They were never truly over—and this time love might just get it right. After ten years of globe-trotting, Cassie Channing returns to Sturcombe Bay to care for her ailing grandmother. Only to find herself face-to-face with Liam Ellis—the man she once loved and left behind. Liam has moved on since the day Cassie left, or so he tells himself. A devoted single dad and respected vet, he’s built a life without her. But the moment she steps back into the village, old feelings come rushing back. Liam’s determined to keep his distance—but the spark between them is impossible to ignore. And, as Cassie settles into village life and grows close to his daughter, staying away gets harder. The more time Cassie and Liam spend together, the more the heat between them intensifies—but so do the unresolved tensions from the past. With Cassie’s plane ticket booked to leave in six weeks, they both must decide if the love they never really got over is worth a second chance.

❄️ Christmas romance ❄️ Second-chance ❄️ Small-town ❄️ Friends-to-lovers ❄️ Slow-burn A second chance at love, just in time for Christmas. When Jess calls off her wedding just weeks before the big day, she flees to the coastal village of Sturcombe Bay. Trading wedding plans for Christmas chaos at the fading Carleton Hotel, the last thing she expects is Paul Channing—a rugged local man with an easy charm and captivating smile. Shelley has learned to keep everyone at arm’s length. But when Canadian pilot Daniel Crocombe steps in to protect her at work, his quiet kindness begins to break through her walls. As Christmas draws closer, Shelley must decide if she dares to believe in love at last. Widow Kate finds comfort running her seaside café, while Mike, also grieving a loss, devotes himself to the Carleton Hotel. But when a ballroom dance lesson brings them together, one small step rekindles laughter, hope . . . and an unexpected spark. As fairy lights twinkle across Sturcombe Bay and snow falls on the shore, three couples face their pasts—and discover that love has a way of finding you when you least expect it. This festive uplifting, feel-good Christmas romance is perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Cressida McLaughlin, Phillipa Ashley, Cathy Bramley, Mandy Baggot, Emma Bennet and Heidi Swain. Readers love Susanne McCarthy’s Sturcombe Bay ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A warm hug in story form.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved it, couldn’t put it down.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I absolutely love, Love, LOVE this absolutely stunning book.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A must for any romantic reader.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I was fully invested from page one to the very last page. Highly recommend.’