The Inn at Crescent Bay (Book 1 Southwest Florida)

At 40, journalist Naomi Brennon built her life on one principle: always tell the truth. That commitment cost her everything. When Naomi returns to Crescent Bay, she becomes the subject of town gossip. She has purchased her aunt's beachfront inn, hoping to escape her failed marriage and ruined journalism career by rebuilding her life among childhood memories and ocean waves. But small towns reveal secrets. Someone has been spreading details of her past she wanted to keep hidden, making local shops feel unwelcoming and conversations abruptly end. Ryan Hart, a contractor hired for the inn's renovation, seems unaffected by the rumors surrounding Naomi. He understands what it means to be the subject of town gossip, though he guards his own past carefully. His support and belief in her plans for the inn provide unexpected comfort. As Naomi settles into island life, her estranged husband reappears, wanting to reconcile. Strange occurrences at the inn suggest someone is working against her success. Naomi must determine who to trust in a town where everyone has secrets to protect. This is Book 1 in the Southwest Florida series.