Maisey Yates - The Home Is Where The Heart Is Collection

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

You Say It First

Back Cover Text

Praise

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

About the Publisher

Snow Angel Cove

RaeAnne Thayne

New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne welcomes you to Haven Point, a small town full of big surprises that are both merry and bright

Nothing short of a miracle can restore Eliza Hayward’s Christmas cheer. The job she pinned her dreams on has gone up in smoke—literally—and now she’s stuck in an unfamiliar, if breathtaking, small town. Precariously close to being destitute, Eliza needs a hero, but she’s not expecting one who almost runs her down with his car!

Rescuing Eliza is pure instinct for tech genius Aidan Caine. At first, putting the renovation of his lakeside guest lodge in Eliza’s hands assuages his guilt—until he sees how quickly he could fall for her. Having focused solely on his business for years, he never knew what his life was missing before Eliza, but now he’s willing to risk his heart on a yuletide romance that could lead to forever.

Praise for New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne and her Hope’s Crossing series

“In Thayne’s latest, her beautiful, honest storytelling goes straight to the heart. Her characters are authentically vulnerable and the light, amusing banter between them adds to the sweet warmth of this story… [A] moving yet powerful romance.”

—RT Book Reviews on Wild Iris Ridge

“A sometimes heartbreaking tale of love and relationships in a small Colorado town…. Poignant and sweet, this tale of second chances will appeal to fans of military-flavored sweet romance.”

—Publishers Weekly on Christmas in Snowflake Canyon

“Once again, Thayne proves she has a knack for capturing those emotions that come from the heart…. Crisp storytelling and many amusing moments make for a delightful read.”

—RT Book Reviews on Willowleaf Lane

“Thayne pens another winner by combining her huge, boisterous cast of familiar, lovable characters with a beautiful setting and a wonderful story. Her main characters are strong and three-dimensional, with enough heat between them to burn the pages.”

—RT Book Reviews on Currant Creek Valley

“Hope’s Crossing is a charming series that lives up to its name. Reading these stories of small-town life engage the reader’s heart and emotions, inspiring hope and the belief miracles are possible.”

—Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author, on Sweet Laurel Falls

“Thayne, once again, delivers a heartfelt story of a caring community and a caring romance between adults who have triumphed over tragedies.”

—Booklist on Woodrose Mountain

“Thayne’s series starter introduces the Colorado town of Hope’s Crossing in what can be described as a cozy romance… [A] gentle, easy read.”

—Publishers Weekly on Blackberry Summer

So many people have a part in bringing a book to life. In the craziness of life and kids and deadlines, I am sometimes remiss in expressing how very grateful I am to everyone who has played a part in helping me along this writing journey, from idea to completion.

First, I need to thank my brilliant brainstorming partners, Nicole Jordan and Victoria Dahl, for all the hilarious breakfasts. Someday, they’re going to get tired of us and kick us out of Village Inn!

To my agent, Karen Solem, for her thoughtful guidance, thank you for keeping me on track!

To my amazing editor for over forty books now, Gail Chasan, for having faith in me from the very beginning. Mere words are not enough!

My heartfelt gratitude goes to everyone at Mills & Boon—from Susan Swinwood and everyone else on the Mills & Boon HQN editorial team to the art department and the spectacular covers they give my books to the sales and marketing teams who work so hard to get my stories into the hands of readers. You are all wonderful!

I offer my deepest thanks to my family for their patience, their encouragement and their unending love.

And finally, to my readers. I am so very grateful to you for your letters, your emails, your Facebook messages—and especially, for the amazing gift you’ve given me of being able to watch with awe and wonder as my dreams come true.

CHAPTER ONE

OH, THIS WASN’T GOOD. At all.

Eliza Hayward stood with sleet pelting her like hard little pebbles, gazing at the blackened, charred bones of her future. Cold dread wormed its way beneath her coat like the wintry wind blowing off Lake Haven, just a few hundred yards away.

“I don’t like this place,” Maddie muttered, gripping her hand tighter. “It’s ugly and scary.”

“Yes. Yes, it is.”

This couldn’t be real. She had driven the two hours from Boise with such eager anticipation, singing Christmas carols all the way, loud and silly enough to make a five-year-old giggle. She had been so excited about this new chapter of their lives in this lovely Idaho town nestled in the raw and stunning Redemption Mountains.

It had been an amazing opportunity all the way around—a big jump, career-wise, to her first hotel manager position, but also a nice salary increase, a really attractive benefits package and, best of all, an included apartment on the property for her and for Maddie so she could keep her daughter close.

Now that cute apartment, the salary bump, the insurance, everything, had disappeared in a puff of smoke. Literally. Though she couldn’t see any flames, tendrils of smoke still curled from the rubble of the building.

The air smelled harsh and acrid, far different from the sweet, citrusy scent of pine she remembered permeating the town when she had visited the month before during the interview process.

The fire had to have flared within the past few hours. Fire crews still worked busily all around the burned hotel coiling hoses, stretching yellow crime tape around the perimeter, putting out a hot spot here or there.

No wonder she hadn’t heard from Megan Hamilton. The woman was probably still in shock.

Oh, Eliza hoped no one had been hurt.

That dread sidled up to her again, menacing and dark. What was she going to do now? She had tied off every single loose end in Boise. Her job, her apartment. All gone. Their things had been packed and put into storage until she had a chance to figure out what she might need here in their new life, this new start.

She had even used a big chunk of her savings as a down payment on a newer SUV to get around the mountain roads.

Now what?

She gripped Maddie’s hand more tightly. She would figure something out. Isn’t that what she had been doing for three years?

“That’s not where you’re going to work, is it?”

“Well, it was supposed to be.” She forced a smile for Maddie, doing her best to ignore the flutters of panic taking wing inside her. “I guess they had a fire today.”

She drew in a calming breath, trying to make her brain cells snap into gear so she could come up with a plan. The sleet seemed to sting harder with each passing second and the wind had picked up in the past few moments. Apparently the big storm the forecasters had been predicting—the reason she had come to town early instead of waiting until the next day or Sunday—had blown into Haven Point.