From New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels comes her most emotionally powerful novel to date -- a heartwarming tale of love and envy, friendship and forgiveness, that introduces an unforgettable heroine, Cady Jordan, who comes into her own as she recovers her memory of a childhood tragedy. Twenty years have passed since the incident involving six lonely children at a secret playground in Indigo Valley, Pennsylvania, which left the town bully dead and ten-year-old Cady Jordan seriously injured. Now Cady has returned to the valley to care for her ailing grandmother, Lola, an eccentric retired Wlm star, who is the only person Cady has ever truly loved. While Cady has recovered physically and has grown into an attractive and intelligent but overly cautious young woman, she has no memory of her childhood tragedy. Lola desperately wants to see Cady embrace life and Wnd the happiness she deserves, so she pushes her granddaughter to "remember" so she can go forward with her life. As Cady reacquaints herself with her old friends -- Amy, who is now a wife and mother; Andy, an insurance agent; Pete, an attorney; and Mac, the town's chief of police -- she begins to recall bits and pieces of what happened that fateful day. Cady also discovers a new zest for life and falls in love for the Wrst time. But her friends don't want her to remember. If the truth comes out, their safe and secure lives might be ruined forever. Which of them will do what is best for Cady and acknowledge the truth? Which of them will betray her again and do what is best for themselves? With vibrant characters, Michaels's distinctive blend of humor and poignancy, and a suspenseful story line that holds readers engrossed until the Wnal page is turned, Late Bloomer takes readers on a young woman's journey of self-discovery that is at once exciting, heartbreaking, and ultimately triumphant.