The Cottage at Pelican Bay

by Amy Rafferty

She came to Nantucket to heal.
She didn’t expect danger.
She definitely didn’t expect love.


At sixty, Lori Carlton isn’t chasing a fresh start. Two years after losing her husband, she just wants quiet mornings, ocean air, and space to breathe again.A summer house swap brings her to Seabird Cottage, a weathered little home tucked away in Pelican Bay, one of Nantucket’s most secluded corners. It feels safe. Gentle. Like a place that knows how to keep secrets.
Until someone breaks in.
A chilling message left behind shatters Lori’s fragile sense of peace. Someone believes she’s guilty of something she doesn’t understand. Someone is watching. And the threat is personal.

With her best friend far away and fear creeping in, Lori turns to the one person who feels steady in the storm. Mitch Brandon, the quiet neighbor next door. Kind eyes. Few words. A man who notices more than he says.
Mitch has a past he keeps buried and a heart shaped by loss. But when Lori’s safety is threatened, he steps forward without hesitation. Calm. Capable. Protective.

As a dangerous mistake from the past begins to surface, Lori and Mitch are pulled into a mystery rooted in old injustice, mistaken identity, and revenge that refuses to let go.
Between long beach walks, late night conversations, and moments of unexpected tenderness, two wounded hearts begin to open. Slowly. Carefully. Bravely.

Because healing doesn’t always come quietly.
Love doesn’t follow a schedule.
And second chances have a way of finding you when you least expect them.

The Nantucket Seashells series is a clean, feel good romance with a cozy mystery thread, later in life love, gentle suspense, and deeply satisfying emotional payoffs.

Start the series today and settle into Pelican Bay. Six heartfelt stories are waiting for you.

Genres: Romance

124 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2026

About the author

Amy Rafferty writes uplifting, clean romance filled with heart, healing, and the kind of hope that lingers long after the last page. Known for her coastal settings, later-in-life heroines, and unforgettable family bonds, Amy's books offer second chances and emotional journeys wrapped in love and mystery. When she’s not dreaming up her next story, she’s sipping tea by the sea and treasuring time with her family.

I always love to hear from you and get your feedback. Email me at books@amyraffertyauthor.com and Follow Me on Amazon. https://amazon.com/author/amyrafferty

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Reviews

[Alicia Meyers]

Cute and short read!

[Susan]

She came to Nantucket to heal.
She didn’t expect danger.
She definitely didn’t expect love.


At sixty, Lori Carlton isn’t chasing a fresh start. Two years after losing her husband, she just wants quiet mornings, ocean air, and space to breathe again.

A summer house swap brings her to Seabird Cottage, a weathered little home tucked away in Pelican Bay, one of Nantucket’s most secluded corners. It feels safe. Gentle. Like a place that knows how to keep secrets.

Until someone breaks in.

A chilling message left behind shatters Lori’s fragile sense of peace. Someone believes she’s guilty of something she doesn’t understand. Someone is watching. And the threat is personal.

With her best friend far away and fear creeping in, Lori turns to the one person who feels steady in the storm. Mitch Brandon, the quiet neighbor next door. Kind eyes. Few words. A man who notices more than he says.

Mitch has a past he keeps buried and a heart shaped by loss. But when Lori’s safety is threatened, he steps forward without hesitation. Calm. Capable. Protective.

As a dangerous mistake from the past begins to surface, Lori and Mitch are pulled into a mystery rooted in old injustice, mistaken identity, and revenge that refuses to let go.

Between long beach walks, late-night conversations, and moments of unexpected tenderness, two wounded hearts begin to open. Slowly. Carefully. Bravely.

Because healing doesn’t always come quietly.
Love doesn’t follow a schedule.
And second chances have a way of finding you when you least expect them.

This contemporary, clean, feel-good, later-in-life second-chance cozy mystery romance is page-turning with exceptional world-building in Pelican Bay, one of Nantucket's most secluded corners, where the magnificent sunrises and sunsets are majestically painted across the sky in vibrant hues, and characters who are resilient, captivating, and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with the cottage at Pelican Bay, gentle suspense/danger, deeply satisfying emotional payoffs, chaos/drama, love/loss, heartfelt emotions/emotional depth that will leave readers needing Kleenex/Puffs to wipe the tears that are threatening to spill down their cheeks, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with the cottage at Pelican Bay and a later-in-life second-chance cozy mystery romance that is sure to transport readers into a world that is wildly emotional, entertaining, and unforgettable.

[Merry Chapman]

Another new fantastic series by Amy Rafferty that hooks you from the beginning and you just can't put it down. In this series, Lori, who lost her husband and best friend Carrie who is the Chief of Police on Pelican Island, and was shot on duty, thought that if they swapped houses for the summer, they can work through their feelings and get some peace and relaxation. In the author's last series, Love, Lost Cove, we read about Carrie in Lori's home. Now it is Lori's turn and she loves Carrie's home and Carrie's dog, Misty who she is taking care of. Her next door neighbors, Mitch who is raising his young and precocious granddaughter, Piper, who tries to be a matchmaker, are nice and helpful to Lori. But both Lori and Mitch notice a strange person surveilling their homes. Why? Who are they actually watching - Mitch who has a secret government past or Lori? And why Lori? This is a page turning unputdownable first book in a fantastic new series and I can't wait for more. Note there's a cliffhanger! I highly recommend this first book and any following books in this series. The characters are fantastic and easy to like. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Vicki Stephens]

The Cottage At Pelican Bay is the first book in the Nantucket Seashells Series which introduces Lori, an artist who has been widowed for the last two years who switches houses with her best friend in order to vacation the summer at Pelican Bay, and Mitch, her next door neighbor who is a widower and retired intelligence agent who is raising his ten year old granddaughter, Piper. Lori and Mitch immediately feel a spark of attraction as soon as they meet. Lori, however, notices a man who seems to be close by while she shopped in town as well as sitting in his car right before the entrance to the private road to Mitch and her homes. This well written book is an enjoyable romance with suspense, a few plot twists, and a cliffhanger.
I received a free copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Paula Corregan]

Lori swapped houses with her best friend Carrie. She is now living in Pelican Bay, Massachusetts. She meets her new neighbors, Mitch and his granddaughter, Piper. Both she and Mitch notice a strange car parked by the entrance to the lane leading in front of their houses. Lori also notices a man loitering near her when she's in town and outside her bedroom window at night. What does the man's presence mean? Lori and her guest, Tessa, Carrie's daughter, discover an unpleasant surprise waiting for them when they check to see who rang the doorbell. If you like lots of action, suspense and a hint of romance, you'll like this book, which I highly recommend to other mystery/romance readers. I received an ARC of this book, and the opinion expressed is strictly my own.

[Joy]

Lori and Carrie are house swapping for the summer. Lori’s home is in the Florida Keys and Carrie lives in Nantucket. While Carrie is having her own mystery/adventure in the Keys, (if you haven’t read the series Lost Love Cove, you should. That’s all about Carrie’s adventures in the Florida Keys.) Lori is having strange things happen almost as soon as she arrives.

A mysterious car is parking by her house, then she sees the same man in town, watching her. Back at the house, Misty, Carrie’s dog, starts acting different, only to discover...Well, you’re just going to have to read the book.

This is shaping up to be another wonderful series by Amy. I especially like that it’s the other side of these two best friends summer experiences.

[Cindy]

I am excited to continue reading this series! I love getting to see Lori’s life now that she has swapped homes for the summer with Police Chief Carrie. Lori and her new neighbors, Mitch and Piper, are just getting acquainted when a mysterious stranger appears who will definitely create chaos for all!

Rafferty is excellent at character development (I’m even crazy about Misty!) and suspense! Book 1 has a lot of intrigue, mystery, and suspense to keep one reading! Book 1 even ends with a mysterious late night ringing of the doorbell which is the cliffhanger! I received an ARC of this book, and the opinion expressed is my own.

[DeeDeeWReads]

Welcome to Pelican Bay where Lori is staying at Carrie's home. We met Carrie in Lost Love Cove where she was staying at Lori's house after being shot and needing to recover.

Lori is settling in just fine, becoming friends with the neighbor Mitch and his granddaughter when she notices a weird car and guy that just seems to be too much of an accident. We get a cliffy here with a very weird message being left.

Another great love and mystery, this time set in Nantucket. Does any of this possibly have to do with what happened in Lost Love Cove or is Mitch the one that's being really targeted? Time will tell, until next time, lock your doors in Pelican Bay.

[Dianne Hall]

Wow - fantastic new series!

I am so excited with this fantastic new series – it will
clearly be another winning series by Amy Rafferty.  I am hooked already on the series as Lori
sets out to heal at a cottage in Nantucket after house swapping with her
friend, Carrie.  A handsome widower,
Mitch, and his granddaughter, Piper, live next door and it is evident that their
friendship will play a big part in Lori’s healing.  I highly recommend this series and author.

I read this book as part of an advance reader team.  I am voluntarily writing this review.

[Mary Ann Speel]

Another great book to begin a new series. The h has come to Nantucket for the summer in a house swap with an old friend. The H is a retired intelligence agent who had spent thirty years working for the government. He owns his own home and is now raising his granddaughter since the death of her parents. The granddaughter is excited to meet the new neighbor but the H delays their meeting letting her settle in before they introduce themselves. The h is also caring for the cottage owners dog, who becomes very protective of the h. Both the H and h notice a stranger who is watching the two homes. The h also notices the man watching her in town and becomes nervous wondering who he is. The H starts investigating as to whom the person is. He wonders if the man is there because of him or his neighbor. He installs cameras to monitor their properties. The owners daughter comes to visit the h and while there they both get a very unexpected and fearful surprise. Now we wait to find out what happens next. The author sure knows how to get our attention and to hold it. It’s going to be an exciting series. Recommend to everyone who loves suspense with a little romance. Enjoy!

[Sheila Penwell]

Lori arrived on Nantucket after housing swap with her friend Carrie went to Florida both needing a temporary change in their lives. Lori really loved the cottage and the town and became friends with her neighbors Mitch and his granddaughter Piper. Lori kept seeing a man watching her that wore a tan jacket and had even been in her yard. Mitch saw it too. Being in the job he retired from he didn't know who the guy was stalking. Love this book as this is where it ended waiting on book 2 to continue on. A VERY GOOD READ.

[Debbie Eyre]

This is the start of a clean, feel good romance with a cozy mystery that draws you in from the very beginning. We head to Pelican bay and Seabird Cottage where we find Lori who’s lost her husband and just needs a clean start. But all is not as it seems in this cozy little town and it seems someone is surveilling her and so kicks off the mystery. Mitch is the quiet neighbour next door who Lori turns to in her hour of need and has a few secrets of his own. It’s an intriguing start, suspenseful and I look forward to the next book.

[Melonie Hill]

Amy Rafferty has done it again! Every single time I read one of her books it becomes my new favorite. She knows how to deliver a story that pulls you in from the first page to the end. This starts the new Nantucket Seashells series and from Book 1 I can tell it is going to be amazing. I love the writing style the characters and the small town atmosphere. As always there is a mystery and full of suspense while developing great characters and pets! I can't wait for more in this series!!

[Erin]

The Cottage at Pelican Bay was a really enjoyable, cozy read. The setting is charming and easy to picture, and it immediately pulls you into that small-town, seaside vibe. The characters feel genuine and relatable, with just enough depth to make you care about what happens to them. It’s the kind of book that’s easy to get lost in—perfect for curling up with when you want something warm, comforting, and satisfying. I finished it feeling relaxed and glad I picked it up.

[Jan Tomalis]

A new series from Amy Rafferty and I am again in “just one more chapter” mode. The excitement starts right away as Lori tries to settle into Carrie’s cottage. They swapped houses to relax and heal. Lori also has the feeling of being watched and her neighbor, Mitch, is keeping a close eye on things.Another fantastic book from Ms. Rafferty!
I received an advance copy of this book from the author, however, I voluntarily wrote an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

[Linda Ann Foster]

Another great new series. This is the companion to Lost Love Cove which told the story of Carrie, who did a house swap with friend Lori. It’s best to read that series first. Here we have Lori’s story at Carrie’s home in Nantucket for the summer. There’s unsettling occurrences detected by the dog Misty, Lori and her neighbour Mitch. Page turner with cliffhanger ending.
Really enjoyable other side to the Lost Love Cove story.

[Terry T]

Is a sweet clean small town, second chance, later-in-life romance with a touch of mystery and suspense.
What's Sally up to? Why is a man watching Lori's house? Who's following Lori? Who left a dead bird at Lori's front door? These and other questions will all be answered in books 2, 3 or 4.
I loved Lori and Mitch's story and I'm sure you will too. I've loved everyone of her books that I've read and I can't wait to read her next book.

[Gina]

4.5 stars. Hmm. This series is a slow burn but I'm hooked and can't wait til book 2 comes out tomorrow! Hated how it cut-off so abruptly but then again, that is a hallmark of a good mystery.

I'm loving the characters and for once, there's no neurotic female lead here. Lori has good reason to be nervous but she doesn't overdo it. I love Piper and Mitch is growing on me too. Very much looking forward to seeing where things go in book 2.

[Roslyn Simonin Jenkins]

Amy does it again!

Lori(from Florida) a 2 year widow, was doing a house swap with her good friend Carrie( the Police Chief from Nantucket) who had been shot in the line of duty. And, both were much in need of a change in scenery.
But, someone is stalking the Seabird Cottage. WHY?

Amy's got us hanging again.
A MUST READ!!!!!

[Becky]

Lori has swapped houses (seabird cottage) for the summer with her friend Carrie. Mitch and his granddaughter Piper are the neighbors. Lori and Mitch have noticed a few strange things happening. Tessa (Carrie’s daughter) has come to visit Lori for a few days. The doorbell rings very late with a dead seabird on the front door mat. Another mystery at Pelican Bay, Nantucket.

[Pam Fleming]

Exciting start to a new series. Lori and her friend Carrie are in need of a change, so the pair decides upon a house swap for some get away time. Lori loves Carrie’s cottage, and enjoy roaming on the beach, painting and walking Carrie’s dog Misty.

Next door neighbor Mitch is raising his granddaughter, Piper who is eager to try to play matchmaker.

Something strange is going on as Mitch notices and stranger car loitering nearby. Lori discovers a cigarette butt outside the house and gets a strange feeling, like she is being watched. What does the odd phone call and strange gift
On the doorstep mean? Can’t wait to read the next book!

Thank you to the author for this ARC. This review is my honest opinion.

[Bernie]

Lori is doing a house exchange for the summer. She is staying in Pelucan Bay, whilst Carrie, the local police chief, is in Florida recovering from being shot. Things have begun to happen that are unsettling and there is no apparent reason as to why.
A cross reference to the previous series Lost Love Cove..the stage is set and the players are emerging.

[Jacqueline Johnston Cotton]

The perfect book setting to melt the winter blues. The summer house is a wonderful coastal setting with that small town community feel and I love the later in life characters. There is some suspense and cozy mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat and the pages turning. A great writing and start to what will be a fantastic series. So entertaining!

[Patti Whitson Stephenson She Lives to Read]

I love the characters in this new series, and the setting is perfect for the action that’s taking place in the storyline. The suspense/mystery will continue throughout this series, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this affects the characters’ lives.

I voluntarily received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[B E]

Lorrie and her best friend Carrie swap houses for the summer. She is trying to get over the loss of her late husband. Strange things begin happening right away. The neighbor next door and his granddaughter befriend her. Beginning of a great new series.

[Danette Fowlie]

I think this is going to be a great series if each book is like this one. I enjoyed reading about Lori, Mitch and Piper. Love the start to this romance and mystery. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mary Appleton]

Love the Mystery.

I love Amy Rafferty books. But when something happens it cut to a new book. lol.
Love the suspense and romance in her books. I started reading her Christmas books then fell in love with all her books. You will not be disappointed.

[Jackie]

Lori just wants to heal her heart and find peace after losing her husband. Will staying at the cottage help or hinder her recovery. A beautifully written, heartwarming story about two lonely people. Will they have another chance at being happy.

[Kathy Dryden]

If you want your heartbeat elevated this is the book for you. These are great characters with a storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Nantucket is a perfect setting and regrouping after the loss of a loved one is so difficult. This story will capture your heart.

[Norma H.]

Very Engaging, Delightful Read!

This story is very well developed, very engaging. Great character development. I’m looking forward to further development in the second book of this series.