Book Review: Summer at Rose Island by Holly Martin

Fall in love with the gorgeous seaside town of White Cliff Bay this summer and enjoy long sunny days, beautiful beaches and… a little romance. 

Darcy Davenport is ready for a fresh start. Determined to leave a string of disastrous jobs and relationships behind her, she can’t wait to explore White Cliff Bay and meet the locals. 

When Darcy swims in the crystal clear waters of the bay, she discovers the charming Rose Island Lighthouse. But it’s not just the beautiful building that she finds so intriguing… 

Riley Eddison doesn’t want change. Desperate to escape the memories of his past, he lives a life of solitude in the lighthouse. Yet he can’t help but notice the gorgeous woman who swims out to his island one day. 

Darcy is drawn to the mysterious and sexy Riley, but when it seems the town is trying to demolish his home, she soon finds herself having to pick sides. 

She’s fallen in love with White Cliff Bay. But is that all Darcy’s fallen for? 

Pull up a deck chair, sink back with a bowl of strawberry ice cream and pick up the summer read you won’t be able to put down.

It was refreshing to meet Darcy Davenport, an intelligent woman with a background in Marine Biology that the author has obviously spent time researching. Darcy's arrival in White Cliff Bay starts off ripples which gradually turn into waves crashing into village life.

I love her. She's feisty, strong-willed and determined to fit into village life, even if everyone seems to know what's going on in her life before she does. But she is also vulnerable; dismissed as a failure by contemptuous parents who have eroded her belief in her abilities to succeed in a career.

Brooding cowboy Riley is lusted over by most of the female population (including me), but he keeps himself to himself. Then along comes a 'mermaid' who turns his world upside down.

Riley's home, the lighthouse, is at the heart of the story, with the battle to save this much-loved landmark bringing the community together. This is the third book in the White Cliff Bay series, but the fact that I haven't read the previous two did not matter as it works as a standalone novel. Although I will be going back to read the previous two as I'd like to find out more about the lovely characters we encounter in this one - and it's the closest I'm going to get to living in such a spirited village.

The book had me giggling at certain points, and it is a lovely feel-good read. Perfect summer reading.

You can buy Summer at Rose Island on Amazon here (other retailers are available!).