Colliding Currents: A Small-Town Coastal Romance

by Natalie St. Claire

She left the harbor behind — only to find her heart anchored there all along.

When ambitious architect Clara Morgan returns to Ashford Harbor, she’s determined to prove herself by restoring the town’s crumbling waterfront pier. The last thing she expects? To clash with rugged contractor Ethan Cole — her first love, the boy she left behind, and the man who’s never forgiven her for breaking his heart.

Forced to work side by side, Clara and Ethan discover old sparks run deeper than they ever dared admit. But in a town where tradition runs strong, resentments linger, and a storm threatens more than just the pier, letting go of the past may be the hardest blueprint Clara has ever had to draw.

With the project — and their hearts — on the line, Clara must decide if the harbor she once fled could be the one place she’s meant to stay.

Colliding Currents is the first book in the Ashford Harbor series, a heartfelt small-town second-chance romance filled with seaside charm, family drama, and the kind of love worth fighting for. Perfect for fans of Debbie Macomber, Robyn Carr, and Sherryl Woods.

About the author

Natalie St. Claire writes heartfelt small-town romances filled with seaside charm, family ties, and second chances at love. Growing up in New England, she fell in love with weathered docks, salt air, and the way coastal towns seem to hold a thousand untold stories.

When she isn’t writing, Natalie enjoys baking something sweet to share with family and friends, wandering local bookstores, and spending as much time as she can by the ocean. She believes every love story deserves a beautiful setting — and that happily-ever-afters are worth believing in.

Find her on social media at @nataliestclaire

Reviews

[Debbie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small town second chance romance always warms my heart and this one absolutely did. A woman coming back to her home town and the boy she left with a broken heart. They work together in a project repairing a pier and can not help the sparks that they have. It was such a great cozy up on the couch read. I loved it so much.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I'm not a huge romance reader, but this book was right up my alley! It's a spice-free romance set in a coastal town in Maine, and it focuses on far more than just romantic love: sisters navigating a falling-out, a woman returning to a town she'd fled, and the intricacies of grief.

The town and its residents felt so real, and I especially loved St. Claire's beautiful prose. It's some of the best I've seen in a romance novel!

The depth of the story and quality of the prose easily made up for a few parts that started to get into the weeds with construction jargon, and I'm looking forward to reading the next two books to see what the people of Ashford Harbor are getting up to!

Thank you to @signalhousepress for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Maggie Stephenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually loved this book. I didn’t think I would be into this type of book, but this was definitely a good read.

This book was a bit different than my regular romance that I would gravitate towards, but I still enjoyed it. There was a lot of messy feelings, loss, and love that never faded.

The story was great, the characters were great. The only thing is… I wish the story would continue into the next book. Which I don’t think it does. But I can’t wait to read book #2.

Thank you @signalhousepress for this ARC in exchange for a review.

[Ashley Bowen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate rating books this low but I feel I need to explain my rating. I was so confused by how I felt at the end of this book.

What I liked: First, the author writers beautifully. Her descriptions of the people, places, weather were so vivid and I was able to picture them in my head. At the same time, those descriptions, especially of the pier, felt like they were repeated over and over again.

Second, I liked the FMC. I liked that she was fighting for her career, the pier, for her sister's trust. All good things. I also enjoyed the MMC, the FMC's sister, and Luis.

Here comes my confusion/dislikes. This book is marketed as a second chance romance but the romance is secondary to the main plot which is about the FMC's redemption to everyone in her hometown and herself. I went in expecting one thing and got something else which is fine, that story would have intrigued me. I just felt like I was promised something that wasn't the focus of the story.

I felt like so much of the story was repetitive to the point that even certain phrases were reused within a half page of one another. For example, he let out a breath like a laugh and then half a page later the FMC does the same thing described the same way. I also feel as though the repetitive nature made the book feel longer and this could have been a novella. I think that would have been acceptable for this story.

I also thought there was going to be a grand reveal as to why the FMC left her hometown. It seemed like something nefarious had happened in the beginning of the story and then it was just...she left to chase her dream and prove herself.

In my opinion, the story felt like a love story between the FMC and wood (not the sexy kind), her father's memory, and her fight for redeeming herself to everyone. Again, a concept I can get on board with and read all day long....it just wasn't what I thought I was getting here.

[Robert Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I picked this one up! The small-town setting in coastal Maine is so vivid - stormy nights, cozy cafes, and genuinely rewarding community drama. The romance element was exactly what I was looking for: heartfelt, a little messy, and definitely slow-burn. I also really enjoyed the layered over plots related to Clara's sister and father, plus the ensemble cast

By the end I honestly felt like I'd lived in Ashford Harbor myself. If you like warm, atmospheric stories with real heart, this one is totally worth it.

[Lauren Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. It was just what I needed. So cozy and wonderful. The descriptions of the area made me feel like I was in the town of Ashford Harbour. I am a big romance reader and this was at the top for me this year. I am normally a StoryGraph user but the book hasn’t been uploaded to the app yet so I thought I would hop onto GoodReads to review because I loved it so much. Highly recommend!

[Alana Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. It took me quite some time to start enjoying this book. It just felt like I was placed in the story with no idea what was going on. Eventually, I did come to like it. Luis and Mike being my favourite characters but the rest of the characters were likeable as well. It was also descriptive which I liked, I just wish that the chapters were a bit shorter

[Amy Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely comforting read. This book feels like a warm cup of coffee on a foggy seaside morning. I loved watching the characters find their way back to love and to themselves. Feels like a great start to the series

[Eliza Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally picked up Colliding Currents after a friend recommended it and I’m so glad I did. The story pulled me in right away. The small-town setting feels vivid and lived-in, and the romance between Clara and Ethan had so much emotional honesty. It feels cozy and relaxing - a perfect fall read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colliding Currents has that same emotional depth and slow-burn tension I loved in books like Beach Read and People I Met on Vacation, just set against salty air and small-town charm. It’s a relatively fast read but packs a lot of vibrant imagery and emotional weight.

[Jason DiMarco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really comfy read for my recent trip to Maine. I fell in love with Ashford Harbor right away. The setting feels cozy and real. Clara and Ethan’s story had such great chemistry and heart. I enjoyed this so much that I also cruised through the sequel the second I could get a copy.

[Heather McManus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really sweet, cozy romance with a small-town coastal vibe I loved. The characters felt genuine, and the slow-burn romance was very satisfying. An easy, comforting read. I’m excited to spend more time in Ashford Harbor. Thanks to Signal House Press for the ARC!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read. Perfect for anyone who loves coastal settings and sweet romance. It left me smiling long after the last page. Definitely recommend it!

[Erin Rowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really sweet, cozy read. I loved the small coastal town vibe and the romance felt natural and heartfelt. A great comfort read. Thanks to Signal House Press for the ARC!

[Noor Ul Huda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an enjoyable read. The story had a cozy, comforting feel, filled with tender moments, making it an easy read from start to finish.❤ I would say 3.5 but the stars are not working like half way 😅

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually write reviews, but a friend recommended Colliding Currents and honestly I couldn’t put it down! The small coastal town of Ashford Harbor felt so vivid that I could almost smell the ocean air. It’s like a character in itself. The romance was sweet, slow-burn, and emotional in the best way. It made me root for the characters from start to finish.

The storm scene was such a highlight, full of tension and heart. By the end I found myself smiling, a little teary, and already eager for the next book. If you like cozy small-town romances with depth, this one is worth picking up. I’m super excited for the rest of the series!