Hometown Holiday Heartstrings Series by Emily Dana Botrous

He prefers plants to people. She’s a black thumb. Can love bloom?Kim is stagnating in her hometown, like a dying flower. When her mother asks her to create a flower garden to enter into a local competition, Kim decides it’ll be her last big hurrah before skipping town for a new start. But with her wilted gardening skills, she can’t pull it off alone, especially since her mom wants tulips. The only person who might be able to help is her brother’s best friend... moreHe prefers plants to people. She’s a black thumb. Can love bloom?Kim is stagnating in her hometown, like a dying flower. When her mother asks her to create a flower garden to enter into a local competition, Kim decides it’ll be her last big hurrah before skipping town for a new start. But with her wilted gardening skills, she can’t pull it off alone, especially since her mom wants tulips. The only person who might be able to help is her brother’s best friend. Trouble is, she’s liked him for years despite his prickly personality, and he never noticed.Jake has met with a lot of loss in life. The only thing he can keep alive is a plant. Besides his friend Dusty, Jake has no use for anyone, including God. So when Dusty’s sister asks him for help, he turns her down flat—until he realizes he needs her help, too. Trading tulips and time for business advice, Jake finds there’s more to Kim than he’s ever noticed before. Too bad the only way to keep her safe is to keep her out of his heart.When things get weedy, Kim must decide whether to dig in her roots or move on. Can Jake trust that God is enough to bridge the distance between the pain in the past and the promise of the future? less

He knows the pain of betrayal. She has a past that could ruin her future. What can heal their brokenness?Tony Coniglio loves being single again and the freedom that comes with it. But when he’s pressured to ask out the next available woman, he agrees, just to get his family off his back—even though she’s the town’s all-too-serious cop. Officer Stacy Kallisto is by the book. Maybe it’s because she once broke the rules and has regretted it ever since... moreHe knows the pain of betrayal. She has a past that could ruin her future. What can heal their brokenness?Tony Coniglio loves being single again and the freedom that comes with it. But when he’s pressured to ask out the next available woman, he agrees, just to get his family off his back—even though she’s the town’s all-too-serious cop. Officer Stacy Kallisto is by the book. Maybe it’s because she once broke the rules and has regretted it ever since. When trouble around town leaves Stacy searching for the culprit, she keeps running into Tony, the one man who wants to know more about her than she wants to share. As sparks fly and secrets are revealed, Stacy wonders if there’s room in her heart for a man so different from herself—and for the God she wrote off long ago. less

One kiss, two wounded hearts, and the Christmas that rekindled their vows.Marcy Delaney might not think she’s the sharpest set of shears in the salon, but she makes up for it with her people skills. As her town’s chatty hairstylist, she doesn’t consider anyone a stranger—except her university-educated husband who’s rarely home. Her conclusion? He’s bored with her lack of wit, and she can’t blame him.Colt Delaney has never fit in. Not in the big city where he grew up... moreOne kiss, two wounded hearts, and the Christmas that rekindled their vows.Marcy Delaney might not think she’s the sharpest set of shears in the salon, but she makes up for it with her people skills. As her town’s chatty hairstylist, she doesn’t consider anyone a stranger—except her university-educated husband who’s rarely home. Her conclusion? He’s bored with her lack of wit, and she can’t blame him.Colt Delaney has never fit in. Not in the big city where he grew up. And certainly not in the tiny town his wife won’t leave. Now he’s stuck there, too, unless he’s traveling for work. And when he is home, Marcy doesn’t seem to want anything to do with him. It’s no surprise, though. Rejection has been his closest friend since childhood.This Christmas the secrets they hold may break the final thread of their marriage and the faith they once held dear—until one simple kiss beneath the mistletoe reminds them of all the reasons they fell in love in the first place. Content warning: contains flashback scenes of child abuse and emotional trauma. Each story in the Hometown Holiday Heartstrings series can be enjoyed as a standalone, although characters are introduced in earlier books and may reappear in subsequent novels. less

Let her stubborn but oh-so-dreamy neighbor remain single? Not on her watch. If only he weren’t her perfect match.Kendra Keller prides herself in her matchmaking prowess until she tries to set up Dusty Williams. He has a knack for derailing her plans while making her weak in the knees. She knows when she’s not wanted, though, and has no desire for a repeat heartbreak.Dusty has been dodging Kendra for months. She talks too much. Plus, all she wants is to play matchmaker, and he’s not interested... moreLet her stubborn but oh-so-dreamy neighbor remain single? Not on her watch. If only he weren’t her perfect match.Kendra Keller prides herself in her matchmaking prowess until she tries to set up Dusty Williams. He has a knack for derailing her plans while making her weak in the knees. She knows when she’s not wanted, though, and has no desire for a repeat heartbreak.Dusty has been dodging Kendra for months. She talks too much. Plus, all she wants is to play matchmaker, and he’s not interested. He has a more pressing problem, and he doesn’t want to talk about it. But when Kendra moves in across the way, there’s no more avoiding.As Dusty discovers she’s not so bad—maybe even meant to be—can he admit his attraction when he’s at his lowest? He may be the only one who can make Kendra believe she has more to offer a man than mere matchmaking.Each story in the Hometown Holiday Heartstrings series can be enjoyed as a standalone, although characters are introduced in earlier books and may reappear in subsequent novels. less

An ex-con youth pastor. A single mom who won’t step foot in church. A match made in heaven? They don’t think so.A pastor? Not for Lisa Appleton. She’s not exactly on speaking terms with the Almighty, nor is she remotely interested in giving love another chance. So she’s a little ticked when her matchmaking friend tries to set her up with the new youth pastor in town. But when an emergency leaves her and her three daughters temporarily homeless, Pastor Ric warmly opens his doors... moreAn ex-con youth pastor. A single mom who won’t step foot in church. A match made in heaven? They don’t think so.A pastor? Not for Lisa Appleton. She’s not exactly on speaking terms with the Almighty, nor is she remotely interested in giving love another chance. So she’s a little ticked when her matchmaking friend tries to set her up with the new youth pastor in town. But when an emergency leaves her and her three daughters temporarily homeless, Pastor Ric warmly opens his doors.Ricardo de Leon paid for the mistakes of his past—for seven years without freedom. A changed man, he never dreamed transitioning to a small town—and new culture—would be this hard. Since he has dedicated himself to service to God and God alone, he doesn’t think twice before lending a helping hand to Lisa, who makes her distrust of him clear. What neither of them counted on? Falling in love. The Promise of Picnics is the final book in the Hometown Holiday Heartstrings series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but when reading out of order, there may be minor spoilers. less