The Magic of Sunshine

Fans of Robyn Carr and Pamela Kelley will love this small-town, feel-good romance!

Harper’s career as a trauma nurse in New York City has left her exhausted and disillusioned. For the last four months, she’s been living in Sapphire Bay with her beloved grandfather, healing her mind and her heart from all the things she’s seen. 

Surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of her hometown, Harper forms a friendship with Owen—her best friend’s brother and a former police officer carrying the weight of his own haunted past. 

As they navigate the challenges of their lives, Harper and Owen are drawn together by their shared compassion and understanding. Amidst the backdrop of a tight-knit community, they embark on a journey of recovery that promises new beginnings and the rediscovery of hope.

THE MAGIC OF SUNSHINE is the second book in the Love on Anchor Lane series and can easily be read as a stand-alone. All of Leeanna’s series are linked. If you find a character you like, they could be in another novel!

Harper smiled as she walked out of her bedroom and into the living room in her granddad’s home. The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the modest room that was the heart of Benjamin’s house. 

She’d traded the relentless pace of being a trauma nurse in one of New York City’s busiest hospitals for the quiet, familiar streets of her childhood town, all to care for the man who had once cared for her. This small but cozy home had become her world, and she was so pleased she was here. 

Benjamin sat in his favorite armchair, a thin blanket draped over his knees. His face, etched with the wisdom of his years, broke into a smile as she approached. The stroke he’d suffered six months ago had taken a toll on him, leaving his movements slow and his speech slightly slurred. But his eyes still sparkled with the same gentle kindness that had always been there.

“Have you got everything you need, Granddad?” she asked, adjusting the pillows behind him for more comfort. Her hands, skilled and steady from years of nursing, moved with practiced care.

“Everything but my favorite nurse,” Benjamin replied with a hint of his old humor, his voice rough like gritty sandpaper.

Harper chuckled, her heart swelling with affection. “Unfortunately, you’re stuck with me instead,” she teased, handing him his morning medications and a glass of water.

As Benjamin took his pills, Harper’s mind wandered to the tasks ahead. Over the last few months, her life had completely changed. The decision to leave New York hadn’t been easy, but she knew it was the right one. Sapphire Bay, with its gorgeous lake and tight-knit community, offered a different kind of healing, both for her granddad and herself.

After making sure Benjamin had his walker within reach and reminding him of the emergency call button around his neck, she grabbed her bicycle helmet and backpack. “I’ll be home for lunch. Mrs. Peterson from next door will be here soon,” she said, leaning down to kiss her granddad’s forehead.

Benjamin nodded, a small, grateful smile on his lips. “Go on, then. Don’t keep the town waiting.”

Harper stepped outside and the fresh lake air greeted her like a warm welcome to a new day. Hopping onto her bicycle, she pedalled down the quaint streets of Sapphire Bay, toward her job as a receptionist at the medical center. 

The red-brick building with its bright yellow door was halfway down Main Street. Zac Hilary, the only doctor in town, had been more than happy to have Harper join his team, even if her role was far from the adrenaline-fueled chaos of trauma nursing.

Harper locked her bike and walked into the clinic. Down the corridor, Zac’s door was already open and so was Ethan’s, one of the two counselors working with Zac. On her way past her desk, she checked the light on the answering machine. It was only eight o’clock, but there were already messages waiting to be cleared.

The transition from trauma nurse to receptionist wasn’t without its challenges, but it was a change she enjoyed. Sapphire Bay might not have the skyscrapers and endless sirens of New York City, but it offered something else—a sense of community and belonging that she’d missed.

Striding down the corridor, she knocked on Zac’s door. “Morning, boss.”

Zac looked up from behind his desk and smiled. “Good morning. How’s Benjamin doing today?” he asked, his voice tinged with genuine concern.

“He’s managing, thanks to everyone’s help.” 

Ethan waved to her from his office doorway. “Morning, Harper. If you have a moment later, I’d love to discuss the community outreach program with you.”

“Sure. I’ll come and see you during my break.” Harper was happy to help Ethan in whatever way she could. His programs focused on improving the mental health of the community and it was an important part of the clinic’s services. “Is Bailey coming in today?”

“She’s working from The Welcome Center,” Ethan replied. “If anyone calls wanting to speak to her, put them through to me.”

“Okay.” Bailey worked part time as a family therapist. With the number of people living at The Welcome Center, she spent two mornings a week working with the families, trying to make their transition into small-town life a little easier.

The morning at the clinic unfolded with its usual rhythm. Harper efficiently managed the front desk, scheduling appointments, answering phone calls, and greeting patients with warmth and kindness.

During her break, she joined Ethan in his office. It was a wonderful space for clients to visit. Shelves filled with books about psychology and family therapy lined one wall, and a window overlooking a small garden was on another. “Is now a good time to talk about the outreach program?”

He looked up from his desk and nodded. “It’s perfect. I was speaking to one of the community nurses last week. She mentioned how many people are caring for elderly parents or family members who need extra support. Our outreach program is working better than I expected, but we can do more. What do you think about adding a support group for caregivers?”

Harper sat opposite Ethan. Since she’d started looking after her granddad, she’d learned a lot about being someone’s caregiver. The biggest lesson they’d both learned was to stay true to their relationship. It was too easy to treat Benjamin like her patient instead of her grandfather. If she’d found other people in a similar situation when she moved to Sapphire Bay, it would’ve been so much easier.

“I think a support group is a wonderful idea. It’s hard juggling work commitments with all the appointments and care another person needs. Even if only a few people came, it’d be worthwhile.”

“Would you like to help me set it up?”

Harper nodded. “I’d love to.”

“That’s great. Pastor John’s happy for us to use one of the meeting rooms at The Welcome Center. As soon as we have some dates for our meetings, I’ll book them in.” Ethan handed her a folder. “These are some ideas I’ve had. If you could look at them and add anything you think will make a difference, I’d appreciate it.”

Harper took the folder. “I’ll look at it over the next few days. If you want to make another time to talk about the support group, we could discuss the ideas then.”

“Sounds good.”

Harper checked her watch. “I’d better get back to the front desk before more patients arrive.”

After she left Ethan’s office, she said hello to a woman who’d come into the clinic and made sure Zac was on time with his appointments. 

Despite what had brought her here, Harper knew she was right where she needed to be.