The Coastguard’s House Darling Island

by Philip Eliot | Feb 23, 2026 | Womens Fiction | 0 comments

Perfect for fans of Pamela Kelley and Rachel Hanna. Escape to the beautiful British coast and fall in love with the small town of Darling Island. If you love meet-cute stories about friendship, small towns , and community, you’ll adore Darling Island – the cutest English place to escape to by the sea. ~~~ Lucie Peachtree is living her (nearly) best life as she prepares to pack up her house to move to the country with her ever-so-handsome, teenage heartthrob boyfriend turned partner, Rob. Rob, unfortunately, forgets to mention that while Lucie was selling their house, trying to get pregnant and doing all the things, he had secured himself another life, thank-you-very-much. A life complete with a twenty-four-year-old, very much pregnant work colleague and not including Lucie in any shape or form. Dropped into a world Lucie has never known, one night she sets out to a calling from the universe. With a glass of wine, a tub full of bubbly water and rather too many onion bhajis, she sees something on the internet that takes her fancy. Before she has time to think about it too much, she has bought a rather large, rather rundown house on a little island just off the coast. And so begins Lucie Peachtree’s initiation into all things Darling Island, a place she arrives in with more than a pang of regret. As she feels her way into Darling’s quaint ways, a very surprising love interest walks slap bang into her life and suddenly living on Darling looks oh-so-much more on the rosier side. With its gorgeous old blue and white cute British buildings, cosy small-town feel, floating bridges, trundling vintage trams and a plethora of wonderful characters, we are whisked along for the ride as we watch Lucie navigate her way to a new life on the coast in the old Coastguard’s House. Darling is a quiet seaside town on Darling Island known for its fine architecture and olde-worlde charm. Nestled on the beautiful hazy waters of Darling Estuary, Darling’s sandy beaches and bustling community is a well-kept secret just off the coast. You know you’ve arrived on Darling when you step off the Pride of Darling floating bridge and take a trip up the main street on the tram. ~~ ‘With all Polly’s trademark romantic storytelling , you’re going to adore this new love story . I read it in one sitting. I never wanted to leave. Talk about romantic comedy beach read ! Let me move there now.’ Heidi S. C ontemporary romance readers & authors reviews. ‘ Just as I was beginning to think Pretty Beach was the best and magical place to be along comes Darling Island Polly Babbington if I could give you 100 stars I would. Didn’t think anything could even come close to Pretty Beach but Darling Island has topped it.’ Agnes, Amazon Review. ????? ‘Fabulous characters & storylines . Couldn’t put the book down. Pure escapism . You will not be disappointed. Read all of Polly’s books. They are all amazing. Congratulations Polly you’re a genius.’ Sue H, Amazon Review ????? ‘Romcom, women’s fiction & small town tropes in one. As a Debbie Macomber fan, I adored it. So cute!’ Reader ????? ‘Love the books, want them to go on forever!’ KM55, Amazon Review ????? ‘I absolutely love this book, like all Polly’s books, this is a smasher! Lovely characters , wonderful location & a dreamy romance , along with contemporary problems & juggling life’s balls!’ Jenny M, Amazon Review ?????