So, a huge thank you to Ben.

You will have seen that this book is dedicated to my bestie, Lindsey, and there is an excellent reason for that. She is one of the most generous, loyal, big-hearted people I know, and she has championed my writing since the (very) early days when I was self-published and dreaming of something I never thought would actually happen. She’s the person who designed and ordered merchandise for my first book, who had my indie covers printed and framed, and who this past Christmas gifted me a pendant with “One Summer” written in silver. She has believed in me every step of the way, even when I didn’t, and she has never, ever given up on my dream.

Thank you, Lindsey. You are an exceptional human being and I am so grateful to have you, Sam, and Evie in my life—our Melbourne family.

As always, thank you to my parents, Lee, Ray, and Gail, my sister, Victoria, and the rest of my wonderful family. I am one of those lucky people who is actually close friends with my family members, and I so appreciate their love, guidance, and support.

Thank you to my dear friends who are scattered across Australia and the globe. Though we don’t get to catch up as often as I’d like, you are always in my heart and mind, and your incredible warmth, good humour, love, and brilliance fuel me. I am in awe of the talent, kindness, and cleverness you bring to this world, and it is all the better for having you in it.

To my author friends and colleagues, thank you. Thank you for welcoming me into the fold, for supporting me, and championing me, even though I have only met a handful of you in person. Thank you for trusting me with early versions of your masterpieces, and with your frustrations and triumphs.

Thank you especially to Julie Caplin, who provided the cover quote for my last book. Thank you also to Lynne Shelby, Emma Robinson, Mandy Baggot, Jenni Keer, Ella Hayes, Rachel Dove, Sue Moorcroft, Julie Houston, Kiley Dunbar, Daisy James, Lucy Coleman (Linn B Halton), Sarah Louise Smith, Ella Allbright (Nikki Moore), and Katie Ginger for being early readers and supporting my book babies. I am in awe that you would read my books, and I am so grateful to you.

A special shout out to Nina Kaye (Nina Kwiatkowski), Fiona Leitch, and Andie Newton. I love you gals, my fellow renegades, and I look forward to our daily chats. I know that you have my back, and I definitely have yours—your talented, generous, hilarious, clever, big-hearted backs.

Thank you to the incredible book bloggers and book lovers who support and shout out about my books, especially Rachel Gilbey, Anne Williams, and (fellow author) Anita Faulkner—I couldn’t do this without you. Thank you to the Romance Novelists’ Association, Romance Writers of Australia, Writers Victoria, the Australian Writers’ Centre, the Australian Romance Readers Association, the brilliant #UKRomChat authors, and the incredible #AusWriters.