First published 2001
April and Caleb decide to wed on Valentine's Day after knowing each other only three months. Their ceremony takes place during a fierce snowstorm along the shores of Lake Michigan. Both families arrive in chaos. Her Wisconsin relatives clash with his Tennessee kin. Everyone voices strong opinions about the rushed marriage, drawing from their own romantic histories and disappointments. At the same time, violence erupts at the nearby Hideaway Lodge. A domestic dispute turns deadly, tearing apart another couple in brutal fashion. As April and Caleb begin their new life together, this tragedy casts a shadow over their community. The two stories slowly weave together, revealing how quickly love can turn dangerous. The newlyweds must confront the darker currents that flow beneath desire and commitment. Their families' doubts begin to seem less like interference and more like warnings about the fragile nature of human connection.
Genres: romance, literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Lake Michigan, Tennessee, Wisconsin
Period: Valentine's Day
Hardcover · Orion (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd )
Content warnings: domestic-violence, violence