Do friends really make the best lovers?

Shal Hoffner's back in Dunedin after eight years of self-imposed exile.
Setting up a new fashion boutique, and juggling bridesmaid duties for her best friend's upcoming wedding, she's determined to forget her ripped-up past, soulless love-life, and the guy who broke her heart.

She should've known it wouldn't be that simple.

Assuming the proximity of Cameron Dante (builder, guitarist, surf-buddy, and old flatmate) the least of her worries? Big mistake. Huge. Because there's more to the past than Shal knows, on a collision course with her immediate future, and if she can't stick to friends-with-benefits there's a chance she could snap. Just like before.

'No promises, no commitment, and no exclusive rights.' Shal's mantra is fast losing traction, and it's all Cam's fault.

He's not the shy surfer-down-the-hall he once was, and he's out to prove something, no matter the cost. He's been in love with Shal forever, so what's he got to lose? His new-found roots, his music career, his very heart and soul...

Pretty much everything, actually.


Winner of the Daphne Clair de Jong First Kiss Award and finalist in the Koru Best First Book Award, MAKO BAY is the first story in Stephanie Ruth's Otago Waters series, set in the beautiful South Island of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Each book stands alone, but reading them in order provides a deeper experience. Intended for readers who enjoy their slow-burn, feel-good romance on the steamy side, with the promise of a happily ever after.

Reader discretion advised, this novel deals with the trauma of a past accident and parental infidelity.

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