"Here To Stay" by Melissa Tagg

Autumn Kingsley has dreamed of getting out of her small hometown on Lake Michigan for as long as she can remember. Her goals after college were short-circuited when her mother handed over the keys to their family inn and Autumn had to step into the manager's position. Now Autumn has a job lined up in Paris and only has to get things settled at the Kingsley Inn before everything is squared away for her new life adventure.

Returning to Whisper Shore is Blake Hunziker, who left several years ago following the tragic death of his hometown hero brother. Having outlasted his need to escape his past, and being given 15 minutes of fame as the fake husband of a TV celebrity (as told in Melissa's book Made To Last), Blake is ready to return home and set up a normal, sensible life. But not everyone is ready to welcome him with open arms and forgive the part he played on the day Ryan died. Feeling desperate to get into Whisper Shore's good graces and help the town's economy, Blake agrees to coordinate the annual Christmas festival.

Needing a co-coordinator, someone suggests Autumn. But Kingsleys and Hunzikers don't get along, either as business rivals or personal friends. They're the Hatfields and McCoys of Whisper Shore! Blake decides to extend an olive branch and offer to help fix up the Kingsley Inn if Autumn will help with the festival, and Autumn is definitely in need of the assistance. A famous investor is coming to Whisper Shore and she is determined to catch his attention and save the inn before jetting off to France.

I enjoyed this novel so much! I loved the depth of the characters, and Blake's inner burden resounded with me because of inner burdens in my own life. The unexpected friendship and something more that bloomed between Autumn and Blake seemed very natural and unforced, and there are enough unexpected antics that you'll find yourself laughing all throughout the story. With Autumn determined to leave and Blake determined to stay, plus years of family history and rivalry working against them, a romantic relationship is something they both want to keep off the table. But sometimes it's love that is here to stay and requires us to change our expectations.

With an inn as a central location, a small town setting, and a great cast of characters, there were hints of Gilmore Girls between the lines. Melissa's stories are all so fun and entertaining - if you haven't read her books yet, you should get right on it!