<b><i>For animal lovers and fans of </i>The Art of Racing in the Rain, <i>this heart wrenching yet uplifting novel from the bestselling author of </i>An Unexpected Grace<i> tells of one woman’s journey to healing and love after trauma—through the devotion of an unforgettable yellow Lab named Hope.</i></b><br><br>On San Julian Island, across Puget Sound from Seattle, Tessa Jordan works as a bookmobile librarian, recommending books and poems to her patrons. In her spare time, she cares for a colony of feral cats. But Tessa’s simple, satisfying life is shockingly upended after she meets Nick Payne, a respected community leader, and he invites her to dinner.<br> <br>Far from a pleasant first date, Tessa’s evening with Nick leaves her feeling confused and upset. After deep soul-searching, she decides to step forward and accuse him of assault. Her distress grows when local prosecutor Will Armstrong declines to pursue her case, citing lack of evidence. Her main so