The Lighthouse Daughters of Puffin Island
by Christie Barlow

Delilah Waters is determined to solely focus on her quest to purchase Puffin Island’s magical lighthouse, an essential part of her family’s history and the ideal setting for her future home and business. However, her plans take an unexpected turn when Max Harrington walks through her door.

This captivating tale weaves together a heartwarming romance, unexpected plot twists, and gripping drama, all intertwined with a compelling mystery. The vibrant community members add depth and charm to the story making the island come alive with warmth and camaraderie. From the moment I started reading, I was swept away—I simply couldn’t put it down. The storyline flowed seamlessly, drawing me into its rich tapestry of emotion and connection.

This is the second book in the Puffin Island series and can be read as a standalone. You can never go wrong with a Christie Barlow book. It is almost as if you are living with her characters.

Her stories are immersive and this was no different. I read this in one sitting. This was filled with twists, drama, secrets and romance.

It is a second chance story of local artist, Dilly and her college crush, Max. The book explores themes of community, friendship, family, love, art and grief.

I loved the descriptions of the island and the backstory of the lighthouse. I enjoyed the communal spirit and Dilly’s relationship with her friends.

If you love small town romance with a dash of family drama then you will love this.

I had read the first book in the series but that had been my first one from Christie Barlow - I really enjoyed the first book but felt that the author had settled into her writing style for this series and I felt it benefitted this book.
Although this is book number 2 it is not necessary to have read the first one although of course context for the characters is much better if one had.

Delilah - known as Dilly - was a successful artist in her own right - but due to an inheritance decided to buy Puffin Island Lighthouse where her mother had been born on the day her grandfather died.
Dilly had been at art college and had fallen for her tutor but he was out of bounds as he was married. He arrived on Puffin Island looking for Dilly and romance was kindled.

This was an easy read with characters that are developing - but there was plenty to keep one’s interest and want to wait for the next book in the series.

A lovely well written book - I received an ARC in return for my honest opinion

This is the second book in the series, I haven't read the first one yet although it's languishing in my TBR list, something that I will have to correct. Delilah narrowly avoided being scammed by a romance con artist after her mother's inheritance and is just concentrating on her art gallery. She has the opportunity to purchase the Lighthouse, which has played an integrity last of her family's history. Things are thrown into disarray when her former art teacher Max appears at the gallery, she had always had feelings for him but as he was her teacher and married had never acted upon these.
The author always manages to create idyllic settings with a strong sense of community and this series is no exception. There are disadvantages in that secrets are impossible to keep, but also advantages when support is desperately needed as Delilah discovers. A warm, cozy book with just a hint of suspense to read on a winter's night or in the sun by the pool. 4.5* rounded up to 5* and I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

I love Christie Barlow's novels and thoroughly enjoyed this cute and heartwarming novel.
Well done
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

It’s not been long since Dilly realised the relationship she was in wasn’t right as the person was trying to scam her got her inheritance and got out of it.

In the shop that her Mum left her, she has an artist shop and is herself now a successful artist and has some savings too.

When she hears that the lighthouse at Puffin Bay is to go up for auction, she decides that she has to buy it as a lot of her family history is tied to it.

Then Max turns up in the bay, he’s relationship ended and has been through a bad divorce. He’s working at the boat workshop.

When he meets Dilly, he remembers her from when he was her art teacher, and Dilly is wondering why he’s here and working for her Dad.

Dilly also realises that what she felt for him all those years ago is still there, and Max feels the same.

There are a few twists and turns along the way which will keep you hooked and turning the pages.

I highly recommend this book.

A story full of love, friendship, community and people holding up each other in difficult times. The setting of the story is stunning and the moods of the sea it's set up by surely reflects in the lives of the island residents.

This is the second in the Puffin Island series but can easily be read as a standalone book. This is something it has in common with the much loved Love Heart Lane series by the same author. Another common factor is the warm and supportive community that surrounds the main characters in this case, Dilly. Wonderful, warm and uplifting, I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading future instalments. Highly recommended.

It was terrific to return to Puffin Island and catch up with some of the delightful characters that I met in the first book. Delilah, or Dilly as she’s known, featured in the first book but she wasn’t the main focus. This time, she is centre stage as the story revolves around her mother’s birth and her grandfather’s untimely demise. Those opening passages certainly set the tone for dealing with a tragic loss.
Moving into the present day, Dilly is surprised to discover that her former college art tutor, Max Harrington, has moved to the island and has taken a job working on boat restoration with her father. We soon learn that Dilly had a crush on him but was respectful of his job and her position as a student. Now, there are no rules, and it is soon apparent that the attraction is mutual. Dilly is a lovely person, and I was definitely hoping that she would find romance with her former tutor. He certainly sounded gorgeous from the descriptions. Dilly, however, is apprehensive as she’s just escaped from a toxic relationship that almost cost her the inheritance from her mother’s passing.
At the heart of the story is Dilly’s connection to the Lighthouse on the Island. Now decommissioned, it’s up for sale and she has a vision that sees her converting the ground floor into a gallery and then using her existing gallery space for workshops. The life drawing class brings a welcome dose of hilarity and a reason to smile. Her vision for the future is certainly an enviable one.
This novel is written with all the warmth and kindness that have become synonymous with Christie Barlow’s books. There’s something included for every reader, and the conundrum of whether Max is exactly who he seems to be is a theme throughout the story and adds a layer of suspense.
I loved reading this book, and I love the series. I can heartily recommend it.

🌊🚩A bit of drama, but all to the good😊

A great, romantic and feel-good continuation to a lovely romance series with a bit of small-town mystery about it. Dilly the renowned artist of all things puffin and Puffin Island gets a chance to take back the positive momentum in her life after romantic disappointment with a deceiving scam artist and, boy, does she go for it! In her the author has created a really positive, energetic spirit with artistry and a head for business who has such a clearly defined vision for her future.

The man of the hour, Max, is a fellow artist with some hardship in a former relationship that puts him on a new life course working at Dilly's dad's boathouse. It's not a complete coincidence he ended up in Dilly's hometown. Both he and Dilly have secrets that need to come out. The romance is closed door (fine from my perspective) and has enough hiccups to create a nice degree of drama.

Dilly's family and their tie to the Puffin Island Lighthouse offers a degree of tragedy and mystery that I thought added to the story (though it wasn't hard to guess the basics from the hints the author sprinkled in). And Betty, the unofficial island keeper of history and secrets, acts a bit mysterious and throws a cropper that astonishes just about everybody.

Good characters, good plot, good read.

Thanks to HarperCollins/One More Chapter and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Review published on 2/21/25 on Waterstones, Goodreads, Bookbub, and submitted to Barnes & Noble. To be submitted to kobo and Google Play upon book release.

This is an absolutely beautiful and heartwarming story that is like a warm hug. Dilly Waters is an artist living on Puffin Island and has a very strong family connection to the lighthouse. When it comes up for sale she is determined to do all she can to be the new owner. What she doesn’t count on is her old art teacher Max Harrington turning up. She has always had a crush on Max but now any relationship wouldn’t be frowned upon and it turns out that the attraction is mutual! With wonderful characters, a lovely sense of community and a storyline that pulls you in I highly recommend reading this. Christie Barlow never disappoints! Thank you so much to One More Chapter and Netgalley for the ARC

I couldn't wait to read the next installment on Puffin Island and I wasn't disappointed. As always Christie Barlow brings her characters alive and you fall in love with them. This time the story centres on Delilah, after being conned by the man she thought was her future, Delilah throws herself into her Painting and her beloved but small Art Gallery. Delilah can't believe her luck when the Puffin Island lighthouse is put up for sale, it's always been her dream to own it and live there, it's in her family history, she is determined to win the auction. There's a lot of interest and when her old Art teacher shows up, does he have a vested interest? In her student days her crush on her Art teacher could go nowhere, but now, the attraction seems mutual, can she trust again?
A beautiful story of love, family and making dreams come true. You won't want to put it down.
I can't wait for the next visit to the Island.

Back again in Puffin Island, this time we’re hearing the story of Dilly and Max. When Dilly meets up with her old Art teacher Max they share a mutual connection.
The lighthouse where Dilly’s mother was born and her grandfather died comes up for sale and as an artist Dilly very much wants to buy it and open it as a gallery.
It a book full of love and friendship. I loved being back there it’s definitely a place I’d love to visit.
Can’t wait for the next one.
Thanks you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

The Lighthouse Daughters of Puffin Island by Christie Barlow is the perfect cozy read for anyone looking to escape to a charming, windswept island filled with romance, family drama, and a dash of mystery. I found myself completely immersed in the story, which follows Dilly's quest to buy the lighthouse and her evolving relationship with her former art teacher, Max Harrington.

What really stood out to me was the sense of community on Puffin Island. The interactions between Dilly, her best friends, her father, and the delightful Betty added so much warmth to the story. Max, with his kindness and compassion, is an especially relatable character, and the way he and Dilly work through their pasts together makes for a beautiful and heartfelt romance, free of unnecessary drama.

While there are a few familiar plot elements, the charm of the setting and the emotional depth of the characters kept me hooked. The book balances a gentle romance with themes of personal growth and healing, and while the ending may be predictable, it’s exactly what you want when you're in the mood for an uplifting, feel-good story.

Though it's the second in the series, The Lighthouse Daughters works as a standalone, and I really appreciated being able to jump into this book without needing to know the full backstory from the first. That being said, it has definitely left me wanting to read more, and I’m excited for the next story!

If you love small-town (or small-island) settings with heartwarming characters and a bit of mystery, this one is a must-read!

Delilah-Dilly- has retreated to Puffin Island after a romance scam. She's determined to buy the lighthouse where her mother was born. Seems easy enough but it's not especially once Max, once her tutor, turns up, I missed the first book but that wasn't a problem (although I would have liked to know more about the characters who were introduced in that one). This doesn't have many surprises but it's got nice atmospherics and the characters are relatable. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Loved this sweet story. All the characters were so lovely. Quite dramatic at times which added to the enjoyment. Set in a lonely lighthouse with plenty of atmosphere. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This was ok but very predictable in every way. Which makes for a slightly disappointing read. I loved the Love Heart Lane series but I think this one might be too twee for me. The timing made kind of odd sense too if we say Betty and Selby were in their 20s in 1950 then the ages just felt a bit off over time but I’m not sure since it was never mentioned how old Dilly and her friends are. I wouldn’t say it’s a bad read but I don’t think I will seek out more of this series.

I loved the premise of this book and the synopsis showed so much promise but I really struggled with the writing style.

This was a delight to read, a feel good story on a beautiful island. It’s starts off with tragedy, Dilly.s mother and grandmother died as a result of the sea, but when the lighthouse on Puffin Island is up for auction she knows she has to buy it. Her mother had been born there and she knew it had to be hers. Her old lecturer Max turns up on the island too so it might be a happily ever after. Dilly is a lovely easygoing character that I throughly enjoyed reading about, she knows what she wants and will do everything to get it. The location for this series is amazing, Christie manages to draw you in from page one. Plus it has a map, love books with them. Highly recommend this easy read. 5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

What a wonderful little community Puffin Island is, really enjoyed this book, nice storyline, easy to get to know characters, thoroughly enjoyed