He’s found a new home with her family while his own holds secrets to her past…This heart-wrenching 300+ page rural romance novel will have you gasping and keep you guessing as mysteries unravel, and as Jack and Sophie discover whether their love for one another can survive the deepest of wounds and darkest of betrayals.

Had it not been for her cousin’s wedding, Sophie Wendall would never have returned to Bitterbark Creek—her aunt and uncle’s idyllic farm-stay on the outskirts of town. Twenty years ago, tragedy stole everything from her including her memory, leaving only secrets and lies. Now that she’s back, there are just two things on her mind: to find out the truth of what really happened to her that day at the dam and to steer clear of the wicked Garland family and their charismatic son—the boy who broke her heart.

Jackson Garland is one of the few people who know what really happened to Sophie all those years ago, but he’s terrified of sharing the truth. To do so would jeopardize his happy sanctuary and newfound home at Bitterbark Creek. Upon reconnecting with Sophie, he realizes that while her extended family may have accepted him as one of their own, she’s going to take a little more convincing. Although he tries to charm and distract her to keep his secrets safe, it isn’t long before he’s at risk of falling under her own tantalizing spell.

As children, their love for one another kept them close until a car accident took one life and hatred tried to steal another. But dark truths can’t be hidden forever when ghosts from the past step into the light. Might the revelations be too daunting for them to handle? Or will Jack and Sophie finally put aside their family history and let love guide them into a future together?

A GARLAND AT BITTERBARK CREEK is about heartbreaking loss, rediscovering love and the healing ability of forgiveness and acceptance. If you love reading the novels of Mandy Magro, Alissa Callen, and Rachael Johns, then you will adore this heartfelt, second chance love story by award-winning author, Tammy Mannersly. 

Excerpt 1:
“I’m fine.” Sophie winced. “But don’t expect me to make conversation.”

“Don’t be antisocial.” Laura hugged Sophie’s narrow waist. “I know he’d love to catch up. He’s always asking about you.”

Sophie pushed out of her cousin’s embrace. She knew Laura meant well, but Jack’s opinion of her hadn’t meant anything for a very long time. “Well, he can just keep on asking. I’m not walking down memory lane with that jerk anytime soon.” She thrust a hand towards her mother. “Please just give me my bags.”

Frowning, Angelica opened the trunk with a click of a button and handed her daughter a hefty duffle bag and a wheeled suitcase. As Sophie lifted the silver handle free from the luggage case and turned on her heel, she collided with a damp, rigid wall of masculine muscles. Recoiling in horror, she stumbled backwards until the heels of her boots hit the side of her suitcase. As she wobbled, a solid arm slid around her waist, keeping her upright.

“Whoa, there. I’ve had women fall for me before, but not usually this quickly.”

The smooth male voice dragged Sophie’s attention to a familiar gaze. Jack’s cool blue eyes, like the winter sky at dawn, held her captive. The memory of a gentle, secret kiss beneath the shelter of a weeping willow played across her mind, until the beat of his pulse shook her to her senses.

“Hey there, Soph.”

Embarrassed that she’d allowed herself to linger in his embrace, Sophie swiftly withdrew. His hand stayed on her hip, emanating an unsettling but strangely pleasurable tingling, so she smacked it away. “I can stand by myself, Jackson.”

“Just trying to help, Soph.” His stubborn square jaw tightened around the words. 

 

Excerpt 2:
Sophie gestured to her mother. “I’m going to take my things inside.” As she dragged her suitcase towards the stairs leading to the cabin’s small veranda, she felt warm fingers lock around hers.

“Let me give you a hand.” Jack was at her side again, pulling at the luggage handle.

“No, thank you. I can do it myself.” Sophie yanked the suitcase closer in an attempt to discourage him, but he only followed the movement.

Warmth radiated from his body as he loomed over her, forcing her to raise her chin and meet his eyes. His closeness was so disconcerting. She remembered that kiss again. She wondered what it would be like to kiss him now. Her eyes lingered on his soft pink lips.

“I’m just trying to be neighbourly.” Jack’s smooth voice was nearly a purr.

Sophie yanked her gaze free of his distractingly perfect features and cut a glance back to the others. “Then maybe you should be helping someone who needs it.” Her family stood by the trunk of the car, where several heavy bags still waited.

When she turned back to Jack, Sophie noticed his gaze drift over her body before his beguiling eyes met hers again.

“Don’t worry, there’s plenty of me to go around,” he told her.

His smug grin irritated her. “Get a clue, Jack. I don’t want your help.”

Pain flickered in his expression. “It’s been twenty years, Soph. Talk to me for five minutes.”

“You stopped talking to me first,” she growled, knowing how childish it sounded.

“Sophie,” her mother chided.

Ignoring them both, Sophie jerked the suitcase forward again but couldn’t dislodge Jack’s hold. She tried pulling her fingers from beneath his hand, but his grip only tightened.

“I’m not denying it happened, Soph,” he told her. “But we can’t change the past, and I think we should move on. I know I’m different from the naive boy I was back then. Perhaps you could find it in your heart to try?”

“Perhaps you could start with an apology?” The words left her lips before she’d thought them through. She knew she’d likely cry if he tried to apologise. 

 

Excerpt 3:
As she tilted the pencil to shade a segment of her artwork, she heard the crunch and snap of a twig on the dry leaves behind her. Knowing it was probably her mother come to check on her, Sophie took her time, carefully etching the final scratch of graphite.

“Laura told me you’re an artist.”

She jumped and scraped a long, solid line across the page. Crap.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.” This time she recognised Jack’s silver tongue.

“What are you doing here, Jack?” Sophie shot a scowl over her shoulder but saw only dark denim jeans with a sizeable bulge beneath them. Her mood grew fierier as she followed the black T-shirt–clad bulk of muscular chest upwards. Jack’s smile greeted her at the top. “Do you make it a habit to sneak up on people?”

There was a shimmer of amusement in his eyes. “No, but now I’m enjoying it, so maybe I’ll have to start.” Stepping over the end of the log, he sat down beside her, blocking her easy escape. “I see you still like to draw. Laura told me you were a graphic designer for some fancy fashion company in the city.”

“Sounds like my cousin has told you lots of things.” Sophie had deduced as much after catching Laura’s guilty expression earlier that day. She shifted away from him, but Jack just moved closer. His nearness was something she used to yearn for as a child. Now it was just infuriating.

“Thanks, I needed the room.” He reached towards her. “Show me what you’re working on.” Pinching the sketchpad from her lap, Jack examined the pencilled drawing. “It’s beautiful.”

Sophie snatched it back. “It’s ruined.” She flipped the cardboard cover back in place. “Thanks to you.”

 

Excerpt 4:
“We can’t just go back to the way things were,” she told him.

“Why, Soph? Haven’t we been hurting and hurting each other for far too long? Isn’t it time to put the past behind us?”

How could she when she still didn’t fully remember what that past entailed?

Sophie sighed and eyed the bodily barricade before her. She could step over him. Her escape could be that simple, but she didn’t trust him to behave if she got too close.

“Come on, Sophie. I’m not asking you to act as though everything is fine. Just talk to me. See where we can go from there.”

“It’s the talking that’s the problem. You’re not the same little boy I used to tell all my secrets to.”

“Well, I’m not some stranger.”

“Close enough.”

Jack studied her. “No, I don’t believe it.” He grinned again. “I know you missed me. You wouldn’t still be standing here fighting with me if you hadn’t.”

“Excuse me?” Sophie scoffed. “Did you hit your head too hard falling from your ivory tower? I knew narcissism ran in your family, but I didn’t realise stupidity followed.”

He sighed with satisfaction. “I missed you, too, Soph. Why don’t we hug it out?” He reached for her, and she stumbled backwards in surprise.

“There’s such a thing as consent, you lunatic.”

It was only after she’d regained her composure that Sophie realised Jack hadn’t been serious—and that he’d started laughing.

“Shut up,” she grumbled, feeling a little silly. She bit her lip to stop herself from sharing his good humour. When they were kids, she’d often made Jack laugh so hard he’d caught hiccups. His genuine laughter still warmed her heart. 

“I’ve really missed this, Soph.”

She wouldn’t dare tell him she felt the same. He was making it harder for her to keep hating him. But she wasn’t ready to let her pain go.

 

Excerpt 5:
“I think I’ve found your competition for the bouquet.” Jack’s warm breath tickled the fine hairs on Sophie’s neck as he leaned closer.

Her heart raced at the sensation, but she kept her eyes on Dale and Camille. “Wrong again.”

“Not interested in walking down the aisle yourself?” He sounded surprised. “I thought things had been pretty serious with you and Mason?”

She spun back to him. How did he know about her ex? Realisation quickly dawned on her. “Laura told you.”

“We talk. Like I said, I’ve missed you, Soph.”

She caught a sadness in his eyes that mirrored her own feelings. Unable to hold his stare, she glanced back over his shoulder again, the tip of her nose just missing his. “That’s not an excuse to stick your nose in my personal business.”

“Why did you break up with him?” It was only a whisper.

Sophie risked a glance his way. Prickles of excitement flashed through her at his nearness. Yet she didn’t want to tell him the truth. “What’s that got to do with anything?”

Jack shrugged half-heartedly. “I didn’t believe what Laura told me.”

The breeze shifted and Sophie caught the sharpness of his cologne, the citrus of his shampoo. It was an addictive scent. She licked her lips. “Mason and I just had different priorities,” she explained firmly.

“That’s what Laura said.” He sounded unconvinced. 

And he wasn’t you, Sophie thought, hoping that wasn’t written all over her face.

As the stirring song reached a crescendo, she found her gaze tangled in his, trying to decipher his thoughts. It wasn’t until Jack raised his hand and swiped a coarse fingertip lightly across her cheek that the spell broke.

“Eyelash,” he said huskily.

Sophie blinked several times and pulled away. What was she doing? This was still the same boy who broke her heart. She couldn’t just allow herself to be lured back under his spell. He wasn’t to be trusted. None of the Garlands were.