She never stays. He never lets go. What happens when love challenges everything they believe about keeping themselves safe?
Love Books Tours is delighted to celebrate Untethered by Charlène Boutin, published by Iris Books, with a special Bookstagram tour running from 12th–25th November 2026.
The first book in the Clear Bay series introduces readers to Indie, a free-spirited painter who refuses to put down roots, and Michael, a guarded father determined to give his son the stability he never experienced himself.
Set against the backdrop of a small Canadian lakeside town, Untethered explores the complicated connections between love, trust, family and the freedom to choose where we belong.
With emotional secrets, unexpected friendships and a dangerous snowstorm, this contemporary romance offers plenty for readers who enjoy character-driven stories.
We’re delighted to introduce the book to our wonderful reading community and share the Bookstagrammers supporting Charlène Boutin throughout the tour.
About Untethered
A free-spirited painter roaming Canada meets a grumpy, routine-obsessed father who threatens to shatter her only rule: never stay in one place.
Indie is used to odd jobs in even odder places.
Her childhood in a punishing religious cult taught her to use her passionate, chaotic personality as armour, protecting herself from friendship, home and attachments.
Michael, meanwhile, is determined never to abandon his son Xavier the way his own father abandoned him.
He controls every minute of Xavier’s day, believing that structure is the only way to protect his son from making the same mistakes.
But Xavier is becoming increasingly withdrawn, and Michael struggles to understand why his son refuses to communicate.
Then Xavier begins confiding in Indie, their irresistible but temporary tenant.
Michael needs to discover why his son is being bullied, but getting closer to Indie means risking feelings he has spent years avoiding.
And for Indie, every act of kindness from her new neighbours makes it harder to leave the small lakeside town behind.
When a deadly snowstorm threatens everything, Indie must decide what matters most: the independence she has always protected or the possibility of love.
Love Books Tours | Bookstagram Tour Schedule
12th–25th November 2026
We’re delighted to welcome 40 wonderful Bookstagrammers from the UK and USA to celebrate Untethered.
Throughout the tour, our hosts will share their reading experiences and help introduce the first book in the Clear Bay series to romance readers.
Please visit their Instagram pages, discover their reviews and show them some support.
Thursday, 12th November 2026
- @katsbookishbanter
- @mxphoebesviewpoint
- @piggindani_reads
- @unhinged.readers.club
Friday, 13th November 2026
- @bookishandcaffeinatedintx
- @Malloch_books
- @ranee_reads
- @that_alto
- @thereadingislander
Monday, 16th November 2026
- @libby_lovesreading
- @readswith_hollie
- @RedReviews4You
- @tamburhewitt_reads
Tuesday, 17th November 2026
- @hannahsbookishjourney
- @jordan_in_chapters
- @raesreadsox
- @tara_reads_again
Wednesday, 18th November 2026
- @afelton6212
- @book.lover1486
- @cosy.with.chloe
- @sistersplusbooks
Thursday, 19th November 2026
- @bookgrlobsessed
- @junebug_reads
- @londonpageturner
- @plumbobmummy
Friday, 20th November 2026
- @abbies_bookclub
- @bek.is.reading
- @bexbookreviews
- @bianca_reads_books
Monday, 23rd November 2026
- @fantasy.bookworm01
- @helenandherhobbies
- @itsabookthing2021
- @midnightmarginsbooks
Tuesday, 24th November 2026
- @caits_reading_nook
- @thelibraryofamy
- @twobookishsouls23
- @Bookshortie
Wednesday, 25th November 2026
- @book_a_holic_17
- @Book.lover.1986
- Rhondaluvs2read
A huge thank you to all our wonderful Crewbies for supporting this tour!
Every review, photograph and thoughtful post helps introduce books to new readers, and we’re incredibly grateful for the time and creativity our hosts bring to their campaigns.
Meet the Author | Charlène Boutin
Charlène Boutin writes swoon-worthy stories designed to make readers laugh, cry and, most importantly, warm their hearts.
Originally from Val-d’Or, Québec, Canada, she spent six years in Red Lake, Ontario, followed by another six years in Montréal, Québec.
Her experiences living in both smaller communities and larger cities have provided inspiration for her small-town and city-based love stories.
Charlène now lives in Granby, Québec, with her partner, son and cat.
When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her boulder climbing or spending quality time with her family.
A Romance About Two Very Different Ways of Surviving
At the heart of Untethered are two characters who have developed very different ways of protecting themselves.
Indie has learned to survive by refusing to become attached.
Her childhood experiences have taught her that connections can be dangerous, and she has built a life around movement and independence.
Michael, on the other hand, has responded to his own difficult upbringing by embracing control.
He wants to give his son everything he never had, but his determination to protect Xavier has made it difficult for them to communicate.
Their contrasting personalities create the foundation for a romance in which both characters must reconsider what safety and belonging really mean.
Indie: A Woman Who Refuses to Stay
Indie’s life is built around freedom.
She travels across Canada, takes temporary jobs and avoids the relationships that might encourage her to settle down.
Her colourful personality and spontaneous nature may make her appear carefree, but they also help conceal the painful experiences that shaped her.
When she arrives in Clear Bay, she expects another temporary stop.
What she doesn’t anticipate is becoming someone Xavier trusts or finding herself drawn into the lives of people who genuinely care about her.
As those connections grow, Indie must confront the possibility that staying somewhere might not mean losing herself.
Michael: A Father Trying to Get Everything Right
Michael’s greatest fear is repeating the mistakes of his own father.
Determined never to abandon Xavier, he has created a life governed by routine and responsibility.
But despite his efforts, Xavier is struggling.
Michael knows something is wrong, yet his son won’t tell him what it is.
When Xavier begins talking to Indie, Michael is forced to recognise that protecting his son may require a different approach.
His growing attraction to Indie adds another complication, particularly when her determination to remain unattached clashes with his need for certainty.
A Small-Town Romance with Emotional Depth
The lakeside setting of Clear Bay offers more than a backdrop for Indie and Michael’s developing relationship.
As Indie becomes part of the community, the kindness of her neighbours begins to challenge her belief that independence means avoiding attachments.
For readers who enjoy small-town romance, this creates an appealing contrast between the comfort of community and the fear of becoming vulnerable.
The story also explores family relationships, bullying, past trauma and the difficult process of learning to trust.
Why Romance Readers Might Enjoy Untethered
Opposites-attract chemistry
Indie’s spontaneous personality and Michael’s tightly controlled routines create an intriguing contrast.
A grumpy hero
Michael’s guarded nature and difficulty expressing his emotions provide plenty of scope for character development.
A free-spirited heroine
Indie’s independence and complicated past make her more than simply the woman who arrives to disrupt Michael’s life.
An emotional family storyline
Xavier’s struggles and his growing trust in Indie give the romance an additional emotional dimension.
A lakeside small-town setting
Clear Bay provides a community where friendships and acts of kindness begin to change Indie’s understanding of home.
High stakes
The approaching snowstorm introduces danger as Indie faces a decision that could change her future.
Who Might Enjoy Untethered?
Untethered may appeal to readers who enjoy:
- Contemporary romance.
- Small-town love stories.
- Grumpy and sunshine character dynamics.
- Opposites-attract romance.
- Single-parent romance.
- Emotional family relationships.
- Stories about healing and learning to trust.
- Canadian lakeside settings.
- Romance series with a strong sense of community.
Book Details
Title: Untethered
Series: Clear Bay, Book One
Author: Charlène Boutin
Publisher: Iris Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Bookstagram Tour: 12th–25th November 2026
Where to Buy Untethered
Would you like to visit Clear Bay and meet Indie, Michael and Xavier?
Discover Untethered and find purchasing options through the link below.
Buy Untethered:
The book is also listed as available through Kindle Unlimited for subscribers in supported regions.
Follow the Bookstagram Tour
At Love Books Tours, we’re passionate about helping authors connect with readers and celebrating stories that deserve to be discovered.
We’re delighted to support Charlène Boutin and Iris Books with Untethered, the first book in the Clear Bay series.
Our wonderful Bookstagrammers are helping introduce this emotional contemporary romance to readers throughout the tour.
Please explore the full schedule above, visit our hosts and discover their thoughts on the book.
We’d love to know: Do you prefer a grumpy hero, a free-spirited heroine or a romance that brings two complete opposites together?
Thank you for supporting Love Books Tours and the wonderful authors we work with.
Authors / Publishers
Offering successful book tours, bookstagram tours, cover reveals and blitzes. I would love to work on the promotion of your book. For new and previously released titles. All genres are welcome. Use my contact form to drop us an email or download our info kit here.
https://kellylacey.com/love-books-tours/.
If you have any questions, please email lovebookstours@gmail.com and we will be very happy to talk you through our services and answer your questions.
Please note our first reply sometimes hides in the spam folder. So please check there if you don’t get anything in your inbox. As we reply to each query.
In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog
contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for us (at no extra cost for you).
