“Any idea who may have done this?”

“No.”

“Any known enemies?”

“No.”

“Does anyone have a grudge against you?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

“Have you received any recent threatening communication?”

She hesitated . . . and a blip appeared on his radar.

“Not communication in the sense you mean it.”

“Explain that.”

She exhaled and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m probably being paranoid.”

“Or not—considering the state of your car.”

She conceded the point with a nod. “Last night, about one in the morning, I heard a noise that sounded like someone was rattling the knob on my back door.”

“Did you call the police?”

“No. It was windy, and I wasn’t certain anyone was out there. I also have excellent locks, a security system, and my Beretta was on the nightstand. I didn’t think there was any real danger. But it was rather unnerving.”

The lady kept a weapon close at hand while she slept?

The blip got bigger.

Author’s Note

Welcome back to Hope Harbor—where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.

For those who’ve lost count, this is book #8—with at least three more to come! I hope you’re as thrilled as I am that more books are on the horizon. From day one, I hoped this would become a long-running series loved by readers the world over, and I’m so grateful my wish has come true. Hope Harbor books consistently make bestseller lists in the United States, and they’ve been translated into multiple languages. The series has become especially popular in Germany and the Netherlands.

Thank you, readers, for embracing this special town—and loving it as much as I do.

I also want to thank my husband, Tom, who is always front and center in my cheering section, celebrating my successes . . . and encouraging me on days when I need a boost. In addition to Tom, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my parents, my faithful and earliest cheerleaders. Until four months ago, when my dad’s life ended in a handful of days after a devastating diagnosis, I could count on him to tell everyone he met about his “famous” novelist daughter—as my mom did before I lost her six years ago. I can never thank these three special people enough for all the love and support they’ve given me through the years.

Finally, I want to offer special thanks to The Honorable Maureen A. Gottlieb, Circuit Court Judge in the Family Division in Kent County, Michigan, for her invaluable insights into the world of family law and guardianship issues.