To my amazing editors, Jodi Warshaw and Charlotte Herscher, thank you for believing in this book and helping me get the best version of it out onto the page. And what can I say about the rest of the Lake Union Publishing team, except every good thing I’ve ever heard is true. Your ongoing commitment to authors makes it a true pleasure to be a Lake Union author. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of this amazing team of writers and professionals!
To my brothers and sisters of the pen scattered all over the country: Barbara Claypole White, Diane Chamberlain, Laura Spinella, Kim Boykin, Karen White, Terry-Lynn Thomas, Normandie Ward Fisher, Heather Webb, Anita Hughes, Bernie Brown, Matt King, Doug Simpson, Lisa Cameron Rosen, Mitch Richmond, Michelle Hicks, Sheryl Cornett, and so many more, who are never too busy to read, critique, encourage, hand hold, council, blurb, and otherwise prop up a writer in need—my deepest love and gratitude. You will never know what your friendship and support mean to me.
To the real Melissa (Missy) Beck, Queenie Peterson, Dar Setters, Carol Boyer, and Doug Simpson, whose names I lovingly borrowed for several of the characters in this book, many thanks for the special place each of you hold in my heart.
To Pat Crawford, mother extraordinaire and world’s greatest cheerleader, thank you for your faith in me, for your wonderful example, and for every word of encouragement you’ve sent my way along this journey. I can’t begin to tell you how often you’ve kept me going when I wasn’t sure I could get it all done. Love you. Love you. Love you gobs!
To Tom Kelly, my newly wedded husband and all-around knight in shining armor, it always has been and always will be . . . you and me against the world. Thank you for asking, for waiting, for saying I do, and for all the stuff before and after. I love you more than words can say. (And I know a lot of words!)
I would be remiss if I didn’t give a special shout-out to Topher Lee and Carmen Tanner Slaughter, who came to the rescue and actually helped me name Honey Rawlings.
And of course, last but not least, big squishy hugs to all my wonderful readers. Thank you for reading, reviewing, sharing, and encouraging. But most of all, thank you for being part of my extended family. Every word is for you!