Take Me Home BY Melanie Sweeney

In "Burn Down the House," Hazel Elliot is a woman who never looks back, preferring to move forward with determination even if it means cutting ties completely. However, when she receives an invitation to her father's wedding in Lockett Prairie, Texas—a place she left behind long ago—she reluctantly returns, confronting her past and the memories she's tried to escape.

Ash Campbell has harbored feelings for Hazel since their high school days, despite her dating his best friend. Now, their relationship oscillates between playful banter and competitive interactions at their favorite coffee shop. Despite his unrequited love, Ash respects Hazel's boundaries and enjoys their banter-filled dynamic.

When Ash finds himself stranded due to car trouble just as family obligations demand his presence in Lockett Prairie, Hazel becomes his reluctant chauffeur. However, Hazel sets a strict condition: their relationship must remain unchanged throughout the journey. If anything shifts, she gets ownership of their cherished coffee shop.

As they embark on a road trip across Texas, facing bad weather, awkward accommodations, and close proximity in B&Bs with single beds, their dynamic begins to shift. Hazel's guarded exterior begins to crack as she realizes that running away might no longer be an option in a town where everyone knows everyone else's business.

Throughout the journey, Hazel and Ash confront their past, their unspoken feelings, and the possibility of a future they never anticipated. For Hazel, returning to Lockett Prairie forces her to reevaluate what truly matters and whether her stubborn resolve to always move forward might be holding her back from something meaningful.

"Burn Down the House" is a heartwarming tale of second chances, small-town dynamics, and the transformative power of love and forgiveness. It's a story that explores growth, reconciliation, and the surprising ways that home—and the people within it—can change our lives forever.