Song of the Smokies

She was just one of the guys…everybody's friend but nobody's girlfriend. When his father has a stroke, bad-boy Kyle Worthington drags himself back to Murphy, North Carolina, where his one-time best friend accused him of starting the fire that left her scarred. Though he sees the accusation in everyone's eyes, he'll be there for his mother, but he has no intention of visiting his harsh, demanding father…or renewing the relationship he once had with his former best friend. In spite of Kyle's denials, Samantha Atkinson knows what she saw, and nothing will convince her otherwise. As circumstances force them together, they struggle their way back to a tentative friendship. Although Samantha has always been attracted to Kyle, she doesn't have any delusions. She's seen the kind of women he dates, and she's not it. Soon, Sam finds what she has wholeheartedly believed cast in doubt, and Kyle has to take a hard look at his priorities. Together, they just might learn that home really is where the heart is-a place of healing, forgiveness, reconciliation…and love.

A jaded New York City lawyer… a quirky small-town reporter… and a zany old matchmaker who won't give up. Grant McAllister arrives in Murphy, North Carolina, with one aim: to sell his inherited property and leave as quickly as possible. The big-city lawyer has no interest in his late, estranged grandparents or the dilapidated mansion he just acquired. After his high-profile divorce, he should be avoiding perky reporters, too. But Jami Carlisle is honest, funny, and undeniably appealing. After breaking up with her safe-but-smothering boyfriend, Jami is determined to ace her first big assignment. A story about the McAllister estate is too intriguing to ignore much like its handsome, commitment-phobic heir. Thanks to her digging, the pieces of Grant's fraught family history are gradually fitting into place, but also upending all his old beliefs. The two draw closer as they share their dreams, until misread signals and misunderstandings begin to test their trust. But in the unspoiled beauty of the Smoky Mountains, there's healing and forgiveness to be found. And for Grant, this unplanned detour may be just what's needed to finally guide him home.

Sometimes tragedies are blessings in disguise… Golden girl Holly Gunderson has always lived a charmed life, but when a rape results in pregnancy, her dreams come crashing down around her. She returns home to Murphy, North Carolina, where her parents surprise her with an ultimatum she can't live with. Since his beloved boss committed suicide, construction worker Alex Shepherd has spent the past eight months living on his savings while finishing projects for his boss's widow. He arrives in Murphy almost broke, ready to remodel the fixer-upper his aunt just bought. He's hoping his stay in Murphy will bring him some peace and also help to replenish his bank account. He isn't prepared for his aunt's involvement with the local crisis pregnancy center or her beautiful houseguest's struggles. Both hit too close to home. Though Alex and Holly are from opposite ends of the social spectrum, a friendship develops between them, and they find they have more in common than they realize, until deep-seated insecurities drive them apart. But maybe this unplanned stay in the mountains holds healing for both of them, with prospects of a bright future…a new beginning.