Lakeside Cottage

Lakeside Cottage
Susan Wiggs

IF YOU TRUST YOUR HEART, YOU’LL ALWAYS KNOW WHO YOU ARE…Each summer, Kate Livingston returns to her family’s lakeside cottage, a place of simple living and happy times – a place where she hopes her son, Aaron, can blossom. But her quiet life gets a bit more interesting with the arrival of a mysterious new neighbour, JD Harris.JD has a good reason for being secretive. In a moment of sheer bravery, the Washington, D. C. , paramedic prevented a terrible tragedy – and became a national hero. He’s hardly able to remember who he was before the media frenzy… until he escapes to this lovely, remote part of the Northwest.Now Kate and Aaron have rekindled the joy of small pleasures and peace, something JD thought he’d never have again. But how long will his blissful anonymity last before reality comes banging at his door?

Praise for the novels of SUSAN WIGGS

“True and unforgettable.”

—Booklist on Lakeside Cottage

“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 on Summer by the Sea

“A human and multilayered story exploring duty

to both country and family.”

—Nora Roberts on The Ocean Between Us

“Susan Wiggs tackles contemporary issues

in the crucible of family with gutsy poignancy

and adroit touches of whimsy that make

for an irresistible read.”

—BookPage on Home Before Dark

“Wiggs tackles some very difficult family issues

in this tightly woven tale. Cleverly uncovering secrets

at the perfect pace, she draws you into the tale

with each passing page, allowing her characters’

emotions and motivations to flow out of the book

and into your heart.”

—RT Book Reviews on Home Before Dark

“Home Before Dark is a beautiful novel, tender and wise. Susan Wiggs writes with bright assurance, humor and compassion about sisters, children and the sweet and heartbreaking trials of life—about how much better it is to go through them together.” —New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice

Also by SUSAN WIGGS

TABLE FOR FIVE

SUMMER BY THE SEA

THE OCEAN BETWEEN US

A SUMMER AFFAIR

HOME BEFORE DARK

ENCHANTED AFTERNOON

PASSING THROUGH PARADISE

HALFWAY TO HEAVEN

THE YOU I NEVER KNEW

The Chicago Fire trilogy

THE FIREBRAND

THE MISTRESS

THE HOSTAGE

THE HORSEMASTER’S DAUGHTER

THE CHARM SCHOOL

THE DRIFTER

THE LIGHTKEEPER

Author’s Note

Dear Reader,

Thank you for spending time at the lake with Kate, JD and the kids. Lake Crescent in the Olympic Peninsula is truly one of the most magical places in the world. I hope your own summers are filled with as much love and personal discovery as Kate’s was.

Researching Callie’s story line was an eye-opener for me. According to the Centers for Disease Control, over the last five years there has been a tenfold increase in type 2 diabetes among children. This is due in large part to a sugar-rich diet (think about how many soft drinks some kids consume each day) and a sedentary lifestyle (all those hours online, playing video games or watching TV). Teenagers also tend to disregard the long-range consequences of their behavior, and they’re notorious for putting off lifestyle changes for another day. A life-threatening disease like diabetes directly contradicts a teen’s illusion that she’s invincible. The good news is, diet and exercise will dramatically improve a young person’s prognosis. Simply participating in a sport or even taking a daily walk or bike ride can change a patient’s life. She can achieve glycemic control through exercise and healthy eating. For more information, I recommend the Web site www.diabetes.org and the book In Control: A Guide for Teens With Diabetes by Jean Betschart-Roemer and Susan Thorn.