Born of wealth and privilege, Elizabeth Walton-Smythe's future should have been set in stone. The headstrong teacher and her minister beau should have been married. That was the plan, as far as Lizzy was concerned. But that wasn't to be, and one fateful encounter with a roguish Irishman quickly alters Lizzy's future and sends her heart and her life into a tailspin. Marriage shouldn't have been an option, but in her haste to rebel and escape, it soon became her reality. Now, she's faced with a different new kind of fateful decision. One which will test her faith and her resolve.

Outdoor instructor Max Carlton lives a peaceful and tranquil life in the mountains. He’s not hiding, he simply loves the freedom wilderness living brings. The downside is that sometimes he has to deal with people. Including Junia Fox, the attractive case worker who arrives with a group of troubled teens for a week-long retreat. City dwelling Junia prays the retreat will be just what the teens need. She knows what it’s like to be misjudged and shunned. Plus, the week-long escape from the city might do her good as well. It’s a pity the ruggedly handsome instructor is so offhand and rude.

Since leaving home at the age of seventeen, Amelia Anderson has wandered from town to town, city to city, looking for meaning and purpose. Due to her upbringing and experience, the only jobs she lands are in sleazy bars where inappropriate remarks and unsolicited invitations from the male patrons are everyday occurrences.

Ava Collins is more than ready to say good-bye to the breakneck pace of the city, and an invitation to her grandfather’s ranch is exactly what she needs. Finding out her former flame is running the ranch, on the other hand, was entirely unexpected. How can she put aside her memories of that whirlwind summer when she has to work beside the handsome cowboy every day? When Ava uncovers secrets about her family, she doesn’t know if she can trust anyone. Most of all, can she learn to trust her heart on her way to discovering the truth?

Eight years ago, Ava and Joseph had the perfect future planned—he would go to veterinary school, she would embark on a career with an exclusive modeling agency, and they’d eventually get married and have three dogs and four children. But then a terrible accident changed everything. Unwilling to believe they could still have a future, she made Joseph promise to leave and live out their dreams without her. Joseph has never broken a promise to Ava...until now. Before he made that stupid promise to leave, they’d made each other another promise—one of forever.