Christmas at Saltwater Cove: a Westcott Bay novella

Westcott Bay #3.5

by Amelia Addler

The ghosts of relationships past are threatening her happily ever after…

Pediatric surgeon Sandy Randall has given up on love. At 53, with a divorce and a string of bad dates behind her, she just doesn’t see the point of it. Besides, her career keeps her way too busy to worry about romance. But when a trip to San Juan Island brings her face-to-face with her high school sweetheart, she can’t help but wonder how the icy walls she’s built around her heart can possibly survive him again.

Jack Pappas is thrilled when a holiday catering gig puts him back in contact with Sandy. In his mind, she was the one that got away – and she’s more beautiful and delightful than ever. All he’ll have to do now is convince her to give him (and love) a second chance…

Somewhere between the caroling and mistletoe (and the unwanted medical mystery that hits San Juan Island), can Jack and Sandy figure out how to take one last shot at love? It might take a Christmas miracle…

This stand alone novella is the perfect holiday pick-me-up, whether you’re new to San Juan Island or have already read all about Sandy’s sister Margie in the Westcott Bay series. Get your copy today and dive into this small town, feel good Christmas romance!

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Contemporary, Holiday, Fiction, Novella, Ebooks

129 pages, Paperback

Published October 3, 2020

About the author

Amelia Addler is an author of feel-good romantic women's fiction stories. Her books focus on the importance of family, love and hope - all intermingled with romance and mystery. Her popular Westcott Bay series takes place on beautiful San Juan Island, just off the coast of Washington State, and offers an escape for readers and arm-chair travelers alike.

Amelia lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and little dog. When she's not writing, she's busy plotting trips to San Juan Island to see the killer whales, or explaining to people on hikes that her dog is not, in fact, a coyote.

You can join her reader's email list for updates, catch pictures of her dog on Instagram, or ask her a question here on Goodreads!

Reviews

[Karla Renee Goforth Abreu · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's that time of year when I indulge in Christmas novels. Happyhallowthanksmas! This is the first one of the season. Often, the books are quite shallow but many get three star ratings for the effort put forth and thegenre, usually a cute Hallmark Christmas movie-like one. (I just made up a new genre).
This one was a bit different as it has a bit of a mystery included. There is big Christmas party, cute Christmas foods, family gathering, and a rekindled long lost romance. That part, the romance, doesn't dominate the story, though.
The book is a quick read and good to indulge in during some downtime.
If you like light–hearted stories and Christmas cheer, you just might enjoy this one!

[Alissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been enjoying all the Saltwater Cove books but the Christmas book was a little disappointing. For one, in all the other books it was never mentioned one time that Margie has a sister, this never mentioned sister all of a sudden shows up. Also, in this issue there was no mention of Morgan at all. It was brought up in this particular story that Jade had gotten a divorce, and Morgan was definitely on canvas when Jade got divorced as Jade's Ex is the one who started all the trouble and lied to Morgan which in turn started the whole firestorm. So it was very off with timing and again, Maggie's surprise never mentioned sister.

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas at Saltwater Cove is a sweet, older couple, heartwarming romance. Sandy, a skilled pediatric surgeon, has no time for romance. But a forced vacation to visit her sister in Saltwater Cove causes her to spend time with Jack, her high school sweetheart. I enjoyed these characters, the small town, atmosphere and the strange medical cases that Sandy consulted on. This book is the best of hope, community, family and love. I could not put it down.

[Noma Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book! A surgeon went to an island to visit her sister for Christmas and reconnected with an old boyfriend from high school! I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read!

[Ashley Sowle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very cheesy, not what I was expecting. Most of the conversation scenes don’t seem natural. The fact that it was a far fetched story didn’t really bother me, and I live in Western Washington so it was cool to read a book based on San Juan Island.

[Debbie Mathis PA · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute holiday romance where the main character, Sandy goes to visit her sister for Christmas only to find that she had invited Sandy's old boyfriend too. This was a perfect story for the holidays and easy to read.

[Jeanette Revie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable, uplifting Christmas story, something I needed to pick me up. Sweet, funny and Christmassy. ❤

[Rae Franco-Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandy Randall is a pediatric surgeon who works many long hours, at a Boston hospital She does not have a love in her life, as work is her life. After an incident at the hospital she is asked to take time off from work. So she goes to the San Juan Islands to visit her sister, Margie, for the Christmas Season. She does not know this but her sister has plans of her own. She wants her to rekindle her relationship with an old flame from her high school days. There are so many festive goings on at Saltwater Cove. They will run into each other frequently.

Margie makes in so she runs into Jack. Jack has a restaurant that he is selling to go live near his daughter. He is delighted to run into Sandy. He has not seen or heard from her in years, both losing contact with one another. He likes the person she has become. But there is also a mystery that takes place while she in in Saltwater Cove.

This is my first time ready a book by Amelia Addler, and am so looking forward in her some more of her creative writings. Amelia, thank you for the wonderful read.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas at Saltwater Cove: A Westcott Bay novella by Ameila Addler. In this novella, we are introduced to Margie’s sister, Dr. Sandy Randall. Sandy is a pediatric surgeon who has put her medical career first in her life. This was a major issue in her marriage and the cause of her divorce. Since her divorce, she has put medicine definitely in first place and has lived and breathed it. After an incident at the hospital where she lost her cool with a patient’s mother, the hospital board sent her on a two-week vacation in which to cool down. She took this time to visit her sister on San Juan Island for Christmas. Margie has a surprise for her. She ran into Sandy’s high school boyfriend and invited him to San Juan to cater for her Christmas party.
Sandy sees through Maggie’s machinations and match-making schemes as does Jack Pappas. The two of them decide to be good friends which is what they do. It does mean they spend a lot of time together and having fun. After Christmas, they will go their separate ways or will they

[Jeannine Wickliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great Christmas romance. Sandy has come to San Juan Island to spend the month of December with her sister and to unwind from her job as a Pediatric Surgeon. What she doesn't know is that her sister, Margie, has invited her high school boyfriend also. Jack thinks he is coming to the island to provide food for a cookie baking contest and to see Sandy. As the month progresses, things go well for Sandy and Jack including figuring out a medical emergency. At the end of December, Sandy returns to Boston and Jack soon relocates to Boston also. Jacks reasons are not only because Sandy is there but his daughter is close by. Can Jack find a new passion in Boston or will he start up a restaurant? Will Sandy return to her job and continue flourishing?

[MaryEllen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

I've not read the other books in the series, yet wasn't lost.
The story moves at a quick pace, but we easily keep up.
The characters were well done and the dialogue and actions seemed real.
The suspense was short lived––just enough to give the story a bit of excitement.
The friendship and concern showed through and the HEA is easy to accept.

[Carol Sandford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Device

[Jennifer Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas at Saltwater Cove is a novella to accompany the Westcott Bay series by Amelia Addler. Dr. Sandy Randall has given up on love. With a divorce and a string of bad relationships behind her, she doesn't see any point. But on a trip to San Juan Island to visit her sister, Sandy comes face-to-face with her high school sweetheart. She feels the same old flame but feels she cannot survive another heartbreak where he is concerned. To Jack Pappas, Sandy is the one who got away. With a little matchmaking by Sandy’s sister, Jack and Sandy find themselves in each other’s company. Can Jack convince Sandy to give him a second chance? Will Sandy open her heart to love once again?
Christmas at Saltwater Cove is a standalone novella which welcomes new readers as well as old friends to the Westcott Bay series. I haven’t read any of the books in the Westcott Bay series, however, I was not lost with the characters and their relationships and history. I enjoyed Sandy and Jack together as they rekindle their romance. I enjoyed the holiday festivities of the book especially now that the Christmas season is here. It was a quick read for a cozy afternoon of reading. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading the other books in this series. If you enjoy small towns, Christmas festivities and a second chance romance, I highly recommend Christmas at Saltwater Cove.

Christmas at Saltwater Cove is available in paperback and eBook.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is just something about a second chance romance at Christmas that always hits the mark with me.

Sandy is long divorced because her work as a pediatric surgeon always came first, or at very least tied for first. She had found peace with being alone in life.

Her sister Marge was less okay with it and when she and her daughter Jade ran into Sandy's high school boyfriend, Marge quickly makes plans to get them back together.

When Jack and Sandy first see each other it is crazy, but Sandy takes it good naturedly. They go grab a bite to eat. He tells her that he is divorced and has sold his restaurant to move to New England to be closer to his daughter.

He agrees to make some food for Marge's big Christmas party. Jack and Sandy spend time together. Jack never wanted to lose Sandy to begin with, but Sandy "knows"that no man would like her obsession with her job. She assumes this can go no where. Even as it continues to grow.

When people who went to the party end up in the hospital the story really takes off. I knew I loved Sandy and Jack before that,but it was the grace under fire that Jack gave her, and her genius that made me really love the story.

The epilogue is super cute and takes place long after Christmas which I actually enjoyed. It gave their story the sense of time that it needed to prove itself .

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kiedy doktor Sandra Randall, pięćdziesięciotrzyletnia pediatra, przylatuje przed Świętami z Bostonu do rodziny na San Juan Island niepodziewanie spotyka na wyspie Jacka Pappasa, swojego chłopaka ze szkolnych czasów. Oboje są rozwodnikami, przy tym on ojcem i dziadkiem, podczas gdy Sandy całkowicie poświęca się pracy, co zresztą było powodem rozstania z mężem. Nikt nie ma wątpliwości, że reżyserką spotkania Sandy z Jackiem była jej siostra, Margie Clifton, organizatorka świątecznego konkursu kulinarnego, w którym Pappas ma być rzekomo jej absolutnie niezbędnym pomocnikiem.

Gotowanie, smażenie, pieczenie i konsumpcja wydają się być ulubionymi zajęciami mieszkańców wyspy - na co już narzekałam - ale tutaj bożonarodzeniowe okoliczności stanowią przynajmniej jakieś uzasadnienie tego sposobu spędzania wolnego czasu. Zresztą centralne wydarzenie w tym krótkim opowiadaniu zainicjowane zostało koniecznością interwencji lekarskiej, ale przebieg miało bardzo zabawny, co sprawiło mi miłą niespodziankę. A przy okazji pełne zaanagażowanie w nie Jacka w dużym stopniu przyczyniło się do sukcesu Margie jako swatki.

[Richard Goodrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little story. Sandy needed some time away from work and her sister Margie had just the place to go (on the opposite side of the country). Margie also arranged the perfect companion, Jack. While Margie gets all anxious about some friends becoming ill, Sandy goes into hyper focused mode to determine what is causing the mysterious illnesses. All the while, Sandy and Jack tangentially rebuild the high school friendship.

Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Haunting. Inspirational. Romantic. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.

I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.

[Elda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect read for the holidays.
This is a well written novella with a wonderful cast of characters that I enjoyed meeting. Sandy, a pediatric surgeon, travelled to Saltwater Cove to spend Christmas with her sister Margie and her daughter. But they had a surprise for Sandy. They invited her boyfriend from high school of almost 30 years ago. They had some interesting adventures helping Margie cater a Christmas party with some interesting turns of events. I rather enjoyed this story, one that is a perfectly wonderful read for this holiday time of year.

[Kerry Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sandy a doctor has to take a forced break from her doctor job and heads to Saltwater to be with her sister for Christmas, who has invited Jack too..he is Sandy's childhood high school boyfriend
Will they find love again in their fifties?
Definitely a good cosy Hallmark vibe novella and adorable that this is about a more mature couple. Both Sandy and Jack are cute, funny and likeable and I just loved the vibe of this one.
I've not read the other books in the series but you can totally read this as a standalone
Kerry Kennedy author

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another nice entry into this series. It takes place in the time between books #1 and #1. I like how the author summarizes the past books at the beginning so you can refresh your memory. In this one, Margie's sister, Sandy, come for a visit. She is a pediatric surgeon who has been very stressed and a break from work was suggested by her boss. While visiting Margie, she not only catches up with her sister and nieces but also an old high school flame. She also finds herself in the middle of a medical mystery. A nice story based around Christmas without any sex or profanity.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very quick and easy read.

It is sweet. No surprises but a cute story.

Sandy is a talented pediatric surgeon. She has come home to spend Christmas with her sister and her sister’s family.

Her sister, has decided to fix Sandy up with her old high school boyfriend.

Life has changed both of these people, but that does not mean there is not a very strong attraction.

A sweet and uncomplicated read.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great addition to series

Although this is a new book in the Saltwater Cove series, it actually takes place after book 1, before Margie and Hank are married. It introduces Margie's sister Sandy and Margie's matchmaking tendency. Sandy is a surgeon and her medical experience is put into play when a friend of Margie's becomes extremely ill. Then there is the old HS boyfriend of Sandy's.

[Terry Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently purchased the remaining books in the Christmas At Saltwater Cove series, so I will have to put Christmas Kisses and Holiday Wishes, which I purchased, away until another time. That collection of authors began with this book, which I finished reading. What an incredible book this was.All of it was enjoyable to me. It's quite joyous, passionate, and celebratory. Reading this author's work for the first time, I'm eager to see more from Amelia Addler.

[Sandra Hartzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandy is a pediatric surgeon and has been mandated to take a vacation, so she goes to visit her sister Margie on San Juan Island. Margie has made arrangements for Sandy’s old high school boyfriend to do the catering for her Christmas party. As Sandy and Jack work together on the menu for the party, they reconnect. When people start getting ill after the party, Sandy and Jack investigate and find the answers needed. A heartwarming and uplifting Christmas book.

[Teresa Bertolio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Contemporary Romance:) Jack and Sandy have a second chance. Sandra us an accomplished surgeon. Jack just sold a prize-winning restsurant. Can these two make time for eachother? Will Margie's matchmaking scheme work? Throw in some crazy island shenanigans and you have a wonderful sugar filled holiday.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but Interesting

A quick read. Margie,the heroine of the author's Saltwater Cove series, invites her workaholic sister Sandy , a doctor, to spend Christmas on San Juan Island. Of course she plays matchmaker setting up Sandy with an old boyfriend. Add in a mysterious illness affecting some townspeople and you have a cozy winter read.

[Suzanne Perryman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas at salt water cove

I have been reading this series from book one. They are interesting and the characters are very life like. Sometimes it’s just great to read a really good story that is interesting and uplifting. Loved each book

[Charline Romine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sandy 💖 Jack

A sweet romance of rekindled love. Sandy and Jack had been high school sweethearts. Thirty years pass. They are reintroduced by Sandy’s sister. They work together to solve a mystery and find out that...true love never ends. Good quick read.

[Ruth Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting story

This was a good story that I enjoyed very much. I would love to go to the island to spend time. Hank and Margie seem to be well suited and Sandy sounds to be an awesome doctor reconnecting with the love she lost.

[robin daugherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas at Saltwater

This was my first book to read of this author and I’m so glad I did it is sweet romantic story that I really enjoyed reading,you can’t go wrong with a Christmas theme and a old high school romance to give you every thing you looking for in a book.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read, but enjoyable. You want to cheer on the entrepreneur who is trying to start up a wedding venue in an old barn. But mysterious illnesses might plague her success after a grand opening. Being in the Christmas spirit, it all turns out good. Things are never as they seem.