St. Simons Island — Ronda Rich

Stella Bankwell has suddenly found herself in a heap of trouble in the words of her mountain people. Ten years ago, the charming redhead was a sports marketing executive when she married unforeseen trouble, Asher Bankwell, who is descended from old Atlanta money and prestige. After public humiliation in front of Atlanta's snootiest at a black-tie gala, Stella is banished from high society. Running away to her childhood mountain home and her Mama's consoling, she soon heads for St. Simons Island where the sea and her best friend, Marlo, offer peace and calm. But there on her beloved island, Stella finds herself embroiled in a mystery that includes murder and money laundering. Simply trying to escape her scandalous embarrassment and an unhappy marriage, she's now facing real trouble: Possible federal indictments leading to a murder and serious danger for Stella. With the help of her best friend, Chatty (Chatham Balsam Colquitt IV, the only good that came from her marriage to Asher), who has followed her to his second home on adjoining Sea Island; former Governor McCager Burnett (Chatty's Sea Island neighbor); and U.S. Marshal Jackson (Pepper) Culpepper, they set out to solve a mystery that, most surely, will send a deep rattling through the columned, brick mansions of Atlanta's exclusive Buckhead.