Hello, readers, and Happy Fall!
I have some wonderful news to share with you! Beneath the Autumn Stars is set to release EARLY! I’m so excited to bring you this cozy, emotional, second-chance romance set in the charming town of Foxhaven.
And what better way to celebrate than by sharing the FIRST CHAPTER with you?!
If you love small-town charm, autumn magic, second chances, and a love that never truly faded, I hope you’ll fall in love with Heather and Kade as much as I have.
Beneath the Autumn Stars
In Foxhaven, autumn is for second chances… if you’re brave enough to take them.
Twelve years ago, Heather and Kade almost had everything—until life, duty, and one painful misunderstanding tore them apart.
Now, Heather has built a life around her son, her career, and the future she’s working tirelessly to secure. She has no room for risks… and definitely no room for heartbreak.
And Kade MacLean? He’s the definition of both.
After a decade as a Navy SEAL, Kade is home for thirty days of leave, helping at his grandparents’ bakery while deciding whether a quieter life might be possible. He expected flour-dusted mornings, the warmth of the ovens, and the scent of cinnamon and sugar.
He never expected to see Heather again—the woman who has haunted him since the day he left.
As autumn leaves tumble in fiery reds and golds, a connection that never truly faded roars back to life. But with Kade’s leave running out and old wounds reopening, they must decide whether this season is truly their second chance… or just one more goodbye.
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I hope you enjoy this first chapter and that it makes you want to take a little trip to Foxhaven with me and my characters. Thank you for being here, for reading my stories, and for sharing in this exciting journey!
Have a wonderful day, and happy fall season!
Beneath the Autumn Stars
Chapter One
In the early morning sun, the
town’s church steeple glowed in the distance like a welcoming beacon Kade
wasn’t sure he deserved. It had been fifteen years since he’d been…home. He
inwardly grimaced at the thought of that word. Home. Had any place he
lived ever been home?
“Square peg, meet round hole,” Kade
mutters, and the engine of his grandfather’s old truck grumbled as if in
agreement. He smirked, maybe the rickety bucket dreaded the day to come as much
as he did. Folks would recognize the truck long before they recognized him, but
once they did, the questions and trite remarks would begin.
Kade shifted gears; the truck
rattled as it slowed. Like him, the vehicle had seen better days. They were
both dented and even a little rusted from years of service. Still, he wouldn’t
trade this sun-bleached metal tank, with its cracked leather bench seat that
squeaked with every bump, for anything in the world. This truck held years of
childhood memories, as did the town he was quickly approaching.
He’d spent every summer with his
grandparents on the farm, stocking shelves in their little produce shop and
helping Gran at the bakery, where her pumpkin cinnamon rolls had become world-famous.
Until he was sixteen.
Until his parents’ accident.
Until the move to Foxhaven changed
everything, and he met her.
Perhaps that was what had called
him back. Not his sense of duty to his family, the property, the produce stand,
or the bakery, but the memories of a time filled with warmth, happiness, and
belonging. A time that no longer existed, and feelings that seemed…unreal now.
His grip tightened around the worn steering
wheel as he turned down Main Street.
Foxhaven. The definition of a
quaint, small northeastern town. Complete with neat storefronts draped with fall
garland, pumpkins graced every porch, and the noble trees lining the streets
glowed with red and gold leaves. Not a single Starbucks or chain
restaurant to be found. Signs advertising the annual Autumn Festival, proudly
displayed in every shop window, called the public to action and attractions:
pie bake-offs, barn dances, pumpkin patches, apple picking, hayrides, and every
other fall activity imaginable. The stuff Hallmark could easily make
into a kitschy movie.
He eased into a space outside his
grandmother’s bakery, which was located across from the storybook town square
and its white gazebo. Prime real estate. The street was silent at this early
hour, but soon it would buzz with residents and tourists.
Exiting the truck, the crisp autumn
air greeted him with a gentle caress to his face. Soothing. He inhaled deeply,
and there it was, that earthy fragrance of fall he hadn’t realized he had
missed. Over the years he had grown accustomed to California’s mild seasons.
Out there one day seemed to bleed into the next until time was forgotten. Here,
every turn of the season hit hard, impossible to ignore. Each shift marked an
end and sparked a new beginning.
He was undoubtedly at an end. After
twelve years in the Navy, he decided not to re-up. There were eighteen months
left on his contract, and then he was out. His grandfather had asked him why he
wouldn’t finish the full twenty, had harped on the benefits of a pension and
medical, but the truth was simple. He didn’t have it in him anymore. The fire.
The drive. And the cost outweighed the value. He’d sacrificed his youth, his
body, his mental well-being, and his personal relationships. He’d given the
Navy everything. Maybe too much. And he was done.
But he knew little outside of
service life. He had graduated from high school, tried college for a few terms,
then signed up and shipped out. There had been a reason he ditched small-town living,
and he refused to think about her.
Kade shook his head, dispelling the
memories. There was no use reliving the past; nothing could change it, and he’d
learned over the years that some memories were better left buried. The best
thing to do was to keep moving forward.
So, the question nagged now as it
had when he requested these thirty days of leave. Why was he returning to
Foxhaven? Was it the almost magical change of the season that drew him here?
Was it the hope of a new beginning? Did he even want a new beginning? If so, he
doubted he would find one here in picturesque Foxhaven. In his past.
He scanned the town with a careful eye,
missing not a single detail. The town was charming. Safe. The perfect place to
raise a family and enjoy a slower-paced life. After all the time he had spent
away, after all he had seen, after all he had done, could he fit himself into
the American dream? Did he want that life? A wife. Kids. A mortgage. A steady
nine-to-five job. After living over a decade in the shadows, “normal” life
sounded so…foreign.
Aside from his grandparents and a
handful of fond memories, the town held nothing for him. He would be better off
spending his next few years traveling, enjoying his freedom, and if he never
found a place to settle, then so be it.
Foxhaven should feel like home, and
in a way, it did. But shouldn’t coming home feel like…relief? A shelter from
the madness of the world? Damned if he knew, but it sure wasn’t supposed to
feel like this.
Yeah, square peg. Round hole.
The town was the same. His
grandfather’s truck was the same. The people were the same. It seemed the only thing that had
changed was him, and perhaps that was the problem.
He took a deep breath, drawing that
rustic fall perfume into his lungs. Closing his eyes, he focused on the fragrance:
damp earth, fallen leaves, wood-smoke, and the sweet aromas drifting on the
cool breeze from his grandmother’s bakery. His mind calmed, the tightness
filling his chest eased, and the memories melted away. Peace settled within him
for the first time in months. Hell, it had been years.
He opened his eyes and released a
sigh as he leaned against the cab of the truck. A quick glance at his watch
told him he needed to head inside. The bakery would open soon, and he’d come
into town to help Gran.
But he wasn’t ready to surrender the
sense of peace that settled over him like a warm flannel. So, he remained with
the old truck and watched the last remnants of night slip away.
Golden sunlight lit up
Main Street as cars moved by and footsteps echoed on the sidewalk. The charming
bells on store-front doors jingled. The town was awake.
As if on cue, a familiar
voice called his name. Tension coiled around his spine as he slowly turned to
face the one responsible for shattering his brief calm. He’d known the
sensation wouldn’t last, but he hadn’t expected nor wanted it to end so soon.
He stifled a
disgruntled groan when his gaze landed on the petite, dark-haired woman rushing
towards him.
“Oh. My. God.” Each
word spoken grew louder with excitement. “It is you! Kade MacLean.” She came to
a halt in front of the truck. “I need to put these down before I hit the
pavement.” She placed the cardboard tray of travel coffee cups she carried down
on the paint-chipped hood. “Oh, goodness, I could faint.”
Funny. So could he.
Instead, he grated, “Hi, Angela,” his voice rough from disuse. He had never
been much of a talker, just like his grandfather, which suited him fine since
Gran was a champion of chit-chat.
“If you weren’t by this
ancient hunk of junk and hadn’t parked outside that bakery,” she gestured
toward the storefront, “I wouldn’t believe it was you.”
He crossed his arms
over his chest and leaned back against the truck once more. Appearing relaxed,
when he couldn’t be further from it. “Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve been back.”
“Awhile?” Angela laughed.
“Shoot, it’s been forever.” She began counting on her fingers. “At least thirteen
years or more. Donnie and I got married not long after you left.”
He awkwardly offered late
congratulations, although from what he could recall of Angela and Donald,
they’d been heading towards matrimony since middle school. She thanked him,
then gave him the rundown of her life. She and Donald had three children; she
worked as a nurse in the next town over, and he was Foxhaven’s number one—more likely
the only—CPA.
“That’s all great. I’m
glad you’re doing well.” Kade made a show of checking his watch. “I’ve got to
get inside and help Gran set up for the morning rush.”
Angela continued as if
she hadn’t heard a word he said, and she likely hadn’t. “I’ve been going on and
on about myself. Where have you been? I heard you joined the military or
something like that and have been out on the West Coast.”
“Something along those
lines,” he hedged.
She let out a playful
huff and rolled her eyes. “I see you’re still a man of fewer than few words.”
Reluctantly he confirmed,
“I joined the Navy and have been living in California.” He wasn’t one to talk
about himself, not to mention his profession wasn’t something he liked to share.
“When did you get into
town, and how long will you be staying? Oh, I hope you will be here for the annual
Autumn Festival.”
“I’ve got thirty days
of leave.”
“Terrific!” she clapped
her hands excitedly. “I’m sure you remember the festival. It never disappoints.
And, in my opinion, fall is the most romantic season. It is cozy and cool, but
not cold. It has the best flavors: apple, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, maple, and
so much more. Not to mention the scents.”
Romantic? How could a season
be romantic? But Kade remained silent as she continued to yammer on about
all the reasons that she believed fall was the most romantic season, all while
he retreated toward the bakery doors. Closer. Closer. He could now feel the heat
drifting from the storefront. Freedom was near; all he needed was to give
Angela a nice brush-off and duck inside.
“Have you finally
brought home a special someone to introduce to the family?”
Kade’s steps halted,
and his brain glitched. “I’m sorry. What?” He had focused on making his escape,
so he had not noticed her train of thought derailing from the festival track.
Now her chatter about romance made sense, though it remained ridiculous.
“Your reason for coming
back to Foxhaven. Do you have a big announcement to share? Like an engagement—”
“No.” He may have said
that word too loudly, too forcefully, too quickly. He swallowed, his throat
suddenly feeling tight. “I’m here to help my grandparents.”
Angela’s eyes sparkled
with mischief, and when her lips curled into a sweet smile, fear twisted his
gut. Was she going to play matchmaker? Good lord, no. The last thing he needed
was an entanglement with a woman in this small town, where everyone knew
everything about everyone. He was here for thirty days and wasn’t interested in
a fling. He only wanted to help his grandparents and test the waters of
possibly returning once his contract was up.
“You know—”
The bakery’s doorbell
jingled, drawing the pair’s attention to the stout, silver-haired woman
stepping out. Flour dusted her left cheek, and chocolate smeared her pink
apron. “Where have you been?” she asked, clapping him on the shoulder. “I could
use a set of brawny arms.”
Kade didn’t hesitate.
He sidestepped into the bakery, inhaled the scent of freshly baked cookies, and
the headache that had been forming at his temples receded. Again, his peace was
short-lived.
“Oh, Gran MacLean, good
morning!” Angela beamed. “I was just catching up with your boy. It’s so
exciting he’s back in town.”
“Yes, a wonderful
surprise,” Gran added, her voice dropping into a tone that was far too
innocent. “Best of all, he’ll be here for the entire Autumn Festival.”
Angela’s smile grew
brighter. Dangerous.
Kade’s internal alarm
bells blared. What was happening? Were they speaking in code? To anyone
else, this exchange may seem like small-town repartee, but he knew better. Instinct
told him something funny was going on, and his senses sprang to life.
His timing wasn’t some cosmic alignment; it
was a gap in his training cycle.
“Well, I need to get
going. I’ve got people waiting, and they seriously need a caffeine fix. I’ll
see you both later.” Angela hurried to the truck, grabbed her coffee trays and nearly
sprinted to her minivan.
“I was wondering what
was keeping you,” Gran said with a chuckle. “That girl can talk.” She wrapped
her flour-dusted fingers around his wrist and tugged him into the shop. The
scent of vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar was a delightful assault on his senses.
Instantly, his calm returned, and he was grateful.
“You may not think it,
but you’re lucky she’s the first person you ran into. She’s no doubt already
sent a zillion text messages about you being back. The entire town will know,
and maybe people won’t bother you as much.
“I highly doubt that,
and I hope you have some aspirin or Tylenol. “There’s no way I’m making it
through the day without a headache.”
That statement earned
him Gran’s heartfelt laugh. “Chin up, darling.”
He removed his dark blue
flannel jacket and hung it on the coat rack beside the door before washing his
hands. “What do you need me to do? I’m here to work.”
“We’ve got pumpkin
cinnamon rolls to frost. They are my top sellers this time of year. Not to
brag, because you know, I never do that.”
It was his turn to laugh.
Gran continued, “They
are award-winning, after all. People come from far and wide to enjoy them, so
we must get them out. Place them front and center.”
He went straight to
work, surprised he had not forgotten how to, as Gran referred to it, “frost
pretty.”
“So, did Angela mention
anything about her friend?”
He dropped his palette
knife and straightened, his shoulders rolling back. His voice tinged with a
hardness he rarely used outside of instructing new troops. “No.”
“Well, it may interest
you—”
“Please, Gran, that was
nothing but a young, dumb infatuation. Besides, I heard she moved away and got
married some years back.” He shook his head. “I’d much rather not talk about
her.”
She held her hands up
as if in surrender, but he knew better than to believe this discussion was
over.
The door chimed.
Customers. He released the breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding and returned
his focus to the pumpkin cinnamon rolls. Once done, he took up the tray and
followed her from the kitchen and out into the shop front. He placed the pastries
in the display case and turned to retrieve more when she whispered, “You’re
going to have a hard time avoiding the topic when she is in town.”
Just like a bomb
detonating, his inevitable headache exploded.
Copyright A.J. Greene, Amanda Greene, 2026
