First published 2024
Hailey Morgan works as an assistant high school band teacher in Portland, Oregon, though she once dreamed of composing her own songs. When the holidays arrive, she faces another Christmas with her meddling family and their endless expectations. Instead, she accepts a friend's offer to use an empty cabin for a solo retreat in Podunk, Washington. Wild animals have taken over the cabin when she arrives. Jay, the mayor's son and a former musician, helps her reclaim the space. The two spend their days chopping down Christmas trees, drinking hot cocoa by the fire, and making music together. Jay believes in her songwriting abilities and pushes her to pursue her dreams. But family drama follows Hailey even to her mountain refuge, and Jay may be hiding something about himself. Her peaceful retreat becomes complicated as she must decide whether to stand up for herself and embrace what the season truly means.
Genres: christmas, music, contemporary-romance, family-drama
Vibes: cozy, emotional-atmospheric, intimate
Tropes: found-family, second-chance-romance
Setting: Portland, Oregon, Podunk, Washington
Period: Holidays
288 pages · Hardcover · Ballantine Books