The Kind of Small Town I Imagine When I Need a Cosy Escape

The world can get a bit chaotic and overwhelming, so it’s no surprise we end up daydreaming about a slower-paced life in a small town.

It’s probably not surprising that this is the kind of place I end up writing about in my small-town romance novels. This blog is a glimpse into the kind of small town place I found myself imagining when I wanted  to step away from all of that for a while. I write about how I turned that imaginary place into a small town romance novel in the form of The Cherry Blossom Boathouse.

There’s a very specific kind of small town I used to imagine when things felt a bit much.

Basically, when I needed a  quiet moment to slow down for a minute and let my brain settle, even if it was  only for a few seconds. I always imagined  cherry blossom overhead and a lake somewhere nearby catching the light. The whole place felt like it had grown over time rather than being built all at once.

It wasn’t perfect, and I didn’t want it to be. But it was the kind of place I could step into for a bit and feel like everything was just a little less noisy.

And it’s that town that inspired Solace Springs, the fictional small town that’s the setting for my romance series. Here’s a little more about what I’ve tried to inject into Solace Springs, and why! 

A Small Town That Really Belongs To the Animals 

For me, the sense of community always includes the animals.

Like, I’ve noticed how much easier it is to talk to people when there’s a dog involved. Am I right, or am I right?! You don’t have to overthink it. You smile, they smile, the dog decides whether the conversation is happening, and suddenly you’re chatting when you didn’t plan to. And if the dog likes someone, you’re not getting away quickly. That decision’s already been made for you.

I feel like that same energy needs to run through the whole town if it’s the kind of town that’ll have me escaping the reality of life. I imagine cats take over whatever space they feel like (there’s a three-legged cat that Luke, the gorgeously grumpy love interest in The Cherry Blossom Boathouse fed as a kid that insists on living under the docks). Birds start the day earlier than you’d prefer. Squirrels seem to be permanently in a rush for reasons known only to them.

A Small Town That’s Filled with REAL People

In my imaginary small town, there’s always someone who knows everything that’s going on. And of course, there’s that one person who keeps their distance until they decide you’re worth the effort… the one you think you won’t like, but who somehow gets under your skin in a way you didn’t expect.

People aren’t perfect. They can be frustrating, nosy, a bit of a dick and occasionally just too much. (Thankfully, not all the time.) But they’re real. They don’t smooth themselves out to be more likeable, and that’s what makes them easier to connect with.

A Small Town  Built on Small, Everyday Moments

Life in my escapist small town isn’t constant drama. It’s made up of smaller things that just keep happening, and it’s something I notice a lot when I’m out walking in my real local town.

You stop for what you think will be a quick chat and end up in a full conversation that lasts far longer than you expected. People gather in the same places without really planning to. Conversations overlap and drift into something else.

When things slow down like that, I find I start paying attention properly. I notice more without trying, and things feel a bit more settled.

I reckon that’s the part that feels like escape.

A Small Town Where It Feels Like Something Might Happen (In the Best Way)

This is probably my favourite part.

So when I conjured up Solace Springs, I imagined a place where there’s a sense that something might happen, but not in a way that feels overwhelming. It’s more subtle than that: a moment where something shifts, even if you can’t quite explain it straight away.

Sometimes it’s as simple as someone saying something they didn’t plan to say. Or letting themselves be seen a bit more than they usually would.

That’s what I love about small town romance. The way people step slightly outside their comfort zone and realise it might actually lead to something good.

Welcome to Solace Springs

Solace Springs is built from all of this. It’s shaped by the setting, the people and everything that happens in between. I really worked hard to make it feel warm without being perfect, and there’s always something going on just under the surface.

This is the version of small-town romance I’m always chasing when I write. Not perfect or polished. Just familiar, slightly messy, and full of moments where something might quietly change.

If you’re craving cosy small town romance that lets you step away from the noise for a bit, I really think you’ll feel at home in Solace Springs.

If you fancy stepping a little further into the Solace Springs Romance Series, you can join the Welcome Wagon for exclusive extras, including a bonus chapter that gives you a proper feel for the Solace Springs characters. If you’re curious how that kind of small-town energy translates onto the page, The Cherry Blossom Boathouse is where Solace Springs begins.