A SOFT PLACE TO FALL

To the tiny town of Shelter Rock Cove, Maine, Annie and Kevin Galloway seem to have the perfect marriage. But when Kevin dies suddenly, Annie is left with bittersweet memories, never-fulfilled dreams of children and artistic fame, and massive debt from Kevin's secret gambling addiction. In an attempt to clear the debt and make a fresh start, Annie sells the home she shared with Kevin and moves to a cheap beachfront cottage. There she finds herself powerfully attracted to her new neighbor. Once the rising star in a corrupt Wall Street firm, Sam Butler has secretly turned informant and is laying low until the federal investigation is complete. Even knowing that a trial and possible jail time are pending, Sam can't help pursuing Annie; despite heavy disapproval from Kevin's family, Annie can't help but respond. The two come together only to find that Annie's unexpected pregnancy and Sam's hidden past threaten to tear their love apart. The Wall Street details of Bretton's (At Last) story line are shaky, but she excels in her portrayal of the sometimes sweet, sometimes stifling ties of a small community. The town's tight network of loving, eccentric friends and family infuses the tale with a gently comic note that perfectly balances the darker dramas of the romance. (Nov. 6)