Part of Rose Harbor, book 2
First published 2013
Spring arrives in Cedar Cove as Jo Marie Rose puts finishing touches on her inn. She works with handyman Mark Taylor to create a rose garden honoring her deceased husband Paul. Mark keeps his distance, but Jo Marie draws comfort from his presence. Two guests arrive carrying their own burdens. Annie Newton comes to plan her grandparents' golden anniversary, though the couple seems troubled and Annie struggles with her broken engagement. She must face Oliver Sutton, her childhood tormentor who still gets under her skin. Mary Smith built a business empire but now confronts a serious illness. She returns after nineteen years to find George Hudson, the man she left behind. As the anniversary celebration approaches, Jo Marie tends her garden while her guests confront difficult truths. Annie discovers unexpected feelings, and Mary seeks forgiveness for past choices. Each woman must decide whether to remain trapped by old wounds or embrace new possibilities.
Genres: fiction, romance, contemporary, contemporary-romance, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, second-chance
Setting: Cedar Cove
336 pages · Hardcover · Ballantine Books