After a painful breakup, Kim pursues a writing competition and gradually replaces the need to disprove Garth with confidence in her own creative voice.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
A Note Before Christmas
Kim arrives late at a Christmas book reading and discovers that Garth has ended their relationship. She returns to her family and tries to redirect her hurt toward her writing career.
Key Events
Late Christmas Reading — Kim arrives late at a Christmas reading expecting to meet Garth. Characters: Kim, GarthLocation: Christmas book reading
Breakup Note Found — Kim discovers that Garth has left her a breakup note. Characters: Kim, GarthLocation: Christmas book reading
Garth Explains His Choice — Garth says he wants a partner equally serious about writing. Characters: Kim, GarthLocation: Christmas book reading
Return To Family — Hurt and embarrassed, Kim returns to her family and Christmas plans. Characters: KimLocation: Kim's family home
Career Resolve — Kim tries to move forward with her writing career. Characters: KimLocation: Kim's family home
Rivals At The Conference
Kim attends a writers’ conference to prove that she belongs among serious authors. Garth’s presence and criticism sharpen the competition, while Zeke becomes her workshop partner.
Key Events
Conference Arrival — Kim attends a writers’ conference to prove she belongs among serious authors. Characters: KimLocation: Writers’ conference
Garth Reappears — Kim learns that Garth is participating and kept the conference from her. Characters: Kim, GarthLocation: Writers’ conference
Writing Rivalry Sharpens — Garth calls Kim inexperienced, while Kim insists the best writer should win. Characters: Kim, GarthLocation: Writers’ conference
Icy Sidewalk Fall — Kim slips on an icy sidewalk, and Zeke helps her. Characters: Kim, ZekeLocation: Icy sidewalk
Workshop Partnership — Zeke becomes Kim’s workshop partner and encourages her in the competition. Characters: Kim, ZekeLocation: Writers’ conference
Confidence Under Review
Kim debates whether to attend a difficult lecture about obtaining a Book Agent and chooses to pursue every learning opportunity. She wins the second round but remains affected by Garth’s breakup blog post.
Key Events
Agent Lecture Debate — Kim considers a lecture about the difficulty of obtaining a Book Agent. Characters: Kim, Zeke, Book AgentLocation: Conference lecture room
Support Versus Discouragement — Zeke warns that the lecture may damage inexperienced writers’ confidence. Characters: Kim, ZekeLocation: Writers’ conference
Kim Chooses Learning — Kim insists that she needs to learn from every available lecture. Characters: Kim, ZekeLocation: Conference lecture room
Second Round Victory — Despite uncertainty, Kim wins the second round of the competition. Characters: KimLocation: Writers’ conference
Breakup Blog Post — Kim admits that Garth’s blog post about their breakup intensifies her desire to prove him wrong. Characters: Kim, GarthLocation: Writers’ conference
Belief In Herself — Zeke tells Kim that she, not Garth, must be the person who believes in her. Characters: Kim, ZekeLocation: Writers’ conference
New York In Her Senses
Zeke takes Kim to New York for a surprise research trip and encourages her to observe the city closely. Kim shares her third-round victory and finds vivid material for her writing.
Key Events
Surprise New York Trip — Zeke arranges hotel suites and takes Kim to New York for research. Characters: Kim, ZekeLocation: New York City
Third Round News — Kim tells Samantha about the trip and reveals her third-round victory. Characters: Kim, SamanthaLocation: New York City
City Research Walk — Kim observes street smells, subway air, taxi exhaust, perfume, and roasted chestnuts. Characters: Kim, ZekeLocation: New York City streets
Creative Inspiration — Kim gains vivid creative inspiration and enjoys the research trip with Zeke. Characters: Kim, ZekeLocation: New York City
Story Breakdown
Christmas Breakup — Kim’s expected reunion with Garth becomes the emotional rupture that redirects her toward writing.
Late Reading Arrival — Kim arrives late at the Christmas book reading expecting to meet Garth.
Unexpected Breakup Note — Kim finds Garth’s note and hears his explanation about wanting a writing-focused partner.
Return To Writing — Kim returns to her family and begins trying to move forward with her writing career.
Family Christmas Plans — Kim returns to her family while hurt and embarrassed.
Career Determination — Kim decides to continue pursuing her writing.
Conference Rivalry — The writers’ conference places Kim and Garth in direct competition and intensifies their personal conflict.
Garth Reappears — Kim discovers that Garth is also attending the conference.
Best Writer Wins — Kim rejects Garth’s judgment that she is too inexperienced.
Zeke Partnership — Zeke becomes Kim’s workshop partner and offers practical and emotional support.
Icy Sidewalk Help — Zeke helps Kim after she slips on an icy sidewalk.
Workshop Encouragement — Zeke encourages Kim throughout the competition.
Confidence Challenge — Kim confronts uncertainty about her abilities while choosing education and earning competition successes.
Agent Lecture Debate — Kim insists on attending a lecture about obtaining a Book Agent.
Second Round Victory — Kim wins the second round despite doubts about her abilities.
Beyond Garth — Zeke helps Kim reconsider whether proving Garth wrong should define her ambition.
Breakup Blog Pressure — Garth’s blog post about the breakup renews Kim’s desire to prove him wrong.
Self Belief — Zeke tells Kim that her own belief matters most.
New York Inspiration — A research trip with Zeke gives Kim sensory details and renewed creative energy.
Third Round News — Kim tells Samantha that she has won the third round.
City Sensory Details — Kim observes smells, subway air, taxi exhaust, perfume, and roasted chestnuts.
When aspiring romance novelist Kim Rossi is unceremoniously dumped by her soon-to-be-published romance novelist boyfriend, Kim takes stock and decides to take a leap. She signs up for a romance writing retreat at a quaint Vermont Inn shortly before Christmas, where a top romance novelist is scheduled to attend and read the work of one lucky writer. Shortly after arriving, she crosses paths with Zeke, whom she initially finds to be intrusive and, naturally, ends up being her assignment partner. Worse yet, her ex is also at the retreat. Despite these bumps in the road, Kim steps outside her comfort zone and plunges into the writing exercises, surprising herself. Equally unexpected is the attraction that seems to be building between her and Zeke that promises to take her down a road she never imagined traveling. Based on the book by Richard Paul Evans.
