Athens, Rome, Florence, Paris… Helena plans to see them all. Though she loves her life in the Arkansas Ozarks, her yearning for adventure cannot be contained. Passport in hand, she says goodbye to her family and small hometown and departs for the journey of a lifetime, leaving behind a piece of her heart.

Raised in the big city of Houston, Dr. Joe Blake never thought he’d find happiness in a small town, but Buffalo Springs, and its beguiling librarian, have grabbed a hold of his heart in ways he never expected. Helena’s sudden plans to leave town and see the world remind Joe that he swore off love years ago. Joe’s resolve to avoid love is confirmed when his unstable ex-fiancé shows up in town endangering Joe’s practice, his new life, and everything he holds dear.

When a family tragedy brings Helena home, distrust, fear, and danger abound. Will Joe’s past bring them closer or forever rip asunder the delicate cords that bind them together?

Erin Robertson