Burnt Boot, Texas

Carolyn Brown

After two tours in Afghanistan, retired Army sniper Finn O’Donnell is searching for peace on his new ranch outside Burnt Boot, Texas—but quiet proves elusive when Bridget O’Malley and the baby in her care enter his life. Suddenly responsible for her best friend’s child, Bridget has little time to consider her own future, much less the guarded cowboy who seems determined to keep his distance. As Christmas draws near, an unexpected connection gives them both a chance to heal, find belonging, and discover whether love can thrive amid second chances and small-town complications.