Back To The Start

by Delly M. Elrose

She was the one who got away. She was the one who was left behind. This Christmas, a blizzard of old feelings is about to bring them back together.

Harper Jameson thought she’d left her small-town Montana past and the girl she kissed then cruelly betrayed firmly behind her. As a high-powered NYC marketing exec, she built a sleek, successful life that was everything she thought she wanted. But when that life implodes, the only place she has left to run is the one town full of memories she’s spent twelve years trying to escape.

Riley Whitaker has found solace in the quiet rhythms of running her family’s Christmas tree farm. Cedar Glen is her anchor, but it’s also a constant reminder of Harper her former best friend, the girl she loved, and the woman who broke her heart after their lakeside kiss changed everything.

When a snowstorm traps them together and forces them to co-chair the town’s Christmas festival, every buried feeling and unspoken truth rises to the surface. The electric spark between them is as immediate as the Montana cold, but the hurt runs deep. To have any chance at a future, Harper must confront the real reason she the internalized homophobia that made her sabotage her first love.

This heartwarming second-chance lesbian romance can the magic of the season heal a decade of hurt and guide two wounded hearts back to the love they were always meant to find?

Perfect for fans

Sapphic second-chance and forced-proximity romancesSmall-town settings with big-hearted communitiesEmotional, slow-burn stories of healing and forgivenessThe cozy, festive vibes of a Hallmark movie, but gayer

404 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 21, 2025

About the author

Delly M Elrose lives by the sea in Cumbria, England, where the shifting tides and wild coastal skies provide endless inspiration for her imagination. A lover of quiet magic, she finds beauty in the simplest moments—the rustle of seabirds in the wind, the hum of a favorite country song, or the way the world feels just a little more alive during a late-afternoon stroll along the beach.

Her writing is a heartfelt journey, a love letter to emotion, escapism, and the kind of characters who linger in your thoughts long after the last page. Whether she’s crafting stories of unexpected connections or exploring the intricacies of the human heart, Delly’s words always come from a place of authenticity, hope, and the belief that life’s quiet moments often hold the greatest meaning.

When she’s not lost in a new manuscript, you can find her walking along the shore, exploring the winding paths of the nearby country roads, or taking off on spontaneous road trips to nowhere in particular. She’s an avid football fan, always ready to cheer on her team, and has a love for all kinds of music—from country and soul to indie and rock. Delly finds solace in the rain, enjoys sharing laughter with her cheeky pet bird, and treasures the peaceful rhythm of life by the sea.

For her, the magic of life is often in the details: a cup of tea savored slowly while watching the world go by, the warmth of a good song that feels like an old friend, or the quiet thrill of a new idea taking flight on the page. Delly believes that the small things are what make life extraordinary—and that stories, much like the tides, can offer comfort, connection, and a reminder that beauty often lies just beneath the surface.