Willa Bay Series by Nicole Ellis

Life is a series of decisions to make, but choosing the right one isn’t always cut and dry.Up until a few years ago, Cassie was living her dream life – happily married to her high school sweetheart Kyle and raising their two kids together in a house with a white picket fence. When she and Kyle grew apart and eventually divorced, she was devastated. Now, she’s picking herself up and building a new life... moreLife is a series of decisions to make, but choosing the right one isn’t always cut and dry.Up until a few years ago, Cassie was living her dream life – happily married to her high school sweetheart Kyle and raising their two kids together in a house with a white picket fence. When she and Kyle grew apart and eventually divorced, she was devastated. Now, she’s picking herself up and building a new life.Her dream of owning a bakery seems out of reach, until a For Lease sign goes up in the window of the best bakery in town. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, but with a mortgage, young children and an almost-empty bank account, it feels impossible. Kyle offers to help her, but she wants to do it on her own. Besides, there are too many pesky feelings for him that she can’t seem to shake.With a beautiful co-worker asking him for a date and a possible promotion at work, Kyle should be on top of the world. If only he could stop thinking about his ex-wife and the life they used to share.Cassie’s friend Zoe has found her calling in life – turning the old Inn at Willa Bay into the premier wedding venue in the Pacific Northwest. However, she didn’t count on the challenge of working closely with her new boyfriend Shawn and her good friend Meg. All of the responsibility for the renovation has fallen on her shoulders and she doesn’t know how everything is going to get done before the Inn’s grand opening.Meg knows that Zoe needs more from her, but between working at the Inn part-time and her job as a sous chef at a local lodge, she’s burning the candle at both ends. Eventually, they’ll turn the old barn at the Inn into a restaurant for her to manage, but that’s at least six months away. In the meantime the Inn’s tight renovation budget can’t afford another full-time salary. For the time being, Meg’s life is at a standstill, looking on with envy at the lives of her friends and family.Her sister Libby leads the perfect life – except for the fact that she’s been hiding marital problems for a few months and is now at her breaking point. She’s watching her friends pursue their passions, but feeling stuck in her own life. If her husband doesn’t come clean about his secretive behavior and indifference to her, she’s going to need to make some serious changes.Although each of the friends is at a different point in their lives, they all must make decisions that will change the shape of their futures and the small town tapestry of Willa Bay. less

Now that the Inn at Willa Bay is well on its way to becoming a premier wedding destination in the Pacific Northwest, chef Meg Briggs hopes it’s finally time for her to realize her own dream -- converting the old barn on the property into a first class restaurant. However, the barn has been a dumping ground for resort castoffs for years and renovations seem a far off prospect... moreNow that the Inn at Willa Bay is well on its way to becoming a premier wedding destination in the Pacific Northwest, chef Meg Briggs hopes it’s finally time for her to realize her own dream -- converting the old barn on the property into a first class restaurant. However, the barn has been a dumping ground for resort castoffs for years and renovations seem a far off prospect. Can a mysterious journal she finds while cleaning out the barn help her find contentment and happiness in unexpected places?Taylor loves his job as the head chef at a local lodge, but after Meg and the others quit their jobs there, it’s not quite the same. He misses his family in Southern California and maybe it’s time to consider a big move.Tia’s found her groove as an event coordinator at the Inn, and things are looking up --  until tragedy strikes. Her parents don’t think she can make it on her own in Willa Bay, and maybe she can’t.Samantha’s made a life-changing decision, but as she tries to move on, life keeps handing her lemons. Improving her future is going to take a brand new outlook and willingness to try new things.Debbie wants nothing more than to spend quality time with her grandkids and immerse herself in her crafting projects. But, the needs of her family always come first -- until some devastating news changes her perspective. less

It’s the Christmas season, and romance, friendship, and family conflict abound in the small seaside town of Willa Bay.Tia should be ecstatic -- she’s moving into one of the sunset-colored cottages at the Inn at Willa Bay with her friend Meg, but she’s preoccupied with a surprise newcomer to town and the impending holiday visit of her overbearing parents... moreIt’s the Christmas season, and romance, friendship, and family conflict abound in the small seaside town of Willa Bay.Tia should be ecstatic -- she’s moving into one of the sunset-colored cottages at the Inn at Willa Bay with her friend Meg, but she’s preoccupied with a surprise newcomer to town and the impending holiday visit of her overbearing parents.Cal has spent the last year forging a new life for himself in Willa Bay, seemingly worlds away from the rat race and trouble he’d been sucked into in Seattle.Cassie has finally found happiness with a rekindled romance with her ex-husband and her ownership of a popular bakery, but she’s always waiting for the other shoe to drop.Reeling from a recent job loss and the end of a long-term relationship, Samantha seeks refuge as a housemother at a local private school, although she isn’t quite sure she’s a good fit for the position. Debbie is deep into planning a fundraiser in honor of her good friend, but it’s more difficult than she’d expected. less