Excerpt from the Book

Abbi Gearheart forced one last box of cleaning supplies into her trunk and winced as her car, Rust Bucket, groaned when she slammed the lid. “Okay, Rust Bucket, time to test your engine skills.” Abbi climbed in the driver’s seat and plugged the Caruso family address into her GPS.

The Caruso home was ten minutes away, but no computer program would be able to factor in Abbi’s learning curve. She’d traded driving throughout Northeast Ohio to her new life in the Tennessee mountains. Each curve, ascent and descent seemed symbolic of her shattered dreams.

Abbi wasn’t just driving to her first cleaning business client, but launching a personal reset. The do-over would give Abbi a new career. Now she would no longer be in a demanding public relations job with a minor league baseball team outside of Youngstown. This was her second chance thanks to Clean Sweep. Sure, she barely cleaned her apartment back home, and her experience in this line of work was a big fat zero. But the attempt to wipe the residue off her past had to be a success. There weren’t any funds or pieces of her heart left to fail again.

She hummed along to her Brandon Lake playlist as the Caruso mailbox came into view. As Rust Bucket crawled up the drive, two Labrador Retrievers raced in her direction, but stopped in front of a line of blazing red shrubbery. Once Abbi safely navigated past the clearly trained dogs, she noted the white rocking chairs that dotted the wraparound porch. Totally reminds me of the place my aunt took me to on a trip when I was little. Abbi wasn’t sure where to park, but chose behind the modest SUV with a Dogwood Creek cheerleader sticker. As soon as she opened the doors, the chocolate lab was at her feet, tail wagging. “Well, hello. My first furry friend in Dogwood Creek.”

Suddenly the dog sprinted toward the front door adorned with a large harvest wreath. The lighter color Lab scrambled up the porch steps and barked at the sight of a middle-aged woman with a bright cast on her arm.

“Are you Abbi?” The neon pink cast waved back and forth.

Do I open my trunk and get my supplies? Introduce myself? This is all so new. She leaned against the trunk and offered a small smile. “Yes, Abbi Gearheart. I’m here to clean for Mrs. Caruso.”

The woman gave a hearty laugh. “Mrs. Caruso is my mother-in-law. Please call me Alicia. I insist. Now come on in, Abbi, before you catch a chill.”

Chill? Even for November the mountain breeze still felt warmer than Ohio. Abbi locked her car and walked toward the porch where Alicia stood wearing a red and white Dogwood Creek Community Church sweatshirt and light denim jeans.

Abbi extended her hand, but Alicia opened her arms.

“You look like you could use a hug, Abbi Gearheart. Is that okay?”

Want to know more about the book?

Sometimes the messiest moments lead to the most miraculous grace.

After a public breakup leaves Abbi Gearheart humiliated and heartbroken, she escapes to Dogwood Creek, Tennessee, hoping to rebuild her life far from the spotlight—and even farther from athletes. With her new cleaning business and the gentle encouragement of stained glass artist Alicia Caruso and her matchmaking family, Abbi begins to find peace in the quiet rhythms of small-town life.

Seth Chamberlin is a beloved coach, teacher, and mentor at Dogwood Creek High. His faith runs deep, but so do the wounds from a strained relationship with his father. When he meets Abbi, he’s drawn to her strength and vulnerability, but she’s made it clear that friendship is all she’s willing to offer.

A powerful sermon on forgiveness challenges them both. For Abbi, to release the pain of betrayal, and for Seth, to seek reconciliation with the father he thought he’d lost. As they walk separate paths toward healing, could God be gently sweeping them toward something more?

A tender story of grace, second chances, and the kind of love that only grows when hearts surrender.

Small-town charm and rediscovered dreams are always in season in Dogwood Creek, Tennessee.

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About the Author

Julie Arduini writes small‑town Christian romances woven with themes of surrender, second chances, and the occasional chocolate craving. She is the author of the Surrendering Hearts series—Anchored Hearts, Repairing Hearts, Building Hearts, and more—as well as the Surrendering Time series (Entrusted, Entangled, Engaged).

Julie also co‑authored the YA/Women’s Fiction series Surrendering Stinkin’ Thinkin’ with her daughter, which includes You’re Beautiful, You’re Amazing, and You’re Brilliant. Her stand‑alone romances include Match Made in Heaven and Restoring Christmas.

In 2025, Julie joined Leah Atwood, Robin Bayne, JoAnn Durgin, Dawn Kinzer, Lisa Prysock, and Lori Soard in the collaborative small‑town romance series Dogwood Creek Matchmakers.

She shares encouragement, behind‑the‑scenes insights, and updates on her blog at juliearduini.com and on Substack. Julie lives in Ohio with her husband and daughter.

Learn more at http://linktr.ee/JulieArduini.

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