Grounds for Return
A Yadkin Valley Novel
by Melissa Collins Harrell

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A tragedy that broke the heart of a town and forever changed countless lives hovers in the background as Michelle Richardson returns home to Chatham, North Carolina, for an extended visit after living overseas while serving with the military for twenty years. Arriving to support her sister, Katie, as she awaits a stem cell transplant, Michelle quickly finds herself immersed once again in the lives of family and friends she hasn’t seen for years—including Drew Jones, a surprising rival for Michelle’s affections as she grapples with old ghosts and new beginnings. A small town with a strong vineyard and tourist industry, Chatham serves as a powerful and vibrant setting against which life-long friends reunite to share their stories of recovery, remorse, brokenness, hope, and healing. Businesses are built and questions of faith grappled with as individuals and the community come to terms with their losses and their blessings. A beautiful story in which dark moments from the past are gradually brought to light and secrets are revealed, Grounds for Return will keep readers engaged, surprised, and emotionally moved from beginning to end. It’s a story of hope, home, and the strength of family and friendship.

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Melissa Collins Harrell is a licensed mental health counselor with over twenty years of experience, particularly with military personnel and first responders. She has enjoyed writing throughout her life, moving from journals to published books as her children got older. She’s also the author of Elizabeth and Stella Meet ZOE (2016) and Common Threads: Why the Answers to the Present Lie in the Past (2022). Melissa enjoys visiting historic sites, particularly cemeteries, where she finds inspiration for her stories. She is a native of Elkin, North Carolina and currently resides in Swansboro, North Carolina where she spends time serving as a spirit guide on historical walks.

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Contributors

Author

Melissa Collins Harrell