Book Review & Giveaway: Escape To Seahaven Bay By Nicola May

We are pleased to be welcoming Nicola May to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Escape To Seahaven Bay.

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.

*****

I’m delighted to be a part of the blog tour for Nicola May’s forthcoming book, ‘Escape to Seahaven Bay’.

Now, where to start? Seahaven farm is failing, as Rita finds life hard after the unexpected death of her husband. With her son rarely in contact and her daughter working away from home, Rita is getting to her wits end, with the possibility of losing the farm a real possibility. Through a change of direction for the farm, things begin to change, before a secret long buried makes things even worse.

I won’t tell you what happens, as I don’t believe in giving everything away.

Now, first off, I have to tell you that I consider Nicola one of the best writers out there and with this book, she has crafted a story which flows, is full of twists and turns, the characters are wonderfully drawn and presented, as would be expected from this author. I loved the descriptions of the location and the way it was written, made me want to go back to Cornwall and see if perhaps, I could find a Seahaven Bay of my own. I’m sure that by the time you finish this book, you’ll feel the same.

Overall, this is a story about grief, and how one handles it. That does not, repeat, does not mean it is a depressing story, though there are times where you wonder how Rita will get through in one piece. The romance is always there, even in the darkest moments and in all, this book is one which will touch your heart.

(My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the reading copy in exchange for an honest review). 

About Nicola May –

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.

Say hello to Nicola via her website, Instagram, X and Facebook. 

Escape To Seahaven Bay is book one in the Seahaven bay series and was released in 2026. Click to buy on Amazon UK, Amazon US, Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. 

*****

Win A Signed Copy of Escape To Seahaven Bay – 

Do you live in the UK? Do you fancy winning a signed copy of Escape To Seahaven Bay? 

Well, now’s your chance. 

For more information on how to enter, click on this Gleam link. 

UK Only. 

*Terms and Conditions –

UK entries welcome. 

Please enter using the Gleam link above. 

The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  

I (Novel Kicks) am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

by

Mick Arnold

Mick reviews books and will also be chatting about his experience as a male author in the romantic genre. Mick is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, New Writers Scheme. He lives in Northamptonshire and is the proud keeper of two cats, Gus and Elphaba. When he’s not trying to write books, Mick has a deep-seated love of reading that he’s brought from his teens to the current day with no signs of waning. He’s also mad on the music of the Beach Boys and enjoys the theatre and humouring his Manchester United supporting wife. Mick can be followed on Twitter: @mick859