Atypically for the romance genre, the heroine does not appear on the scene until Chapter Two. The book instead opens with John Kipling (tall, lean, and forty-something, a square-jawed and eligible bachelor— clearly destined to play the hero's role) sitting by himself in a boat on the lake, quietly observing the family of loons. As a troubled teenager, John had fled an unhappy family life in this town, but has recently returned to look after Gus, his ailing father, and take over the running of the eponymous town newspaper. He is also struggling with his own demons, striving to come to terms with "stabs of guilt" over his own part, albeit inadvertent, in the driving of a man to suicide over allegations of sexual misconduct. The peace and quiet offered by the rural community provide him with the chance to make amends and reevaluate what he wants...