First love. . . forever love. Sixteen-year old Gabby Hayden wasn’t the kind of girl who gave a hoot about boys. She had a few real loves. Water-skiing, going out on Smith Mountain Lake with her dad and her dog. Anything else ranked a distant second. Until the summer smart, caring, gorgeous Sam Tatum gave her his heart. It had been the most wonderful time of her life, lazy days hanging out at the dock, skinny-dipping at midnight, staring up at the stars from the back of Sam’s truck. They are planning their future together when Sam’s father is transferred to South Africa. Devastated, Gabby and Sam promise to wait for each other during the two years before he returns for college. But lonely and angry, Sam makes a mistake that will change the course of both their lives. Years later, an unexpected diagnosis brings Sam home to his parents’ house on Smith Mountain Lake where he believes he can find peace and acceptance. What he finds, however, is the girl he once loved, now a woman unwilling to lose him again, a woman who will make him realize that both love and life are worth fighting for. Virginia author Inglath Cooper is a RITA® Award winner for best long contemporary romance novel chosen each year by Romance Writers of America.  "I first fell in love with reading as a little girl, devouring most of the books in my elementary school library. At some point, I decided I wanted to pursue a writing career, creating romance fiction that might do for others what my favorite books did for me. I love character-driven books that leave me feeling as if I've really known these people and make me wish I didn't have to turn the last page." "Romance fiction has always appealed to me because it deals with so many of the relationships in a woman's life. Not only the love of her life, but often her relationship with her mother, sister or best friend. Romance authors have so much room to explore many of the meaningful moments and transitions in women's lives. And who doesn't love a good love story?" When aspiring writers ask her how to be an author, she says, "Everything I know about writing books I learned from reading books." Outside of writing, Inglath is actively involved in dog rescue, working with The Franklin County Humane Society to place dogs and cats in need of rehoming. She has volunteered her time in every capacity possible: serving on the Board of Directors, fundraising, photographing dogs and cats available for adoption and serving as a foster home. "Helping an abused or neglected dog go on to have a wonderful life with a family who loves them is more rewarding than I can possibly say." Visit her website at: inglathcooper.com Follow her on Facebook at: facebook.com/inglathcooperbooks. She loves to engage with readers there.