The Heart of Thanksgiving

Emma Collins wasn’t supposed to come back to Harvest Ridge. Not after three years of silence. Not after what happened with her family. But when her boss assigns her to cover a Thanksgiving event in the very town she left behind, Emma has no choice but to return to the place that still holds every unresolved memory.

She plans to keep her head, deliver corporate brochures, smile for the cameras, and avoid awkward reunions. But Harvest Ridge has other ideas—starting with a golden-furred escape artist named Rusty and a steady-eyed shelter director who sees more than Emma wants to admit.

Ben Carter has built his life on quiet acts of fixing fences, rescuing dogs, and offering coffee and calm to anyone who needs it. He’s not looking for complications. But when Emma stumbles back into town—and into his arms via one overenthusiastic rescue pup—Ben finds himself drawn to the woman who keeps insisting she’s just passing through.

But Harvest Ridge has a long memory. As Emma is pulled into parade prep, family dinners, and a town that doesn’t let go easily, she finds herself confronting the grief she buried—and the love she thought she’d lost.

And somewhere between dog walks, paper turkeys, and the scent of cinnamon and second chances, Emma must be home, just a place you leave behind… or one you can find again?