While You Were Sailing
(McQuoid Family Saga)
This Christmas, she believes she belongs to one man—until she falls for the one who sees her clearly.
Lucy LeBeau has spent her life keeping The Spotted Elk alive by sheer will, its empty rooms echoing with the laughter she’s lost and a future she no longer dares imagine.
When a beloved patron suffers an accident outside her door, Lucy’s quiet act of kindness draws her into his family’s glittering, noisy Christmas—one she never dreamed of belonging to.
Only Captain Arran McQuoid, the family’s guarded eldest son, doubts her story.
Snowbound together, glances linger too long. Words cut too close. And what begins as mistrust sharpens into something far more dangerous—because falling for Arran means wanting what Lucy was never meant to claim.
A deeply emotional Regency Christmas short-novel (50k words) featuring slow-burn tension, aching longing, and a guaranteed HEA.
Reader Reviews
Another excellent read from Christi Caldwell
...Just like Lucy, I too fell in love with the McQuoids family and I can't blame her when she does. This book is a clever play off the move "While You Were Sleeping" only set with an attractive Scotsman who is a Captain. I loved this book and would highly recommend it.
-Roxie_Rae
Absolutely loved it
I loved this story. It was just what I needed to get out of my book slump. Christi always writes with such emotion. Lucy is probably one of my favorite FMCs.
-Nicole Stewart
Snowbound, Stubborn, and Suddenly Smitten - A Christmas Romance That Heals in a Hurry!
While You Were Sailing is Christi Caldwell doing what she does best, taking a wounded, emotionally barricaded man and pairing him with the one woman stubborn enough to pry open the door he’s nailed shut. Lucy LeBeau is pure warmth wrapped in worn boots and grit, keeping The Spotted Elk alive even when her own hope is running on fumes. One act of kindness drops her straight into the McQuoid family’s chaotic Christmas, where she meets Captain Arran McQuoid, resident brooder, professional guilt-carrier, and the last man who expects to be seen clearly.
Their chemistry sparks fast, but Caldwell makes it feel earned: lingering glances, sharp words, and that delicious “I shouldn’t want you but oh no, I do” tension. Lucy doesn’t just fall for Arran, she drags him, gently but firmly, out of the storm he’s been living in. And watching him thaw for her is the real holiday magic.
It’s a quick read with big feelings, a cozy snowbound setting, and a hero who finally realizes that love doesn’t make you weak, it gives you a place to land. A lovely, heartfelt Christmas treat with a guaranteed HEA and just enough angst to keep you turning pages.
-Lana Birky
While You Were Sailing
A captivating novella that held me spellbound from start to finish. The McQuoid and Smith family dynamics continue to shine, offering readers another delightful glimpse into their vibrant, boisterous world. Their warmth and infectious energy leap off the page, making this story an absolute page-turner that left me craving more of their heartwarming interactions.
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While You Were Sailing
When a beloved patron suffers an accident outside her door, Lucy’s quiet act of kindness draws her into his family’s glittering, noisy Christmas—one she never dreamed of belonging to.
