Guest Review: The Lighthouse Daughters of Puffin Island by Christie Barlow

A blast from her past…

Having narrowly avoided losing everything to her romance scammer ex, artist Delilah Waters is done with men and focused entirely on her quest to buy Puffin Island’s magical lighthouse. It’s a crucial piece of her own family’s history and the perfect space to turn into her home. But then Max Harrington walks through her door.

…puts her future in question.

Her feelings for her former art teacher might have been forbidden at the time, but now he’s back, and single, and there’s no denying that the attraction is mutual! But when something seems too good to be true, it normally is, and Dilly soon makes a shocking discovery that changes everything for her and Max. Now she’ll have to call upon the same fortitude as her beloved lighthouse if she’s to weather the storm headed her way…

Review: This is the second book in the Puffin Island series from this author. The small island is joined to the mainland by a causeway which can be crossed only at certain states of the tide. As well as being home to a large colony of puffins, the island has a close community of human inhabitants and is popular with tourists. At one time, ships passing near the island were protected from treacherous waters by its lighthouse and the keepers who maintained its warning beam. This book can be read as a standalone for those who haven’t read the first in the series.

This story features local artist and gallery owner Delilah (Dilly) Waters, whose late mother was actually born in the Puffin Island lighthouse. When it is announced that the building is to be put up for auction, Dilly is desperate to win the lighthouse and make it her home. Having recently had a narrow escape from a man who tried to con her out of her inheritance, Dilly has sworn off romance, but when a face from her past walks into the gallery, that may change. Max Harrington was Dilly’s art teacher at college. She had feelings for him then, which of course she had to ignore, but she realises that she is still attracted to him now. What’s more, it turns out that her feelings are reciprocated. However, Dilly makes a shock discovery that may prove an obstacle to any relationship developing with Max. It also turns out that there is a long-held secret waiting to be discovered.

This was an enjoyable book that I am happy to recommend. It was good to return to Puffin Island and meet up once more with some of the inhabitants who featured in the last book in the series. Dilly and Max were both likeable characters who seemed made for each other, but needed plenty of strength to overcome the hurdles being thrown in their direction. I loved Dilly’s idea of making the lighthouse into her home. I managed to guess the secret that was revealed later in the book, but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story. Once again, I was fascinated by Puffin Island; it sounds a really lovely place to visit and I look forward to learning more about it in the next book in this series.

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Book Review: It's Getting Hot in Here by Jane Costello

Lisa Darling - high-flying TV-exec and twice-divorced mother-of-two - has enough on her plate without having to deal with the handsome New Yorker parachuted in to her best friend's job at work.

She's already navigating life with a grotty teenage son, organising a PTA cheese & wine event, supporting her oldest friend through breast cancer treatment and, since she hit 47, facing a new perimenopause symptom every day. It's no wonder she never has time for Pilates or that DIY panelling she keeps seeing on Instagram (though she'd be the first to admit she'd rather share a bottle of wine with her friends any day).

So when Lisa starts feeling overheated every time she clashes with Zach Russo, she convinces herself it will pass. Maybe her HRT just needs adjusting. Until, that is, she finds herself in a sexy - and seriously ill-advised - clinch with him. And then another...

All of which leads to one question: these long-forgotten feelings couldn't be caused by something else entirely... could they?

Review: Jane Costello is back and is making me laugh the way I have known and loved for so many years now. I love that authors I read in my 20s and 30 when they were writing about women like me in their 20s and 30s are now updating the narrative and writing about women like me in their 40s and 50s! I am here for all of it!

I loved getting to know Lisa and her to do list. Even though I don’t have the kids and the ex-husband that she has to deal with, I still absolutely related to her and her never ending to do list, her stressful job and the fact that she is the only one to volunteer for the PTFA events, the note taking and the clearing out of the hamster she didn’t actually ever want! She is a feisty individual and is just trying to live her life and do right by her friends, she family and most-importantly her two sons!

Then along comes Zach, covering in the media world for her best friend and he reality throws a spanner into her works. This is where all of the best romance tropes are hit, this author was really going for the bingo card of situations she could put Zach and Lisa into. This made me laugh but also made me incredibly frustrated (in a good way) at times too because I just wanted everything to work out for Lisa. 

Although there are a lot of laughs in this book, there are also other parts that I am sure a lot of readers will relate to that are all parts of life when you’re in your 40s, lille having a friend who is dealing with cancer, having a lot of people let you down on a daily basis and having a son who is doing everything he can to assert his own identity by rebelling against you! I also loved the parts where she had last minute things for school come through and didn’t know how maths works in school today-very relatable!

If you are already a fan of Jane Costello, you will not be disappointed in this book and if this is the first time you have picked up a novel of hers, you are in for a treat! I loved every minute of this, I can really recommend the audio and I can’t wait for the next book that is out soon!

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Guest Review: Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of an heiress with more than a few plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling and sweeping new novel from Emily Henry.

When Margaret Ives, the famously reclusive heiress, invites eternal optimist Alice Scott to the balmy Little Crescent Island, Alice knows this is it: her big break. And even more rare: a chance to impress her family with a Serious Publication.

The catch? Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud, Hayden Anderson, is sure of the same thing.

The proposal? A one-month trial period to unearth the truth behind one of the most scandalous families of the 20th Century, after which she’ll choose who’ll tell her story.

The problem? Margaret is only giving each of them tantalising pieces. Pieces they can’t put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.

And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story – just like the tale Margaret’s spinning – could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad … depending on who’s telling it.

Review: This is just the second book I have read from Emily Henry. Having absolutely loved her last book, Funny Story, I was interested to see how this one compared. Like the last book, this one certainly has an eye-catching cover that depicts the characters and setting of the story within.

The story involves rich heiress and artist Margaret Ives, now in her eighties, who mysteriously disappeared from public life twenty years ago. She has contacted journalist Alice Scott with a view to writing her memoirs. Alice, keen to prove to her family that she is a serious writer, turns up at Margaret’s house in Little Crescent Island in Georgia, only to find that she is to compete with another writer for the job. To her dismay, Alice finds that not only is Hayden Anderson a writer, he is a Pulitzer Prize winning writer. Margaret sets the pair the task of learning about her history during the course of a month of meetings with her and then presenting her with their plans for a book. She also makes each of them sign a non-disclosure agreement so they can’t even compare notes. While learning about Margaret’s family’s rise to fame and scandalous past, Alice and Hayden, at first unhappy about the situation, gradually become closer and aware of a growing romantic attraction. They can’t discuss what Margaret is telling each of them individually, but are unprepared for what is eventually unearthed.

I thought that this was a very different kind of story from the last book I read from this author and not quite what I was expecting. Again, it is a romance, but the interactions between Alice and Hayden are almost lost amongst the details of Margaret’s family history from the early 1800s onwards, which took up most of the pages. Interesting though Margaret’s story is, and it does fit the title of the book, I don’t think the book itself can be called a romance, especially given the nature of the Ives family’s past. However, the writing is top notch and the Ives family story is well told; shocking in all the right places with a good twist near the end. There are also details of Alice’s and Hayden’s backgrounds which emerge as they get to know each other. Alice also turned out to be quite a detective, cracking open a big secret being hidden by Margaret. I think a reader just looking for a romance might be disappointed in this book, although I can recommend the Ives family saga for those seeking a dramatic story.

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Review: Table for One by Emma Gannon

 Willow has everything worked out.

*The steady partner

*The successful career

*The grown-up house

Until she doesn’t – and she’s cast adrift on the sea of heartbreak, grieving a future with no clear path.

With her life transformed beyond recognition, and her friends busy ‘moving forwards’, Willow has never felt more alone.

But she’s in good company.

And when inspiration arrives from an unlikely source, she rekindles the relationship she longs for – but has long neglected… The one with herself…

Willow has everything worked out.

Review: I really enjoyed this author’s previous work-Olive and so I was excited to read her latest. I was really attracted by the cover if I’m honest, It doesn’t give much away and, having read the book, I can say that it really doesn't give you any indication as to what is going to happen in this plot. 

Willow is an interesting character to spend this novel with. She is most definitely flawed and at the beginning of the book when she is working on being a bit of a stepford wife and turning down opportunities for herself in favour of supporting her partner, you kind of struggle to get on side with her. Similarly, when she finds herself alone again, the choice she make are most definitely flawed and so once again, she is a little bit difficult to like. But she is someone that every reader will be able to empathise with and the fact that she is flawed makes for a good connection. 

Moving forwards from the heartbreak that willow experiences, this book has a little bit of everything. It explores themes such as navigating friendships into adulthood when everyone is so busy and everyone is going in different directions; starting over again when it was the last thing you wanted to do; dealing with struggles within a family and everything that brings with it bit this book finds the humour and the human-side of all of those things. It really is a book about being an adult in England today. 

This book also dives into influencer culture a little and the darker side of the media now that it is so entwined with social media. Willow finds herself involved in that world never having asked to have been part of it and faces some ethical dilemmas because of it and I found that really interesting to read about. Willow brings an interesting perspective to the influencer world since she has previous worked in traditional media and so you get a glimpse of that world not only through your eyes as a reader but also through her eyes.There were moments in the book where I cried and moments where I laughed an I love that balance when I pick up a book. 

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Guest Review: Best Summer Ever by Heidi Swain

Summer is in full swing when Daisy drives back into Wynmouth in her almost-clapped-out car, having left both her most recent job and the man her parents thought she was going to marry. Coming home could be just what she needs to move her life on.  

At Wynbrook Manor, things are in disarray. Owner Algy isn’t getting any younger, and Daisy’s mum Janet, housekeeper at the manor, spends her days running around after him, while Daisy’s dad Robin, the gardener, has been let down by the person he had lined up to take care of the new cut-flower garden.

As Daisy tries to find her place at Wynbrook and in the village, she’s drawn to summer visitor Josh. But when he turns out to be not the person he appears to be, will the spark between them fizzle out? And with it, the chances of this turning into the best summer ever?

Review: I was delighted to receive an early copy of this, Heidi Swain’s 20th novel. I have been following her stories set in Norfolk from the start and was looking forward to catching up with some familiar characters as well as meeting some new faces in the coastal town of Wynmouth. I must say that this book has the most stunning cover, practically exuding summer (the daisies are a lovely touch).

The story this time centres on Daisy, who is returning to her childhood home having left behind yet another job as well as a cheating partner, much to her parents’ despair. Daisy’s parents work at Wynbrook Manor, where the owner, Algy, is uncharacteristically low in spirits. The new cut flower venture in the grounds is not doing as well as Algy had hoped, as there is nobody to manage it. While Daisy is trying to settle into the village and find a suitable job for the summer, she almost literally runs into Josh, an American who is visiting the area. They don’t hit it off right away, but gradually a friendship develops between them. However, it transpires that Josh has not been honest with her about why he has come to Wynmouth, and it looks as if their relationship may go no further and Daisy’s hopes for the best summer ever may be dashed.

This was quite simply an enchanting story in an equally adorable setting. It is full of summer warmth and so many flowers that you could practically smell them each time you turned a page. Daisy was a troubled soul to start with, trying to find the niche where she could express her talents. She tried so hard to please her parents at the same time. Who could fail to feel for her? Josh, on the other hand, was a confident and likeable character with an air of mystery about him. I felt sure that he and Daisy would be good as a couple given a chance. I really liked Algy and could understand the dilemma he found himself in regarding his home and its future. I can certainly recommend this lovely, summery story to other readers and would encourage those not familiar with Heidi Swain’s excellent books to give it a try.

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Books I Read in Q1 of 2025

Here's a list of everything I read in the first quarter of 2025. It doesn't look that impressive compared to previous years but I'm proud of it!

Book Review: Swept Away by Beth O'Leary

 Lexi is looking for no-strings-attached fun with a stranger. She deserves one night for herself, doesn't she?

Zeke is looking for love. But for one night with a woman like Lexi, he'll break his rules . . .

Sparks fly at the pub, one passionate kiss leads to another and they end up stumbling home to the marina together.

The next morning, hungover and shaken by an amazing night together, Lexi is more than ready for Zeke to leave. There's just one small problem . . . the houseboat they stayed on has been swept out to sea.

As their supplies start to run dangerously low, and the waves pick up, Zeke and Lexi soon realise there's much more on the line than their new relationship.

How long can they really survive on a drifting houseboat in the North Sea? Will search and rescue find them? And who will they be if they both make it back to dry land?

Review: If the premise of this book isn’t enough to lure you into reading the whole thing in one sitting, then as soon as you pick it up and start devouring it chapter by chapter, you will NOT be able to put this book down. 

I just don’t know how Beth O’leary does it, she writes book after book with compelling characters, multiple viewpoints and original plots that I wouldn’t even think of drawing up-they are truly addictive. This latest book had me hooked from the premise and it didn’t let me down when I started to read about Zeke and Lexi and their one night stand that never ends! I love that this author gives me a dual narrative everytime. It is so great getting to find out what each character thinks of the other and see different plot points from multiple points of view. I loved seeing Lexi through Zeke’s eyes in particular because they have very different perceptions of who Lexi is and what is so great about her. 

Getting to know these characters was very easy because, as a reader, you are also trapped on the house boat with them and so you are literally living on top of them the way they are living on top of each other-such a brilliant way to force empathy out of an audience. I loved how strong Lexi was and yet how unsure she was at the same time and yet I loved how strong Zeke was in his own way. It was great to have someone who was really quite self-assured with someone who on paper should be in a better place than he was but really only knew what she didn’t want, not what she DID want. 

Being trapped on a houseboat with these characters was great and it made for some fun and some awkward situations but being trapped on a houseboat with them out in open water was quite frankly terrifying. When you weren’t worrying that they were going to die of dehydration, you were worried that they were going to drown, get injured or even get swept away in a storm. If you're a reader who dislikes miscommunication as a plot point then be warned there is a fair dose of that in this novel but honestly you barely notice it whilst you’re willing these two characters to not only survive through the night but also to just get it on already! I loved this book, I couldn;t put it down and read it in 2 delicious sittings. It’s another hit for this author and one that is not to be missed this summer!

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