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A Second Bloom in October: A Clean, Small-Town Irish Romance
First love returns, autumn leaves, and a widowed bookseller’s heart blooms again!
Fifty-five-year-old bookseller Fiona Doyle treasures quiet October mornings in Ballycove’s Curlew Bookshop, shelves scented with peat smoke and stories. When Seán McGrath—her teenage sweetheart turned celebrated historian—strides in needing space to archive village letters, Fiona’s orderly empty-nest life tilts. The boy who once promised forever left for academia thirty-eight years ago; now his rueful smile stirs long-dormant hope beneath falling gold leaves. But memories of Fiona’s late husband, and Seán’s burden of guilt, threaten to keep the past tightly closed.
Cataloguing dusty diaries side by side, they rediscover stolen dances, whispered poems, a future they almost claimed. Yet Fiona’s loyalty to her late husband—and the bookstore she built in his name—binds her heart. Seán longs to atone for decades of silence, but every tender moment risks reopening old wounds. When an Atlantic storm collapses Fiona’s cottage roof and Seán braves the gale to rescue her treasured first editions, both must decide whether second chances are meant for stories…or for the storytellers themselves.
October’s last rose is blooming—will they let it fade, or dare to love twice in one lifetime?
Fifty-five-year-old bookseller Fiona Doyle treasures quiet October mornings in Ballycove’s Curlew Bookshop, shelves scented with peat smoke and stories. When Seán McGrath—her teenage sweetheart turned celebrated historian—strides in needing space to archive village letters, Fiona’s orderly empty-nest life tilts. The boy who once promised forever left for academia thirty-eight years ago; now his rueful smile stirs long-dormant hope beneath falling gold leaves. But memories of Fiona’s late husband, and Seán’s burden of guilt, threaten to keep the past tightly closed.
Cataloguing dusty diaries side by side, they rediscover stolen dances, whispered poems, a future they almost claimed. Yet Fiona’s loyalty to her late husband—and the bookstore she built in his name—binds her heart. Seán longs to atone for decades of silence, but every tender moment risks reopening old wounds. When an Atlantic storm collapses Fiona’s cottage roof and Seán braves the gale to rescue her treasured first editions, both must decide whether second chances are meant for stories…or for the storytellers themselves.
October’s last rose is blooming—will they let it fade, or dare to love twice in one lifetime?
187 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2025
4 people want to read
About the author
Maeve McBride
26 books13 followersMaeve McBride writes heartfelt, clean small-town romances set against the lush landscapes of Ireland. Her stories weave together the warmth of close-knit communities, the charm of cobblestone streets and cozy pubs, and the tender journeys of love and self-discovery.
Maeve’s fictional towns are alive with quirky neighbors, meddlesome matchmakers, and the promise of second chances, offering readers a perfect blend of humor, heart, and happily-ever-afters.
When Maeve isn’t writing, you’ll find her exploring Ireland’s hidden gems, enjoying a cup of tea by the fire, or dreaming up her next tale of love, laughter, and belonging.
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