Jesse's Christmas

Two years ago, Jesse Connor’s life shattered—his heart broken, his trust destroyed, and his love for Christmas turned to ash. The man he planned to marry vanished, leaving behind chaos, scandal, and a hollow echo of the future they were meant to share.

Now broke, burnt out, and creatively drained, Jesse is forced to take one last chance—photographing a picture-perfect Christmas countdown in Eden Vale, Vermont, for a glossy holiday campaign. He’s expecting forced cheer and small-town clichés.

He’s not expecting Gabriel McClurey.

The innkeeper’s son, with eyes like winter skies and a smile that thaws even the coldest heart, is everything Jesse isn’t—grounded, kind, and quietly devastating. One snow-covered morning, a misplaced photograph and a fall in the snow spark the beginning of something unexpected.

But Jesse didn’t come here for love. And Gabriel’s life is deeply rooted in a town Jesse can’t wait to leave.

This Christmas, surrounded by candlelight, laughter, and the gentle magic of a town that believes in second chances, Jesse must decide—can he risk his heart one more time?

Sometimes, the best stories begin where you least expect them… under a snowfall, behind a camera lens, and with one kiss that changes everything.