Christmas in Shelter Springs is the season of twinkling lights, open hearts and unexpected second chances. And for Hannah Goodwin, it also brings the one person she never wanted to see again…
Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Cozy Little Christmas by RaeAnne Thayne, which releases on October 6th 2026.
Hannah’s built a full life for herself in the warmth of her close-knit town, with her family, her work and her music. And when her dear friend Morgan desperately needs her help, Hannah temporarily steps in to care for Morgan’s children. That’s what friends do—especially at the holidays. But she never expected to run into Wes Kenner…
Moving back home is the last thing K9 law enforcement officer Wes Kenner ever wanted. It’s where he fell in love with Hannah—and where an accident changed his mother’s life forever. But when his grandfather needs a helping hand, he can’t say no. It’s the perfect opportunity for him and his beloved K9, Kodiak, to recover. Still, seeing Hannah again fills him with regret—and hope.
After all this time, Hannah still represents all of the joy and light Wes pushed out of his life. Everything he’s desperate to get back. And as Hannah brings much-needed holiday magic to Morgan—and her kids—he realizes this is his chance. Because this Christmas, all he wants is her.
A cozy and uplifting reunion romance about two exes who work together at the holidays to help a family in need—and realize their Christmas wish is for a second chance with their first love.
EXCERPT
Hannah did her best over the next two days to put Wes Kenner out of her head. It wasn’t easy, especially with him living so close to her. Every time she passed his grandfather’s house and saw a light inside, she wondered what he was doing.
The day after she saw him at the Shelter Inn, she caught a glimpse of him shoveling snow as she was heading home from work. She hadn’t slept much that night.
Now as she drove to her first appointment of the day—a resource class at the elementary school, where she worked with children who had speech difficulties—she held her breath as she passed Stanley’s house and carefully averted her gaze. She didn’t want to catch even a glimpse of a shadow moving across a window.
Luck was not with her, though. A block from Stanley’s house, after she had finally let out a breath and relaxed, she glanced out the windshield and spotted two figures on the sidewalk.
Even if she hadn’t recognized the dog, she would have known that was Wes. His gait and form were painfully familiar to her.
When she saw the gorgeous Malinois limping along beside Wes, his hind leg still heavily bandaged, her heart squeezed with sympathy.
What happened to the dog? And why was Wes on leave?
She hadn’t heard any buzz around town that might explain the circumstances. Stanley hadn’t said anything to her either. Was Wes in some kind of trouble? Was he considering leaving the police force?
It was none of her business, she reminded herself. Nothing Wes Kenner did was any of her business now. He had told her that plainly years ago when he walked away from everything they once had without a backward glance.
The memory hit her like a physical blow, transporting her back to that cold winter night when her world had shattered.
She could still hear his voice, as cold as the air around them. I’m sorry but I can’t do this right now. You, this. I can’t be what you need.
She had been completely wrecked, unable to comprehend how he could dismiss everything they had meant to each other so easily.
She remembered returning to her college apartment in Utah feeling like a zombie, completely dead on the inside. Somehow she managed to function—to attend class, go to her various music practices, even perform as the lead singer in a popular local folk band. But she had only been going through the motions of life, as if her heart had been replaced by a metronome—still ticking but completely mechanical.
For months afterward, she would catch herself texting him but deleting before she could send, dialing his number, only to hang up before it could ring. She kept thinking it was all a nightmare. That once he had his head together, he would realize how much he needed her.
Excerpted from Cozy Little Christmas, by RaeAnne Thayne. MIRA, 2026. Reprinted with permission.
