From New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis comes her first women's fiction novel—an unforgettable story of friendship, love, family, and sisterhood—perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover, Susan Mallery, and Kristan Higgins.
Order your copy today!
They say life can change in an instant…
After losing her sister in a devastating car accident, chef Quinn Weller is finally getting her life back on track. She appears to have it all: a loving family, a dream job in one of L.A.'s hottest eateries, and a gorgeous boyfriend dying to slip an engagement ring on her finger. So why does she feel so empty, like she's looking for a missing piece she can't find?
The answer comes when a lawyer tracks down Quinn and reveals a bombshell secret and a mysterious inheritance that only she can claim. This shocking revelation washes over Quinn like a tidal wave. Her whole life has been a lie.
On impulse, Quinn gives up her job, home, and boyfriend. She heads up the coast to the small hometown of Wildstone, California, which is just a few hours north, but feels worlds apart from Los Angeles. Though she doesn't quite fit in right away, she can't help but be drawn to the town’s simple pleasures…and the handsome, dark-haired stranger who offers friendship with no questions asked.
As Quinn settles into Wildstone, she discovers there's another surprise in store for her. The inheritance isn't a house or money, but rather something earthshattering, something that will make her question everything she thought she knew about herself, about her family. Now with a world of possibilities opening up to Quinn, she must decide if this new life is the one she was always meant to have—and the one that could finally give her the fulfillment she's searched so long for.
After losing her sister in a devastating car accident, chef Quinn Weller is finally getting her life back on track. She appears to have it all: a loving family, a dream job in one of L.A.'s hottest eateries, and a gorgeous boyfriend dying to slip an engagement ring on her finger. So why does she feel so empty, like she's looking for a missing piece she can't find?
The answer comes when a lawyer tracks down Quinn and reveals a bombshell secret and a mysterious inheritance that only she can claim. This shocking revelation washes over Quinn like a tidal wave. Her whole life has been a lie.
On impulse, Quinn gives up her job, home, and boyfriend. She heads up the coast to the small hometown of Wildstone, California, which is just a few hours north, but feels worlds apart from Los Angeles. Though she doesn't quite fit in right away, she can't help but be drawn to the town’s simple pleasures…and the handsome, dark-haired stranger who offers friendship with no questions asked.
As Quinn settles into Wildstone, she discovers there's another surprise in store for her. The inheritance isn't a house or money, but rather something earthshattering, something that will make her question everything she thought she knew about herself, about her family. Now with a world of possibilities opening up to Quinn, she must decide if this new life is the one she was always meant to have—and the one that could finally give her the fulfillment she's searched so long for.
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Excerpt
Coop whined and Mick looked down at the
twelve-year-old golden retriever, ball in his mouth. Coop panted happily and
dropped the ball at Mick’s feet, his rheumy brown eyes ever hopeful.
Mick shook his head. “Last time I threw it, you
decided you didn’t mean it.”
Coop gave a talkative “woo woo woo.”
Translation: Mick was full of shit. “I had to
go get it myself,” he reminded the dog. “Remember that?”
This bought him another “woo woo woo.”
“Okay, okay.” Mick picked up the ball, and because
there was a lot of old-man dog pride on the line here, he gave it a dramatic throw,
making sure it went only about twenty feet.
Coop gave an energetic leap. A single energetic leap.
After that, he eyeballed the sea of sand ahead of him, huffed out a sigh, and
sat. Then he craned his big, fuzzy golden head and gave Mick a sad-eyed look.
“Are you kidding me?” Mick asked him.
Coop lay down, set his head on his front paws, and
stared forlornly out at the ball that his brain wanted to chase but his sore
joints and tired body wouldn’t allow. It was a daily reminder for the dog, who
in his own mind clearly wasn’t elderly, forgetful, or more than half deaf.
Nope, in Coop’s opinion, he was still a rambunctious, energetic puppy.
Mick blew out a sigh and fetched the damn ball. When
he came back, the dog sat up, eyes bright, tongue lolling.
“Not a chance,” Mick said on a laugh. “I’m not
throwing it again. This was about your exercise, not mine. I already had my run
today.”
A Lexus pulled up. A woman sat behind the wheel and
stared out at the dunes and the ocean. All Mick could see of her was a cloud of
whiskey-colored waves of hair and a pale face. She stared at the water and then
set her head to the steering wheel and banged it a few times.
Then, head still down, she went utterly still.
Coop whined about the ball and nudged Mick’s knee,
eyes pleading.
With a head shake, Mick threw the ball five feet.
Coop happily pounced on it.
While his dog pranced around proudly, ball in his
mouth, Mick turned back to the car. The woman hadn’t moved. Had she knocked
herself out? Was she still breathing? “What do you think?” he asked Coop. “Stay
out of it, or ask her if she’s okay?”
Coop, who’d never been impressed by a single one of
the women in Mick’s social life, yawned.
“Right,” he said. “Stay out of it.”
But the woman suddenly sat up straight and fumbled her
way out of the car, falling to her knees on the rough gravelly asphalt, gulping
in air like she was suffocating.
Realizing she was hyperventilating, Mick rushed to her
and crouched at her side, having to push Coop back from making her
acquaintance—which he tended to do with a rude nose push to the crotch. “Stay,”
he ordered and looked the woman over.
Young. Late twenties maybe. Definitely having a panic
attack of some kind. Not touching her, he spoke quietly and calmly. “Take a
deep breath through your nose.”
She had to quiet herself to hear him, but she did as
he said. She took a deep breath, shuddery as it was.
“Good,” he said, still holding Coop back from trying
to say hello. “Stay.”
“What?” she gasped.
“Sorry, not you. My nosy-ass dog. Keep breathing. That’s
it,” he said when she worked at it.
When she had it under control, she met his gaze, her
own eyes hooded and clearly embarrassed. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
Coop, tired of being held back, shoved his big old
head between them and licked her from chin to forehead. Mick palmed the dog’s
face and pushed his head away from the woman whose shoulders were now shaking.
Aw, hell. He
patted his pockets—for what, he had no idea. It wasn’t like he carried tissues
or napkins on him to offer her. He rose to his feet to go search the truck,
which was when she lifted her face and he saw that she was shaking with
laughter, not tears.
She was laughing at his ridiculous dog.
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