Book Review: The Lighthouse by the Sea By Margaret Amatt

Published March 29, 2026 | By Laura

I’m very happy to be welcoming Margaret Amatt back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, The Lighthouse by the Sea.

His love might be the light she’s looking for

After a string of disasters, music teacher Lottie Ashford is out of options. So when her well-meaning mother suggests she restore an old family property – a crumbling lighthouse on the remote island of Barra – Lottie reluctantly agrees.

Local fitness fanatic Ruaridh Griffin has been unlucky in love. When Lottie turns up at his sister’s B&B asking for help to find a mystery lighthouse, he can’t help wanting to assist – and he’s instantly drawn to her. But getting involved with a visitor is one thing he’s sworn never to do again.

As Barra weaves its quiet magic, Lottie begins to feel at home for the first time in years. Worse still, she’s falling for someone she’s not sure feels the same. And despite Ruaridh’s best intentions, Lottie is getting under his skin, making his promise to himself harder than ever to keep.

If this is love, Ruaridh must face his fear of being burned again – and Lottie must decide whether her future lies on the island or somewhere else entirely.

♥ This is the second book in the Love on the Edge – Barra series, but it can be read as a standalone.
♥ Set on the Hebridean island of Barra in Scotland with fun, romance, drama, and a guaranteed happy ending, The Lighthouse by the Sea has a bit of steam and lots of heart.

*****

Running from a humiliation on social media, Lottie heads to the Scottish island of Barra. She’s in search of a building at the heart of an old family story. She wasn’t counting on meeting Ruaridh. He’s also battling heartbreak and uncertainty. Can they get over their past to find their future?

Having previously read some of Margaret Amatt’s novels, it took little to persuade me to join the blog tour for her latest book, The Lighthouse by the Sea which is book 2 in the Love on the Edge series. The first book, The Castle in the Bay, is one I’ve not read yet. That didn’t hinder my enjoyment of this one though. They can be read out of order. I am planning on reading Iona and Monty’s story at some point.

The author has such a talent for drawing me into her stories. I began to read, and before I knew it, I’d finished. Even when the characters were facing life-changing events, there was a warmth, charm, and humour to the writing style that was comforting. I knew everything was potentially going to work out okay, but I wasn’t sure how they were going to get there. I found the plot so believable and compelling, and by the end, everything felt as it should be. Well, almost. I hope that a particular character is the subject of the next book. I will not reveal who, as I am in danger of spoiling things.

The setting itself makes me want to pack up and move to Scotland. Having a Scottish grandfather, I have always felt a connection to the country, and the island of Barra sounds idyllic. Margaret Amatt does a really great job of describing the scene. I could see the landscape, hear the wind and rain. The community is one of togetherness.

Lottie. Oh, poor Lottie. I wanted to reach in and give her a big hug. She faces something that I hope never to experience, and that it will scares me daily. Considering the speed of social media posting and spreading, I believe I would also want to escape to a remote, beautiful Scottish island. Lottie’s story is a stark reminder that there are people at the heart of videos that are posted purely for ‘entertainment’. It made me so angry on her behalf, and it’s made me more aware of how I perceive content online.

Ruaridh is described as a man with a soft centre, and that’s so true. He and Lottie make a lovely team throughout. If only they would both get out of their own way. I could picture someone like Sam Heughan playing him.

The supporting cast was wonderful. I don’t think there was anyone I didn’t like, to be honest. Catriona is sometimes overly cautious, but with what her brother and business went through, I don’t blame her. Alex is a bit of a mystery. Iona and Monty make a few appearances. I’d love Margot and Nora to have their own spin-off novella.

The Lighthouse by the Sea is a beautifully written tale of love, friendship, new beginnings, and, most importantly, hope. It’s a reminder that you can’t change the past and, even if you could go back and do so, it’s that history that potentially brings you to the contented moments. You just have to embrace it.

Bring on book three.

(Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review).

About Margaret Amatt –

Margaret Amatt is a bestselling Scottish author, professional daydreamer, and certified chocolate addict. She’s been making up stories for as long as she can remember – some of them even made it onto paper (and, tragically, onto floppy disks that no computer can read anymore). After two decades of writing in secret, she finally unleashed her first novel on the world in 2021, kicking off a ten-book series set on the stunning Isle of Mull.

But why stop there? She’s also the creator of The Glenbriar Series, where romance, small-town drama, and a pinch of spice keep readers coming back for more. This series is still going strong, with more books planned!

Margaret has spent her whole life in Scotland’s breath-taking Highland Perthshire, despite her entire extended family coming from the Glasgow area. Her books are romantic and emotional, sweet and funny, and each one can be read as a standalone, but long-time readers know the joy of familiar faces popping up, adding to the chaos.

So, if you love relatable characters, sizzling chemistry, and plenty of banter, you’re in the right place – just don’t blame Margaret when you stay up way too late reading just one more chapter.

Say hello to Margaret via her website, Facebook, Instagram and Ko-FI.

The Lighthouse by the Sea is book 2 in the Love on the Edge -Barra series and was released in March 2026. Click to buy on Amazon UK and Amazon US.