Corruption in the Heart

A novella of love, betrayal, and the price of redemption

In the quiet hills of Southern Ohio, secrets don’t stay buried for long.

Mara Lynn Carter, a small-town hairdresser, wants nothing more than a peaceful life and a second chance at happiness. But when she’s drawn into the orbit of Roy Beckett — a charming, ambitious politician — her world begins to twist with deceit, desire, and danger.

Jake Hale, a steady and principled police officer, sees the truth long before anyone else. As he investigates whispers of corruption surrounding Beckett, he finds himself torn between duty and the woman he’s quietly loved for years.

When loyalty turns to betrayal and power gives way to violence, Mara must find the courage to stand against the man she once trusted. And in the ashes of everything she’s lost, she might just discover something lasting — an honest heart, and a love that endures.

Set against the slow, haunting beauty of rural Ohio, this novel tells a story of moral reckoning, quiet strength, and the kind of love that survives even the darkest storm.