Mari Hartwell

Mari Hartwell writes romantic fiction where grit meets grace. Her heroines are doers—coaches, chefs, singer-songwriters—who lace up, plug in, and pursue big lives. Along the way, they navigate healthy, grown-up love with the kinds of partners who match their energy: pro and semi-pro athletes, touring musicians, studio engineers, and the steadfast people behind the spotlight. Mari’s stories are cozy and clean, built on emotional stakes, found family, and an undercurrent of hope. Expect slow-burn chemistry, witty banter, and a pinch of mystery—missing master tapes, secret setlists, or the rumor that could change everything. Series arcs have taken readers from a storm-soaked Maine arts retreat to late-1970s South Bay jam sessions and iconic Sunset Strip rooms, always centering women’s courage, friendship, and joy. Readers say her books feel like a favorite song on repeat: familiar in the best way, but still surprising. If you love heart-forward romances with athletes or musicians and heroines who choose themselves—and love—without losing either, you’re in the right place.