Two years after the death of her husband, Lori Carlton agrees to swap homes for the summer with her best friend, Carrie Ware, hoping to reconnect with herself in the peaceful retreat of Pelican Bay, a quiet stretch of Nantucket where time seems to slow.
She moves into Seabird Cottage, an old cottage filled with creaking charm and the spirit of its late owner, Martha Stanton, whose quiet strength seems to echo in every corner. Lori doesn't expect much to happen. Just long walks with Carrie's dog, Misty, and maybe a few friendly chats with her reclusive neighbor, Mitch Brandon, who's always been more of a mystery than a man.
But when a break-in rattles Lori's sense of safety, followed by a chilling message scrawled in lipstick on her mirror, "You'll pay for what you did," her quiet summer begins to unravel. As she tries to keep Carrie in the dark, Lori turns to Mitch, not knowing his calm demeanor masks a past in military intelligence and an instinct for danger.
What starts as a mistaken identity case turns into something much more dangerous. A vendetta years in the making, tied to one of Carrie's old cases. As Lori and Mitch grow closer and secrets from both of their pasts come to the surface, they must navigate grief, aging, and the possibility of love... all while someone with a personal score to settle inches closer.
With help from Tessa Ryder, Ryan Brandon, and the indomitable Piper, Lori uncovers truth, healing, and a reason to hope again. And maybe, just maybe, it's not too late for love to find her right where she began.
Two years after the death of her husband, Lori Carlton agrees to swap homes for the summer with her best friend, Carrie Ware, hoping to reconnect with herself in the peaceful retreat of Pelican Bay, a quiet stretch of Nantucket where time seems to slow.
She moves into Seabird Cottage, an old cottage filled with creaking charm and the spirit of its late owner, Martha Stanton, whose quiet strength seems to echo in every corner. Lori doesn't expect much to happen. Just long walks with Carrie's dog, Misty, and maybe a few friendly chats with her reclusive neighbor, Mitch Brandon, who's always been more of a mystery than a man.
But when a break-in rattles Lori's sense of safety, followed by a chilling message scrawled in lipstick on her mirror, "You'll pay for what you did," her quiet summer begins to unravel. As she tries to keep Carrie in the dark, Lori turns to Mitch, not knowing his calm demeanor masks a past in military intelligence and an instinct for danger.
What starts as a mistaken identity case turns into something much more dangerous. A vendetta years in the making, tied to one of Carrie's old cases. As Lori and Mitch grow closer and secrets from both of their pasts come to the surface, they must navigate grief, aging, and the possibility of love... all while someone with a personal score to settle inches closer.
With help from Tessa Ryder, Ryan Brandon, and the indomitable Piper, Lori uncovers truth, healing, and a reason to hope again. And maybe, just maybe, it's not too late for love to find her right where she began.
Amy Rafferty is a #1 bestselling author of clean, heartwarming romance filled with family bonds, coastal charm, and second chances. Her uplifting stories feature courageous women, later-in-life love, and a hint of mystery-all set in small towns that feel like home. Often called "The Queen of Gorgeous Clean Mystery Romance," Amy writes feel-good fiction that inspires and heals.
