Bashful town librarian Bree Adams has put her friends' and family's needs before her own for as long as she can remember, in part to hide a hurtful secret. But on New Year's Eve, she resolves to stop punishing herself for old mistakes. Everyone deserves a happy ending, and she's going to get hers. But then she comes face to face with her painful past.

Ryan Pettridge left Scallop Shores a hometown hero with a full scholarship to UCLA and an NFL destiny. Then a freak accident stole his hopes and dreams and turned the all-star athlete into a desk jockey accountant. Now his father's stroke brings him home to take over the family hardware store.

Fate conspired once to keep Bree and Ryan apart. Despite the years that have passed, they still can't resist each other and sparks rekindle between them. But will their difficult past be too much to overcome or can Bree prove to Ryan once and for all that he has always been a hero in her eyes?

Sensuality Level: Sensual

Jennifer DeCuir is still looking for the perfect balance between being a wife and mother, getting all the stories out of her head and onto paper, and catching up with the ever-growing TBR list on her Kindle. “Sleep? What’s that?” Find her at JenniferDeCuir.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter @JenniferDeCuir.