Book Review: Marry Me in Seahaven Bay By Nicola May

I am pleased to be welcoming Nicola May to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Marry Me in Seahaven Bay.

The emotional and uplifting new novel from the author of the million-copy bestselling Cockleberry Bay series.

Life at the Seahaven Bay Retreat is flourishing, but Rita Jory’s second chance at happiness is about to face its biggest test yet. When Jago’s glamorous French ex-wife appears on the doorstep with a five-year-old daughter in tow, their blossoming relationship hangs by a thread.

Between juggling retreat guests seeking healing, her daughter Sennen’s desperate need for a last-minute wedding venue, and dealing with Elodie’s impossible demands, Rita’s already stretched to breaking point.

Then some very unexpected news forces her to reconsider everything she thought she wanted. But can she trust Jago with her secret, and embrace the new life ahead?

Rita must decide whether to protect her heart or fight for her future.

A joyful, tender and laugh-out-loud tale of family, forgiveness and finding the courage to say yes to life’s beautiful surprises. Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Jojo Moyes and Amanda Prowse.

*****

A warm welcome back to Seahaven Bay! If this is your first novel by Nicola May, then you are in for a reading treat (and a very nice back catalogue to begin with) but, if like me, you’ve been a fan of this author for a while, you’re in for an even bigger treat!

Nicola loves nothing more than to put her protagonists through the wringer (or so I see it), and here there is no difference. Rita thought her life was getting back in a semblance of order, when her burgeoning relationship with her deceased husband’s brother is made all the more complicated. I won’t tell you how, as it’s much to good to spoil. Suffice to say, you will find your emotions torn asunder, stitched back together, and then unravelled once more.

This is a breathless stampede of a story, that I felt unable to put down, actually reading it in one twenty hour stint (and nearly missing work the next day as a result).

A few crazy character names aside, this is a beautifully written book, in a wonderful setting that I heartedly recommend you add to your TBR pile at once!

About Nicola May –

Nicola May is a bestselling author renowned for her heartwarming and humorous romantic comedies. With twenty-two 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.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys cream teas in her beloved Devon, hikes through nature, and occasionally places a bet on the horses.

Say hello to Nicola via Instagram, X, and Facebook 

Marry Me in Seahaven Bay is book 2 in the Seahaven Bay series and was released in 2026. Click to buy on Amazon UK, Amazon US, Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. 

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