All she wants is peace and quiet. What she gets is a giant scandal in a small town.

After her husband finally gets someone pregnant and it isn't her, development editor Mary Bellamy tries to start over in tiny, affordable Lawson, New Hampshire just as the dot.com bubble is bursting.

Mary assumes her infertility rules out most serious relationships. So she's taken aback when the local Episcopal priest seems interested in more than just saving her soul. Then there's that handsome local cop who confuses her by being an excellent kisser who supports gay marriage, but opposes premarital sex.

Before long Mary's keeping a scandalous secret at great cost to her personal happiness. Worse, her deteriorating ex threatens what little she has left. But Mary may find that while her new life brings dangerous new risks, it can also deliver unexpected blessings.

If you enjoy a snarky heroine, an occasionally spicy love story, building suspense that might keep you up past your bed time, and a genuine moral quandary, THE AWFUL MESS will keep you turning pages ... and might even leave you feeling more hopeful for the future.

Note: This stand-alone novel has two stand-alone sequels that continue some of these characters' stories and delve into others'.

Includes group discussion questions.

PRAISE FOR THE AWFUL MESS

"It renews me as a reader, to enjoy a book so much; and as a writer, see it done so well." – Tim Farrington, author of THE MONK DOWNSTAIRS

"THE AWFUL MESS is a wonderful read!" – Julia Spencer-Fleming, author of IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER

"Read THE AWFUL MESS: A LOVE STORY and you'll go to bed more optimistic than when you got up today." – Hard to Please Book Lover

"...utterly delightful and refreshing, with believable, unique characters that drew me in right from the beginning." – Anne M. Bennett, author of BUTTERFLIES AT NIGHT

"I enjoyed the writing, cared about the characters, and kept turning the pages to find out what would happen next!" – Alec Hastings

"The characters are unforgettable. Our 'heroine' is as believably funny, self-critical, bull-headed, and resourceful as your best friend." – E. Browne

"5 of 5 Stars.... Yes, it's romance and a love story, but it's much much much more than that." – Sue Ward