addition of the mystery subplot gave the story extra momentum, although it occasionally competed with the romance for attention.

Narration

Vanessa Edwin and Connor Crais delivered a performance that elevated the audiobook experience.

Vanessa Edwin captured Evie’s vulnerability, stubbornness, and underlying anxiety beautifully. She helped me understand the emotional scars influencing Evie’s choices, even during moments when I disagreed with her decisions.

Connor Crais was perfectly cast as Jasper. He brought warmth, sincerity, and enthusiasm to every scene. His portrayal emphasized Jasper’s golden retriever energy and unwavering devotion without making him feel one-dimensional. The tenderness in his voice during scenes with his son was especially memorable.

Together, Edwin and Crais created strong chemistry that made the emotional beats hit harder and the quieter domestic moments feel just as meaningful as the romantic ones.

Final Opinion

Sap & Secrets is a sweet and emotional small-town romance that combines surprise parenthood, forced proximity, and found family with a touch of mystery. Jasper Lawrence is the kind of romance hero who wins readers over through consistency rather than grand gestures. His steady presence and willingness to do the hard work of parenting and partnership made him the standout of the story.

While Evie’s emotional walls occasionally tested my patience, her struggles felt grounded in real experiences and made her eventual growth more rewarding. Combined with engaging narration from Vanessa Edwin and Connor Crais, this audiobook delivered plenty of heart, humor, and swoon-worthy moments.

If you enjoy firefighter heroes, surprise baby romances, devoted fathers, and small towns hiding big secrets, Sap & Secrets is a promising start to the Maplewood series.

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