Coretta Turner knows herself to be a successful, formidable, and very family-oriented woman. She is fiercely protective of the loved ones in her life, blood relatives and otherwise.

With the massive renovation of her niece's bed-and-breakfast, Inn The Shallows, nearly complete in time for the Christmas season, Coretta's Echo Key Café will be busier than ever.

Even better is that, for the first time, she can look forward to spending her golden years surrounded by family. Her once-estranged sister is learning to be happy. Her nieces have found love and her great-nieces, including the grandchild of her beloved late brother, are putting down roots in Echo Key. She even has a newborn in the family to love on.

When a man from her past arrives in town, she's reminded of why she chose to stay in Echo Key—and the joy of finding her true love, only to lose him and what they could have had together.

Though Coretta's life took an unexpected turn, she accepts that her personal tragedy shaped her into the woman she is and the blessed life she has.

Blessings that will, with any luck, soon include the ringing of wedding bells for some of those who are nearest and dearest to her heart.