About Both Sides of the Fence

Thunderstruck, Book One — by Amelia Elliot

Both Sides of the Fence is a small-town second chance romance spanning thirty-five years of love, loss, and the choices we make when we’re standing right in the middle of our own love story.

Dee Bullard acted responsibly her whole life. She worked hard, went to college, and became a veterinarian. Now in her late thirties, she’s stuck in the one place she always vowed to leave: her childhood home on a farm in Kansas. Then the boy next door breezes back into town, and past heartache catches up with them both.

After years in the Army’s special forces, there are some things Ricky Lee never talks about. One of those things is the real reason he hasn’t come home in eight years: Dee. She’s a troublemaker who’s left him bearing the consequences one too many times.

When Ricky’s father suddenly dies, he’s forced to return to care for his sick mother. Back in Dee’s orbit, Ricky can’t deny her — but he doesn’t think he can survive her either.

With nothing but a low cattle fence and a lifetime of memories standing between them, Ricky and Dee face a reckoning that will either break them forever or unite them for good.

Both Sides of the Fence is a 2023 Gold Medal Winner.

Romance Tropes in Both Sides of the Fence

Both Sides of the Fence delivers a rich combination of beloved romance tropes. Here is what readers can expect from each one.

Small Town Romance

The story is set in rural Kansas, where everyone knows everyone and the past is never far away. The small-town setting creates a sense of inevitability — Dee and Ricky cannot avoid each other once he returns, and the community plays a quiet but constant role in shaping their reunion.

Military Romance

Ricky Lee is a decorated Army special forces veteran. His military service has changed him in ways he doesn’t discuss, creating emotional walls that Dee must navigate. Readers who love stories about disciplined, protective heroes carrying quiet wounds will connect deeply with Ricky.

Second Chance Romance

Dee and Ricky were once in love before life pulled them in different directions. Second chance romances resonate because they ask a compelling question: can two people who once hurt each other truly start over? Both Sides of the Fence earns its answer across thirty-five years of story.

Childhood Sweethearts

Dee and Ricky grew up next door to each other. Their history stretches back to childhood, which means the emotional stakes are extraordinarily high. There is no pretending they are strangers — every interaction is layered with decades of shared memory.

Forced Proximity

When Ricky returns to his family farm to care for his ailing mother, he is right next door to Dee. A literal cattle fence separates their properties. Forced proximity removes the option of avoidance and pushes two people who have every reason to stay apart into each other’s orbits.

Soul Mates

At its heart, Both Sides of the Fence is a story about two people who were made for each other — and what it costs to finally accept that. The soul mate element gives the romance its emotional weight and its tagline: “That’s the thing about soulmates — you have to be brave enough to stay with them.”

Girl/Boy Next Door

Ricky literally lived on the farm next door. The boy-next-door trope carries warmth and familiarity but also the ache of something almost-had. Readers who love that “right there all along” dynamic will find it woven throughout every chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions About Both Sides of the Fence

These are the questions readers most often ask about this book.