Publication Date: May 12, 2026
Four friends made a promise to live one night like it was their last.
That night changed everything.
Ten years ago, Mila Ferguson left behind a devastating fire, a stolen kiss, and a shattered circle of friends in her hometown of Hart’s Landing. But when a crisis brings her back, Mila just wants to get in and get out, unscathed by her mother’s constant criticism and unseen by her former crush, Everett McKean.
Only…Everett is everywhere. The town’s attractive, beloved mayor has resisted settling down, but he’s never stopped wondering about Mila. Having her back in Hart’s Landing is the second chance he didn’t know he was waiting for—and he’s not about to waste it.
As Mila slowly opens her heart to Everett and begins to rebuild her fractured friendships, she wonders if coming home was exactly what she needed. But old wounds threaten to open again when questions emerge about what really happened the night Mila left. Who’s really responsible for the fire that destroyed the bakery? And will knowing the truth free Mila from the past, or ignite a blaze that burns down the future she’s trying to build?
People say you can never truly come home again, but sometimes coming home isn’t about where you’ve been. It’s about who you’re brave enough to become.
Sexy, heartfelt, and steeped in small-town charm, Hart’s Landing is a story of forgiveness, friendship, and finding the family who loves you no matter how far you wander.
In the decade since her world literally exploded, Mila tries to put the past behind her. However, her mother’s request for assistance forces a return.
Author Melanie Harlow delivers an engaging second-chance romance in Hart’s Landing that highlights the ups and downs of returning home.
Mila gets props as a strong character who tolerates her mother’s consistent, hurtful jabs. While on the surface it appears Mila shrugs off the biting comments, the buildup has led to a tendency to be too accommodating in relationships.
Reconnecting with Everett provides a second chance to explore a teen crush. He is the consummate gentleman who has his own heated feelings toward Freckles (aka Mila). His high-profile role as mayor often puts him and those around him in the spotlight.
With small-town flavor, friendships, and interrupted relationships, Hart’s Landing provides just the right mix for a satisfying story.
USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author Melanie Harlow writes sweet, sexy, feel-good romance. She likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. If she’s not writing or reading, she’s probably at Orangetheory or watching Schitt’s Creek again. She lifts her glass to readers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.
She is represented by Rebecca Friedman of Friedman Literary.
