A BOOKSTORE BY THE SEA. A ROMANTIC LGBTQ ROMANTIC TOUCHINGLESBIAN AUDIOBOOK
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00:00A bookstore by the sea, setting, a quiet coastal town in Maine, where an unexpected friendship
00:13challenges long-held assumptions.
00:16Synopsis.
00:17In this heartfelt romance, two women from different worlds find themselves at odds,
00:23but are drawn closer in unexpected ways.
00:26Maggie Waters, a proud owner of a cozy bookstore in a sleepy Maine seaside town, values the
00:32quiet life she's built.
00:34Her store is a safe haven for anyone seeking solace in the pages of a book.
00:40But when her small town is disrupted by the arrival of a major development project, her
00:45peace is shattered.
00:47Enter Natalie Harlow, a reclusive writer who moonlights as a lesbian romance author under
00:53a pen name, and whose family's property business has just issued Maggie an eviction notice.
00:59Story.
01:00Natalie Harlow guided her niece, Ellie, down the Main Street of Lighthouse Cove.
01:06The small town was worlds away from her busy life in Boston, and the chilly sea air brushed
01:12against their faces.
01:14Ellie, a spirited 10-year-old with a wild mane of curly hair, tugged on her aunt's hand,
01:20pointing at a quaint building with a weathered wooden sign swaying in the breeze.
01:25Look Aunt Natalie, a bookstore.
01:28Can we go in, please?
01:30Natalie hesitated.
01:32She knew the store, Tales by the Sea, all too well.
01:36Her family's development company had just sent them a lease termination letter.
01:40They planned to redevelop the block into upscale condos, which meant the cozy little bookstore's
01:46days were numbered.
01:48But looking into Ellie's eager eyes, she couldn't say no.
01:52Just for a little while, she agreed.
01:55As they approached, a bell jingled softly, welcoming them inside.
02:00Warm light filled the space, casting a golden glow over shelves packed with well-loved books.
02:07Ellie darted toward a display of children's stories while Natalie lingered near the entrance,
02:12trying to ignore the wave of unease washing over her.
02:16The bookstore smelled of old paper and fresh coffee, a comforting scent that reminded her
02:21of simpler times.
02:23''Welcome to Tales by the Sea,'' called a voice from behind the counter.
02:29Natalie turned to see a woman with sandy brown hair tied back in a loose braid, a friendly
02:34smile lighting up her face.
02:36''Let me know if you need any recommendations,'' she added, her voice carrying a melodic warmth
02:42that filled the room.
02:44Ellie recognized her immediately.
02:47Maggie Waters, the bookstore owner.
02:50Ellie wasted no time introducing herself.
02:52''Hi, I'm Ellie, and I'm looking for a book about mermaids,'' Maggie chuckled softly,
02:59crouching down to Ellie's height.
03:01''Well, Ellie, you've come to the right place.
03:04We have plenty of stories where mermaids save the day.
03:08Do you like ones with a bit of magic in them?''
03:11Maggie asked, her eyes twinkling.
03:14As Ellie followed Maggie deeper into the store, Natalie felt herself drawn toward the
03:19romance section, a collection of vibrant book spines beckoning to her.
03:24She spotted a few familiar titles, breeze books, the ones she herself had written under
03:30her pen name.
03:32Seeing her own work in this small, unassuming shop, knowing that it might soon be torn down,
03:38stirred an unexpected pang of guilt.
03:40''Do you like romances?''
03:43Maggie's voice suddenly cut through her thoughts, and Natalie turned to find the bookseller
03:47watching her with a curious smile.
03:50''We have some great ones by Bree.
03:53They're really popular here.''
03:55Natalie swallowed, forcing a polite smile.
03:58''Yes, I'm familiar with her work,'' she said, hoping her face wouldn't betray her.
04:05She wanted to keep her author identity under wraps for as long as possible.
04:10Maggie seemed to pick up on the tension, but she shifted her focus back to Ellie,
04:15who was clutching a book with wide eyes.
04:17''This one has a mermaid who becomes friends with a girl from the town,'' Maggie explained,
04:23''and they go on adventures together.''
04:27Ellie's excitement was infectious.
04:28''Can I get it, Aunt Natalie?'' she pleaded.
04:33Natalie nodded.
04:34''Of course.
04:35And maybe we'll pick up something else, too.''
04:39She reached for a random book on the shelf, trying to avoid Maggie's gaze.
04:43The weight of the eviction notice she had indirectly delivered felt heavier than ever.
04:49But as Maggie rang up their purchase, the atmosphere remained warm.
04:54Maggie made small talk with Ellie, sharing tidbits about the local sea life and the best
04:59spots to find seashells.
05:02Despite the awkwardness between her and Maggie, Natalie found herself charmed by the way Maggie
05:07engaged with her niece.
05:09When the transaction was finished, Ellie bounded out of the store with her new book, eager
05:15to dive into her magical adventure.
05:18Natalie lingered by the door for a moment, gathering the courage to speak.
05:23''I'm sorry, you know, about what's happening with the store.
05:27The eviction notice.
05:29It wasn't personal.''
05:31Maggie's smile faltered, but she kept her composure.
05:34''I know it's just business,'' she said quietly.
05:38''But this place means a lot to me.
05:41It's been a part of the community for years.''
05:44Natalie hesitated, guilt-tugging at her.
05:47''If there's anything I can do to help.''
05:50Maggie shook her head, but her expression softened a bit.
05:55''Thanks, but I think I'll manage.
05:57I just need some time to figure things out.''
06:00She glanced out the window where Ellie was waving excitedly at them.
06:05''Your niece has a wonderful imagination.
06:08It's nice to see a young reader so enthusiastic.
06:12She does, doesn't she?''
06:14Natalie replied, a small smile slipping through despite herself.
06:19She lingered a moment longer, caught between her conflicting roles as a businesswoman and
06:25an anonymous author who was starting to admire the woman standing before her.
06:31As she left the bookstore with Ellie, Natalie couldn't help but glance back through the
06:35window, catching a glimpse of Maggie tidying up the counter with a determined expression
06:40on her face.
06:42Something about this place, about her, felt different than she'd expected, and as she
06:48walked back into the crisp Maine air, she wondered if this unexpected encounter might
06:53change things in ways she hadn't anticipated.
06:56The next morning, Maggie stood behind the counter of Tales by the Sea, staring at the
07:01eviction notice pinned to the bulletin board above her desk.
07:05The paper seemed to mock her, a grim reminder that her cherished bookstore might not see
07:11another summer.
07:12She had been up half the night, thinking about the new condo project and how it would change
07:17their small town forever.
07:20It wasn't just about losing her business, it was about losing a place that had become
07:25a hub for the community, a place where stories and lives intersected.
07:30Her mind wandered to the woman from the day before, Natalie.
07:35Maggie had tried to keep her frustration in check while talking to her, but it was hard
07:40not to feel resentment towards someone whose family was turning her world upside down.
07:45Yet, there was something about Natalie's demeanor that lingered in Maggie's thoughts, something
07:50more than just the eviction notice.
07:53Just then, the bell above the door chimed, pulling Maggie from her thoughts.
07:58A few regulars shuffled in, giving her a chance to distract herself with customer service,
08:05but by mid-afternoon, business had quieted again.
08:09She was restocking a shelf near the front window when a shadow fell over her.
08:14Maggie looked up to find Natalie standing outside, holding two steaming cups of coffee.
08:20For a moment, Maggie considered pretending she hadn't seen her, but before she could
08:25decide, Natalie pushed the door open with a tentative smile.
08:30''Hi again,'' Natalie said, extending one of the coffee cups.
08:34''I thought you might like a little pick-me-up.
08:37It's from the cafe down the street.
08:40Hope you like hazelnut.''
08:42Maggie hesitated, but then she took the cup with a polite nod.
08:47''Thanks.
08:48Didn't expect to see you again so soon.''
08:51Natalie shifted on her feet, glancing around the nearly empty bookstore.
08:56''Yeah, I thought maybe I should explain a bit more about what's going on with the project.
09:02I know it's a lot to drop on you out of nowhere.''
09:06Maggie folded her arms, leaning back against the counter.
09:10''Sure, why not.
09:12You've got my attention.''
09:14She didn't intend for her tone to come off as cold as it did, but she couldn't quite
09:19help it.
09:20Her livelihood was at stake, after all.
09:24Natalie cleared her throat, clearly feeling the tension.
09:27''Look, my family's company, they don't see things the way I do.
09:32For them, it's about numbers, maximizing profit and all that.
09:36But I know how much this place means to you, to the town.
09:40I didn't want the lease termination to be such a shock.''
09:44Maggie sipped the coffee, which was surprisingly good, and studied Natalie for a moment.
09:50There was a sincerity in her eyes that Maggie hadn't expected.
09:54''What I don't understand,'' Maggie began, ''is why you're here telling me this.
10:00Are you trying to make me feel better about losing my store?''
10:04Natalie bit her lip, glancing at the worn shelves that lined the walls.
10:09''I guess I'm here because... well, it's more complicated than that.
10:14And maybe I just wanted to see if there was a way we could work something out.''
10:19Maggie raised an eyebrow.
10:21''Work something out?
10:23Like what?
10:24You think you can convince your family to change their minds about bulldozing this block?''
10:30Natalie's shoulders sagged slightly.
10:32''I don't know.
10:34Maybe I can try.
10:35It's just they've got this whole plan drawn up already, and I'm not exactly the favorite
10:40child in the business.
10:42I don't have a lot of sway.''
10:44She paused, looking directly at Maggie.
10:47''But I thought I could at least try to understand your side of things.
10:51I wanted to hear what this place means to you.''
10:54Maggie set her coffee down on the counter, considering her response.
10:59It wasn't often that she opened up to strangers, especially ones connected to the source of
11:05her problems.
11:07But there was something about the earnestness in Natalie's expression that made her relent,
11:12just a little.
11:13''This store... it was my mom's before it was mine.
11:17She started it 30 years ago, back when this town didn't have much else besides the lighthouse
11:23and a fishing dock.
11:25She wanted a place where people could escape, a place where they could find themselves in
11:31stories.
11:32After she passed away I kept it going because... well, because it felt like keeping a piece
11:37of her alive.''
11:39Natalie listened quietly, nodding as Maggie spoke.
11:42She seemed to understand that these were not just words, they were a lifeline.
11:47''I get that,'' Natalie said softly after a pause.
11:51''Sometimes a place holds more than just books or walls.
11:55It holds memories.
11:57I think that's why I started writing in the first place, trying to hold on to things that
12:02slip away.''
12:04Maggie looked at her curiously.
12:06''You're a writer?''
12:08Natalie's cheeks flushed slightly and she looked away, fumbling with her coat.
12:13''Yeah, I write under a pen name.
12:16It's um... a little embarrassing, actually.''
12:19Maggie's interest was piqued.
12:21''What's your pen name?
12:23Maybe I've read something you've written.''
12:26Natalie hesitated, glancing around the store as if looking for an escape.
12:31But then she let out a small, resigned sigh.
12:34''It's Brie.
12:36I write romance novels.''
12:39Maggie's jaw dropped slightly and she almost spilled her coffee.
12:43''Wait, Brie?
12:44As in the same Brie that wrote Love in the Stacks?
12:48That book is one of our bestsellers here.
12:51I even recommended it to a few customers.''
12:55Natalie winced slightly, but there was a hint of a smile in her eyes.
12:59''Yeah, that's me.
13:01And it's weirdly ironic that my books are on your shelves while my day job is...''
13:06While doing the opposite of what my characters would do, Maggie couldn't help the small laugh
13:11that escaped her.
13:13''It's a little funny, I'll admit.
13:15You're living a double life, huh?''
13:18Natalie nodded, her expression softening.
13:21''I've never been great at balancing the two.
13:24But meeting you, seeing this place...it makes me realize how important it is to try.
13:30I know I might not be able to change my family's decision, but I want to find a way to help.
13:37Maybe we could host an event here, something that draws people in, shows the community
13:41how special this place is.
13:43If we can rally enough support, maybe we could change their minds.''
13:48Maggie studied Natalie's face, searching for any sign of insincerity, but she found none.
13:55Despite everything, it seemed that Natalie truly cared.
13:59And Maggie, despite her initial misgivings, found herself wanting to trust her.
14:04''Okay,'' she said slowly, ''I'm willing to try.
14:09But don't think I'm going to make this easy for you.''
14:12Natalie smiled and for the first time it reached her eyes.
14:16I wouldn't expect anything less.
14:19As they stood in the bookstore, with the sound of waves crashing in the distance, it felt
14:24like the beginning of something neither of them had planned.
14:28A tentative partnership, maybe even a fragile friendship, had begun to form.
14:34And while the future of Tales by the Sea remained uncertain, Maggie couldn't help but feel a
14:39small spark of hope.
14:41In summary, with their unlikely alliance, Maggie and Natalie decide to host a literary
14:47event at Tales by the Sea, hoping to draw attention to the bookstore's charm and rally
14:52community support.
14:54As they spend more time together, Maggie's initial distress softens, and Natalie's guarded
15:00nature begins to unravel.
15:03Amidst shared moments over coffee, conversations about favorite books, and a town caught in
15:09a tug-of-war between old and new, Maggie and Natalie must navigate their growing feelings
15:15and the challenges that come with them.
15:18As the event draws near, they realize that saving the bookstore might just be the first
15:23chapter in a story neither of them expected to write.