by Isabel Jolie
I leaned up and kissed him, pressing against him until that deep moan of his mixed in with the shrill cries of the sea gulls.
He pressed his forehead against mine. “I’m crazy in love with you, you know that?”
“Ditto.”
There were a lot of unknowns in my life. I decided to extend my contract with the conservancy for one more year while I finished my master’s remotely. I still wasn’t entirely sure what direction I wanted my career to take, but Tate assured me he and Luna would follow me no matter what path I chose. Any option I chose needed to work for Jasmine, so schools for her factored into any decision, but we were exploring options as far away Costa Rica. This fall, she would start school in South Port. A first big step and one I constantly questioned, knowing it would be a major adjustment for her.
Tate and I both worried about her, not that she gave us cause. At fourteen, she studied so much I worried we hadn’t done enough to build her social world. Cali said to give it time. Jasmine’s therapist assured us she was adjusting well. Still, I worried. But I held no doubts about Tate.
“Would you rather have dinner while we’re docked here in the marina, or do you want to take her out?”
“I want the full sunset cruise experience. Let’s head out to the causeway and sip champagne as we watch the sun go down.”
We drifted slowly, puttering out into the glasslike water. The sun hung low, casting shades of gold over the dark water. The silver steering wheel spun as Tate guided us expertly out of the harbor.
* * *
The End
******
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Notes & Acknowledgements
Haven Island is inspired by a real place—Bald Head Island, North Carolina. For obvious reasons, I couldn’t go with that name. I have nothing against bald men, even dated one, but that word doesn’t work for me, especially on repeat. Haven is the name on the island’s magazine, so I grabbed that and gave it a twist. My family and I spend time each summer on Bald Head. I was married on the island, as was my brother. It really does feel like you’re in a different country when you’re out there. The absence of automobiles makes all the difference. If you ever get the chance to visit, I highly recommend it.
Tate’s experiences prior to arriving on the island are largely inspired by Ian Urbina and his work covering the lawless ocean. My research included articles from sources such as the New York Times, NPR and The Guardian. But the work that has remained with me is The Outlaw Ocean, written by Ian Urbina. The issues facing our oceans are real. Sharks really are dumped to the bottom of the ocean after having their fins chopped off. The saying that there are no tread marks (to investigate) on the ocean is a real one. Tate’s experience only brushed the surface of the dark world on the deep seas.
I wrote this during the lead-up to the American 2020 presidential election. Never in my life have I felt such division within my country. I tried to parcel out some of that division between Tate and his family and friends. The environment is only one example of an issue that can be divisive. So many times, when people see things differently, it all comes down to perspective. And we all have different perspectives. That’s greatly oversimplifying everything going on right now, but I like to believe at its heart, even in divided families, at the end of the day, love remains.
Alice is a Santeria. She’s not a real person, and she doesn’t really live on the island, although I did model her home after one of the marsh facing cottages. A Santeria has special powers, and they come into those powers at varying times in their lives. She is religious, and spiritual, but her religion expands upon the major religions of our time—the ones I think of as the big five. The buckets of water to ward off evil spirits, that’s one version of praying. It may or may not work, but she’ll keep doing it.
The books in this series all center around redemption, taking a step out of the drum of everyday life to heal. I suppose that’s what BHI has come to mean to me. It’s a place to escape.
When I sent the original manuscript to Amy Claire Mager, I told her it needed work. And it did. She helped me to see areas that needed an overhaul. I’d also like to thank my beta readers, Carly Autumn and Evan Dave, for reading the whole manuscript and providing valuable feedback.
Rogue Wave marks my fifth book working with my editor, Lori Whitwam, and I am forever grateful for her guidance and continued efforts to improve my work. Heather Whitehead completed the line edit and searched to remove any and all comma errors, spacing, or any little thing that might have been overlooked.
Rogue Wave marks my first cover design working with Elizabeth Mackey, and I hope to work with her for a long time into the future.
I’d also like to thank my ARC team for sticking with me into a new series. And of course, thank you to all my readers for reading my books! Every review helps Indie authors, and I so much appreciate the positive words and recommendations- they help to keep me going. Thank you!
About the Author
Isabel Jolie, aka Izzy, lives on a lake, loves dogs of all stripes, and if she’s not working, she can be found reading, often with a glass of wine in hand. In prior lives, Izzie worked in marketing and advertising, in a variety of industries, such as financial services, entertainment, and technology. In this life, she loves daydreaming and writing contemporary romances with real, flawed characters and inner strength.
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Also by Isabel Jolie
Haven Island Series
Adrift (Gabe and Poppy)
Rough Waters (Logan and Cali)
* * *
The Westside Series
When the Stars Align (Jackson and Anna)
Trust Me (Sam and Olivia)
Walk the Dog (Mason and Delilah)
Lost on the Way (Jason and Maggie)
Chasing Frost (Chase and Sadie)
