Summer on Lovers' Island (34 page)

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Authors: Donna Alward

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“I'll take it, if you make an honest woman out of me.”

Josh leaned back so he could see her fully. She loved the shock on his face. He hadn't expected that, but it felt right. And one thing hadn't changed about Lizzie: when something felt right, she made the decision and went for it. Just like she had the day Charlie had asked her to move to Jewell Cove. It had been the best impulsive decision of her life.

“An honest woman … are you talking about marriage?”

“If you're interested in marrying again. I know the first time didn't go so well—”

“Wait.” He stared at her. “Lizzie. Are you saying you would marry me if I asked you?”

“Why don't you try it and find out?”

He didn't miss a beat. “Will you marry me, Lizzie Howard?”

“Yes.”

“Just like that. No conditions or rules?”

“Just like that. But there are rules, Josh.”

He groaned.

She cupped his face in her hands. “Rules like for better or worse. Richer or poorer, and all that jazz.” She felt her heart constrict as she threw caution to the wind and went all the way. “And there are children to consider. I think I'd like to have a few.” Emotion rushed over her as she said the words. She knew what kids meant to Josh. The idea of being mother to his was so big and so perfect she wasn't sure what to do with all the feelings.

He pulled her close. “Easiest rules in the world to follow,” he murmured.

Lizzie snuggled deeper into his arms, listened to the breakers on the sand, and for the first time in her life felt like she was exactly where she belonged.

Home.

 

 


Donna Alward
writes with emotion and heart.”

—RaeAnne Thayne,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Willowleaf Lane

 

Don't miss the first two Jewell Cove novels by

Donna Alward

 

 

The House on Blackberry Hill
Treasure on Lilac Lane

 

and her novella

 

Christmas at Seashell Cottage

 

From St. Martin's Paperbacks

 

A
BOUT THE
A
UTHOR

A busy wife and mother of three (two daughters plus the family dog),
Donna Alward
believes hers is the best job in the world: a combination of stay-at-home mom and romance novelist. Donna loves being back on the East Coast of Canada after nearly twelve years in Alberta where her romance career began, writing about cowboys and the west.

Visit:
www.donnaalward.com
, or sign up for email updates
here
.

    

 

A
LSO BY

D
ONNA
A
LWARD

The House on Blackberry Hill

Treasure on Lilac Lane

 

N
OVELLA

Christmas at Seashell Cottage

 

P
RAISE FOR THE

J
EWELL
C
OVE SERIES

“Oh, my silly heart, be still. This is a wonderful romance, packed with family drama, a sexy hero, an incredible old house. You'll fall in love from the very first page.”

—Debbie Macomber, #1
New York Times
bestselling author

“A wonderful, witty, and memorable book!
Donna Alward
's
The House on Blackberry Hill
is a heartwarming, delightful debut to an engaging new series. Readers will love discovering the richly layered stories and enticing secrets residing in Jewell Cove.”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Shirley Jump

“A wonderful story with plenty of sizzle and the perfect hint of mystery.
Donna Alward
writes with emotion and heart.”

—RaeAnne Thayne,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Christmas in Snowflake Canyon


Donna Alward
writes warm, memorable characters who spring to life on the page. Brimming with old family history, small-town secrets, and newfound passion, you'll want to pack up and move to Jewell Cove, Maine!”

—Lily Everett

“A promising, creative, and deeply emotional homecoming journey that will captivate readers.”

—
RT Book Reviews

“Old family secrets, a bitter tragedy, and a restless spirit add mystery and an eerie touch to this compelling story that is steeped in small-town New England flavor so rich you can taste it and beautifully launches the author's new series.”

—
Library Journal


The House on Blackberry Hill
was my first
Donna Alward
book and I loved it! The romance was sweet, the characters were quirky, and the town of Jewell Cove was amazing. It sounds so enchanting; I would love to live there!”

—
Badass Book Reviews

“A lovely contemporary romance with historical ties and a strong feeling of roots and family connections. Every once in a while I am lucky enough to find a book that has such wonderful atmosphere that it transports me from the world I know to the same place the characters are in. This is one of those books. The descriptions are perfect. I could smell the scent of blackberries in the air and feel the breeze upon my skin.”

—
Readful Things Blog

“Well-written, well-thought-out, and definitely worth the read! It will make you want to visit Jewell Cove over and over again! Looking forward to her next installment of the Jewell Cove novels.”

—
Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

“Jewell Cove is a far cry from the overly cheery village found in some books—it sounds like an actual town, where people are friendly, nosy, and well aware that bad things do happen. I definitely enjoyed it.”

—
All About Romance

“This story is one that covers almost every range of emotions and should be read with a box of tissues and perhaps an adult beverage as it sweeps through like a summer's storm … when is the next one coming out?”

—
Harlequin Junkie

 

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For email updates on the author, click
here
.

 

C
ONTENTS

Title Page

Copyright Notice

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-one

Chapter Twenty-two

About the Author

Also by Donna Alward

Praise for the Jewell Cove series

Copyright

 

 

 

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

 

SUMMER ON LOVERS' ISLAND

 

Copyright © 2015 by Donna Alward.

 

All rights reserved.

 

eBooks may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department by writing to [email protected].

 

For information address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

 

www.stmartins.com

 

eISBN: 9781466843660

 

St. Martin's Paperbacks edition / May 2015

 

St. Martin's Paperbacks are published by St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

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