He’s always done the right thing. Until she walked into his life.

Ethan Brooks has led an extremely long double life, one that always felt stable and secure - until he crossed paths with Nora St. Clair. Suddenly, the dogged police lieutenant is invading his office in her quest for answers about the mysterious Brightrock Island he hails from, an idyllic community off the coast of Massachusetts and home to a literal fountain of youth.

Sworn to secrecy about his hometown, Ethan must protect the truth about the mysterious island and those who live there, at any cost. But that’s easier said than done as Nora captures Ethan’s attention like no one ever has, upending his carefully cultivated life.

Resident Lizzy Brooks is enjoying her first taste of freedom from Brightrock Island after almost 50 years when Nora’s investigation throws everything into chaos, trashing Lizzy’s dreams when they’ve only just begun.

With the clock ticking, Lizzy only has a few short weeks to explore what might’ve been a grand, romantic adventure with Caleb Broussard, her only connection outside the island. But this quiet, kind man whom Lizzy thought she knew has secrets of his own - ones that could impact everything.

Now, Ethan and Lizzy are both on borrowed time. But as Nora gets closer to uncovering the truth, Brightrock’s elders deliver an ultimatum: return home or leave the island forever, forcing Lizzy and Ethan to choose between their loves - or their lives.

If you like action-packed, steamy small-town romance novels, you’ll love the next story in Kathryn K. Murphy’s Firemark series. Buy Simply a Matter of Time and race back to Brightrock Island today!