Finding Gratitude Across the Miles: A Thanksgiving Reflection

As an American living in the UK, Thanksgiving has taken on a different rhythm for me over the years. There’s no parade playing in the background, no frantic dash to the store for last-minute cranberry sauce, and no pumpkin pie scent drifting from every kitchen in the neighborhood. We celebrate on the last Saturday of November instead of the traditional Thursday. But even without the familiar noise of the holiday, Thanksgiving remains one of my favorite moments of the year.

It’s a day that encourages me to slow down, breathe, and really look at the people and experiences that make my life so full. Autumn has always been one of my favorite seasons—the slower pace, the cozy feeling of sweaters and PSLs, and that gentle sense of calm before the whirlwind of Christmas. It’s one last moment where I can sit wrapped in a warm jumper, drinking tea and plotting my next novel, feeling like I have all the time in the world.

As many of you know, I’m a romance author to my core—always thinking about connection, second chances, messy emotions, and the kinds of love that soften even the hardest days. Family is at the heart of every book I’ve written—whether it’s the one we’re born into or the one we build for ourselves. Gratitude naturally weaves itself into my stories because it’s really about noticing those small, everyday acts of love we often overlook.

This year, I’m grateful for so much.

I’m grateful for my two grown kids, who continue to surprise me, challenge me, make me laugh, and remind me how beautifully family evolves as the years go on. I’m amazed I raised such incredible adults and proud of the people they’ve become.

I’m grateful for the life I’ve built here in the UK—one that still feels wonderfully strange and magical, even after all this time. The blend of my American roots and British surroundings has given me a unique perspective that slips into my books in unexpected ways.

I’m grateful for the characters who show up in my mind fully formed, demanding their stories be told (looking at you, Kirsty and Jasper!), and for the creative spark that still feels just as thrilling as it did when I wrote my first book.

And most of all, I’m grateful for you—my readers. Your emails, messages, reviews, and enthusiasm keep me inspired every single day. Whether you’ve been with me since the early days, or you’re discovering my books and series like Ghost of a Chance or the Price Security novels, or even if you’ve been here since The Bachelor Next Door, thank you for letting me be a small part of your world. It means more than you know.

So wherever you are—celebrating around a bustling table, curled up with a cozy blanket, or enjoying a quiet Thursday like any other—I hope you find a moment to reflect on the things that make your heart feel full.

Happy Thanksgiving from my home to yours.