When Manhattan chef and restaurateur Ruth Hughes learns she’s inherited a long-abandoned café in her hometown of Danville Falls, Connecticut, she thinks it’s a mistake. When she learns the inheritance comes with strings attached—live there, restore it, and make it profitable within a year—she’s certain of it. Ruth has fought hard to earn her place in New York City’s cutthroat culinary world. Leaving behind her thriving restaurant to move back home means facing everything she once escaped: her well-meaning but overbearing parents, a town that never forgets, and a past she’s spent twenty years running from. What she doesn’t expect is Tom Green. Once the reckless bad boy who swept her into a single unforgettable night, Tom is now a grounded, successful pub owner with deep roots in Danville Falls. He’s wary of Ruth’s return—and the competition her new restaurant could bring—but the spark between them reignites instantly, burning hotter than either of them is prepared for. As Ruth pours her heart into rebuilding the café, sabotage threatens everything she’s worked for. When suspicion turns toward Tom, the growing trust between them begins to fracture. Old wounds resurface, secrets Ruth has carried for decades come to light, and the love they’re building is tested in ways neither anticipated. To find their future, Ruth and Tom must confront the past—together. Settle for Us is a heartfelt, emotional romance about coming home, forgiving old mistakes, and daring to believe that true love can be worth the risk the second time around.
