Lake, winner of the Ann Bannon AwardKennie McClain is a security guard who, unbeknownst to her tenants, owns the Allen Arms where she works. She’s still recovering from the loss of her partner three years earlier and has moved from upstate New York to Portland to escape the tragedy. In her off hours, she rehabs apartments and nurses a broken heart.Lily Gordon, a nationally-acclaimed painter, lives in the Allen Arms penthouse. She’s beautiful and accomplished – and haunted after her lover ditches her. Sparks fly in a big way when Kennie and Lily finally connect . . . but then in one shattering moment, Lily betrays her, and Kennie’s world comes crashing down, leaving her untrusting and in deep emotional pain. Can Kennie ever rise above these losses and risk her heart again?

    Too bad she can’t sort out her own love life. It’s been years since Mila set foot in Cloudy Harbor, her hometown. After her first love took off without a word, Mila followed suit and moved away. But now, years later, Mila’s sister wants to get married at their childhood home, and Mila is forced to face her own loneliness. To her surprise, she finds that sleepy Cloudy Harbor has changed almost as much as she has—and that change is embodied by Rickie, the sexy, rebellious master chef at the new modern cuisine restaurant. With her dashing good looks and her culinary wizardry, Rickie charms Mila in a way she never imagined possible. But when a missing piece from Mila’s past blows into town, she realizes that she isn’t sure of anything anymore, and her delicious romance with Rickie is put to the test. Is history bound to repeat itself?

    Staying at home, alone, suits her just fine. Her idea of a good night is an early one—preferably with a good book. Well, until her best friend, Sophie Harrison, decides it’s time Jess rejoined the human race.Trying to pull Jess from her self-imposed prison, Sophie signs them both up for a Still Life art class at the local college. Sophie knows the beautiful art teacher, Diana Sullivan, could be the woman her best friend needs to move on with her life.But, in reality, could art bring these two women together? Could it be strong enough to make a masterpiece in just twelve sessions? And, more importantly, can Jess overcome her fear of being used once again?Only time will tell.Length: approx. 95,000 words