When Shelley Hart ran off and married her sister’s fiance, the whole town of Harbor Falls was in a twitter. A few years later, with her husband deceased and two little girls to take care of, Shelley realizes her only recourse is to go home.

The last thing Shelley Hart wants is to go home for the holidays. She left her hometown of Harbor Falls, North Carolina nearly years earlier and hasn’t returned. Her leaving humiliated her entire family and caused friction with her older sister Suzie. Who could blame Suzie for being upset? After all, Shelley ran off and married Suzie’s fiance, Cliff.

But everything has changed now–and going home is her only option.

Harbor Falls Police Officer Matt Branson values being alone, even during the holidays. Dubbed the town hermit, he prefers the solitude of his mountain cabin to socializing with friends–friends who say he still pines after the woman who got away. But the snowy day he pulls over an older model sedan speeding into Harbor Falls, things change. His gut slams against his backbone as a tearful woman rolls down the car window. His heart melts when she looks up into his eyes.

Shelley Hart is back in town–the woman who sent him into his cave in the first place.