Reclaimed Hearts

Xavier swore he'd never move back to the flyspeck of a town he'd grown up in and he kept that promise for over twenty years. Now, he's back for good. Vincent never left. After college, he stayed in town to be close to his elderly parents. These days he's the single dad of a fifteen-year-old daughter and working two jobs. He's perfectly happy with his life. Right? Xavier's new mission is to breathe life back into Cooper Springs, but his stodgy, straight-laced, rule-following neighbor, Vincent Barone—is getting in the way.

Martin quits his job, sells his house, and buys a set of fixer-upper cabins on the coast. There's just one teensy problem. Along with the property comes a very angry man. Nicholas Waugh had his own scare. With no home to call his own, he finagles a security gig keeping an eye on a set of vacant cabins. The deal comes with a free one-year lease–and he's not leaving a day sooner. Fifteen years of teaching, and patience is second nature to Martin. But Nick is giving Martin a run for his money.

The last person Andre expected to see in Cooper Springs was Dante Castone. He left Dante and the rest of his old life behind him when he moved to Washington State and what he thought would be a quiet job in a small town by the ocean. In reality, Dante's DIYing it; he isn't the trusting sort. Daniella was the only witness to her mom's brutal murder and needs both protection and anonymity—plus as normal a life as possible. It's just a bonus that Cooper Springs has Andre Dear too.

Forrest Cooper: Cooper Springs' resident lavender farmer has a short list of people he trusts. A newcomer to town is not making his list. Ever. Especially not one who is first on the scene of a murder. Nero Vik: Recently laid off and once again single, the ex-investigative reporter is digging into the sordid history of Cooper Springs. He's not in town to make friends, he's there to solve an old mystery and maybe bring closure to those who need it.