ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

As a writer, I am deeply aware and humbled to be a small part of the creative process. The real honor goes to those who have helped guide and support me along the way. Thank you to my beautiful agent, Marie Lamba, of the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency, for slaving through a nine-hundred-page manuscript and deciding to represent me anyway. Thank you to my brilliant editor, John Scognamiglio, and the whole Kensington team for bringing this book to life. Thank you to my family and friends, my early readers and allies—without you, this novel would still be a dream.

And finally, thank you to my husband, Jay, and my three boys . . . my champions, my peace, my life.