After her husband had a fatal accident on an oil rig, Flora MacCallum was left with three children to protect. Flora has been almost overwhelmed by grief for these past three years, so when her employers' new baby prevents them from following up on a seaside inheritance in America, they convince Flora that she needs a change. She crosses the Atlantic to finish preparations to open their New England bed-and-breakfast and has two weeks alone before her children join her at Ipswich-by-the-Sea. While her friends encourage her to look for a new romance, Flora can't imagine any man wanting a widow with three young children.

Gavin Matheson is a composer, although he's lost his musical inspiration while trying to come to terms with his own grief. His ex-wife kidnapped their six-year-old son and left the country two years ago, and Gavin has lived in a state of panic and worry ever since. His private investigator continues to track leads throughout Europe, but Gavin has steeled his heart against being open to love again. He's house-sitting at the seaside home of a friend when he meets Flora, and while she inspires his music, his personal terrors are heightened when he learns about the existence of her children. As Gavin and Flora get to know each other better, they find both comfort and challenges, especially when Flora's three children arrive just before the bed-and-breakfast opens.

Although Flora is a Scottish lass through and through, this charming tale of second chances for love is set firmly on the seashore of Massachusetts. A small mystery plot concerning a long-dead witch adds some local color, but Flora's natural Scottish brogue and Gaelic lullabies remind us of her personal history while she's stateside. This affirming, modern love story by Jaclyn Reding allows widows and divorced people with children to find additional happiness while blending new families. The complexity of relationships in this novel is realistic, and a happy ending is the perfect conclusion to this compelling story.