Uncharted Waters: A Waverly Cove Romance

by Angelica Eling

Boston event planner Gemma Prescott built her career on flawless execution and impossible standards. But when a serious illness brings her carefully controlled world crashing down, she's forced to escape to the one place she never expected to her late grandmother's cottage in Waverly Cove, Maine.

A small town contemporary romance featuring chronic illness representation and second chances.

Liam Westfield returned to his coastal hometown to take over the family physical therapy practice, trading big-city ambitions for community roots. The last thing he needs is an uptight city woman disrupting his peaceful life—especially one who clearly doesn't plan to be there long. But when Gemma's health crisis reveals the vulnerable woman beneath her perfectionist armor, Liam discovers that healing comes in many forms.

Perfect for readers who
✓ Medical romance with authentic healthcare representation
✓ Small town Maine setting with lighthouse views and harbor charm
✓ Chronic illness storylines handled with sensitivity and hope
✓ Slow burn attraction that builds through trust and understanding
✓ Home renovation romance as Gemma restores more than just her cottage
✓ Opposites attract with depth beyond surface differences
✓ Starting over stories about finding strength in vulnerability

From Boston high society to Waverly Cove's waterfront, Gemma must learn that control isn't the same as strength—and that sometimes the best plans are the ones you never saw coming. As she renovates her grandmother's cottage, she discovers that some foundations are worth rebuilding, and some hearts are worth the risk.

A standalone romance in the Waverly Cove series, where love and healing happen hand in hand.

317 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 14, 2025

About the author

Angelica lives in Southern Maine with her husband Ryan, two step-sons, and a chaotic bunny who thinks he runs the household.

She started writing on a whim after years of complaining about unrealistic depictions of women's health in fiction. Finally fed up with yelling at books, she decided to write the story she wanted to read: one where women's experiences are portrayed with honesty, complexity, and respect.

With deep roots in Maine, Angelica draws inspiration from the rugged beauty and tight-knit communities that define New England. The Waverly Cove series allows Angelica to explore the rich tapestry of small-town life while celebrating authentic love stories. She's excited to uncover the secrets and romances of her fictional coastal community.

You can read more about what's next at her official website.

Reviews

[E. Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following an unfortunate episode at a high-profile event, event planner Gemma Prescott flees her successful career in the city for the peace and quiet of Waverly Cove, Maine in hopes of finally coming to a decision concerning treatment of her long-suffered endometriosis and chronic pain. Gemma did not plan for her meddling best friend to try to set her up with her friend’s brother, and what’s more, Gemma did not plan on actually liking the brother.
 
An accomplished physical therapist, Liam Westfield is instantly drawn to Gemma. He sees both her pain and the strength it takes for Gemma to put on a brave face for the world, even as her own body betrays her. Where others dismiss Gemma’s struggles as psychosomatic, Liam seeks to help in a way no one else ever has.
 
Liam is not a superhero archetype. He does not swoop in seeking to solve Gemma’s problems for her. Liam knows better than most that Gemma’s problems are not the kind one can truly be saved from. Liam offers a supportive hand by gently guiding Gemma to experts and techniques that may aid her in managing her pain.
 
Sparks fly in secreted glances and unassuming gestures as Gemma and Liam work together to renovate Gemma’s grandmother’s cottage. But Gemma’s illness is a ticking time bomb, ready to blow any imagined future between Gemma and Liam apart. When things finally blow, can Gemma overcome her own preconceived notions surrounding her loss to forge a new future she never saw coming?
 
Angelica Eling writes a compelling smalltown romance with a dynamic and intriguing cast of characters and a charming coastal setting.
 
Uncharted Waters is a breath of fresh air, speaking candidly on women’s issues rarely addressed in fiction. Eling does a fantastic job weaving the story of Gemma’s illness with Gemma and Liam’s romance in a novel that gives warm and cozy 90’s romance vibes.
 
Uncharted Waters is a closed-door romance that any woman who has ever struggled with doctors refusing to acknowledge her struggles will relate to and love.

[Chillwithsccarlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read!!
This book shows that love isn't full of magic like in fairytales.Each person has their own struggles that people may not even bat an eye at.Health challenges - especially ones that you may not be able to see with just your eyes-can be challenging most!
Gemma has Endometriosis - a disease in which tissue similar to the endometrium, the lining of the womb, grows in other places in the body outside the womb.
She was ignored by countless doctors and even herself at times.Her struggling reflect how some doctors are in real life! They give medication that is supposed to surpress your condition but don't guve you the special attention that you might need!
Gemma and Liam is not just a best friend's brother romance! They show how love can be so unexpected yet so beautiful! You could have had a whole blueprints of your future home, bustling with children and family.Then one day,a women who might not be able to give you that,can pop up into your heart.Suddenly, abandoning your plan seems nothing compaired to be with the person whom you love.
"Things that don't work quite right are the ones worth keeping".A person who loves you won't see your flaws as flaws,just imperfections that make you human.
Love can be letting the one uou love go."Find someone worthy of all that love.Love someone who can give you everything I can't ~Gemma"
Choosing what's best for someone based on your assumptions can lead to misunderstanding and hurt.Communication is key ,even if you're not thinking straight .
Yet the right person will forgive and give you space when you're not in your right mind.Give uou comfort and love when you're lonely.And give you strength that you couldn't find in yourself!
I absolutely addored this book and I hope you'll love it as much as i did.
~Sccarlett

[Rachel ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uncharted Waters follows Gemma (event planner who’s living with endometriosis) and Liam (physio & DIY expert) in the wonderful small town of Waverly Cove.
When Gemma’s chronic illness takes over she escapes to her late grandmothers cottage to renovate and for a change of pace, where she meets Liam - her best friends brother.

This beautiful debut has wonderful rep for chronic illness (particularly endo, but also for all of the additional symptoms surrounding it!) which I found incredible relatable. As someone who suffers with endo and a number of chronic illnesses this book hit me right in the feels, and I was able to connect and relate to Gemma.

Liam is a gentle and kind soul who goes above and beyond to be a caring, considerate and an all round fantastic human being. He reminds me very much of my husband which made me extra emotional! Chronic illness partners are truly made of something else 🥹. His profession as a physio allowed him to support Gemma and have empathy for her situation which was lovely to see.

This addressed a number of challenges that we can often face with medical professionals (being dismissed), I think a lot of people in similar situations will feel very heard reading this.

If you like a small town, best friends brother, slow burn romance with depth and vulnerability, opposites attract, chronic illness & endo rep and a side of home renovation, I think you’ll enjoy this!

I highlighted so many lovely quotes, shed a few tears and felt so seen. I’d highly recommend this for any chronic illness sufferers! I look forward to reading the rest of the Waverly Cove series.

Thank you Angelica for the gifted copy of Uncharted Waters.

[Anne Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars)

I actually met Angelica on Instagram, and this book sounded so sweet—I love supporting indie authors 💛

This is a sweet small-town romance set in Maine, and the setting was absolutely one of my favorite parts. I could feel the cold, smell the salt air, and now I’m fully convinced I need a Maine trip 🌊

The story follows Gemma, who is navigating chronic illness (reflecting the author’s real-life experience), and that element was incredibly powerful—frustrating, heartbreaking, and deeply emotional. I really felt for her.

And Liam?? Pretty much perfect 😏 maybe too perfect… but that blow-dry/braiding scene had me swooning 💛

That said, I struggled a bit with the relationship progression. It started off feeling like insta-love and then shifted into a hot-and-cold dynamic that felt a little off and made it harder for me to fully connect with their story.

Overall, a sweet read that I’m glad I picked up—especially for the setting and emotional depth—even if it didn’t fully land for me.

[Joey Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a breath of fresh air in a contemporary romance. Angelica shows that not all romances are perfect, cut and dry, automatic happy ending. Some romances are hard and come with barriers and speed bumps, or massive compromises, but the love still flickers through. We follow Gemma on her raw journey with endometriosis and the struggles of navigating a broken health care system that tends to negate and ignore women's symptoms. You can tell Gemma's pain and experiences are shared with the author (as mentioned in her foreword that this book is based off her own journey). Gemma's strong character who tries her best to push through the pain is something any woman can relate to. Her reluctance to dive into a relationship with Liam is completely justified and real. Though I would have liked to see a bit more emotion/frustration with Liam, we could all use an understanding man like him in our lives!
If you're looking for a slow burn, raw romance, look no further! Angelica's got you covered.

[S.F. Parkhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waverly Cove...a cross between the Gilmore Girls fictional town of Stars Hollow and Schooner Bay in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir...Put on your big cable knit sweater, smell the brew from the local coffee shop, and listen to the waves lapping at the hulls, the musical composition of wind whistling through lines, and the tolling of halliards kissing masts...Smell that salty New England air...oh wait, there's something else in the air...LOVE! Of course! Follow Gemma in this beautifully written contemporary romance that realistically depicts the physical and mental struggles of living with a debilitating disease and making a rewarding, love-filled life despite it.

[Floraljoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a downer:
Unfortunately this book wasn't for me and I gave up about half way through. It was really slow going and I found the overall tone to be rather somber and serious. Whilst I appreciated that the author wanted to portray women's health issues realistically, there just wasn't enough joy and light in the story to offset this. There was a slow burn romance between Gemma and Liam but I didn’t really feel the chemistry between them.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alexie Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uncharted Waters by Angelica Eling is a must-read for anyone struggling with an illness and feeling lost. The story follows Gemma, a Boston-based event planner living with endometriosis. Her pain was often dismissed, leaving her isolated and keeping everything to herself until she meets Liam, her best friend’s brother and a certified pain management expert. Together, they navigate understanding, support, and healing, becoming each other’s anchor. This heartfelt story sheds light on invisible pain, resilience, and the power of true support.

[Laura Moncrief · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very important women’s topic covered in this book: Endometriosis. It shows the very difficult times that some women have with this disease. Great to see a book that covers these types of topics. Also loved that Gemma has lots of found family support during her struggles. I love Gemma & Liam!! I would love to see more from those characters in future books.

[Book Addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely tale of love and resilience against the backdrop of renovating the FMC's cottage. The metaphor of renovating the cottage and the imagery of the setting in Waverley helps build the narrative and understand the characters adjustment to her chronic illness. It's not a fast paced novel, but one built on deeper emotional connection.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Adelina Lidén · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC!

I rated this book 3.5⭐️

I really appreciated the theme, that all happy endings don't look the same but still can be happy. Womens health is way too often overlooked and this book portrayed how women often have to fight to get their symtoms taken seriously.

It found the writing slightly repetative at times but overall an enjoyable read that focused on very important and relevant topic readers can, hopefully, relate to.