Today I’m joined by good friend Georgia Hill as she shares with readers an exclusive extract of Sunny New Beginnings at Sea Haven House which is published by Bloodhound Books on 4 June 2026. Over to Georgia …
Hi everyone! Happy Summer. Delighted to be back on Morton’s lovely blog again. This time I’m sharing an exclusive extract of my new book, Sunny New Beginnings at Sea Haven House. It’s the fourth in my Lullbury Bay series of romance books set in a little Dorset seaside town.
As well as a few returning characters, this one features Callie and Johnny, strangers who find themselves having to share a holiday cottage. Johnny’s in town for a family Christening and Callie just wants a break after a hectic school year. Neither expect the (almost) instant attraction which occurs, or the complications which ensue. If you love forced proximity romances as much as I do, you can find out what happens on publication day which is the 4th of June. And, unlike Devon at the time of writing this, the summer weather in Lullbury Bay is always warm and sunny!
Here’s where Callie encounters Johnny for the first time …
“Close up the house was even prettier if that were possible. Stopping at the glossy front door, Callie dug out the raft of paper with the instructions. Tongue out with concentration, she scanned down, found what she was looking for and entered the number into the key safe. She feared the worst. Technology had a habit of failing her; it was a long-running gag at school. Holding her breath, she pressed the button to release the key. As she did so, the front door swung open.
‘Hello, can I help?’ A man stood framed by the white roses which grew round the front door; they gave off a heady sweet scent.
Shocked, Callie stifled a giggle. He was a tall, dark and goodlooking cliché, and about her age. She liked the touch of silver at his temples. Very distinguished. This must be the owner, although it was strange; she’d only dealt with a Miss Grosvenor when booking. ‘Hello, I was just opening the key safe to get the key.’
‘No need. I have it here.’ He held it up, dangling from a seashell key ring.
‘Great,’ Callie said with relief and held out her hand to take it. After the journey she’d had she was keen to unpack. The bottle of white wine in the food box still in her car was calling a siren song, although a mug of tea might hit the spot first.
‘Are you the housekeeper?’ he asked. ‘There was no need to come over. The place is immaculate, and I’ve found everything. Thank you for coming though.’
‘Housekeeper? No. I’ve rented the place. For three weeks.’ Callie felt the first stirrings of unease.
‘You’ve rented the cottage?’ A frown flickered across his brow. ‘There must be some mistake. I’ve booked it. I’ve just arrived. You must have the wrong house.’
Callie stiffened. ‘I can assure you I have not.’ Fishing in her handbag she drew out the sheaf of papers again. Waving them at him, she explained. ‘I booked Sea Haven House with a Miss Grosvenor beginning Saturday the tenth.’ She felt her face grow warm. ‘This is Sea Haven House, it said so on the gate and it’s most definitely the tenth.’
The man disappeared into the house and returned with a wodge of paper. Callie’s heart sank as she recognised the distinctive heading. Hysteria bubbled up. She might have known something would go wrong. Had she booked the wrong date? Shoving her sunglasses onto the top of her head she squinted at Miss Grosvenor’s small forest of paperwork. Definitely booked for the tenth. Anxiety hollowed her stomach.
He flourished his papers at her. ‘You see, booked to J. Starling, that’s me, in beginning -’
‘The tenth,’ finished Callie. Her shoulders slumped. ‘This is all I need,’ she wailed.”
About Georgia Hill
Georgia Hill writes contemporary and dualtime romances about love, the power and joy in being an eccentric oldie and finding yourself and your community. There’s always a dog. It’s usually a naughty spaniel of which, unfortunately, she has had much experience. She lives near the sea with her beloved dogs and husband (also beloved) and loves the books of Jane Austen, collecting elephants, and Strictly Come Dancing. She’s also a complete museum geek and finds inspiration for her books in the folklore and history of the many places in which she’s lived. She’s worked in the theatre, for a charity and as a teacher and educational consultant before finally acknowledging that making things up was what she really wanted to do. She’s been happily creating believable heroines, intriguing men, and page-turning stories ever since.
You can find her on the following links:
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/georgiahillauthor
About Sunny New Beginnings at Sea Haven House
Sometimes a coastal getaway gives you exactly what you need … whether you asked for it or not.
When fiercely independent single mum Callie escapes to the seaside town of Lullbury Bay, she’s craving peace, time to paint and space to breathe — not shared accommodation, unexpected chemistry or complicated feelings.
She doesn’t expect charming and brooding Johnny Starling, who is in town for a family christening and firmly not looking for anything serious. But sparks don’t care about good intentions.
As Callie becomes drawn to the large and eccentric Starling family, she finds herself laughing more than she has done in years. But while Lullbury Bay works its magic, Callie’s heart is pulled in another direction, especially as she worries about her daughter Frida, who’s off on her first adult holiday in Ibiza.
Just as Callie and Johnny begin to let their guards down, a sun-soaked Frida interrupts the fun with a bombshell of her own.
Sunny New Beginnings at Sea Haven House is a heart-warming, romantic escape about second chances and seaside secrets, perfect for fans of Phillipa Ashley and Jenny Colgan.
Buying Links for Sunny New Beginnings at Sea Haven House here
This is the blog for Morton S. Gray, a writer of romance with a mystery to solve The Secrets of Borteen Bay Series set in the fictional seaside town of Borteen for Choc Lit Publishing an imprint of Joffe Books.
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A New Arrival In Borteen Bay, the seventh book in The Secrets of Borteen Bay Series is available as an EBook and in paperback. Links here.
Summer at Lucerne Lodge, the sixth book in The Secrets of Borteen Bay Series. This is available as an EBook, on Kindle Unlimited, Audio and Paperback. Links here.
Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe the fifth book in The Secrets of Borteen Bay Series is available as an EBook, on Kindle Unlimited, Audio and Paperback. Links here.
Sunny Days at the Beach the fourth book in The Secrets of Borteen Bay Series is available as an EBook, on Kindle Unlimited, Audio and Paperback. Links here.
Christmas at Borteen Bay the third book in The Secrets of Borteen Bay Series is available as an EBook, on Kindle Unlimited and Audio. Links here.
The Truth Lies Buried the second book in The Secrets of Borteen Bay Series is available as an EBook, on Kindle Unlimited, Audio and Paperback. Links here.
The Girl on the Beach is the first book in The Secrets of Borteen Bay Series is available as an EBook, on Kindle Unlimited and Paperback. Links here.
The Secrets of Borteen Bay Series – Buying link here
Morton S. Gray - Author 