Before Ellie Spencer came to Sims Chapel and caught Jack Bennett's eye, Sara Coffee had been the brightest star in his universe. Having grown up together, Sara and Jack were best friends, their bond as deep as the river that formed the lake where they spent countless summer days fishing and sharing dreams. But then Ellie Spencer happened, and everything changed.

Desperate to keep Jack's attention, Sara takes matters into her own hands, ending the blossoming romance before it has a chance to fully bloom. Twelve years later, Sara appears to have it all--including Jack. But when Ellie returns after her Aunt Clara's passing, Sara is once again on the outside looking in. And when the secret of her betrayal finally comes to light, Jack ends their relationship, leaving Sara to pick up the pieces of her broken heart.

In search of a new beginning, Sara flees her home and settles in the quiet beach town of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. She lands a job as a paralegal for Andrew Hastings, a successful lawyer who left the big city after a painful breakup of his own. From the start, there is an undeniable chemistry between them that only intensifies as they collaborate on their first case. But can Sara open her heart to someone new or is she forever chained to her past, to the memories of Jack Bennett and the love they once shared?