The Lamberts of Pacific Knoll Series by Kate Vale

When Alexis McCord’s abusive boyfriend is arrested, she seizes the opportunity to escape with her young son. Now she and 5-year-old Chance are building a life in the tiny, remote beach town of Sandy Reach, Washington. Lexi is even acting on her dream of becoming a baker with her own shop—if only Hugh never finds her... moreWhen Alexis McCord’s abusive boyfriend is arrested, she seizes the opportunity to escape with her young son. Now she and 5-year-old Chance are building a life in the tiny, remote beach town of Sandy Reach, Washington. Lexi is even acting on her dream of becoming a baker with her own shop—if only Hugh never finds her. For Fletcher Lambert, distraught after the death of his wife and baby daughter, Sandy Reach is a handy place to escape his memories, away from his law office and his large, well-intentioned but intrusive family, who are watching and waiting for him to move on. He’s not sure that will ever happen. Then Fletcher meets Chance. When he learned that the waitress serving him at Omar’s pub is the boy’s mother, sparks fly in in spite of his intentions never to get close to a woman again. Lexi feels them, too, but her mistrust of men forces her to ignore Chance when he declares that Fletcher would make the perfect dad. After all, who listens to a five-year-old in the midst of all this grown-up angst? less

High school counselor and middle daughter in the Lambert family, Debra discovers a student bleeding from an attempted suicide. She doesn’t know what to think, when her boyfriend, a professor at Lambert-Knoll College, Sawyer Quinlan, is suspected of having been involved.Lawyer Todd Prescott is determined to get to know Debra; unfortunately, she’s already spoken for. But when she breaks up with Sawyer, Todd’s hopes soar... moreHigh school counselor and middle daughter in the Lambert family, Debra discovers a student bleeding from an attempted suicide. She doesn’t know what to think, when her boyfriend, a professor at Lambert-Knoll College, Sawyer Quinlan, is suspected of having been involved.Lawyer Todd Prescott is determined to get to know Debra; unfortunately, she’s already spoken for. But when she breaks up with Sawyer, Todd’s hopes soar.As much as she’s attracted to him, Debra’s hesitant to trust Todd to guard her heart any better than other men who have let her down. Moreover, she’s determined to prove she’s a strong woman, capable of taking care of herself.But Todd becomes as frustratingly protective as Debra’s brothers. Does he risk driving Debra away by trying to protect her from a stalker? And how can Debra find a way to stand on her own two feet, without losing her chance at real love? less