Summer by the Sea

Book excerpt: A successful restaurateur gets a second chance with her childhood sweetheart in this romance classic by a #1 New York Times–bestselling author. With a little determination and a lot of charm, Rosa Capoletti took a run-down pizza joint and turned it into an award-winning restaurant, voted the “best place to propose” three years in a row. For Rosa, though, there has been no real romance since her teenaged love affair with Alexander Montgomery ended without explanation a decade ago. But guess who’s just come back to town? Reunited at the beach house where they first fell in love, Rosa and Alexander discover that the secrets of the past are not what they seem. Now, Rosa searches for happiness with the man who once broke her heart—and learns that in love, as in life, there are second chances. Originally published in 2004. “This is the perfect beach read.” —Debbie Macomber “Wiggs excels at portraying the delicate dynamics among lovers, friends and family members, and her keen awareness of sensory detail ensures that the scents and sounds of Rosa’s kitchen are just as palpable as the heady attraction between the protagonists.” —Publishers Weekly “A delightful summertime story of star-crossed lovers. . . . The romance reader will enjoy Summer by the Sea. It’s made a new fan out of this reviewer.” —BookReporter