The Sheriff's Halloween Promise

Holidays in Balsam Ridge #1

by Tessa Wilde

As the sheriff of Balsam Ridge, I’ve spent years keeping things under control, but Eliza Hayes throws everything off balance the moment she arrives. She’s hiding something—I can see it in her eyes, feel it in every guarded smile—but that only makes me want to protect her more. With the Halloween festival bringing chaos to town and trouble brewing beneath the surface, I can’t shake the feeling that she’s in danger. And when a fire puts her life on the line, I’ll stop at nothing to keep her safe, even if it means risking my own heart in the process.


I came to Balsam Ridge to escape—to hide from the life I left behind and the man who made me doubt everything I thought I knew. I’m not looking for love, and definitely not with someone like Luke Greyson, the town’s charming, protective sheriff who sees far too much. But the more time I spend with him, the harder it is to keep my walls intact. When a fire threatens to take away the one thing that’s given me peace, I realize that maybe Balsam Ridge isn’t just a place to hide—it’s a place to heal. And maybe, just maybe, it’s where I’m meant to find love again.

Welcome to Balsam Ridge—a cozy small town where the fall colors are vibrant, the community is close-knit, and love can blossom when you least expect it. Here, everyone looks out for each other, and second chances are always just around the corner.

The Sheriff’s Halloween Promice is a sweet and clean short romantic novella.

Genres: Halloween, Contemporary, Novella, Holiday

72 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2024

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short & Sweet Small-town Romance (Clean)

This is my first Tessa Wilde book let alone Balsam Ridge book universe. That sense of there being more to the town & its peoples stories is present but the feeling is vague and does not take from the story of Eliza & Luke. I personally really like the small-town trope whether it's Romance like this or a Mystery. These little towns and their inhabitants have such personalities! Also, the fall/autumn vibes are strongly in force, with Balsam Ridge having their yearly Halloween Festival. So if you're missing the season, this may help get you through the summer. This series of novellas would make good palate cleansers for inbetween hefty and/or intricate reads.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

After god of malice I needed this absolutely adorable little novella. While I wished there would have been a bit more drama, it was nice

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Sheriff’s Halloween Promise is a cozy, small-town Halloween novella with a sweet and wholesome romance at its heart. The seasonal setting in Balsam Ridge gives the story a charming, festive feel, and the protective sheriff paired with a heroine hiding from her past adds a touch of mystery and emotional depth. The atmosphere and gentle tone make it a pleasant, quick read that fits perfectly for readers looking for something light and heartwarming.

However, the short length limits the character development and leaves parts of the story underexplored. Eliza’s past is mentioned but never fully unpacked, and the plot itself feels predictable, following familiar romance tropes without much surprise. At times, the pacing drags with more description than action, making the story feel longer than its novella length.

Overall, it’s a sweet, easy read that captures the cozy fall spirit but doesn’t offer much beyond that. A nice choice if you’re in the mood for a simple, comforting Halloween romance — just don’t expect a lot of depth or suspense.

[Raïsah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow c'était... ennuyeux. Vraiment beaucoup de blabla concernant les decors pendant la fête d'halloween dans une petite ville des États-Unis. Le shérif et la nouvelle venue qui se croisent plusieurs et qu'ils sentent un lien se faire alors qu'il y a littéralement rien qui se passe. Le passé des protagonistes crée le mirage qu'ils ont des choses en commun car ils ont vécu tout les deux a Seattle mais c'est pas exploité. Le passé d'Eliza n'en parlons même pas je m'attendais a quelques chose d'intéressant mais non. Bref une soixante de page d'ennui.

[Stephs.bookshelf09 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cutsie Halloween novella. Really short, under 80 pages. It took me longer to read it only because I got busy with life. You could read this book in one sitting.

The main characters are Sheriffe Luke Greyson and the new town librarian Eliza. They keep crossing paths and some of Eliza’s past threatens to come back, so Luke has to step in and help her see she is not only adored by this small town but by him as well ♥️

It was a fun easy read and no spice other than some kissing 😘 cute clean and perfect little Halloween novella.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I believed in the connection between these two and I liked how Luke had to balance wanting more between them and wanting answers to his questions. Eliza's past and life at Balsam Ridge merge together and she has to decide what she wants and how much she wants it. I liked seeing them get their HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lucy Chesna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 1 of Holidays In Balsam Ridge. They two just made me want everything for them. He wants to protect her no matter what and the feelings just went wild. Luke and Eliza's life merge together and it was a great story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shiane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little Novella. About a girl who moved to a small town. Became the new librarian. She has a past from her ex who lied and manipulated her. She left and came to the town. She meets the sherriff and he likes her.
One day the library is on fire and he saves her from the fire.
And from there they end up together.

[Cassi Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Sheriff’s Halloween Promise delivers exactly what its festive title promises: a cozy, small-town Halloween romance with heart, humor, and a touch of mystery. Tessa Wilde’s writing is easy to read and captures the warm-and-fuzzy feel of a fall-holiday story, which makes it a pleasant choice for fans of seasonal romance.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eliza is new in town and trying to start over, as the new town librarian, however Luke knows that she is hiding something and wants to know for many reason.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kassy Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute and quick read!! I do wish it was longer though. It felt very rushed and not enough background was given on each character so it was definitely lacking more.
Overall though it was a super cute and fun book.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute. A nice little holiday read.

[Cassandra Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

very sweet

It’s a wonderfully,beautiful romance story that is easy to read and a great way to spend a couple of hours.