Secrets of Sandpiper Shores: When Smoke Clears

by Amy Rafferty

Coming soon...

314 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 24, 2026

About the author

Amy Rafferty writes uplifting, clean romance filled with heart, healing, and the kind of hope that lingers long after the last page. Known for her coastal settings, later-in-life heroines, and unforgettable family bonds, Amy's books offer second chances and emotional journeys wrapped in love and mystery. When she’s not dreaming up her next story, she’s sipping tea by the sea and treasuring time with her family.

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Reviews

[P · Rating 2 out of 5]

downloaded the free novela of this series and I liked it. it's about second chance romance, but while reading this book this pacing was so slow, way too many POVs so the storyline is being dragged out. I don't think I'll continue the series. I found myself skimming on certain chapters. I was just here for June and Holt.

[Vickie Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story about love, trust and people from the past.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some secrets stay buried for decades. Others catch fire.

When high-powered attorney June Carter is sidelined by a car accident, she retreats to the quiet beach town of Sandpiper Shores, Florida — hoping that a summer in the peaceful coastal community will bring healing and rest. What she doesn’t expect is to collide with the past she’s kept hidden for 37 years.

June’s first love, FBI Director Holt Dillinger, is also in town, turning her peaceful getaway into an emotional battlefield.

As wildfire season sets the coastal forests ablaze, the fire isn’t just on the horizon — it’s in their hearts. Tensions simmer, old wounds re-open, and a carefully kept lie begins to unravel.

In a town where everyone knows everyone and danger creeps in like smoke on the wind, June must confront the man she never stopped loving… and the truth that could shatter the family she’s fought to protect.

This contemporary Cedar Key second-chance romance is page-turning with exceptional world-building in Sandpiper Shores, Florida, where the sunrises and sunsets are majestically painted in vibrant hues across the sky, and characters who are resilient, captivating, and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with secrets of Sandpiper Shores, second chances, seaside charm, a slow-burning mystery that ties generations together, family, forgiveness, and forever love that are always worth the risk, suspense that will leave readers on the edge of their seats, tension, secrets buried for decades, wildfire season that sets the coastal forests ablaze, danger creeps in like smoke on the wind, love/loss, heartfelt emotions/emotional depth that will leave readers in need of Kleenex/Puffs to wipe away the tears threatening to spill down their cheeks, action, adventure, intrigue, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with secrets of Sandpiper Shores and a small-town second- chance romance that is sure to transport readers into a world that is wildly emotional, intriguing, and unforgettable.

[Mary Ann Speel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great first book in this series. Already has my interest. The Hs and hs are multiple. The first are from the prequel trilogy then members of their families, last of all are those from the town. The story begins with the first h being involved in a car accident that put her in critical condition. Then the first H is making the major bust of his career in the FBI, where he takes down the king pin of a major crime syndicate and dismantles his syndicate. In the process he is wounded. The h must take an extended leave of absence to recover. The H is put on extended leave. They both return to the home town where they met as youth. The h goes to stay with her daughter and the H goes to stay with his son. In their boredom they get involved in what is happening in the town. It started with a forest fire that occurred before they arrived. It mimics a major fire that occurred ten years earlier and in which the h’s daughter’s husband died. He was the fire chief as is now her daughter, another h. The first Hs son is a recent hire on the town’s police force. The police captain is another H. The two Hs work together to solve the other strange events that are occurring in the town which are numerous and seem to mimic events that occurred ten years earlier. Interestingly there is also a villain for us. How she plays in the story should be interesting. Hope you enjoy this book as much as I did and follow these characters as they interact in the future. Enjoy!

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, author, Amy Rafferty has woven another heart warming, intriguing series that grips you from the beginning. Book one picks up where the prequel left us. It's 37 years later and June and Holt were divorced and went their separate paths, Holt to the FBI, to avenge his father's murder and June to reviving her father's law firm. As fate sometimes has it, June was in a bad car accident and Holt was shot avenging his father's death and both ended back up in Sandpiper Shores. June was there to stay with her daughter, Willa and her grandchildren to recuperate from her injuries. Holt was their to stay with his son, Rad and his grandson to recuperate from his injuries. We are treated to reactions, emotions, a fire that seemed to imitate the questionable fire 10 years ago that killed Willa's husband and 4 other firefighters and now Willa is fire captain. Will June and Holt's paths cross? How will they react to each other? Will they avoid each other? Will Willa cure her fear of driving in cars? So many variables to sort through. You just can't put down this book and you can't wait to see what will happen next! I highly recommend this book and the prequel and all the books that will follow this wonderful series. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Roslyn Simonin Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are picking up 48 years after the prequel. 48 years after Holt and June had ended there 4 year marriage.

Holt took his position with the FBI in Virginia. Now he has been shot 3 times having gotten the revenge he was seeking for his Father, and is heading to Sandpiper Shores to recuperate with his son, Rad and grandson.
June,a lawyer in Miami that revived her Father's Law Firm, had been rear-ended at a stoplight and seriously injured her head. Leaving her with terrible trauma about even getting in a car. She was headed to recuperate with her daughter Willa and Willa's 3 children who live in......Sandpiper Shores.
Willa is the Fire-Chief, a position she took over after her husband and 3 other firemen lost their lives in a Forest Fire 10 years ago.
The Community is Planning a 10 year Celebration to honor these men, and Willa is in charge.
Now what can possibly happen here?
Leave it to Amy for another fantastic read, you won't believe.
I received this ARC from Amy and am leaving my honest review.

[Terry T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is a sweet clean small town, second chance, later-in-life, family secrets romance with a touch of mystery and suspense.
Some of the lines I really like --- “That’s why, if you get a second chance at love… “You must grab it with both hands. Most people don’t get a second chance at love.” --- “But you know what I’ve learned? Sometimes when everything falls apart, it’s because something better is trying to come together. It just takes time to see it.” ---
Who's behind the strange accidents happening? Who deliberately started the fire? Was it the same person who started the fire 10 years ago or a copycat? What's Victoria up to? Who ran Lacey off the road? These and other questions will all be answered in books 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.
I loved June and Holt's, Lucy and Tom's story and I'm sure you will too. I've loved everyone of her books that I've read and I can't wait to read her next book.

[Vicki Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets of Sandpiper Shores, Book 1, is the story of Holt, who spent his career tracking down the man who was responsible for his father's death, and June, whose goal was to recover her father's law firm which had been taken over by others. Holt and June were married for four years but when they graduated from law school they divorced due to their goals. Now, thirty-eight years later June, a widow, has been in a terrible car accident and is staying with her daughter, Willa, and her children at Sandpiper Shores, while Holt, who was divorced again, is recovering from a gun shot would from a successful raid and is staying with his son, Rad/Conrad, and his grandson also at Sandpiper Shores. This beginning of this series is a fantastic read and I am looking forward to reading Book 2.
I received a copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as ARC.

June & Holt were high school sweethearts who were married for a short time. Their careers took them in different directions. 38 years later they have both themselves back in Sandpiper Shores for the summer recuperating. 10 years after a horrific fire took the lives of 4 fireman. Things are starting up again. There’s car accidents, fires and lots of mysterious things happening in town to very specific people.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

June and Holt’s lives come crashing back into each other after 38 years. Both recovering from accidents, they end up with their families in the same small town where they fell in love.

Will the secret June has kept all these years finally come out? How many lives will it impact, and will it be a good thing?

This is just one of the story lines in this incredible series. I’m really looking forward to reading this series as it unfolds.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

June and Holt’s story will capture your heart immediately and leave you yearning for more! The story takes place in Sandpiper Shores, which has immediately become another place to visit as often as Rafferty will take us there with this series! Secrets of Sandpiper Shores: When Smoke Clears is definitely the first book of what will quickly become another bestselling series for Rafferty! I read this book as part of her ARC team and am offering my review.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of hidden romance! It seems like everyone in Sandpiper Shores secretly admires someone. Willa is the fire Chief in Sandpiper Shores. Her husband, Shaun, was killed in a forest fire, that took lives of 2 other people. Willa’s mom, June, was in a car accident and is coming to visit for the summer to recover. There are many twists and turns and I can’t wait for the next book. I received a free book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jan Tomalis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boy, this book pulls you in from the first page! It is so hard to stop reading because you really need to find out what happens next. Ms. Rafferty knows how to pack a story full of emotions and mysteries. She also adds romance to that lit. I am looking forward to book 2.
I received an advance copy of this book from the author, however, I voluntarily wrote an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found it hard to put down, so full of mystery, treachery, wild fires and old loves renewed. It amazes me how the story just rolls out and rebuilding destructed relationships. The epitome of this tale is the knowledge that the true genealogy will have to be uncovered at some point. Meanwhile more intrigue to discover, and love to be renewed.

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A start of a new series, but also a start of new beginnings, new life and possibly opportunity for new chances.
It tells the reader about several individuals, their difficulties and differences, their past and now their present. Paths cross years later and unexpected reconnection reignites feelings and general sense of calm. This is all set against a backdrop of suspense, drama, intrigue and danger. History is repeating itself.
The author has woven a web of deceit, lies, secrets, disappointment and success with characters that are both likeable and unlikeable..can't stand Tom's family and within that environment I see him as weak, despite his professional achievements.

[Melonie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I start a new Amy Rafferty series I feel like it is a new favorite. This one is screaming favorite!! It grabs you from the start and never lets you go. So much suspense and such well-developed characters. I love this series!!!!! I NEED NEXT BOOK!!!! This one left my mouth hanging open!!!!

[Danette Fowlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the prequel to this series , I thought it was going to be a great series and I was right. I love the women in firefighting and EMS. Everything is happening so fast and is so very interesting that you can't turn the pages fast enough. So great it is beyond my expectations.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[DeeDeeWReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second chance Romance

A great start to another series of loss, love, and mystery. I can see many second chances are possible in this series. Love after loss, finding your childhood sweetheart. I can’t wait for the secret that we know to come out. If you haven’t, read the prequel and you’ll know what I mean.

I couldn’t stop reading. I love these characters and the story.

[Linda Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Amy’s books that I’ve read (about 70!) are great reads. In this Cedar Key series Amy has stepped up a gear (if that was even possible). This book is longer than normal, and the storyline benefits. The prequel set the scene, 38 years ago. Here the stage is set for the drama to unfold. There’s mystery and suspense, and maybe a little romance. Highly recommend

[Dianne Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping, emotional story!

A gripping, emotional story that will capture your imagination and your heart.  This is clearly another block buster book series with an phenomenal story unfolding.

I read this book as part of an advance reader team.  I am voluntarily writing this review.

[Barbara Kaake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a great beginning to a story about June and exhusband Holt and the secret about Willa birth and other strange things going on in Sandpiper shores and who is behind it. Thank you for this awesome story.

[Virginia L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm enjoying a new series. As always the plot is building and leaves me anxiously awaiting the next book. June and Holt, a young couple whose marriage reaches a stumbling block and neither of them is willing to compromise. What happens next? I can only imagine.

[B E · Rating 5 out of 5]

June and Holt have been divorced for many years. She was in a car accident and returning to Sandpiper Shores to recover with her daughter and grandchildren. He is in the FBI and had been shot and is recovering with his son and grandson. Both are shocked to see each other. Book 1 in new series

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When June Carter is sidelined by a car accident, she goes home to rest. There she meets up with an ex live. Totally a surprise, will she have a chance at love once again. A heartwarming story that will make you want more by this amazing author.

[Christine Schrodt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy Rafferty has done it again! This new series is full of twists, turns, and complicated relationships. Amy is a master of character development, so enjoy getting to know the people of Sandpiper Shores. I sure did!

[Nicole Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so chill and fun to read! I loved the mix of romance and mystery. All of the characters are so sweet and amazing (minus Victoria lol). Can’t wait to read the next book (starting it rn).

[Roxy Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this! It's definitely a series, so diving into Book 2 right away. Interesting, dynamic characters and relationships. The connectedness of Sandpiper Shores is a little confusing at first (multigenerational with lots of characters) but very immersive.

[Lisa L · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming beginning to another series. I cannot wait for the next installment.

[Pam Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good start to a new series. June and Holt Dillinger had been married four years, when their careers seemed to go in seperate paths. After divorcing, they moved on in life. Fast forward 38 years and they both have severe injuries. June goes to her widowed daughter Willa’s house. Willa is fire department chief after the tragic death of her husband

Holt is injured in an FBI sting to avenge his father’s death. He goes to the home of his son Rad to heal. Mysterious fires and accidents are taking place 10 years after a fire took the life of Willa’s husband.

June and Holt’s paths are bound to cross. What emotions will come to life?

Thank you to the author for this ARC. This review is my honest opinion.