Tasha Zima

A Little Bit Ruined Series

A Little Bit Ruined series is a contemporary romance set in the small lakeside town of Ashby Lake, where capable women, emotionally literate men, and close-knit community collide. When veterinarian Erin Kelly meets Adrian Blake—wealthy, reserved, and quietly perceptive—their connection is immediate but complicated by timing, boundaries, and past choices. Together, these books tell a grounded, character-driven love story about choosing connection, embracing imperfection, and discovering that the most meaningful relationships are built slowly, honestly, and with intention.

Dr. Erin Kelly

Born: March 4, 1999

Occupation / Role: Large animal veterinarian

Books: Nothing Too Fancy, Nothing Too Tame, Between Breath and Breaking

Connections: Cousin of Chris Kelly, niece of Robert and Debbie Kelly, daughter of Barbara Sikes, step-daughter of Jack Sikes, BFF: Oscar Vale & Dante Morales

Personality Keywords: Fierce • Grounded • Bluntly honest • Compassionate • Stubborn • Protective • Dry-witted • Unimpressed by wealth

Tropes: Competent heroine | Small-town reset | Strong FMC / emotionally literate romance | No-nonsense woman meets polished MMC | Touch-her-and-die energy | Healing without being “fixed”

A young veterinarian dressed in green scrubs, stethoscope around her neck standing in a field

Adrian Blake

Born: October 8, 1996

Occupation / Role: Wealthy landowner and businessman; runs a large equestrian estate in Ashby Lake. Philanthropic donor (rescue fundraisers, community support)

Books: Nothing Too Fancy, Nothing Too Tame, Between Breath and Breaking.

Connections: Mother: Helena, father: Charles, brother: Noah half-brothers: Jonah & Caleb Prescott, Leo Blake, half-sisters: Isabelle and Sabriana Blake

Personality Keywords: Controlled • Observant • Confident • Strategic • Quietly intense • Emotionally perceptive • Possessive but restrained • Charming without being loud

Tropes: Rich but grounded | Soft power alpha | “I see you” love interest | Gentleman with an edge | Slow-burn chemistry | The man who chooses

A man in a suite standing in a farm field

Oscar Vale

Born: November 15, 1999

Occupation / Role: Drag Queen, make up artist, emotional anchor, hype-man, and chosen family

Books: Nothing Too Fancy, Nothing Too Tame

Connections: BFF: Erin Kelly, partner: Dante Morales

Personality Keywords: Joy-forward • Dramatic • Emotionally literate • Protective • Loyal • Camp-adjacent, not chaotic • Perceptive beneath humour • Unapologetically expressive

Tropes: Found family | Best friend with opinions | Glittery emotional support human | The narrator of chaos | Ride-or-die platonic soulmate

Dante Morales

Born: June 28, 1998

Occupation / Role: Policy advisor, Political Science major with a minor in Law, Legal-minded fixer and advocate

Books: Nothing Too Fancy, Nothing Too Tame

Connections: BFF: Erin Kelly, partner: Oscar Vale

Personality Keywords: Sharp • Strategic • Dramatic (controlled) • Morally grounded • Protective • Quick-witted •
Competent under pressure

Tropes: The fixer | “Let me handle this” energy | Lawyer-adjacent saviour | Loyal friend with teeth | Calm chaos coordinator

Discover More Ashby Lake

Characters from A Little Bit Ruined Series

A young brunette, pretty wearing an rust coloured t-shirt. It says The Perch on it. She is dressed as a server.
Lara Kelly
A man in his 50, in a full office, veterinarian, big smile, behind his desk
Dr. Dennis Barnes
A couple in their 50s sitting at a kitchen table. The woman is making a pie and the man is drinking coffee.
Debbie and Robert Kelly
A pretty blond woman, wearing scrubs behind a full desk.
Dee
A tall blond man leaning up against a pick up truck. He is standing in field. He has a big smile and is welcoming.
Chris Kelly
A vet tech leaning up a counter, his socks are neon yellow.
Jeff
Missy the Goat
pregnant cow lying in a field and a worried farmer standing over her.
Calving Season

Places from A Little Bit Ruined Series

A rich estate, snowy, iron gate, fences and a stone building at the end of the drive. Very pretty
Blake Equestrian Estate
The Kely’s Farm
Interior picture of a large stable. Wooden beams, horses looking out into the middle. Hay.
Blake Stables
A small lived in apartment.
Erin’s Apartment
A neat and organized vet office
Erin’s Vet Clinic
Ashby Lake Main Street in the Winter
Ashby Lake Main Street
The Perch
Fictional first class lounge in Ottawa airport
First Class Lounge

Erin and Adrian’s story unfolds across two novels, each deepening the stakes of their relationship. A third novel is in progres.

A book cover of Nothing Too Fancy, a woman dressed in scrubs, armed crossed in front standing with a man in a farm field. The man is dressed in a suit and looking at her
A woman in scrubs is leaning against a man in a suit. They are standing in a farm field. There is goat and a dog in the cover as well.
Return to the beginning

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