Off-season at Emerald Isle ~ In-season for secrets of the heart... Frannie Denman has been waiting for her life to begin. After several false starts, and a couple of broken hearts, she ends up back with her mother, with whom she doesn't get along, until her elderly uncle gets sick and Frannie goes to Emerald Isle to help manage his affairs while he's recovering. Her uncle's oceanfront home, Captain's Walk, is small and unpretentious, and even though she isn't a 'beach person,' she decides Captain's Walk in winter is a great place to hide from her troubles. But Frannie doesn't realize that winter is short in Emerald Isle and the beauty of the ocean and seashore can help heal anyone's heart, especially when her uncle's handyman is the handsome Brian Donovan. Brian has troubles of his own. He sees himself and Frannie as two damaged people who aren't likely to equal a happy 'whole' but he's intrigued by this woman of contradictions. Frannie's mother wants her back home and Brian wants to meet the real woman he senses is hiding behind the good manners and expensive clothing, but Frannie wants to move forward with her life. To do that she needs questions answered. With the right information there's a good chance she'll will be able to affect not only a change in her life, but also a change of heart.