Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland

That summer in Ocean City, Maryland... What if starting over meant facing everything you thought you'd left behind?

In Ocean City, the summer sun doesn't just shine, it sparkles with potential. Sunrises over the waves, sunsets melting into the bay. The Boardwalk buzzes with energy. Ice cream melts too fast. Strangers meet. Hearts break and mend. And under the two watchful eyes of a pair of oddball seagulls, anything can happen. During a summer like this one, the possibilities feel limitless.

Just a few blocks from the crashing waves and soft sand, in a quiet little bayside neighborhood on Seagull Street, three lives are about to tangle in ways that will change them forever.

Rachel "Ray" Anders is a cybersecurity analyst specializing in election security, working behind the scenes to help protect the integrity of the voting process. After losing so much during the pandemic, she retreats to her grandparents' old beach house on Seagull Street, hoping to disappear for a while. No connections. No noise. Just her dog Charlie, the water, her thoughts, and the steady comfort of birds overhead.

Then Olivia McNalley moves in next door. A fast-talking, big-hearted third-grade teacher turned summer waitress, Olivia is rebuilding after a divorce that left her shaken and watchful. Her ex-husband didn't just change, he radicalized. Pulled deep into online forums and grievance-fueled "patriot" fantasies, he became someone Olivia no longer recognized... or felt safe around. Ocean City is supposed to be her reset. What she doesn't expect is an instant, easy friendship with Ray, or the realization that home might be something she can choose for herself.

Enter Evan Michaels: an Eastern Shore native, marketing manager by day, surfer by weekend, and friend-to-all by default. Newly single and learning to redefine his own story, Evan sees what others don't: the way Ray flinches when someone gets too close, and how Olivia's bright smile hides something darker.

Then things start to unravel.

Catfishing. Theft. A Boardwalk tram hijacking. And threats that hit far too close to home. As the summer heats up, so does the tension, and the past each of them thought they'd left behind begins creeping back like the next high tide.

In a summer of second chances, can three unlikely allies rewrite their stories... or will everything they've built wash away before Labor Day?

Told like a diary of summer 2023, with warmth, wit, and a touch of suspense, Welcome to Seagull Street is a slice-of-life beach read where romance, mystery, and unexpected friendship collide. Set against the backdrop of Ocean City, Maryland, it's a story of fresh starts, personal resilience, and deep-rooted social issues that shape our everyday lives. Through it all, two peculiar seagulls-one with a missing foot, the other with a beak that curves just so-keep silent watch from the rooftops, witnesses to every twist, turn, and truth revealed.

Perfect for readers who enjoy Mary Kay Andrews and Elin Hilderbrand.

Author: Alissa Arford
Publisher: Red Hill Creek Enterprises, LLC
Published: 05/24/2025
Pages: 366
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.84lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.25w x 0.82d
ISBN: 9798998529917

About the Author
Arford, Alissa: - Alissa Arford is a Maryland native, lifelong writer, and marketing communications leader with a passion for storytelling. A proud third-generation Terp, she earned her journalism degree and later an executive MBA from the University of Maryland-continuing a family tradition that now includes her two children as fourth-generation Terps.With a career spanning journalism, digital marketing, and branding, Alissa has held senior leadership roles in professional tech consulting firms, SaaS finance apps, nonprofits, and higher education. Throughout her career, she has combined her love of writing, technology, and strategy to create compelling brand narratives and data-driven marketing solutions.No place holds a more special place in Alissa's heart than Ocean City, Maryland. Her earliest and fondest memories are of summers spent on its sandy shores: building sandcastles, jumping waves, and enjoying classic boardwalk treats like Dumser's ice cream, Fisher's caramel popcorn, and Thrasher's fries. As an adult, she purchased a condo with her parents, to create new memories while honoring old traditions.Writing a novel set in Ocean City was a long-time dream, blending her nostalgia, personal experiences, and creative vision. In her debut novel, she shares the charm, beauty, and timeless traditions of Maryland's beloved beach town, offering readers a heartwarming glimpse into post-pandemic America, the power of community, and an intriguing mystery waiting to be unraveled.