Apple Valley

In Apple Valley, Washington, friends are always near, neighbors have no secrets-even if they'd like to-and long-held wishes have a way of coming true... Interior designer Tessa McKenzie has built a good life far from her Washington hometown. She intends to get back to it-as soon as she sells the cluttered Victorian house and antiques shop she inherited from her sister, Emily. But leaving Apple Valley a second time won't be so easy. There's her grieving nephew, Alex, to consider. And there's Sheriff Cade Cunningham, the adolescent crush who could easily break her heart again if she let him. To Cade, Tessa was simply his high school sweetheart's kid sister. But now there's no denying she's a beautiful and caring grown woman, one he'd like to get to know. Except that Tessa is determined to leave again. If Cade wants to change her mind, he'll have to show her that small-town life has its lovable side-and that he does too. Most of all, he'll have to convince Tess they're good together, and that every step has led her right where she was always meant to be...

In Apple Valley, Washington, true friends are never far, neighbors can help heal the loneliest hearts--and longed-for dreams can unexpectedly become real... Charlotte Garrison's second chance is falling into place just like she's carefully planned. A few more sales of her heavenly sweets and she'll be able to turn the empty shop on Main Street into her own bakery--a plan much more sensible than ever again risking her heart. But when a rambunctious three-year-old girl lands on town deputy Max Stanford's doorstep, Charlotte finds helping the good-looking deputy care for her is sparking the most impossible dreams... Max has never been much for settling down. But while he finds out if little Zuzu is really his daughter, Charlotte's warmth and caring makes him want to prove he's worthy of her trust. And as they struggle to come to terms with their pasts, Max will do whatever it takes to show Charlotte home is where dreams come true--and he and Zuzu are all the love and home she'll ever need.

Apple Valley, Washington, is where starting over means surprising new chances, facing trouble always brings a helping hand-and the most unlikely hopes can forever come true… Apricot Sunshine Devereux-Miller needs to stay lost. Her eccentric aunt's home in Apple Valley is the perfect place to forget her cheating ex-fiance and get her no-longer-perfect life back under control. Plus, it couldn't hurt to fix up the house and turn its neglected orchard into a thriving business. And if Apricot can keep deputy sheriff Simon Baylor's two lively young daughters out of mischief, maybe she can ignore that he's downright irresistible-and everything she never dreamed she'd find ... Simon isn't looking to have his heart broken again. He already has his hands full raising his girls. And lately he's thinking way too much about Apricot's take-charge energy and unwitting knack for stirring up trouble. He can't see a single way they could ever be right for each other. Unless they can take a crazy chance on trusting their hearts-and risking the courage to finally find their way home.

What goes better with mistletoe and merriment than the sweet beginnings of romance? "Christmas Passed" by Fern Michaels Three years after her husband's death, Brandy Heyers still finds that celebrating the holidays without him is anything but jolly. Then handsome widower Ryan Rogers shows her that moving on is possible, and her frozen heart begins to melt… "A Glory Junction Christmas" by Stacy Finz When Hannah Baldwin hears her ex is getting remarried, she's ready to give up on Christmas, not to mention love. But the best gifts come in unexpected packages, and old friend Josh Garner is just the man to convince her that the coming New Year is going to be the happiest yet… "Moonshine and Mistletoe" by Sarah Title A holiday fling is all Emma Fallader expects when she meets gorgeous fiddler Abe Tate at her friend's wedding-but after just days together, it isn't all she wants. Can the spirit of the season work its special magic for two people separated by more than miles? "An Apple Valley Christmas" by Shirlee McCoy Now that her beloved dad is gone, Emma Baily is facing the holidays alone-until her ex, Jack McAllister, shows up to help her close her father's estate. After four years apart, only the magic of Christmas will show Emma that joy is a gift meant to be shared…