Petra's career as a literary agent has imploded. Now she is stuck for six months babysitting a little bookshop by the sea. Ross McCloud’s award-winning debut novel blew the minds of the world’s literati, but now he and his keenly awaited second work have vanished. When Petra discovers Ross lurking, incognito, in the secondhand books section, a kinship tentatively forms. She also is finding time to help her new best friend, Jess --- owner of a local telephone box library --- to launch the inaugural Portneath Literary Festival. What better opportunity to put the Festival on the map, says Ross, than for Petra to unveil his second novel to the world there, before relaunching her career representing him at the Frankfurt book fair? But can Petra find the courage to help the man she loves?

Capelthorne’s Books may be a tad run-down these days, but to Jules Capelthorne, the wonky, dusty world of literary treasures is full of precious childhood memories. When her great-aunt Florence gets too frail to run it alone, Jules ditches her junior publishing job in London and comes home to make the bookshop’s 100th birthday a celebration to remember. But Jules quickly discovers that the bookshop is close to bankruptcy, and the lease on the building is up for renewal. To make matters worse, the owner of the property is the insufferable Roman Montbeau. The Montbeaus and Capelthornes have feuded for years. Jules may not be able to splash the cash on promotions and marketing like the Montbeaus, but she has some ideas of her own. Plus she has a tenacity that just may win the hardest of hearts and the most hopeless of conflicts.

Kate Potter used to love Christmas. A few years ago, she would have been wrapping her presents in September and baking mince pies on Halloween, counting down the days and hours to Christmas. But that was before Kate’s husband left for the army and never came home. Now she can hardly stand December at all. Kate can’t deny she’s lonely, yet she doesn’t think she’s ready for romance. She knows that her son, Jack, needs a Christmas to remember --- just like Kate needs a miracle to help her finally move forward with her life. So she’s decided if there isn’t a miracle on its way, she’ll just have to make her own. As Kate’s advent countdown to the best Christmas ever begins, she soon realizes that even with the best laid plans, you can’t plan for the unexpected.