He’ll face any threat… except losing her again.
Adam Monroe knows what it means to lose everything. A career derailed. A future rewritten. And the woman he never stopped loving slipping through his fingers. When the chance arises to return to Harmony Bay as the town’s new Police Chief, Adam takes it. Not for redemption, not for prestige, but for her, the one chapter of his life he never truly closed.
Julia Kerrigan fought her way back from heartbreak with grit and determination. After a devastating betrayal by the man she once trusted with her heart, she rebuilt herself from the ground up. Now the president of a thriving real estate company, Julia has carved out a life defined by success, independence, and carefully guarded emotional walls. Love is a luxury she no longer allows herself.
So when Adam walks back into her world, steady, familiar, and impossibly tempting, Julia is forced to confront feelings she buried long ago. His presence stirs memories she doesn’t want to revisit and hope she refuses to claim.
Adam is determined to win her back, no matter the cost. He knows trust won’t come easily, and forgiveness may be the hardest battle he’s ever fought. But just as their fragile connection begins to mend, a shocking scandal erupts—one that places both of them in the crosshairs.
Rumors turn dangerous. Secrets come to light. And suddenly, Julia’s reputation and Adam’s career, and their very lives, are at risk.
As threats close in and danger escalates, Adam must uncover the truth before it’s too late. Protecting Julia is his job—but saving their second chance at love may be the fight of his life.
Will fear and betrayal tear them apart once more? Or will standing together against the darkness finally give them the future they were always meant to share?
To Mend a Heart, book one in the Harmony Bay Small Town Romance series, is a stand-alone novel with a guaranteed HEA and no cliffhanger.
Jill Eshenbaugh –
This is an updated version of a sweet romance. As I started the book I remembered reading about Adam and Julia and their journey from a huge mistake to a happily ever after. It was easy and enjoyable read then and just the same with the updated version. Love is always in the air in Harmony Bay and since this is the first book in the series, it’s just beginning.
Andrew Agnew –
A Hallmark movie, in print. A story of young love, wrecked relationships and second chances.
Young love, questioning whether it is real, or is there something better around the corner. Then a life realizing the mistake, and the battle to heal a broken heart and win the love back. But, jealousy rears its ugly head, threatening privacy and possibly more.
Newly appointed Police Chief returns to confront his early love, now a successful business woman and community leader, to try and win her back, if she will give him the time of day. Can she trust him again, when he broke her heart so completely? Will he succeed, or is there someone else, that wants her more? And is willing to get her, no matter what!?
And who can forget her sassy sisters. So many possibilities.
Anne Morrison –
A very enjoyable second chance romance set in the town of Harmony Bay with some threat and intrigue built in. Adam and Julia had been teenage sweethearts but Julia was broken hearted when Adam moved on when he went away to college , nine years later he is back as the new Chief of Police but Julia is determined to avoid him, some strange things start to happen and Adam steps in to look for solution, who of who seems to be fixated onJulia . Can Julia get past the years of hurt? Can Adam protect her by finding the person responsible, and gain the respect and trust of Julia and her family again as the situation quickly escalates? The characters and plot held my attention from beginning to end and I am looking forward to the next two books in the series and learning more about the other residents in Harmony Bay
MaryEllen –
This is my voluntary review of a copy I was given.
This was a realistic story. The pacing was great, and the mystery was well-written.
I loved that Julia’s family, and most of the town, were rooting for them to get back together while still warning Adam not to hurt her again.
MJ –
Another great book by one of my favorite authors. This is the first book in the Harmony Bay series and is a great beginning. I loved Julia and Adam’s story and getting to know the Kerrigan’s. Their story is second chance romance with mystery and suspense as well as romance. I anxiously await the next book.
Marlene –
We are in Harmony Bay, Idaho, for this wonderful series. It’s all about second chances in life and love. It’s the Christmas season, trees are decorated, gifts are wrapped and the Kerrigan family has gathered. Hugs are given, gifts are exchanged and hearts are broken. Several years later, family, friends and a new Police Chief are together in Harmony Bay. This time, care is given not to get a broken heart, no gifts are exchanged and if you’re lucky, a stiff sort of hug is received. I loved this book as the characters have grown-up, built a business and look at second chances at love in a suspicious way. It made me smile to read about the sisters and their adult lives. Thanks for the great writing by this author; I enjoyed every moment with this book.
Cathy –
To Mend the Heart. High school sweethearts planning their future together until Adam questions it. Fast forward to ten years later when Adam returns to town. Both built successful lives without each other. Can Julia forgive Adam for hurting her? There is also a mystery as to who is stalking Julia. Some twists and turns in the story making it interesting to the end. Good read.
Laura McQuerry –
What a great story! Adam and Julia’s love story ended abruptly 10 years ago. Adam returns to his hometown hoping there is once again a chance with Julia. There are hurdles to cross, mystery and danger. I highly recommend this book!
patricia –
Adam is back in town as the new police chief. Julia runs a real estate business with her sisters. they have a past in which he broke up with her now he is back. this is a page turning story , someone is sending flowers to her , but then she get threats and then more. do not want ot get anything away. if you like second chancers and mystery you will want to read the story. this is a well written story i was given a copy to read but this is an honest review.
Rita Meston –
Adam returns to Harmony Bay as the new Police Chief. His childhood sweetheart, Julia has a real problem with this. He broke her heart by finishing with her one Christmas, saying he thought they should both date other people as he felt they were too young at 19 to commit to each other. Almost a decade later Adam is now back and really wants a second chance with Julia realising he had made a terrible mistake all those years earlier. Julia is now a successful business woman and extremely wary of getting close to Adam again. She is also being pursued by a stalker and as Adam investigates her concerns and both their homes are vandalised, they move into a temporary flat together becoming close again realising that they do really have a future together.
Lisa Parker –
This is an honest, heartfelt story about two young people who have only ever been with other. Adam and Julia grew up together and have always been best friends. Eventually they realize that their feelings have slowly turned into love, and plan to get married when they graduate from college.
In their second year of college, Adam suddenly develops cold feet and wonders if maybe they need to date around before they marry the only person they have ever been with. On Christmas Eve, Adam informs Julia that he thinks they are too young to think about marriage so young. He informs Julia that, when they go back to college after Christmas, they should start dating others. Julia is heartbroken and they do not see each other again for years.
Then nine years later, Adam unexpectedly returns to town and is now the new Chief of Police. Since he’s known for a long time that he made a mistake Julia, his plan is to move back home so he can make amends and win back her love.
However, Julia now owns her own business and runs the Chamber of Commerce. She is an independent, hard-working, respected person who, years ago, built a wall around her feelings. She wants nothing to do with him, and refuses to see him again. She can’t forgive him, nor ever forget what he did to her.
.
At this point, Adam’s plans seem impossible, and I began to wonder how will the author ever be able to change our minds? However, she creates an exciting way for Adam to eventually win back Julia’s love.
Kathy M –
Another wonderful story about a second chance romance.
Sometimes doing what you feel is the right thing can be painful and it may take a while to know if it really was the right thing.
Adam did what he thought was best but years later when he gets the chance to return to town and the girl he left he takes it and hopes he gets the chance to explain and make things right.
Being the new Police Chief puts him in Julia’s life when things take a dangerous turn for her.
This story has the suspense to keep you reading and a great story line between the main characters that has you rooting for them to find love.
I was honored to read an early copy and this is my honest opinion.
Paula –
To Mend a Heart by Shirleen Davies is a fine wholesome contemporary romance taking place in the small town of Harmony Bay. I love second chance romances, and this one is a refreshing one. A hardworking determined Police Chief and a successful independent woman. Just as Adam Monroe and Julia Kerrigan start to reconnect and mend the relationship danger appears, unexplainable and unwarranted. By that I mean it is the kind that you never expect or understand why you are the targeted. That is perhaps the scariest part of it all for Julia.
To Mend a Heart has suspense, romance, family and small-town life all written in an easy wonderful way. I so enjoyed life in the growing tourist town as well as getting to know the Kerrigan family. Now to wait to see if one of Julia’s sisters get their story next.
Sharon –
This was a wonderful read! It is a very well written story, with an excellent story line, filled with outstanding characters. Adam left Harmony Bay to go to college and returned to see everyone at Christmas that year. At that time his tells Julie, his girlfriend since childhood, that he wants them to date other people. He wants to make sure he is making the right decision before marrying and staying with her. Julie is devastated and changes her college plans of going into nursing to real estate and stays in Harmony Bay and becomes very successful. Adam returns after several years to be the police chief of Harmony Bay and to get Julie back anyway he can. It isn’t that easy though as Julia really doesn’t date many men at all and yet she can’t deny the feelings she still has for Adam. Shortly after Adam returns, she starts getting roses with cards that don’t identify the sender but become ominous. Adam is there to solve who is sending them and scarring Julie as well as to protect her, when things escalate with her stalker who starts to attack both of them!!! This is an exciting story that is cleanly written and grabs the reader’s attention right away and keeps you turning the pages to see what is going to happen next. Shirleen Davies also does outstanding word painting in describing the areas where the action is happening, you easily develop a mental picture of where the characters are at. Great story with a wonderful HEA
Amanda –
Adam and Julia were great friends and she thought they were going to get married, instead he broke up with her on Christmas Eve, years ago. She hasn’t married and finds all the men she goes out with lacking. Now Adam is back in Harmony Bay as the Police Chief and wants to make amends, he made a huge mistake when he broke up with her, he’s taken this job in the hopes of getting back with her again, but it’s going to take time and a lot of trust on her part.
Then photos of her appear, sent to various people, of her years ago at the swimming hole with a lot of her girlfriends, but things get worse and she seems to 5have a stalker.
Adam investigates, who can it be and why?
A great start to the series from Shirleen.
Jennie Fortna –
To Mend a Heart book 1 in the Harmony Bay series by Shirleen Davies 4.5 stars
Adam and Julia were high school and college sweethearts until Adam came home from school during the Christmas break and discovered his parents were separating and upon hearing more of there story Adam decided that they needed to see other people before they made a lifetime commitment and ended up breaking both their hearts. Now 9 yrs later neither has married, Adam applies for the Police Chief job and is determined to win Julia back whatever it takes…Julia wants nothing to do with Adam but her heart says otherwise…stirring memories for both, second chance, secrets, danger, building trust that was lost, forgiveness and finding out who is determined to ruin Julia’s reputation…
I voluntarily read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Joyce Fritz –
Growing up together Julia and Adam fell in love with everyone figuring they would eventually get married. That was until Adam came home for a holiday from college and broke Julia’s heart. Now nine years later, Adam has returned to town as their new Chief of Police hoping for a second chance, but Julia is determined to keep her distance as her fear is he did it once, could she survive him doing it again. When she starts receiving roses with no name attached, she thinks it could be Mark who she has been dating for a couple months but he said no, it wasn’t him. When he starts showing controlling issues, she decides it is time to break it off with him. In the meantime, the rose issue escalates turning to violence and vandalism. As they work together to find out who the stalker is, will Adam be able to keep her safe. This is a new series, and I can’t wait for the next story. This is another great story by this author.
Annette –
Excellent clean, wholesome and heartfelt romance. Love this, second chance with the added excitement of the suspense twist, the two are so well blended in this story and keep me glued to the pages from start to finish. I enjoyed getting to know the characters history and how the build upon and move on, the support circle is great as well. This definitely took second chance to a whole new level.
Gail –
I loved this story of second chances and rekindled love. Julia Kerrigan has come back from a heartbreaking love relationship that occurred 9 years ago when she and Adam planned for a future together after college. Since then, she’s protected her heart and dedicated her life to the family business and success. Love is no longer a choice for her. She’s doing well (or is she?) until Adam Monroe returns to their hometown as the new police chief. He’s determined to win Julia’s heart and forgiveness. Not an easy task, especially when she continues to try to avoid him.
When rumors, danger, and a stalker enter Harmony Bay, will their growing attraction turn into something more? Can Adam protect Julia?
The suspense & main character descriptions, that Ms. Davies is gifted with including in her books, kept me turning the pages. I recommend this clean read and am looking forward to the next book about Julia’s sister Selena and her big adventure.
Bonnie Blackledge –
Shirleen Davies can always be counted on to write a great story. I loved this book about Adam and Julia and their romance. Adam and Julia were friends and romantically involved as they grew up together in Harmony Bay. When they were 19, Adam broke things off with Julia because he wanted to make sure that she was his one true love. After spending about 10 years apart, Adam takes on the job as police chief in Harmony Bay, and the two reunite. I truly enjoyed this clean romance. I only wish there had been a little more detail about the resolution of the stalker situation. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Liverpoolcathy –
Adamm returned to town having built a career in the police so he came home as the boss! Julie who had had to rebuild her life after he left was shocked to find he was back. She was determined not to engage and definitely not fall for him again.
But with her sister showing him houses their paths crossed so when danger comes to town can they work together, will fate draw them together again.
It’s a really enjoyable book, get reading !