Description

Her car broke down in the middle of nowhere. It was the best thing that ever happened to her.

Award-winning Chef Charlie Remington fled Nashville with two suitcases and a broken heart, leaving behind an abusive partnership and a restaurant that stole her recipes while crushing her spirit. In tiny Elkmont, Alabama, she bought the abandoned restaurant sight unseen—her last chance to build something that's finally, completely hers.

The building is a disaster. Her savings are nearly gone. And her manipulative ex-partner is threatening lawsuits designed to destroy her before she can open the doors.

Then there's Robert Tanner.

The small-town contractor fixed her radiator when it exploded in Elkmont's only intersection, then kept showing up—patient, steady, and determined to help her rebuild more than just a restaurant. For the first time in years, Charlie wants to let someone in. But trust is terrifying when the last man who said he loved her spent three years tearing her down.

When Marcus tracks her down with legal threats and a scheme to steal her property, Charlie faces an impossible choice: surrender the Bluebird Café and run, or stand and fight for her dream, her community, and a love that heals instead of controls.

In a town where neighbors are family and broken things are valued for their potential, Charlie discovers that starting over isn't about running away—it's about finally having the courage to stay.

Perfect for readers who love:

Small-town settings with big hearts Chef/foodie heroines Patient, supportive heroes Second-chance romance Found family Southern charm Stories about healing and hope

A heartwarming small-town romance about reclaiming your life, discovering your worth, and learning that home is where people know your story and choose you anyway.