I’m excited to be writing my first book for the Love Inspired series at Harlequin!
Deadly Cold Case will feature:
A professional pianist heroine
A local sheriff hero
Former high school sweethearts
A time capsule
A cold case murder
Criminal Minds vibes
Ella Wilson has avoided home and the holidays for nearly a decade. For her, the season is plagued by a jinx that’s brought nothing but painful memories: her mother’s death nearly two decades ago, her fiancé’s abandonment last year, and now the loss of her job as an art curator. But without work to occupy her, home is exactly where Ella has ended up. And somehow, she’s also been roped into planning the town’s Christmas tree auction–side by side with her first love.
Seth Hamil knows that home is where the heart is, and for him, it’s always been the sleepy community of Bellepoint, Pennsylvania…and for a while in high school that included Ella Wilson. Since then, he’s been married and widowed and has spent the year throwing himself into his career as a music teacher and trying to keep his wife’s memory alive, starting with the church fundraiser she launched to support local kids.
So, despite their history, Seth isn’t about to let his wife’s vision for the event be easily dismissed by Ella’s temporary presence and big-city ideas.
To find a way to work together, the two strike a deal: Ella can incorporate her splashy ideas into the auction if she will allow Seth to show her why Christmas is about more than decorations. Soon both begin to wonder whether fate has brought them together for a fresh start–and if Christmas wishes really can come true.
Travel writer Allie Sparks has one goal: to find the story that will save her career. So here she is, visiting her bestie on picturesque Crescent Island―with sun-warmed beaches, the briny smell of the ocean, and rumors of a secret astrologer-matchmaker who guarantees love. Of course, Allie doesn’t believe in any of that stuff. If anything, she’ll prove it’s a total scam.
Ryan Parker believes in love―just not right now. He’s focused on expanding his family’s barbeque business, finding investors, and keeping his too-big Great Dane puppy from jumping on everyone, including his sister’s pretty, whiskey-eyed best friend. Besides, falling for a tourist is definitely not in his astrological forecast.
Allie is doing everything she can to resist the charm of the town and its beauty, not to mention her attraction to Ryan. But there’s a lot more happening on Crescent Island than anyone knows…and when her story goes to print, this tiny, close-knit town might never be the same.
Welcome back to Evergreen, the town built on Christmas wishes…
And learn what happens after one snow-globe wish comes true.
Life is going great for Hannah, really. She’s fallen in love with her best friend, her brother is getting married, and she’s looking forward to another festive Christmas in Evergreen. Still, between her job, taking charge of the choir, and being the town’s jill-of-all-trades, she’s feeling uninspired…especially when Elliot starts to question his own role in the town.
Hannah finds fresh inspiration in the brand-new Evergreen Christmas Museum, and she volunteers for their storytelling project. When she interviews her fellow Evergreenians, however, she learns that not everyone wants the museum around; specifically Mr. Cooper who owns a third of the building. As Hannah finds herself with more and more responsibilities, and as her relationships with Elliot and her family grow strained, she starts to wonder about what she really wants. Can her love and newly-found purpose survive the changes that loom after the holidays are over?
This 2-in-1 book features two short stories of falling in love in the quaint little town of Sweetland!
THE SWEETEST VALENTINE
When the idea for a new script brings Hollywood actor Kelan Hunter to the Wine & Chocolate Festival in the small town of Sweetland Valley, MD, sparks fly with the charming candy shop owner who has a list of reasons for why their love isn’t meant to be.
Ruthlessly organized Sydni Murray’s life goal checklist was derailed after her broken engagement last Valentine’s Day. Now, with the holiday fast approaching again and the town’s biggest chocolate festival on the horizon, she must put her biases about love on the backburner. Until Kelan walks into her shop with his model good looks and a box of his grandparents’ love letters that melt her heart.
CHRISTMAS IN SWEETLAND
Savannah Cantrell may have been born in the small town of Sweetland, Maryland, but she’s not sure it’s where she belongs. In the meantime, she’s housesitting for a family friend and trying to deal with the rambunctious puppy she inherited from her grandmother. As luck would have it, her handsome neighbor is a former reality television dog guru.
Luke Raveen has had enough of being in the spotlight, now he’s back in the cozy Eastern Shore town where he spent one summer of his childhood, attempting to start over and blend in. What better way to do that than to join the neighborhood Christmas decorating contest? At least that’s what his pretty neighbor suggests. His only problem with that is he’s never done “Christmas” before, and certainly not the way the town of Sweetland does it.
As an architect, she designs beautiful buildings…
But will her heart ever find a place to call home?
Taylor’s architectural firm enters her in a contest to build life-sized gingerbread houses. After the contest, she’s likely to get a promotion to a position in another city. But it’s a team competition, and Taylor’s temperamental partner soon backs out. Taylor needs a replacement—fast.
When she meets Adam, a baker and single dad, she convinces him to be her partner in the contest. After all, winning would give his bakery much-needed exposure.
For years, Taylor has avoided thinking of anywhere as “home.” When she was a kid, her family was always on the move. But the time she spends with Adam and his daughter Brooke, decorating for Christmas and enjoying Philadelphia’s holiday traditions, has her questioning everything. Could she have found a place to call her own?
One charming B&B. Six grandchildren. One litter of puppies…The late, great Mary Janet Cantrell hoped that her family would return to their hometown and find comfort, happiness- and maybe even love. But what will it take for her wishes to come true?
NEVER SAY NEVER
Parker Cantrell is a Baltimore-based homicide detective who has seen too many bad things to believe in happy endings. But when he returns to Sweetland to retrieve the puppy he inherited, only to share in a night of unexpected passion with gorgeous hometown girl Drew Sidney, his mind is blown. How could something like this have happened-to him, of all people? And then, as they say, there were three…
WHEN IT COMES TO LOVE
Drew could never have imagined that legendary heartthrob Parker would come back to Sweetland, let alone into her flower shop…and into her bed. Now that she’s carrying his child, Drew’s life is about to change forever-with or without Parker. Both he and Drew must ask themselves what matters most. Are they ready to reach for the sky and chase their dreams-and give love a chance?
As a successful criminal prosecutor, Preston Cantrell thrives in the hustle and bustle of Baltimore. Much as he loved his grandmother, the cozy streets of his hometown aren’t enough for him—not when he can make a real difference in the city. To get back to his career, all he needs is a new home for the energetic puppy he inherited. But when the gorgeous woman who arrives to adopt finds the dog more appealing than he is, Preston’s determined to plead his case.
Heaven Montgomery is still shaky after an accident almost claimed her life—and her doctor thinks having a pet would help her deal with the post-traumatic stress. The plan is for Heaven to take her new puppy back home to Boston…but Sweetland’s warmth and charm is irresistible.Why should she rush back to the chill and snobbery of her city? In Just Like Heaven by Lacey Baker, Heaven’s learning, with Preston’s help, that life doesn’t always care about the plans you’ve made. Sometimes you just need to let fate—and love—create its own sweet magic.
Dr. Quinn Cantrell made a life for himself in Seattle when he left behind his picturesque hometown—and the unhappy memories of a relationship that ended tragically. His grandmother’s death is an unexpected blow, but there are even more surprises waiting—including a mischievous puppy, a reunion with his far-flung siblings, and an old acquaintance who’s grown into a gorgeous and capable woman.
Nikki Brockington was proud of the work she’d done at The Silver Spoon, and when the Cantrells leave its management in her care, she’s happy to take on the responsibility. But keeping the inn and its restaurant profitable isn’t her only challenge—not when she can’t stop thinking about Quinn, who reminds her that home is more than a place. It’s who you love…