Xavier swore he'd never move back to the flyspeck of a town he'd grown up in and he kept that promise for over twenty years. Now, he's back for good. Vincent never left. After college, he stayed in town to be close to his elderly parents. These days he's the single dad of a fifteen-year-old daughter and working two jobs. He's perfectly happy with his life. Right? Xavier's new mission is to breathe life back into Cooper Springs, but his stodgy, straight-laced, rule-following neighbor, Vincent Barone—is getting in the way.

The last person Andre expected to see in Cooper Springs was Dante Castone. He left Dante and the rest of his old life behind him when he moved to Washington State and what he thought would be a quiet job in a small town by the ocean. In reality, Dante's DIYing it; he isn't the trusting sort. Daniella was the only witness to her mom's brutal murder and needs both protection and anonymity—plus as normal a life as possible. It's just a bonus that Cooper Springs has Andre Dear too.

Despite being unanimously projected to go first overall in the upcoming NHL Draft, Noah Anderson wants nothing more than to get the Draft over with so he can escape his dad's unrelenting criticism and establish himself outside the rivalry he's never tried to fuel. Alex Valencia can handle getting picked second after a guy touted as the next Gretzky—but he can't wrap his head around the fact that Noah is the one friend he can't make.

For years, the Weston family has spent their summers at their vacation home in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. It's a beloved tradition for seventeen-year-old Finley. He anticipates long, lazy days by the ocean, the same familiar faces, and the ever-present shadow of his Old Money family's expectations. But this year, Finley's plans are turned upside down when he meets Dawson, a brooding and confident young man who brings an air of mystery and the unexpected.

Forrest Cooper: Cooper Springs' resident lavender farmer has a short list of people he trusts. A newcomer to town is not making his list. Ever. Especially not one who is first on the scene of a murder. Nero Vik: Recently laid off and once again single, the ex-investigative reporter is digging into the sordid history of Cooper Springs. He's not in town to make friends, he's there to solve an old mystery and maybe bring closure to those who need it.