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Love in Ballycove #4
A Second Bloom in October: A Sweet Later-in-Life Second-Chance Irish Romance
First love returns. Autumn leaves fall. And a widowed bookseller discovers her heart was never truly closed.
Fifty-five-year-old Fiona Doyle treasures her quiet October mornings in Ballycove's Curlew Bookshop, shelves scented with peat smoke and stories. When Seán McGrath, her teenage sweetheart turned celebrated historian, arrives 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 something long-dormant beneath the falling gold leaves. But memories of Fiona's late husband, and Seán's burden of guilt, 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 bookshop 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.
Perfect for fans of sweet later-in-life romance, second-chance Irish love stories, and cosy autumn reads with bookshop charm. Book 4 of the Love in Ballycove series — each book is a guaranteed happily-ever-after.
Fifty-five-year-old Fiona Doyle treasures her quiet October mornings in Ballycove's Curlew Bookshop, shelves scented with peat smoke and stories. When Seán McGrath, her teenage sweetheart turned celebrated historian, arrives 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 something long-dormant beneath the falling gold leaves. But memories of Fiona's late husband, and Seán's burden of guilt, 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 bookshop 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.
Perfect for fans of sweet later-in-life romance, second-chance Irish love stories, and cosy autumn reads with bookshop charm. Book 4 of the Love in Ballycove series — each book is a guaranteed happily-ever-after.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2025
About the author
Maeve McBride
45 books33 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.
Download your FREE eBook at: www.MaeveMcBrideAuthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
May 14, 2026
Great Read!
I really enjoyed book 4 in this series watching Sean and Fiona travel their very winding road back to each other and finally finding their HEA. I'm looking forward to reading book 5 in this series and will definitely recommend this book to everyone.
I really enjoyed book 4 in this series watching Sean and Fiona travel their very winding road back to each other and finally finding their HEA. I'm looking forward to reading book 5 in this series and will definitely recommend this book to everyone.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review