Gracie Island

Eighteen months after the loss of his wife, Deputy Jasper Goodspeed wasn’t ready to move on. He’d learned to get up every morning, do his job, and smile when necessary. But enjoying himself wasn’t on his list of things to do. On the evening of his first murder investigation, he was halfway through a night of drinking himself into oblivion. Forgetting was a good thing, if only for one night a month.

The night of Jasper and Poppie’s reunion ends with a first kiss, a black eye, and a new family member. After ten months apart, Poppie returns for Lewis’s wedding, arriving on the island in time for St. Patrick’s Day. On Gracie Island, any holiday that involves drinking is a big hit. But just like the weather off the coast of Maine, Jasper and Poppie’s budding relationship is a bit unpredictable. The emotional mix of sunshine, fog, and rain keeps them both on their toes as they try to stay on course. As Lewis’ wedding day approaches, stubbornness and hurt feelings threaten to ruin the day.

Jasper’s new duties keep him busy, as he trains a new deputy and deals with the usual small-town mischief. When Poppie surprises him with her return to the island, he’s excited to share the Fourth of July celebration with her. The locals come out in force with crafts, homemade goods, food booths, and a beer tent featuring locally made hard cider. After the two rival ball teams play, it’s time for fireworks on the beach.

As he gathers his friends and family to make sure they’re safe from the impeding storm, Jasper hopes his very pregnant wife, Poppie, doesn’t go into labor. After last-minute preparations are made to secure the town against the high wind and the rising water, most of the islanders gather at the old Ice House building, while Jasper, his family, and their friends, hunker down in the basement of the sheriff’s department.