She had planned every inch of the Juneteenth celebration—except the man who would change everything.
Simone Caldwell has poured her whole life into Millhaven, Georgia’s beloved annual Jubilee. As the community events coordinator, she has mastered the art of building tables for everyone else—potluck menus, history presentations, volunteer schedules—while quietly forgetting to save a seat for herself. Three weeks before Juneteenth, she does not need an unexpected variable.
Marcus Daye is that variable. The history professor has spent three years avoiding grief, faith, and his hometown in equal measure. Returning to Millhaven to deliver a heritage presentation feels like an obligation—until he meets Simone. Their collaboration ignites immediately: clashing visions, archival discoveries, and long evenings in the community kitchen gradually build something neither of them planned. But when an old complication arrives from Atlanta and both of them retreat behind carefully constructed walls, they must face the hardest question of all—will they cling to self-protection, or finally let go and trust what God has placed right in front of them?A faith journey rooted in real grief: Marcus’s slow return to God—from intellectual distance to a broken, honest prayer under a Georgia oak tree—will speak to anyone who has ever quietly stopped believing and wondered how to begin again.A romance built on something real: Simone and Marcus fall for each other through shared family photographs, community dinners, and arguments about how to tell a story. The feeling is earned, tender, and completely worth waiting for.A rich celebration of Black heritage and Juneteenth: Set in a vibrant small Georgia town preparing for its annual Jubilee, this story honors history, community, and the living faith that sustained generations of freedom.A heroine you will root for: Simone is capable, warm, and quietly lonely—a woman who has organized her way around her own heart for years. Watching her finally learn to receive is one of the book’s greatest joys.Warmth, humor, and unforgettable community: From Grandma Etta’s legendary sweet potato pie to best friend Deja’s unfiltered commentary, this story is full of laughter, belonging, and the kind of characters you will want to move next door to.Perfect for fans of Toni Shiloh, Vanessa Miller, and Patricia Haley—and for anyone who loves a faith-filled romance with cultural depth, community heart, and the courage to believe again.
One-click today and step into Millhaven, Georgia, where the tables are full, the music is playing, and freedom—real freedom—is only a surrender away.
