Blessings & Beans — Stacy Eaton

Hope Wells is a lifetime resident of Celebration Township and lives on coffee fumes and love stories at her downtown store, Beans and Books. As each one of her friends has found love, she's been glad for them -- and secretly envious of their happiness. As much as she wants to find a man, she knows that the odds are stacked against her, especially with the medical issue she has kept hidden from everyone. Aaron Findley was born in Celebration but left when he was a boy. A few months back, he returned after his mother passed away, and even the racecars he drives couldn't get him out of town fast enough. His sister, Alesandra might enjoy the little podunk town, but he prefers the fast life: fast cars, fast cities, and beautiful, flashy women. Six weeks before Thanksgiving, Aaron crashes his racecar and lands in the hospital in serious condition. When he is discharged three weeks later, he finds that he has fewer friends than he originally thought and a career that went up in flames with his car. His only choice is to convalesce at his sister's house in Celebration. Grumpy and bored, Aaron finds himself hiding at the small coffee shop for hours as he comes to terms with his new life. As Hope befriends a less arrogant Aaron, she chips away at his thick armor and realizes that the two of them have quite a bit in common -- but will their friendship turn into a blessing for them both, or will it be just another crash and burn that will destroy them?