• Owen Lawry, musician and best friend of Evan McCarthy, fiancé to Laura McCarthy
• Luke Harris, co-owner of McCarthys Gansett Island Marina
• Sydney Donovan, interior decorator, living with Luke Harris
• Ned Saunders, best friend to Big Mac McCarthy and fiancé of Francine Chester, mother of Maddie McCarthy and Tiffany Sturgil
• Tiffany Sturgil, sister to Maddie McCarthy, daughter of Francine Chester, mother to Ashleigh Sturgil
• Bobby Chester, estranged father of Maddie McCarthy and Tiffany Sturgil, estranged husband of Francine Chester
• Jim Sturgil, estranged husband of Tiffany Sturgil, father to Ashleigh Sturgil
• Seamus O’Grady, hired to run the Gansett Island Ferry Company while Joe Cantrell and his wife are in Ohio while she attends veterinary school at Ohio State University
• Carolina Cantrell, mother of Joe Cantrell, love interest of Seamus O'Grady
• Dan Torrington, celebrity lawyer and friend to Grant McCarthy
• Kara Ballard, operator of Ballard's Launch Service, girlfriend of Dan Torrington
• Abby Callahan, former girlfriend of Grant McCarthy, love interest of Adam McCarthy
• Dr. Cal Maitland, former fiancé of Abby Callahan
• Charlie Grandchamp, stepfather of Stephanie Logan
• Sarah Lawry, mother of Owen Lawry
• Mark Lawry, father of Owen Lawry
• Blaine Taylor, Gansett Island police chief
• Slim Jackson, Gansett Island pilot
• David Lawrence, Gansett Island doctor, former fiancé of Janey McCarthy Cantrell
• Daisy Babson, friend of Maddie McCarthy's
• Truck Henry, Daisy Babson's abusive ex-boyfriend
• Victoria Stevens, Gansett Island midwife
• Rebecca, owner of the South Harbor Diner
• Chelsea, bartender at the Beachcomber
• Doc Potter, island veterinarian

The Children of Gansett Island

• Thomas McCarthy, son of Maddie McCarthy; adopted son of Mac McCarthy
• Hailey McCarthy, daughter of Maddie and Mac McCarthy
• Ashleigh Strudel, daughter of Tiffany and Jim Sturgil
• Holden Newsome, son of Laura McCarthy and her ex-husband, Justin Newsome

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“I’m absolutely, positively, totally and completely done with men,” the woman sitting behind Adam McCarthy announced—loudly—to everyone on the noon ferry to Gansett Island. “Done, done, done.”

The voice was familiar, so Adam sat up taller, hoping to overhear enough to figure out who she was without having to get involved.

“I’ve followed two men to the ends of the earth and regretted it both times. From now on, I’m off men. You heard it here first.”

A slight slur to her words had him wondering if she’d been drinking. Who cares? What business is it of yours? Ignore her.

“Did I mention I’m done with men?”

Adam had no idea who she was talking to, and figuring that out would require him to turn around. And there was no way he was turning around. He had his own problems and no desire to take on someone else’s, even if it was possible that he knew her. He knew a lot of people. That didn’t mean he had to jump to their rescue when they were on the verge of making fools of themselves.