Charlotte McGregor: Return To You
Highland Happiness #3.5

Return to You

Kiss your true love at the spring and your love will last forever.

Adley MacAlpine returns to the quaint Highland village of Kirkby to sell her late grandfather’s farm, a place that never stopped being home for her, even after two decades away. Here, she finds herself face to face with her first love, Michael Cunningham, the boy she shared a magical first kiss with at the mythical forest spring.

But twenty years apart have left their mark on Adley and Michael. Bearing the scars of their individual experiences, they navigate the complexities of their changed lives. Adley has a home in New Zealand and her little daughter Willow to think about.

Still, the enchanting legend of the forest spring resounds in her heart – a promise of love that lasts forever. A second chance sounds too good to be true. But can she trust herself and Michael enough to leave everything behind and start over once more?

“Return To You” is a stand-alone romance novella within the “Highland Happiness” series. Free of spoilers – full of joy.

Show details

Quick Profile

Return to You is a romantic, cosy novella with farm-and-horse vibes, Highland atmosphere, and a second-chance love story that’s both warm-hearted and emotionally grounded.

  • Genre: feel-good romance | Highland romance | cosy romance (novella)
  • Setting: Scottish Highlands, fictional Kirkby — farm, fields, pub, village life, market days, riding stable
  • Main characters: Adley MacAlpine (returning home, single mum, inherits the farm) & Michael Cunningham (organic farmer juggling two jobs, first love, all-round good guy)
  • Mood: cosy, romantic, nature-soaked, with village dynamics and quiet emotional depth
  • Tropes (short): Second Chance • Childhood Sweethearts • Back to Hometown • Single Mum • Small-Town Romance • Farm Romance • Found Family
  • Heat level: low (1 chilli) — chemistry and kisses, no explicit open-door scenes
  • Happy ending: yes
  • Entry point: standalone (no prior knowledge needed)

Who is this for?

Who is this for?

  • If you love Scotland/Highlands atmosphere: rain, fields, village square, pub, neighbours
  • If you enjoy second-chance romance—with first love that has to be renegotiated as adults
  • If you want farm and animal vibes (Highland coos, everyday farm life, nature as a reset button)
  • If you like single-mum stories where the child is realistically part of daily life
  • If you want cosy reading, but not “fluff only”: this one is also about healing, trust, and boundaries

Not for you if…

  • You prefer to avoid themes around toxic relationships / violence implications (see Content Note).
  • You read only “clean & super light” and don’t want any serious past elements.
  • Farm animal birth scenes stress you out (see Content Note).

Tropes & Themes

  • Second-Chance Romance (with a past that genuinely carries weight)
  • Childhood sweethearts / first love—twenty years later
  • Back to Hometown & starting over
  • Single Mum & “a new home for two”
  • Small-Town Romance (the village helps—and meddles)
  • Farm Romance: Highland coos, farm routines, nature as support
  • Healing & trust: letting closeness in without losing yourself
  • Motherhood & autonomy: which future is mine—and which is only expected?
  • Scottish folklore as a motif: woodland spring, promise, signs

Series Context

This novella is fully self-contained and spoiler-free—perfect as a Kirkby reading snack in-between, or as a gentle entry point if you want to test whether the village, atmosphere, and tone are for you. You’ll still meet familiar Kirkby faces and get that “I want more of this” feeling that makes the universe so addictive.

Reading Order in Kirkby (chronological)

FAQ

Where is the story set?
In the Scottish Highlands—in the fictional village of Kirkby, with a farm, fields, pub, market days, and a riding stable.

Can I read the novella without knowing the series?
Yes. The love story is complete.

What’s it about (low-spoiler)?
A return to Kirkby, a farm full of decisions, a daughter who finally gets to arrive—and a first love Adley can’t “be sensible” away.

What’s the tone—funny or serious?
Cosy and warm-hearted with village scenes and humour, but with emotional depth (healing/trust).

How spicy is it?
1 chilli: chemistry, closeness, kisses—no explicit sex scenes.

Do animals/horses really matter?
Yes. Farm-and-field life, Highland coos, and riding scenes are more than backdrop.

Is there a happy ending?
Yes.

Which triggers should I know about?
See Content Note (spoiler-light summary).

Formats & Publication Details

  • Format: eBook
  • ASIN (Amazon eBook): B0F2TBJRRT
  • Language: English
  • Series: Highland Happiness Saga #3.5
  • Length: approx. 110 pages
  • Publication date: 5 September 2025

Short Recommendation Copy

Adley MacAlpine returns to Kirkby to sell her late grandfather’s farm—and runs straight into her first love, Michael. Between Highlands, Highland coos, and a fresh start for her and little Willow, she must decide whether she can risk love and trust one more time.

Keyword Set

Kirkby • Scottish Highlands • Highland romance • cosy romance • feel-good romance • novella • second chance • first love • childhood sweethearts • back to hometown • single mum • farm romance • Highland coos • fresh start • found family • healing • horses

Content Note

Contains (low-spoiler) flashbacks to a toxic/abusive relationship (emotional abuse, threats, implied physical violence), trauma/anxiety reactions, and a tense cattle birth scene (without graphic detail).

Out now!