When a romance author doesn't believe in true love, how can she write about it? Rachel Collins, thirty-eight years old and determined to believe that there is no such thing as true love even if she is a romance author. She is sent to the Riverside Inn in River Bend, Ohio by her agent, Kelli Reese so that Rachel can put more 'feeling' into her work, along with gleaning some background for the current novel she's working on. Rachel is booked in The Blue Room, the location of 'The Secret Drawer Society', a tradition at the Inn where people deposit notes and love letters into the drawers of an antique desk, leaving them as a sort of a 'penny in a fountain' wish. Rachel thinks that the exercise is futile but after she arrives, she isn't prepared for what she will find there.
 

Even though Jack Stone lives in River Bend, the Inn holds a special place in his heart. Jack has suffered a loss of his own, the loss of his beloved wife, Amanda. But this year is different. Jack has finally realized that it's time to begin his life anew. And as if fate dealt him a winning hand, Rachel Collins literally falls right into his arms.
 

Rachel has begun to believe but there are secrets between them. Secrets that Rachel refuses to reveal, secrets that Jack keeps to himself. As their secrets are exposed, will the relationship that has shown so much promise be able to withstand the truth? Or will their pride stand in the way?

Excerpt:

Lovestruck.

That was the word that came to mind as soon as she laid eyes on him. Her breath seemed caught in her lungs, her heart skipping every other beat. The slight chill she felt due to being wet dissipated, replaced with a moist warmth that came from deep inside. Rachel was amazed there wasn’t steam rising from her wet clothes.

He stood on the edge of the riverbank, wringing his drenched shirt out in his large hands. She watched him in profile, the muscles of his arms flexing with the effort. Rivulets of water trickled down from his hair onto his shoulders, then traced the hard lines of his biceps as his muscles bulged with his movements.

He was naked to the waist, his smooth, tanned skin dewed with water droplets from his impromptu swim, sparkling in the sun. He was tall, over six feet, his wet hair falling over his forehead, curling at the nape of his neck. Rachel couldn’t tell the true color of his hair, but right now it looked a dark chocolate. She was reminded of a bittersweet candy bar, sugary, with a bang that lingered in your mouth long after being eaten.

She licked her lips as he flicked his head back, knocking the lock of hair out of his eyes.

Then he turned. The sun caught his eyes just right, shining through them, and for an instant they took on the hue of an aquamarine diamond, glittering icy blue.

“Why’d you jump in like that?” he asked, giving his strangled shirt one last flick before slinging it over his shoulder.

“I…” Oh my God, I’ve lost my voice, she thought, swallowing again as he walked toward her.

Stopping next to her, he extended his hand.

Rachel’s gaze traveled up his body. His jeans were dark blue, wet and hugging him in all the right places. Firm, toned stomach led to solid, muscled chest. His jaw was firm, chiseled nose maybe a little too large but not unseemly, above lips that were perfectly formed, full and wide. When she met his eyes, she realized they really were an icy blue, the irises dark ringed in navy. To die for eyes.

He raised one dark eyebrow. “Don’t you want to get up?” He splayed the fingers of his hand and wiggled them at her.