The Last Word

The Last Word photo

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As summer blooms across Nantucket, Meagan Poe’s hopes for the future spring anew. The next steps of her relationship with Luke Harris glisten on the horizon. Meagan tries not to get her hopes up, but it’s hard when Luke is always on her mind. To distract her, Meagan focuses on the Rose Cottage Book Club’s new member, Celia Stone, who in addition to talking up her retirement community also holds a secret involving the Poe family. 
Elsewhere on the island, Avery Sheridan closes her real estate agency for several weeks to enjoy much-needed time with her daughter, Katie. The recent college graduate returns from a trip to Spain with news, but it’s not what Avery expects. Their plans together quickly evaporate, and Avery must navigate life as an empty nester earlier than she anticipated. 
Meanwhile, Luke asks for Nell Poe’s help in proposing to Meagan. But as the time draws near, Meagan’s grandmother suffers an unexpected accident that has her wondering if she should turn a new page in her book of life as well. Perhaps the retirement community Celia raves about lies in Nell’s future. But the decision isn’t one she can make lightly. The consequences will have ripple effects on everyone she knows and loves.
Helping the women on their journeys are the members of the Rose Cottage Book Club. Their support, encouragement, and kindness put problems into perspective and make happily-ever-afters come true.

The Characters

One year ago, 34-year-old librarian Meagan Poe followed her dream of opening her own bookshop on beautiful Nantucket island and she couldn’t be happier with her decision. Her outgoing personality, positive attitude, and knack for knowing just the right book to recommend to curious readers helps her easily connect with her customers. But as she settles into her new surroundings and role as the owner of Rose Cottage Books, she realizes she lost something in the move—her close circle of friends. She starts a book club, hoping to connect with like-minded people, and through this shared love of books she meets three amazing women who soon feel like old friends. Together they navigate life’s ups and downs, marriage, love, careers, and more. Through it all they learn to embrace the unexpected, live each day to the fullest, and find humor in life’s adventures.

When she meets Nantucket’s newest resident, handsome and single attorney Luke Harris, Meagan also learns that opening her heart to the possibility of love again might not be such a bad thing.

33-year-old family nurse practitioner Olivia James brings a calming, encouraging warmth to the book club. Her enthusiasm for medicine and her love of friends and family make her an ideal companion in times of need. She and her husband Kyle fully embrace island life and all it offers them—including its occasional twists, turns, and dashes of mystery.

Avery Sheridan, single real estate expert and social butterfly, enjoys sharing her bubbly personality with everyone she meets. She never hesitates to help Meagan and the other book club members when they need her. Her positive attitude and infectious nature make her a reliable member of the book club. She attends meetings as often as she can, and when she can’t, she’s sure to have a good reason for her absence. In her free time, she loves listening to the ocean waves outside her house and spending time with her cat, Beatrix, and daughter, Katie.

60-year-old book club member Piper Watts is learning to adjust to her role as a beauty columnist after spending most of her journalism career as an investigative reporter. Her company’s been bought out and she’s been relegated to what she calls “beauty product guinea pig.” She tests everything from eyelash enhancers to shapewear, rather than the hard-hitting stories she’s researched for years. With the help of the book club, Piper must decide how to cope with her unexpected career change and live in the moment.

Single attorney Luke Harris is looking forward to making a fresh start in Nantucket. When he moves into his new office in the building next door to Rose Cottage Books, he meets Meagan and is immediately captivated by her beautiful smile and quick wit. His typical reading preference is anything related to history and the Constitution, but he decides there’s no harm in expanding his reading preferences—especially if it means getting to know the intriguing bookshop owner better.

Having been a resident of Nantucket for decades, Nell Poe provides a guiding light and a comforting voice in her granddaughter Meagan’s life on the island. Meagan looks up to Nell and relies on her kindness and wisdom. The busy 77-year-old enjoys spending time with her granddaughter, reading book club novels, serving as a member of various committees, and solving the occasional mystery. Her presence at Rose Cottage Books delights all who meet her.

Meagan’s sidekick and the unofficial ambassador of Rose Cottage Books, Hash Brown welcomes everyone he sees with a perky doggy grin and a wag of his stubby tail. The French bulldog is well known around the bookshop, enjoying belly rubs, resting in his shark bed, and spreading joy and happiness whenever he goes. He’s Meagan’s constant companion and a real favorite with locals and visitors of all ages.