Sometimes the only way forward… is to go back.
When Rowan Bellamy’s marriage collapses in spectacular style, she retreats with her two children, Bella and Theo, to the last place she ever wanted to return—her windswept Cornish hometown of Port Agnes. Taking the headteacher role at the local primary school is the easy part. Facing village gossip, curious neighbours, and old flames? Not so much.
Especially when one of those flames turns out to be Nathan Lark — the boy who broke her heart and the man who now has a reputation as bruised as her own. With his young nephew Leo a pupil in Rowan’s school, she and Nathan are thrown into each other’s lives once more. And whether she likes it or not, the chemistry between them is impossible to ignore.
As salty sea air begins to soothe old wounds and Port Agnes slowly feels like home again, Rowan must decide if she’s brave enough to let go of the past and open her heart one more time.
About The Author
My Review
Set against the windswept beauty of Port Agnes, this book delivers a heartfelt story about resilience, small-town gossip, and second chances. Jo Bartlett captures the claustrophobic charm of a close-knit community where everyone knows your business — and your secrets.
Rowan’s move to Port Agnes after discovering her husband’s affair is both painful and brave. Her ex, a minister with a judgmental father, hides behind respectability, forcing Rowan to shoulder the shame of their marriage breakdown. It’s frustrating but realistic, and Bartlett handles it with compassion and insight.
Nathan’s return to town after a prison sentence adds another layer of redemption to the story. His bond with his nephew Leo, who has Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, brings warmth and depth, shining a light on how illness affects families and relationships.
Rowan and Nathan’s second-chance romance feels tender and earned, and the wider Port Agnes community sets the stage perfectly for future books. A moving, uplifting read about healing, honesty, and finding peace after heartbreak.
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