When Cate Wagner, a divorced empty-nester, is left the ownership of a thriving bookstore in her great-aunt’s will, she sees a chance to make a fresh start. Bungalow Books comes with more than she bargained for, however; along with business and a potential new life, the headstrong, ambitious forty something woman also unearths a collection of valuable artifacts, mysterious threats, and a love she never imagined. 

In the middle of the night, an unnerving phone call wakes Cate out of an Ambient-induced slumber and changes her life forever. It is the first of a series of incidents that endanger both her and the bookstore. When Detective Ian West arrives to investigate, he finds himself instantly drawn to the independent and often frustrating Cate. An encounter with a former love of hers complicates their new relationship, but it also reveals clues about the looming trouble and a decades-old mystery with historic implications.

Following several failed relationships and a disastrous fifteen-year marriage, Maggie Langham finds herself widowed. After the funeral, all she has left are memories and a nagging question: Where should she go from here? With nothing more tying her down, Maggie decides to start over-sans men. She puts her condo on the market with the help of Judy Cole, a realtor friend, and she moves to the island of Kauai, where she plans to purchase a bed-and-breakfast. While viewing properties, she meets the manager of the hotel where she’s staying. Paul Sinclair, a dashing Scotsman, is smitten with Maggie, but she keeps him at arm’s length. It seems Judy knew Paul once, and Maggie suspects she has been set up. As she begins to build her new life in Hawaii, Maggie encounters a former lover who-along with an unexpected visit from her daughter, Brooke-complicates the process. Events from the past intrude on Maggie’s newfound peace, forcing her to make decisions that will impact her future.