Macomber's consummate writing craft shines in this conclusion to the Rose Harbor series (after Silver Linings), set in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. Jo Marie, the innkeeper at the Rose Harbor Inn, resumes dating after her boyfriend, Mark, disappears in Iraq. When he resurfaces nine months later, she is torn between his eagerness to get married and the temptation of a new relationship with Greg, who promises no heartaches. Emily, one of Jo Marie's boarders, plans to start afresh in Cedar Grove with no regrets about the past, but the only house she is interested in buying belongs to brooding Nick, who has no intent of selling. Both Jo Marie and Emily love damaged men, which add layers of complexity to this powerful romance. Nick pursues Emily even though she repeatedly asks him to leave her alone, narrowly avoiding looking like a stalker. Jo Marie's agonizing choice between Mark and Greg is intensely personal and completely relatable (though Greg is never fully developed as a character). This isn't a fluffy romance in which the hero swoops in and saves the day; in fact, Emily saves Nick from his crippling guilt and Jo Marie guides Mark into making a difficult decision. Macomber will leave readers confident that they can find peace and healing when they learn to trust in love. Agent: Theresa Park, Park Literary & Media. (Aug.)
