LAKE KABETOGAMA, WHERE A GOOD portion of this novel is set, is a very beautiful, very magical place. Kabby represents a treasure trove of special memories from when I was a child vacationing at the lake with my parents, to the present where our children and extended family and friends join us to make more memories. It was truly a joy to write about the area.

The Crossroads General Store is fictional, but locals and frequent visitors to Kabby will recognize that Crossroads bears a marked resemblance to The Gateway Store, a landmark that has stood for decades and accommodated so many travelers. The Whispering Pines Resort is also fictional, but its depiction could match any of a number of beautiful resorts on the lake.

Although the names have been changed, some among you (cough Boots cough Marcia cough) may recognize characters loosely patterned in your image.

All other landmarks, including The Walleye, are real.

Any mistakes in either the Kabetogama or the Afghanistan locales are mine and mine alone.

Acknowledgments

I’m blessed with amazingly talented and giving friends, many of whom also happen to be writers and who share my insecurities and their wisdom :o). Rob Browne, Debra Webb, Glenna McReynolds, LeAnne Banks, Susan Connell—thank you for helping me find my way through this book.

Maria Carvainis—agent without equal—thank you for guiding my way.

Micki Nuding—editor and friend—thank you for the unflagging support and lovely edit.

Louise Burke—publisher extraordinaire—thank you for the amazing opportunities.

And to Joseph Francis Collins—fellow author, firefighter, paramedic, expert on all things military, I thank you, friend, for the invaluable contributions you’ve made to this book in the form of time, research, and counsel. The Way Home has been special from the moment the story made itself known to me and, with your help, it turned into everything I hoped it would become.

About the Author

CINDY GERARD is the critically acclaimed New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the wildly popular Black Ops, Inc. series; the Bodyguards series; and more than thirty contemporary romance novels. Her work has won the prestigious RITA Award for Best Romantic Suspense. She and her husband live in the Midwest. Visit her online at CindyGerard.com.