Escape to Seahaven Bay by Nicola May #Review
Here we have the first in a new series by Nicola May. Escape to Seahaven Bay was published by Storm Publishing on January 2nd 2026.
The heartwarming new novel from the author of the
million-copy bestselling Cockleberry Bay series
Seahaven Bay has always been a place where the sparkling tides bring laughter, love and a lot of fun. But when Rita Jory’s beloved husband Archie dies in a tragic accident, she’s left alone on their failing Cornish farm with nothing but her grieving heart, a mountain of debt and some very badly behaved goats. Faced with selling the home she loves or finding a way to make it pay, Rita has a moment of desperate inspiration. She decides to transform her beloved Seahaven Farm into a place where broken souls can heal by the sea.
With help from her sharp-tongued mother-in-law, loyal best friend, daughter and new friends, the rundown farm soon blossoms into a haven of healing, creativity and community. Rita dares to believe her future might still shimmer with possibility – and even admits her growing attraction to Jago, the gorgeous neighbouring farmer with whom the Jorys had a decades-long feud.
But just as Rita begins to find peace, long-buried secrets about Archie’s past begin to surface, forcing her to question everything she believed about the life they built together.
Rita must discover the truth and decide if she’s ready to open her heart again – to love, to hope, and to the possibility that even after loss, life can still be full of surprises.
A tender, uplifting and hilarious tale of resilience, friendship and finding light in the darkest moments, perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Jojo Moyes and Amanda Prowse.
My Thoughts
This is a story of new beginnings and coming to terms with the past. Seahaven Bay provides the perfect setting for Rita's new Wellness Retreat and in fact it is an important part of the story. Rita's husband, Archie, has died in an accident and left the running of the family farm to her. Wrapped in her grief, Rita struggles to cope at first and is missing her twin frown-up children more that she can say. Into her world, come some newcomers who are lone travellers and looking for roots. Rita finds that their talents are just what she needs and strong friendships develop.
There are some strong characters in the story who seem to know about some hidden secrets than at first appears. Rita's eccentric mother-in-law adds some humour but also a large dose of strength and reality. Rita realises that there are secrets in Archie's past which may affect her future and all of her family. There is a slow burn romance developing with a certain neighbour and some surprising reveals as the past is uncovered. The retreat customers add variety and life to the story and show you different aspects of Rita's character. This is a promising series with a varied community and strong characters for future story lines.
In short: starting over
About the Author
Nicola May is an international bestselling author renowned for her heartwarming and humorous romantic comedies. With twenty books to her name, her work has captured readers' hearts around the world, has been translated into fifteen languages and consistently ranks in the top 100 of Amazon's Kindle bestseller charts. As a self-published author, she achieved the remarkable feat of reaching number one on Amazon twice, and has been a strong advocate for indie authors, pushing for a dedicated chart for them in The Bookseller magazine. Now signed to Storm Publishing, Nicola continues to write heartfelt rom-coms with her signature blend of warmth and wit.




Comments
Post a Comment