[PRE-ORDER] The Christmas Countdown by Linny Mack

Release Date: 10/20/2026

small-town romance • second chance romance • childhood friends-to-lovers • x-mas romance • mystery

Coming home for Christmas was supposed to be temporary. For Lucy Sullivan, returning to Birch Harbor means facing the memories, heartbreak, and unfinished business she left behind. But seeing Dean Walker again brings old feelings rushing back, along with questions about a tragedy the town has never fully put to rest.

The Vibe

Lucy has spent years putting distance between herself and the hometown she once called home. Dean, the boy who stood beside her when everything fell apart, never completely stopped wondering why she left. Their reunion brings a tender second-chance energy to this atmospheric holiday romance.

Set in a close-knit Maine community during the Christmas season, The Christmas Countdown blends nostalgic romance with a mystery rooted in the past. As Lucy settles back into Birch Harbor, mysterious gifts begin appearing, forcing old memories and unanswered questions back into the light.

Warm, emotional, and threaded with suspense, this is a Christmas romance for readers who enjoy small-town settings, complicated history, rekindled feelings, and a mystery that keeps the pages turning.

Spice Level

• 🌶️🌶️ (2/5)

Tropes & Tags

• Christmas romance
• Small-town romance
• Second-chance romance
• Childhood friends
• Rekindled romance
• Hometown return
• Maine setting
• Christmas family gathering
• Small-town mystery
• Secrets from the past
• Romantic suspense
• Emotional romance