Sylvia Moore returns to Dickens during the annual Christmas in July festival, hoping to land the New England location for a new Christmas romance movie. She knows the town will award only one filming permit a year but is confident the deal’s in Santa’s bag.

After all, she’s the hometown girl with the hometown advantage.

But her rival, Chase Ellis, is also in town, and he’s out to grab the Dickens location for a movie, too, working the locals and smooth-talking the town council. This is a familiar snowy path and Sylva ponders whether to confront or avoid him. They’re both staying at Holly Hill Inn, so avoiding him—and his molten chocolate brown eyes—is impossible.

Then Chase proposes a sweet as Christmas candy deal. When that falls through, Sylvia counters with a deal of her own.
Both know their reputations and careers are on the line. Sylvia assures her boss the contract is in her Christmas stocking. Chase knows if he loses, he risks future jobs for his newly formed company. And if that isn’t enough, the competition takes on an unexpected twist when the two sneak kisses that could scorch even the hottest of days during the Christmas in July festival.

Kevin “Max” Maxwell would never have willingly sold his winery to anyone named “Price.” Family always comes first, and if paying for his sister’s cancer treatment cost him his business, it was worth it. But when the new owner offers him a one year contract to stay on as general manager, with a possible bonus, he really can’t afford to turn it down. He can ignore the effect her deep brown eyes and heart-shaped face have on his senses for a year, can’t he?

Relationships, like slowly ripening vineyards, take time. But Max has been keeping a secret from Tessa, one that could destroy her hopes for their future. Will a terrible accident force Tessa and Max to face how much they have to lose, or tear apart their budding relationship forever? Sometimes a romance is like a fine wine. To be its best, it just needs time to breathe.