When marketing consultant Tessa Hart returns to her New England hometown to help with its beloved Fall Leaf Festival, she expects a quick project before heading back to her fast-paced life in Boston. But Maplebridge has other plans. Between her mother's charming antique shop, a centuries-old covered bridge strung with glowing lights, and a community stitched together by cider, quilts, and pie, Tessa finds herself remembering what "home" can mean.

Then there's Noah Wilder; steady, patient, and devoted to the town's traditions. He's spent years quietly keeping the bridge, the festival, and the people of Maplebridge safe. But when Tessa begins to dream up new ways to share the town's story, Noah realizes she's building more than postcards and handrails. She's building a life that might just include him.

As lanterns drift down the river and the season edges toward winter, Tessa must choose between the career she's built in the city and the promise of love and belonging waiting on the bridge she thought she'd left behind.

Dianna Aubin is a passionate storyteller and explorer at heart. Whether she's immersed in a captivating book, hiking scenic trails, tending to her garden, or traveling to new places, she finds inspiration in the world around her. When she's not writing, she enjoys unwinding with her husband over video games and spending time with her two playful cats. Her love for adventure, creativity, and nature shines through in everything she does.