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The Harbour House
Flora Douglas has spent thirty years running from Applemore - the remote Scottish village where she spent most of her childhood in foster care, always feeling like the odd one out.
Now a bestselling novelist with writer's block, two grown children and an ex-husband who still can't work the boiler, she's built a carefully curated life that hides every trace of that lonely, bookish little girl.
Until one night, fuelled by red wine and desperation, Flora finds herself doing the unthinkable - booking a six-month let in her childhood home.
The Harbour House isn't home anymore. It's been gutted and renovated by wealthy Londoners, stripped of every memory, which should make going back easier.
Except the village hasn't forgotten her - and neither has Tor Wilson, the boy whose careless teasing became the final straw that sent her running.
Now, with her creative life in crisis and his son about to leave for art school they're both facing the terrifying question - who are you when all your roles fall away?
As Flora reluctantly teaches a creativity workshop and Tor builds a space for lonely men to connect, they begin to discover that the stories we tell ourselves about our past might be the very things that are keeping us stuck - and that sometimes the only way forward is to stop running from yourself.
A warm and witty small town tale of empty nests, second chances, finding your voice - and learning that it's never too late to rewrite your story.
Now a bestselling novelist with writer's block, two grown children and an ex-husband who still can't work the boiler, she's built a carefully curated life that hides every trace of that lonely, bookish little girl.
Until one night, fuelled by red wine and desperation, Flora finds herself doing the unthinkable - booking a six-month let in her childhood home.
The Harbour House isn't home anymore. It's been gutted and renovated by wealthy Londoners, stripped of every memory, which should make going back easier.
Except the village hasn't forgotten her - and neither has Tor Wilson, the boy whose careless teasing became the final straw that sent her running.
Now, with her creative life in crisis and his son about to leave for art school they're both facing the terrifying question - who are you when all your roles fall away?
As Flora reluctantly teaches a creativity workshop and Tor builds a space for lonely men to connect, they begin to discover that the stories we tell ourselves about our past might be the very things that are keeping us stuck - and that sometimes the only way forward is to stop running from yourself.
A warm and witty small town tale of empty nests, second chances, finding your voice - and learning that it's never too late to rewrite your story.
376 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2026
90 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Rachael Lucas
26 books575 followersRachael Lucas has written 15 novels for adults and teenagers, including the Carnegie nominated THE STATE OF GRACE, the top ten bestseller SEALED WITH A KISS and many more. She is also the author (as Rosie Curtis) of sweet holiday romance We Met in December, an Amazon Editors' Pick. Her novels have been translated into many languages, including Korean, Hungarian, Italian, Turkish, French, German, Latvian, Estonian, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and more.
Sign up for Rachael's newsletter at rachaellucas.com, and find her on Facebook at facebook.com/rachaellucaswriter for behind the scenes news and updates.
Rachael lives by the seaside in the north west of England with her family and two very enthusiastic spaniels. When she's not writing at the kitchen table with a coffee by her side, she's out walking the dogs on the beach or the nearby pinewoods. She's a huge Kindle fan - her ten year old self would have been over the moon to be able to carry a whole library around in her pocket - and a lover of sweet, romantic, small town stories, which is exactly what she likes to write. She's a big Hallmark movie fan, wanted to be Anne of Green Gables when she was growing up, and Jo March was her literary heroine. (She still is.)
Rachael's books are full of warmth and gentle humour, as well as beautiful small town settings which give her readers an escape from everyday. Rachael has been described as having "a gift for capturing complex emotion and both romantic and platonic intimacy" and writing which "exudes positivity and warmth" which has received starred reviews in Publisher's Weekly. The British Guardian called her "honest, romantic and hilarious". Her teenage boys think she's a bit disorganised, and that she forgets to cook dinner when she's writing. (Luckily they don't get to leave a review.)
Sign up for Rachael's newsletter at rachaellucas.com, and find her on Facebook at facebook.com/rachaellucaswriter for behind the scenes news and updates.
Rachael lives by the seaside in the north west of England with her family and two very enthusiastic spaniels. When she's not writing at the kitchen table with a coffee by her side, she's out walking the dogs on the beach or the nearby pinewoods. She's a huge Kindle fan - her ten year old self would have been over the moon to be able to carry a whole library around in her pocket - and a lover of sweet, romantic, small town stories, which is exactly what she likes to write. She's a big Hallmark movie fan, wanted to be Anne of Green Gables when she was growing up, and Jo March was her literary heroine. (She still is.)
Rachael's books are full of warmth and gentle humour, as well as beautiful small town settings which give her readers an escape from everyday. Rachael has been described as having "a gift for capturing complex emotion and both romantic and platonic intimacy" and writing which "exudes positivity and warmth" which has received starred reviews in Publisher's Weekly. The British Guardian called her "honest, romantic and hilarious". Her teenage boys think she's a bit disorganised, and that she forgets to cook dinner when she's writing. (Luckily they don't get to leave a review.)
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 6, 2026
I'm glad ro have found Applemore again
I had read the 1st 6 books in the Applemore Bay Books when I came across book 7 a week ago and then made sure I didn't miss book 8. I have throughly enjoyed it ,it was slightly differant in a good way . I won't miss the next book in August . I've put it in my kindle must reads ready to read. It was great to read a book about an author who had writters block and had been all over the place trying to clear her writers block and failing. Her friend lly persuade her to come back k to Applemore so she rented a house for 6 months & it turned out to be the house she was brought up in as a Foster kid. Flora always thought Agnes didn't really seem to show her feelings. Agnes made all the kids welcome and fed and clothed them. When Flora left it was partly because she never felt that she fitted in. Flora had kept her nose down and done well in her exams and went onto college- uni & so had lilly her best friend who had persuaded her to come back to Applemore Bay as she had moved back with her husband. Flora had done a book workshop for the bookshop owner I think she was called Louise. It went well and she enjoyed it so much she forgot about her usually course at these things and just went with the flow & really enjoyed it. She was asked to do a second one as so many people didn't get to go. Flora wS also asked if she would do some sort of workshop at the gallery. Again that went well and she really enjoyed it as she called it a creative workshop and joined in with the tasks she gave them. I'm not going to give any spoilers I'm just going to say it's well worth a read.
I had read the 1st 6 books in the Applemore Bay Books when I came across book 7 a week ago and then made sure I didn't miss book 8. I have throughly enjoyed it ,it was slightly differant in a good way . I won't miss the next book in August . I've put it in my kindle must reads ready to read. It was great to read a book about an author who had writters block and had been all over the place trying to clear her writers block and failing. Her friend lly persuade her to come back k to Applemore so she rented a house for 6 months & it turned out to be the house she was brought up in as a Foster kid. Flora always thought Agnes didn't really seem to show her feelings. Agnes made all the kids welcome and fed and clothed them. When Flora left it was partly because she never felt that she fitted in. Flora had kept her nose down and done well in her exams and went onto college- uni & so had lilly her best friend who had persuaded her to come back to Applemore Bay as she had moved back with her husband. Flora had done a book workshop for the bookshop owner I think she was called Louise. It went well and she enjoyed it so much she forgot about her usually course at these things and just went with the flow & really enjoyed it. She was asked to do a second one as so many people didn't get to go. Flora wS also asked if she would do some sort of workshop at the gallery. Again that went well and she really enjoyed it as she called it a creative workshop and joined in with the tasks she gave them. I'm not going to give any spoilers I'm just going to say it's well worth a read.
May 5, 2026
A lovely return to Applemore
I loved reading this book about Flora and her return to Applemore.
She always thought she had something missing in her life, but by returning to Applemore thirty years later she found it. I have to admit I got quite emotional reading a part of this book. I love the Applemore books.
I loved reading this book about Flora and her return to Applemore.
She always thought she had something missing in her life, but by returning to Applemore thirty years later she found it. I have to admit I got quite emotional reading a part of this book. I love the Applemore books.
May 7, 2026
The Harbour House
What a beautiful story. I felt as if I just walked alongside all the characters of Applemore. Beautiful views, charming shops, and friendly faces. This was well worth the wait to read and revisit with old and new beginnings. I highly recommend this book series of Applemore Bay. As always happy reading
What a beautiful story. I felt as if I just walked alongside all the characters of Applemore. Beautiful views, charming shops, and friendly faces. This was well worth the wait to read and revisit with old and new beginnings. I highly recommend this book series of Applemore Bay. As always happy reading
May 6, 2026
Loved being back in Applemore.
Flora has returned after 30 years and is renting her old childhood home. Tor was a boy from her childhood.
An engaging storyline which kept me engrossed, I was cheering Flora on to discover her true self.
Lovely to see some old favourites popping up in this story.
Flora has returned after 30 years and is renting her old childhood home. Tor was a boy from her childhood.
An engaging storyline which kept me engrossed, I was cheering Flora on to discover her true self.
Lovely to see some old favourites popping up in this story.
May 6, 2026
Sweet second chance romance!
Best selling author Flora comes back to the town where she grew up, and finds a new love and a revamped career. Fits well with the existing Applemore books, but can be read alone.
Best selling author Flora comes back to the town where she grew up, and finds a new love and a revamped career. Fits well with the existing Applemore books, but can be read alone.
May 7, 2026
A brilliant read. You follow Flora a famous author who has lost her way. You get memories , great descriptions , you meet old and new characters . You have a fab love element and I love the fact just a good kiss. Perfect ending . Can read on its own
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews