Ruby Hudson has avoided reading the words of her late husband, President Jack Hudson--until now... For most of his life, Jack kept meticulous and well-written journals and diaries about his life. After his death, everything was boxed up and put into storage, but now, nearly two years after his passing, Ruby is ready to start unpacking her past and making sense of her husband's choices. With the month of August to herself on Shipwreck Key, Ruby brings out the boxes of journals dating back to the 70s, and she tries to unravel the mystery of her marriage: where did it go wrong? What had she ...

Everyone loves a good holiday, and no one loves the season more than the women of Shipwreck Key... Former First Lady Ruby Hudson finally has things settled when it comes to her heart, and along with a solid romance, she has both of her daughters on the island for Christmas. Her best friend, Sunday Bond, is feeling secure and in love, and all of the island's residents are geared up for a holiday season full of laughter, love, and fun. They've invited family and friends to Shipwreck Key to help them celebrate, and there's even a hint of that most rare and impossible thing in Florida: SNOW! To...

When a woman is prized first and foremost for her looks, what does she have left to offer when the world decides those looks are fading? Marigold Pim, once the darling of the modeling world, graced the covers of nearly every prestigious fashion magazine on the planet. Her beauty made her the epitome of glamour as a young woman—and also led her straight into the arms of Cobb Hartley, the famous-but-troubled British rockstar. They raised a son together and endured two decades of a complicated marriage, but now they’re happily divorced and living their lives on different continents. For ...

When a woman gets to a certain age, everyone forgets that she has a long and vibrant life behind her. Molly is no different; at sixty-five, the residents of Shipwreck Key see her as just the proprietress of The Scuttlebutt, the island's coffee shop. But Molly has lived—really lived—and she has the battle scars to prove it. In 1982, when her beloved husband Rodney died in a boating accident off the coast of Hawaii, Molly was left a widow in her early twenties. But not only was she left to live without her best friend and life partner the day his boat vanished, her hopes and dreams to ...

A Secret Service agent devotes his life to protecting the people he serves…until one day he realizes that the person who needs protecting is him. Henry Banks is a former Marine, a career Secret Service agent, and the only man allowed into the Shipwreck Key book club full of women. He’s like a handsome brick wall who doesn’t show emotion, but he’s finally let his guard down—just a little bit—to let Sunday Bond in. Banks and the former Second Lady have been dating for a few months, but now that they’re in their fifties and both divorced once, the dating dance has become more ...

A President dies under mysterious circumstances, leaving a secret mistress and their twelve-year-old son…and also a loyal First Lady who has no idea what went wrong with their marriage. Forty-nine-year old widow Ruby Hudson, the former First Lady of the United States, needs a fresh start. As she mourns the loss of her husband, she turns her love of books into a whole new career, opening a little bookshop on a charming, pirate-themed island called Shipwreck Key just off the coast of the Florida Panhandle. Her two daughters think she’s crazy, but Ruby can finally breathe again knowing ...

Christmas Key will have to function without its beloved mayor, Holly Baxter, while she embarks on a European adventure with her long-distance love... But when Holly's mother arrives on the island with plans to sell off paradise and build a bloated, gaudy casino on the island's shores, the locals have to pull together to keep her at bay. A shocking loss throws the locals for a loop while they welcome three new islanders to Christmas Key in Holly's absence, but if she learns nothing else from her trip across the pond, Holly comes home knowing in her heart that it's time to say "yes" to new ...

Out of the frying pan, into the fire... Quinn is dealing with a shock. The daughter she gave up for adoption is now under her roof, and she's a handful, to say the least. 13-year-old Emerson is fiercely intelligent, independent and talented and has no desire to take advantage of Quinn's mothering instincts. But when Quinn's at her wits' end with the girl, an unexpected opportunity helps to channel the girl's passions and talents. And another opportunity for romance pops up for her in the process. Will Quinn finally end her embargo on romance? Colleen, Ava's mother, is also on the island. ...

Alice thought she had found the perfect new life in the sugary sands of Sunset Cove – until her past came knocking at the door. After 20 years of marriage, Alice’s life is shattered when her husband leaves her for a younger woman. Struggling with the pain of divorce and the fear of starting over alone, she moves to Florida’s Gulf Coast with her daughter, Hannah. As Hannah prepares for college, Alice lands a job at Sullivan Solutions, a local marketing firm owned by the handsome and charming Jon Sullivan. Surrounded by the soothing turquoise waves and breathtaking sunsets, Alice’s ...

Spring has arrived on Christmas Key—bringing sunshine, pranks, and more surprises than the island’s ready for. April Fool’s Day is in full swing, and Mayor Holly Baxter is busy wrangling yet another group of colorful visitors: a family of redheads best known for their stint on reality TV. Between planning events, keeping the peace, and dodging pranks, Holly barely has time to think… which is probably a good thing, because change is coming fast. She and Miguel are still going strong—spending more time together than apart—and the promise of an island wedding has everyone talking ...