Patricia Bradley

It's New Year's Eve, and Matt Jefferies's life is perfect. The penthouse, the career—even the perfect soon-to-be-fiancée. But then Matt's troubled past knocks on his door. And once Allie Carson says hello, everything changes.

Allie broke up with Matt years ago, when he turned “that kid from Beaker Street” into a cold, corporate city slicker. It went against what she loved about him—and the small-town life she could never leave. Now, with Matt's estranged family facing desperate times, it's time for him to come home.

And to choose between the man Matt's become... and the woman who never stopped loving him.

She's his odds-on favorite 

Running for mayor of his Mississippi town wasn't even a twinkle in Peter Elliott's eye. But it could bring Cedar Grove's favorite son one step closer to his dream of building a youth center. He'd better watch out, though. Town councilwoman Nicole Montgomery has just thrown her hat into the ring. 

The independent, smart-as-a-whip brunette is leagues away from the bookish girl Peter knew in high school. And he knows in his heart that Nicole would make a great mayor. So does his cousin Jake, who could be edging out Peter in his campaign to convince the love-wary beauty that he's the best candidate for her.