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The Cottage by the Cliffs: Clean, Small-Town Irish Romance
One fake ring, one broken heart—and a second chance at love.
Big-city marketing star Tara Quinn returns to windswept Ballycove only to inherit a dilapidated cliff-top cottage—and the memories of the teenage sweetheart she left behind. Local carpenter Cillian Byrne offers a daring solution: announce a pretend engagement so nosy villagers, greedy developers, and Tara’s guilt all stay off her back while they restore the house.
It’s strictly business, zero feelings, no risk… until shared sunsets, salt-brushed laughter, and one stolen almost-kiss start turning the fakest romance in Ireland achingly real. As Cillian and Tara hammer at sagging roofs and dodge relentless gossip, Ballycove’s richest developer circles, eager to swap Granny’s roses for luxury lodges. Selling would solve Tara’s money worries—and wipe out Cillian’s livelihood. Staying means facing the grief she fled and the man whose heart she once shattered.
When their sham engagement is exposed during the midsummer regatta, Tara must retreat to Dublin’s neon comfort or stand beside the carpenter who’s rebuilt far more than a cottage—he’s rebuilt her courage to love. Can a make-believe promise survive crashing waves and cruel truths—or will real love claim the cliffs?
Big-city marketing star Tara Quinn returns to windswept Ballycove only to inherit a dilapidated cliff-top cottage—and the memories of the teenage sweetheart she left behind. Local carpenter Cillian Byrne offers a daring solution: announce a pretend engagement so nosy villagers, greedy developers, and Tara’s guilt all stay off her back while they restore the house.
It’s strictly business, zero feelings, no risk… until shared sunsets, salt-brushed laughter, and one stolen almost-kiss start turning the fakest romance in Ireland achingly real. As Cillian and Tara hammer at sagging roofs and dodge relentless gossip, Ballycove’s richest developer circles, eager to swap Granny’s roses for luxury lodges. Selling would solve Tara’s money worries—and wipe out Cillian’s livelihood. Staying means facing the grief she fled and the man whose heart she once shattered.
When their sham engagement is exposed during the midsummer regatta, Tara must retreat to Dublin’s neon comfort or stand beside the carpenter who’s rebuilt far more than a cottage—he’s rebuilt her courage to love. Can a make-believe promise survive crashing waves and cruel truths—or will real love claim the cliffs?
- GenresRomance
259 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2025
245 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Maeve McBride
43 books26 followersMaeve McBride writes heartfelt, clean small-town romances set against the lush landscapes of Ireland. Her stories weave together the warmth of close-knit communities, the charm of cobblestone streets and cozy pubs, and the tender journeys of love and self-discovery.
Download your FREE eBook at: www.MaeveMcBrideAuthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 1, 2025
A delightful, light read.
Burned-out Dublin coder Eimear Hanly inherits her grandfather’s crumbling sheep farm in Ballycove—but only if she’s married before August. Stoic farmer Aodhán O’Malley can’t secure custody of his orphaned niece without a stable “two-parent” home. A tidy, paper-only answer seems obvious: a marriage of convenience, no strings, no feelings.
Yet under the golden skies of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, renovating the old cottage, sharing seaside picnics, and swapping midnight stories ignite a slow-burn spark neither of them expected.
Burned-out Dublin coder Eimear Hanly inherits her grandfather’s crumbling sheep farm in Ballycove—but only if she’s married before August. Stoic farmer Aodhán O’Malley can’t secure custody of his orphaned niece without a stable “two-parent” home. A tidy, paper-only answer seems obvious: a marriage of convenience, no strings, no feelings.
Yet under the golden skies of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, renovating the old cottage, sharing seaside picnics, and swapping midnight stories ignite a slow-burn spark neither of them expected.
February 18, 2026
This book was horribly written. Timelines are all off. Has a sister who needs money at the university and is never mentioned again. Grandmother died 6 months ago but house is falling apart-so it must have been in disrepair for a while but she never visited. FMC is whining all the time. MMC just seems to be there fixing things. There was so much happening I just had to keep reading to see how much didn’t add up. House is quiet-missed dog moving around-then leaves house with the dog.
November 5, 2025
Wonderful
From this reader to the next reader; a must read!
You WILL fall in love with the story, the people, the land, and the wonderful message spread across the pages. I devoured each word and found myself craving the next book like the next bite of a favorite meal.
Truly worth reading again and again. Enjoy!
From this reader to the next reader; a must read!
You WILL fall in love with the story, the people, the land, and the wonderful message spread across the pages. I devoured each word and found myself craving the next book like the next bite of a favorite meal.
Truly worth reading again and again. Enjoy!
February 4, 2026
restores faith in life
If only real life was like this we would all be so happy. A real feel good read. Cant wait to red the next one
If only real life was like this we would all be so happy. A real feel good read. Cant wait to red the next one
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews