Debbie Macomber - 92 Pacific Boulevard

Make time for friends. Make time for Debbie Macomber.

CEDAR COVE

16 Lighthouse Road

204 Rosewood Lane

311 Pelican Court

44 Cranberry Point

50 Harbor Street

6 Rainier Drive

74 Seaside Avenue

8 Sandpiper Way

92 Pacific Boulevard

BLOSSOM STREET

The Shop on Blossom Street

A Good Yarn

Susannah’s Garden

(previously published as Old Boyfriends) Back on Blossom Street (previously published as Wednesdays at Four) Twenty Wishes Summer on Blossom Street Hannah’s List

Thursdays at Eight

Christmas in Seattle

Falling for Christmas

A Mother’s Gift

92 Pacific Boulevard

Debbie

Macomber

www.mirabooks.co.uk

To

Jerry Childs

and

Cindy Lucarelli

For making the dream of Cedar Cove Days

a reality

And to the board members who

worked so hard to

make it possible:

Gil and Kathy Michael

Dana Harmon and John Phillips

Gerry Harmon

Mary and Gary Johnson

Shannon Childs

and

Ron Johnson

Dear Friends,

The number nine has long held special significance for me. It all started in an algebra class when the professor said that those of us who wished to bypass the final could write an essay on anything to do with mathematics instead. I leaped at the opportunity—need I mention that working with numbers makes my blood pressure rise?

An essay sounded like an easy out—until I spoke with other students in my class. One young man had decided to write about mathematics in World War II and another chose the probability of solving a complicated conjecture in our lifetime. I gulped, visited the local library and prayed for inspiration. I found it in the number nine.

Yes, I wrote my entire essay on the number nine and how it’s used in literature, Scripture, the classroom and daily life. Not only did I receive a top grade for the essay, the instructor asked me to share with the class everything I’d uncovered. And so you see, I have a special bond with the number nine.

Maybe that’s why it’s not surprising that the ninth book in the Cedar Cove series proved to be special. The entire town of Cedar Cove (aka Port Orchard, Washington) celebrated Cedar Cove Days from August 26 to August 30, 2009. Our little town had worked for two years preparing for this event. I can’t begin to tell you how excited we were to welcome you to the real Cedar Cove.

Sheriff Troy Davis has his hands full with the goings-on around town. His heart was broken after Faith decided it would be best if they didn’t continue their relationship. In addition, there’s the mystery of those skeletal remains in the cave outside town. Olivia’s undergoing chemotherapy and doing well, and Grace has started a wonderful new programme at the library … Settle back, grab yourself a glass of iced tea and join Troy and your other friends in Cedar Cove.

P.S I love to hear from my readers. You can reach me in two ways: through my website (www.debbiemacomber.com) and by mail (PO Box 1458, Port Orchard, WA 98366, USA).

Some of the Residents of Cedar Cove, Washington

Olivia Lockhart Griffin:Family Court judge in Cedar Cove. Mother of Justine and James. Married to Jack Griffin,editor of the Cedar Cove Chronicle. They live at 16 Lighthouse Road.

Charlotte Jefferson Rhodes:Mother of Olivia and of Will Jefferson. Now married to widower Ben Rhodes,who has sons Davidand Steven,neither of whom lives in Cedar Cove.

Justine (Lockhart) Gunderson:Daughter of Olivia. Mother of Leif.Married to Seth Gunderson.The Gundersons owned The Lighthouse restaurant, recently destroyed by fire. They live at 6 Rainier Drive.

James Lockhart:Olivia’s son and Justine’s younger brother. In the Navy. Lives in San Diego with his wife, Selina, daughter, Isabella, and son, Adam.

Will Jefferson:Olivia’s brother, Charlotte’s son. Formerly of Atlanta. Divorced, retired and back in Cedar Cove, where he recently bought the local gallery.

Grace Sherman Harding:Olivia’s best friend. Librarian. Widow of Dan Sherman.Mother of Maryellen Bowmanand Kelly Jordan.Married to Cliff Harding,a retired engineer who is now a horse breeder living in Olalla, near Cedar Cove. Grace’s previous address: 204 Rosewood Lane (now a rental property).

Maryellen Bowman:Oldest daughter of Grace and Dan Sherman. Mother of Katieand Drake.Married to Jon Bowman,photographer.

Zachary Cox:Accountant, married to Rosie.Father of Allisonand Eddie Cox.The family lives at 311 Pelican Court. Allison is attending university in Seattle, while her boyfriend, Anson Butler,has joined the military.

Rachel Pendergast:Works at the Get Nailed salon. Engaged to widower Bruce Peyton,who has a daughter, Jolene.

Bob and Peggy Beldon:Retired. Own the Thyme and Tide bed-and-breakfast at 44 Cranberry Point.

Roy McAfee:Private investigator, retired from Seattle police force. Two adult children, Mackand Linnette.Married to Corrie,who works as his office manager. The McAfees live at 50 Harbor Street.

Linnette McAfee:Daughter of Roy and Corrie. Lived in Cedar Cove and worked as a physician assistant in the new medical clinic. Now living in North Dakota. Her brother, Mack,a fireman in training, is moving to Cedar Cove.

Gloria Ashton:Sheriff’s deputy in Cedar Cove. Biological daughter of Roy and Corrie McAfee.

Troy Davis:Cedar Cove sheriff. Married to Sandy,now deceased. Father of Megan.

Faith Beckwith:Troy Davis’s high-school girlfriend, now a widow. Moving back to Cedar Cove.

Bobby Polgar and Teri Miller Polgar: He is aninternational chess champion; she’s a hair stylist at Get Nailed. Their home is at 74 Seaside Avenue.

Christie Levitt:Sister of Teri Polgar, living in Cedar Cove.

James Wilbur:Bobby Polgar’s driver.

Pastor Dave Flemming:Local Methodist minister. He and his wife, Emily,are the parents of Matthew and Mark.

Shirley Bliss:Widow and fabric artist, mother of Tannith (Tanni) Bliss.

Shaw Wilson:Friend of Anson Butler, Allison Cox and Tanni Bliss.

Troy Davis had been with the sheriff’s department in Cedar Cove for most of his working life. He knew this town and he knew these people; he was one of them. Four times now he’d been elected to the office of sheriff by an overwhelming majority.

Sitting at his desk on this bleak January day, he let his mind wander as he sipped stale coffee. The department stuff was never good, no matter how recently it’d been brewed. As he sat there, he thought about Sandy, his wife of more than thirty years. She’d died last year of complications related to MS. Her death had left a gaping hole in his life. He’d often discussed his cases with her and had come to appreciate her insights. She usually had opinions, carefully considered ones, on what led people to commit the crimes that brought them to his attention.