"Thank you, Ford."
As the sky continued to spill tears of sweet renewal, Levi's loving gaze and Ford's solid embrace flooded her heart with the hope of new beginnings.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
God: Thank you for your unfailing promises and unending love.
My husband, Tim: Thank you for your unwavering commitment to loving Christ first, and me second. You are-and will always be-my greatest blessing this side of heaven. I love you, babe.
My boys, Preston and Lincoln: Your mommy could not be prouder of the men you are becoming. You make my heart smile on a daily basis. I love you deeply.
My family: Thank you for supporting the girl behind the pen so that her dreams could take flight.
Tammy Gray: I honestly cannot imagine (nor do I want to imagine) writing a book without you as my critique partner. I cherish our morning phone calls and the hundreds of hours we've spent chatting about fictional people and problems. Thank you for loving me enough to be a truth-teller-even when I really don't want to hear "You can do better, Nicole." Thank you. You've not only challenged me to be a better writer but a better friend. I love you dearly.
Amy Matayo: It would be an impossible task to summarize what your friendship has meant to me over these last three years. I'm so grateful for every sappy tear we've shed and every gut-laugh we've tried-and failed-to conceal. You're my person, my writer wife, my like-soul. Thank you for being a friend like no other. I love you. Also, please move to Idaho.
Conni Cossette: For being my favorite After Midnight Texting Buddy. Knowing you're awake writing or editing or researching has inspired and comforted me in more ways than I could name. Thank you for replying to all two billion of my "Would you mind reading this scene over?" texts, and for being generous and gracious enough to say, "Sure!" Every. Single. Time. I'm quite positive I owe you a pallet of huckleberry wine the next time I see you.
Kristin Avila: I don't know a single soul who can dissect a story the way you can. You have a gift, my friend, and I've been blessed to be the recipient of your insight many times over. Thank you for being a part of my life and my writing. I love and miss you.
Kacy Gourley: Thank you for twenty years of faithful friendship and for calling me at the 75 percent mark of every book I write to remind me that I'm not a quitter. I love you, sweet friend.
Joanie Schultz: You are the best neighbor a girl could ask for . . . especially since you geek-out over my favorite books. Ha-ha! Our long walks and fiction talks are the highlight of every sunny day. (Oh, and you totally get credit for Delia quitting the lodge. Good call on that!) My agent, Jessica Kirkland: Thank you for being my fairy godmother and for granting so many wishes of my heart. I'm in awe of your tenacity and strength, and I'm so privileged to call you both my agent and my friend. Love you, Jess.
My editor, Jennifer Lawler: I so appreciated your expertise and editorial brilliance on TPOR. Your comment bubbles and carefully crafted feedback deepened the characters in Shelby Falls and elevated the story as a whole. I hope our paths cross again in the very near future. Thank you.
Amy Hosford, Associate Publisher, Waterfall Press: Thank you for believing in me as a storyteller and for encouraging me to stretch my wings wider with TPOR.
Erin Calligan Mooney, Acquisitions Editor, Waterfall Press: Thank you for being such a delight to work with and for keeping me on schedule. Looking forward to working with you more in the future!
To the team at Waterfall Press: Thank you for caring as much about your authors as the work they produce. I'm beyond grateful for you all.
My early readers: Christa Allan, Lara Arkin, Kristin Avila, Conni Cossette, Nicki Davis, Renee Deese, Kacy Gourley, Tammy Gray, Kim Keller, Sarah Monzon, Britni Nash, Sarah Price, Joanie Schultz, Amy Matayo, Amy Simpson. Thank you all for being the best cheerleaders ever!
Real Life Home Group Gals: Debbi McEnespy, Santha Yinger, Carmen Hendewerk, Jeannie Jesseph, Bryauna Hoertz, Cheri Backman, Sandi Willis, and Lindsey McKahan. I love living in community with you all.
My readers: Thank you for allowing the dream in my heart to find a place in yours.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR.
Photo 2014 Renee Deese.
Nicole Deese is a full-time lover of humorous, heartfelt, and hope-filled fiction and is the author of the Letting Go series and the Love in Lenox novels, A Cliche Christmas and A Season to Love. When she's not writing sweet romances, she can usually be found reading near a window while sipping a LaCroix. She lives in small-town Idaho with her handsome hubby and two sons.
ALSO BY NICOLE DEESE.
Love in Lenox Novels.
A Cliche Christmas.
A Season to Love.
Letting Go Series.
All for Anna (Book 1).
All She Wanted (Book 2).
All Who Dream (Book 3).
Other Titles.
A Summer Remade.