Personal Summer

Ruby and Claire are two best friends "of a certain age", who couldn't be closer if they were biological sisters. Ruby is divorced, and loves working at a local bookstore. Claire is a widow, who picked herself up after her husband died, and started her own business. They live in the small coastal town of Sea Spray, North Carolina, working and going about their lives until Ruby fights an unexpected health battle, and her ex-husband comes back into the picture at the same time. Claire is a lifeline, as Ruby trudges her way through both personal storms, proving that she is stronger than she ever imagined.

Ruby and Claire are two best friends "of a certain age", (a description some women use for old enough to be going through menopause). Though unrelated, they are as close as any biological sisters could be. Ruby is divorced, since her husband decided to abandon her after decades of marriage. Claire is widowed after as many years of marriage with her husband. They are neighbors in the small coastal town of Sea Spray, North Carolina, just a ferry ride away from the beach. Ruby loves her low-paying job in a local bookstore. Claire went back to school and started her own successful realty company after her husband died. They are living a quiet, small-town existence, until Ruby has to fight a health battle, and her ex-husband decides to come back into Ruby's life amidst it all. Claire is Ruby's lifeline, as Ruby trudges her way through both personal storms that are disrupting her peaceful reality, proving that she is stronger than she ever imagined.

Liz Howard, an avid reader and hobby artist, lives in Pamlico County, NC. She is an animal and nature lover, and enjoys living in the country with her husband Herbie and fur baby Mocha. This is her debut novel.