Bitter Grounds

What begins as another quiet morning at The Perch Lakeside Café turns deadly when a visiting literary agent is found lifeless in her bed at the historic Meridian Inn. The town whispers "natural causes." Julia Bennett knows better.

Julia didn't mean to become Heron's Cove's unofficial detective. She just notices things. The way a tea cup sits slightly too straight. The way someone watches without seeming to. The way her golden retriever, Macchiato, refuses to cross a doorway and sounds a warning he's never given before.

As the manuscript of a tell-all book about the town's buried secrets moves toward publication, tension ripples through the lakeside community. Old alliances strain. New strangers arrive. And someone is willing to ensure certain truths never reach print.

With her loyal service dog at her side and a perfectly crafted cappuccino never far from reach, Julia must untangle a web of deception before another life is claimed.

Because in Heron's Cove, everything is connected.

And when one strand trembles, the whole town feels it.

Perfect for fans of small-town cozy mysteries with smart heroines, atmospheric settings, loyal dogs, and just a touch of romantic tension.