The Woodland Stranger by Jane Buehler

Whoever said, Don’t talk to strangers?

Burne hid behind a tree. He wanted to talk to the handsome man picking flowers at the edge of the forest, but he’d only flub it if he tried—he’d stumble over his words and blush bright red. And now the man is gone.
He tries to continue on to the village, but the same thing happens as always: his hands start shaking and panic wells up inside him. What if he runs into the bullies who tormented him in the King’s Guard last spring? Ever since he deserted, he has hidden out in the forest.
So he turns back toward home. Next time, he promises himself as he retreats into the trees. Next time he’ll be brave enough to enter the village. Next time he’ll talk to the handsome stranger instead of hiding. But next time will be sooner than he thinks.
Because the stranger is Gray, a fairy and a master of illusions, who’s now following Burne home. And Gray’s got more on his mind than talking. Would a fairy that beautiful ever want someone like him? Stranger things have happened.

The Woodland Stranger is a cozy fantasy romance with lighthearted adventure and fun magic—a forest road trip with a charming fairy along for the ride. Each book in the Sylvania series can be read on its own but might contain spoilers for previous books. The Woodland Stranger contains love scenes and depictions of anxiety.