Starting Over In Key West: Leave A Rose In The Sand

Starting Over In Key West #1

by Amy Rafferty

Two things are equally dangerous and fire and love. Christy Wright's life is clouded with pain and loss. Since the tragic death of her twin sister - and then later her husband - Christy has fought to put the shattered pieces of her life back together. Though their deaths haunt her, Christy has slowly managed to rebuild her life and charged forth with her career with the Key West fire brigade. Now, she is acting Chief, and everything is finally settling into place... Until a fire-bug arsonist surfaces-and seems to be targeting Christy and her family! Now more than ever, Christy must fight and work quickly to discover the truth behind this alarming new string of fires and protect her family. The last thing she needs is for her estranged, childhood best friend, Aaron, to resurface in her life once more-and yet there he is. After Aaron broke her heart, Christy moved on, leaving all that they once were behind her. So why does the sight of Aaron still stir up mixed feelings she'd rather just forget? Starting Over in Key Leave a Rose in the Sand is a heart-warming romance about forgotten love and moving on. With so much tragedy and pain in their history, will Christy and Aaron find a way to move forward together? Or do some scars just run too deep?

216 pages, Paperback

First published December 28, 2021

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

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Acting Battalion Chief Christy Wright has worked hard to rebuild her life after tragedy struck her family 15 years ago. Her husband’s death left her to raise three children on her own, but Christy is never really alone since she has a huge family always there to lend a helping hand. Most of them live near her in Key West, Florida and are always by her side.

When people from her past return to Key West, old memories and tragedies resurface in Christy’s memories. Some are truly shocking and turn her life upside down. She quickly learns that nobody in her life can be trusted.

Amy Rafferty has a great talent to mix romance and suspense. I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I won’t go into a detailed description of the book. I will just say with this author…expect the unexpected. Each chapter left me stunned. Nothing is as it seems.

I love Key West so I was excited to see a series set there. I read the prequel and loved it. This is the first book of the series and I loved it even more. It’s filled with emotions, drama, betrayal, suspense and even a little romance. It’s a quick read and I’ll definitely be back to Key West with book #2 soon.

[Ellen Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Christy's family and Aaron go to see her grandfather. There is a dance at the community building and they all go. While they are there someone sets fire to her grandfather's house. Aaron's ex wife shows up and secrets long held are revealed. Wonderful Story as all Amy Rafferty's books are. She has a unique way of telling a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Can't wait for the next book.

I was given this advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sheri Vasconcellos Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting storyline filled with drama. Love, betrayal, mental illness. Family and close friends secerts and so much more twists

[Karen Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading the first book in the Florida Keys Romance Series, Leave a Rose in the Sand. WOW! So glad I am able to open Amy's books in my Kindle again. This book was a real page turner that I couldn't put it down. I love Christy. She was an awesome mother, sister, friend, and fire chief. I loved the way the story unfolded, giving us background into her sister's life, Aaron, and Dustin. It was amazing how the arsonist set fires and stopped for so many years and came back to start them again. I was amazed following the way they figured out who the arsonist was. This was truly an AWESOME book. Amy Rafferty I have missed reading your books and am looking forward to the next book in the Florida series. Thank you for being so AMAZING!

[Taita · Rating 1 out of 5]

IT WAS HORRIBLE READ. This plot is weak. Twin sister of MFC was mental illness with depression in her 18 and nobody knew (only parents, pops and oldest brother)?????
But this young ill woman can manipulate all people around.....
In this book 30 years old doctor, 27 years old lawyer want to sleep with her mama in her bed after so-caled terrible experience?
FMC has superpowers - cus she can describe culprit's personallity better then professionall profiler.
Characters in their 50 act weird and are black or white...
I am very disappointed.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of love, hurt, family secrets, danger and hope. I loved this second book in the series with secrets being revealed and old love being re-ignited. The suspense had my heart pounding. I didn't want it to end but I am looking forward to the next one. I can't wait to see what's next for the Young family and their friends. If you enjoy romance with suspense in your stories, you will love the Key West series. I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Lynette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family Starting Over In Key West

This was a story full of suspense, drama, betrayal within one family. This was a good story and storyline the Characters were great together. It was also great to see how the family pulled together to clear up the mystery. I would recommend this book to read by all, it was a page turner and I couldn't put it down until it was finished. LOVED IT....

[Norma Wiegert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy Rafferty is a talented writer who grabs your attention from the beginning and you won't want to put this book down. Deceptions, misunderstandings, lost love found, jealousy, murder and lots of surprises. This book has it all. A fabulous start to a new series. Can't wait till the next book is available. I received an advance copy from the author and this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Betty Panik · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of the Young family continues. An arsonist on the loose is creating much havoc which brings together old friends, family and lost loves and fuels the start of new relationships. Another winner series by Amy Rafferty that keeps you engrossed until you finish the book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Danielle Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow!!!!
I just don't know how you do it. Omg. Love it.
The twist and turns. Good and bad. Past and present and future.
I can not believe what Roberta did. So gross.
So excited for more.

I received this book free from author for an honest review.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Christy!” Pops hurried towards the four of them at the front gate. “That’s enough! Nothing ever gets resolved in anger."

Christy has every reason to be angry. She feels like everyone has been lying to her most of her life. Why does everything coalesce at the same time? And how does the past affect the present?

Christy's family, past, present and future, have always been protective of each other. Christy lost her husband while he was rescuing fire survivors and she and her siblings kept secrets and knew stories about the family that she didn't. And now it's all about to colece as the arsonist that plagued the town in the past seems to have returned and is focused in the Youngs but no one can actually figure out why.

Will Christy ever be at peace with the past as it seems to crash into the present? And what will happen when it does? Leave it to Amy Rafferty to bring together divergent lives and find what will happen; gloriously bringing her readers along. Highly recommended 5/5

[ Disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily chose to read and review it]

[Danielle Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow!!!!
I just don't know how you do it. Omg. Love it.
The twist and turns. Good and bad. Past and present and future.
I can not believe what Roberta did. So gross.
So excited for more.

I received this book free from author for an honest review.

[Marilyn Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leave a rose in the sand
Very complicated. Real family they knew and some they didn’t. But enemies? Then the fires, why? Who are they targeting and why?
He left the rose. Did she find it?