What makes a place feel like home? A mother’s embrace, the warmth of new friendship, a sweet reunion—all can be found in these unforgettable stories . . .

THREE’S A CROWD * Fern Michaels
This Mother’s Day will be the first in three years that Samantha Stewart has spent with her parents. And she’s bringing a very special gift—the baby granddaughter they’ve never met. Sam’s work as an overseas reporter was exhilarating and dangerous. Now she’s seeking stability for little Caroline—and answers for herself—and finding them in a homecoming full of surprises . . .

NEW BEGINNINGS IN BLUE HOLLOW FALLS * Donna Kauffman
The moment she set foot in Blue Hollow Falls, Dubliner Katie MacMillan felt right at home. Back to help with her sister’s pregnancy, she’s contemplating her own future, especially when she confronts Declan MacGregor, her childhood tormentor and first crush. This Blue Ridge town was supposed to be a new beginning, but can it also be the setting for a second chance?

BRING ME HOME * Melissa Storm
For Hazel Long, spending time with her bedridden father is bittersweet. There’s comfort in the friendship offered by other hospital visitors—and the kindness of a handsome male nurse. And when Hazel’s father begins to tell her the story of the mother she barely knew, it’s an unexpected chance to bond, and a lesson in making the most of each new day.

Growing up, I always felt like an outsider.

Maybe it was because I preferred books and animals to people, which made me different (and awkward) in school. Maybe it was because I didn’t really know my biological father and felt like only a “half” among my siblings. Maybe it was something else entirely.

A year and a half ago, my therapist told me I might be autistic, and I didn’t handle it well. Not because it wasn’t true, but because it was. I went into a full-on identity crisis. Even after I “made it” in the real world, that feeling of not quite belonging never went away.

How could I graduate from college with the highest honors, land a full-time job afterward, and then go on to become a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author who juggled at least three pen names at any given time?

When I was invited to join an anthology alongside my dear friend, the late Donna Kauffman, and the legendary Fern Michaels, I said yes without hesitation.

On release day, Home Sweet Home hit the New York Times bestseller list.

It was one of the happiest, most surreal days of my life… and also one of the saddest. Not long after we received the news, Donna passed away after a long, courageous battle with cancer.

My story in the anthology is the prequel to The Sunday Potluck Club series. It features Hazel Long as the heroine, a young woman watching her father fight cancer while life quietly offers her a glimpse of joy and the promise of belonging. Her visits to the hospital turn into something more—a chance to find hope, connection, and a new beginning.

Owning my autism diagnosis is my new beginning. Claiming that truth isn’t just a personal milestone. It’s a way to create visibility, justice, and belonging for others like me. If you’ve ever felt “off,” “too much,” or “hard to explain”… maybe you’re not broken. Maybe you’re just wired differently.

If you’re still searching for where you belong, please don’t give up. Because when you find that place, it’s everything. I’m proof of that.

Warm fuzzies,
Melissa S.