"I promise I will cherish you like that again, if you'll let me." Katie always swore she wouldn't be the kind of military wife who promised forever and then gave up when things went from tough to tougher. Ten years, three children, and five deployments later, that vow was put to the test when her soldier husband refused to come home to recover from a devastating injury sustained in combat. Katie, reeling from broken trust and holding an explosive secret of her own, fled to the distant tropical island that would prove to be the home she'd never known. Reopening her grandmother's bakery, Katie and the kids begin to build a new life--without the man she loved. Army helicopter pilot Ford Callahan wouldn't put his family through witnessing his struggle, but after his recovery, he comes to realize that his stubborn pride may have destroyed what he was trying so desperately to protect. He's known the loneliness of a decade of combat deployments, but nothing has prepared him for the heartache of this separation from Katie. Following his family to the island paradise, Ford is determined to be the husband and father they need him to be and, with the support of the welcoming island community, strives to find his footing in civilian life. When Katie's secret at last comes to light, both Ford and Katie must reach deep within themselves to find the compassion and forgiveness to move forward. Can they build a bridge strong enough to bear the weight of their wounded hearts-and the promise of a future together?