Summer Holiday

Waves of Renewal

When travel writer Emily Carter reluctantly accepts her grandmother’s invitation to spend the summer in the sleepy Cornish village of Porthlyn Bay, she expects little more than salty air and quiet mornings. Instead, she finds the old sea-blue café she once adored in disrepair and a community wary of outsiders. As Emily scrubs chipped tables and repaints peeling shutters, she discovers that restoring the café means more than fresh coats of paint—it requires rekindling long-lost friendships, mending old wounds, and rediscovering her own sense of purpose. With every wave that crashes on the golden sands, Emily’s heart stirs with hope for a fresh start.

Sands of Second Chances

Between tide pools and twilight bonfires, Emily crosses paths with local fisherman Tom Harlow, whose easy grin masks a secret heartbreak. Tom, burdened by family debts and the legacy of a strained childhood, is drawn to Emily’s warmth even as he resists letting anyone into his solitary world. Together, they embark on impromptu adventures—harvesting mussels at dawn, racing to salvage stranded sailboats, and sharing late-night confessions under starlit skies. As they learn to trust each other, both begin to believe that even the most fractured hearts can be mended by the simplest acts of kindness.

Sunlit Secrets

But Porthlyn Bay harbors its own mysteries. Whispers of a lost love letter, tucked away in Emily’s grandmother’s attic, hint at a romance that defied societal norms decades ago. With the help of spirited baker Rosa and retired schoolteacher Mr. Whitcombe, Emily pieces together a story of courage and passion that mirrors her own burgeoning feelings for Tom. As festival decorations go up and holiday crowds arrive, Emily must choose between returning to the familiar bustle of city life or embracing an uncertain future that promises both joy and the chance to write her own story.

Author’s Description

Penny Smith is a bestselling novelist celebrated for her evocative portrayals of coastal communities and the resilience of the human spirit. A former travel correspondent, she blends lyrical prose with keen observations of family and friendship. She lives between Devon and Cornwall, where she continues to craft heartfelt tales of love, renewal, and the magic of summer days.