I bought this book a while back and it’s been sitting on my TBR list since. This morning I decided to pick it up and give it a shot and BOY am I glad that I did. I love the way Catherine Cowles writes. I love that there’s always an element of suspense that leaves you desperately flipping through the pages to get to the endings. I love that I can’t ever put her books down! I’m obsessed with every new story that I get my hands on. This novel was no different. What a truly special piece that laid out some fabulous frame work for a series of books. 

This story is a nice blend of things: friends to lovers, second chance, sister’s boyfriend (if that even counts), and small town romance. Diving into this book straight away I realized that it was going to be a little deeper and possibly darker than Cowles’ Sutter Lake series. There’s a death within the first chapter of this book and I was already in tears. We’re thrust into this world from the very beginning with little warning for what’s to come and it is amazing. Ford, our leading man, is coming back to his hometown of Anchor Island after being away for eleven years. He’s returning for the summer to help at his parent’s bar. This bar has been in their family for years and without his help, it could go under. Little does Ford know that his childhood best friend, Bell, would be working at the bar. After an accident took the life of his girlfriend, Violet, and left her sister, Bell, in the hospital, Ford disappeared without so much as a goodbye. Until now. Bell has never forgiven him for disappearing and leaving her to handle the grief of losing her sister on her own. Ford has to work his way back into Bell’s good graces before she will fully trust him again. The only problem is…Ford is battling his own feelings now, grief and guilt all mixed together. Meanwhile, someone is hiding in the shadows watching these two find their own version of happiness and is determined to stop it. No matter the cost. 

This is a story of forgiveness and second chances. It was emotional and beautiful. Adding that bit of mystery is what separates Catherine Cowles’ books apart from everyone else. It’s intriguing and sometimes really scary!! The twist was expertly planned in this book and then we get even more closure at the ending which helps heal our hearts. I loved everything about this story and I cannot wait for the rest of the series!! 5 stars!