Aunt Ivy’s Cottage

Old family secrets and new love form the core of Harper’s enticing second Dune Island novel (after Summer at Hope Haven). Zoey Jansen comes to stay with her Great Aunt Ivy following the death of Ivy’s sister-in-law, Sylvia. Zoey is wary of starting a relationship after her ex duped her into a financial investment that wiped out her savings, so though she’s attracted to local carpenter Nick Armstrong, she fights their chemistry. She especially distrusts Nick because of his apparent friendship with her callous cousin Mark, who’s trying to convince Ivy to move to an assisted living facility. But as Zoey hunts for work, cares for Ivy, and prepares for a visit from her 14-year-old niece, Gabi, she and Nick grow closer. When Nick finds Sylvia’s diary in a wall during remodeling and gives it to Zoey, she discovers earth-shattering secrets and must decide whether to share them with Ivy and Mark, whose lives would be most affected. Harper reveals the intricacies of shared family history and rewards readers with plenty of emotion and authentic characters. It adds up to a heartwarming story of love and loss. Agent: Kathryn Taussig, Storyfire. (Jan.)