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A black and white photo of Ellis Darnell.

Author Ellis Darnell

Ellis Darnell is a Midwest native and has enjoyed reading and writing from a very young age. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her two cats, traveling, and collecting vinyl records. She is heavily involved in her local theatre scene, having been a stage manager for local colleges and community productions for over ten years.

Latest Release

What the Heart Wants

After the devastating and unexpected loss of her mother, Thea Calloway decides it's time for a change. She packs up her life and moves across the country from Seattle to Driftbay — a small, serene coastal town, a far cry from the big city. Consumed with grief, Thea throws herself into her one true solace — baking. It's through her hobby that Thea meets Graham, a cook in her aunt Bet's successful diner.

 

While Beth navigates her sudden life changes, she realizes she has to face her feelings and can no longer push them aside. Even though she has poured her life into Beth Ann's diner, she knows something is missing. And that something just might be a tall, suave man named Charlie, who happens to be her best friend.

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As Thea struggles to process her grief, and Beth grapples with her feelings, each woman must face love and loss. Can Thea bake up a love connection, or does she have a recipe for disaster? Can Beth admit her feelings for Charlie? Through friendship and a little flour, both women discover they have to follow exactly what their hearts want.

An illustration of a book cover titled "What the Heart Wants" by Ellis Darnell. ​The background is a dark wood grain tabletop. In the center, there is a pale purple restaurant "Guest Check" notepad with the title written in large, blue, serif font. Two small hand-drawn hearts accent the sides of the title, and a brown coffee ring stain overlaps the right side of the paper. ​The scene is decorated with coastal and diner-themed elements.

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