The Lighthouse at the Cove is a beautiful and wholesome love story set in a small town overlooking the ocean. The book has the right level and amount of angst sprinkled throughout to where you can relax while reading it with a cup of coffee/tea and still enjoy a page turner. Kaiah and Reid have undeniable chemistry from start to finish. Reid's little girl, Piper, and his family are so sweet and caring to Kaiah. The town's festival was so detailed that I felt I was there assisting and enjoying the festivities. One of the greatest part of the book is Kaiah explaining, with a trinket to Reid, what the lighthouse means to her. Reid and Kaiah change and grow while finding what they were looking for.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Inc. for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up

Well, it was awfully Hallmarky and had a noticeable case of instalove, but they were just so cute together that I kept flipping pages anyway. His “hotness” got on my nerves a few times, as she seemed more focused on talking to her sister about his appearance than his character; but once again I forgave that because I was too invested in the story. I also enjoyed Piper (too cute!) and the subplot with George.

If you’re in the mood for a cute, relaxing, low-spice romance, give this one a try!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

small-town romance
single dad
found family
slow-burn
community coming together
closed door romance

This book completely swept me away! From the very first page, The Lighthouse at the Cove shines with charm, warmth, and the kind of small-town romance that makes you want to pack up and move to Coral Cove. Kaiah and Reid’s story is tender, hopeful, and beautifully layered with family, faith, and community. I adored Reid as a protective single dad and firefighter, and Kaiah’s journey of rediscovering her heart had me rooting for her the whole way. Their romance is equal parts sweet and soul-stirring, and the seaside lighthouse setting just adds the perfect touch of magic.

Content Warnings:
-past heartbreak
-brief mentions of grief/loss
-kisses only
-no language

*Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction, NetGalley, and the author for a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

3.75 ✨⭐

The book was fun, lighthearted, and entertaining to read. Full of romance along with dilemmas between duty and what the heart yearns for. What I enjoyed most was the setting in which the events unfolded. I loved the small town of Coral Cove and the premise of the book. It will be a relaxing Christmas read.

Unfortunately, I feel the weak point of the writing was the lack of development. The events happened too quickly. There were very interesting backstories from the protagonists, but they weren't fully explored. Also, I'm not a big fan of insta-romance, but I'm glad there was some internal dialogue about what to do about it.

Aside from what could have been better, I think this book would make a great movie. The descriptions, characters, and setting are well-suited to a screen adaptation. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity to read "The Lighthouse at the Cove"!

The Lighthouse and the Cove is a clean romance, set on the east coast. A gem to be found.

Kaiah is a travel journalist who is on the way to South Carolina. She's hoping the trip will put miles away from a painful break up. But when her car breaks down in small town Coral Cove she finds she is stuck there while awaiting parts for her car. She becomes enchanted with the small town and the history of the lighthouse fascinates her, so she decides to stay and write her articles about Coral Cove. She meets widower Reid, who offers his garage apartment for her to stay. In the process she becomes involved with the Lighthouse festival, raising funds to rebuild a portion of the elementary school that was destroyed by a fire. Reid is drawn to Kaiah, as is his adorable six year old daughter Piper.

This is a fun, healing, finding love again story that captures your heart about coming together as a community in a beautiful journey. Amy Clipston delivers a heartfelt, well developed story.

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Amy Clipston delivers a heartfelt, small-town story that feels like a warm embrace in *The Lighthouse at the Cove*. This book is filled with themes of second chances, family, and the healing power of community, all woven together in her signature uplifting style.

The setting itself is enchanting—quiet coastal charm, a lighthouse steeped in history, and a town full of characters who feel instantly familiar. The emotional pull of the story comes through the relationships: navigating love, faith, and the hard lessons of forgiveness. The pacing is steady and keeps you turning the pages, while the romance blooms gently and authentically.

What I loved most was how Clipston captures resilience and hope in the face of heartache. It’s one of those reads that leaves you smiling, while also tugging on your emotions in just the right way.

If you’re a fan of clean, inspirational romance with a strong sense of place and community, this one belongs on your TBR.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

-

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

First of all, I liked the characters. I especially loved Piper. Some things were kind of meh in my opinion that’s why I rate it a 3.5.

Some of the scenes felt repetitive and kind of overwhelming at some part especially when Reid and Kaiah (sometimes with Becca) would suggest festival activities/events. I know the festival plays a huge role in the story but I kinda felt like it was overused.

Other than that, I would recommend this book to readers who are finding a chill, lighthearted, and no spice book (just some kissing here and there).

Thank you, NetGallery, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this as an ARC Read.

First-time reader of Amy Clipston, but something about this cover caught my attention. I'm so glad it did because I was hooked on the first page.

What starts with Kaiah, who is a freelance writer, is driving to her next job in South Carolin.. but her car has other ideas and overheats, which leads her off the highway to a place called Coral Cove.

The lighthouse is the first thing Kaiah sees. Straight away, it reminds her of her mother and her childhood she shared with her before her mum passed away.

Fast forward a little bit. Kaiah is in a coffee shop where she notices a tall, dark, handsome guy who will be referred to as Mr.TDH from Kaiah and her sister throughout this story.

After finding out her car part is coming from untied state's her whole plans have changed, she ends up staying in the apartment Mr. TDH near his house.

While Kaiah is waiting for her car parts to arrive she takes the opportunity to help the small town out with their yearly festival to help re build part of the school the burnt down and help bring the lighthouse back to life. Kaiah does this with freelance links and advertising platforms outside the small town, alongside coming up with some fantastic ideas to do with the festival.

Fast forward, and you will be on a beautiful journey with Kaiah and Reid ( Mr.TDH) and his draughter Piper as their relationship grows. Everyone in Coral Cove loves Kaiah.

Kaiah Ross is a reporter who goes on a road trip down the east coast to write an article, her car strands her in Coral cove. she agrees to help with the town festival. will she stay?

This is a sweet read of how a small costal town pulls together to support its community needs.
A lighthouse literally lights the way for not only the community, but also an outsider who is looking for home.
The characters are well developed. I especially liked Pipper!
A mix of romance enhances the wonderful story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

The story feels lighthearted with just enough of emotions to make the book a delight to read.

The characters each have their own mission in life, but when things don’t go to plan, the mission goes to another one that helps themselves, but also the pretty town that is mentioned.

Adding in character details of their looks and the town itself makes you feel like your part of the book.

**Thank you to Thomas Nelson publishing for giving me an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!**

I really enjoyed this book! It got me out of a reading slump, which was awesome. The characters were super cute and fun, and the plot was great! It was pretty predictable, but I didn’t have any issues with that.

I enjoyed the pacing and writing style mostly, except there were a few adjectives that I think were overused. If I hear “sun-kissed” one more time...

My one complaint is that it felt a little unrealistic. People seemed to have no money issues whatsoever, and all the problems that should have required likely hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of dollars were solved with no issues.

Other than that, though, I had a really good time reading this book!

I loved this sweet, clean romance from Amy Clipston.
(I especially love reading stories based in North Carolina!)

Kaiah is a travel writer who finds herself stranded in a small beach town called Coral Cove. She seems to get rescued over and over again by her knight in shining armor, Reid.

This was a feel good book that brought me to tears a couple of times and made me smile a hundred more.

The Lighthouse at the Cove
by Amy Clipston
Pub Date: Dec. 2, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The Lighthouse at the Cove is a tender, romantic escape to a coastal town where hearts heal, hope shines, and love finds a way--right when you least expect it.
This book is a hearthwarmong Hallmark-style novel perfect for fans of RaeAnne Thayne and Sherryl Woods where a single dad teams up with a journalist to save the town's historic landmark lighthouse.
The book is set in Coral Cove and is a stand alone so you don't need to read the first book before diving into this one. None of the characters carry over.

I got this from NetGalley for an honest review and I honestly loved it. This is a first read by this author for me and I will absolutely be reading more. I couldn’t put it down. I loved the fact that you got the hallmark vibe of love and happiness without the smut factor. (I like smut-but sometimes it’s nice for just a good ol romance without it). I love how she figured herself and her heart out and how he came back from the dark. I feel like you just knew these characters as you would a friend by the end of the book. I loved it. Would definitely recommend. Also. Ew Hayes and his stealing.

Thanks to the Author and NetGalley for the free arc.

Ami Clipston's "The Lighthouse at the Cove" is a captivating and atmospheric novel that draws readers into a world of coastal beauty, hidden secrets, and the enduring power of hope. This book is a wonderful choice for those who enjoy stories rich in setting and emotional depth.

The narrative often centers around a character seeking solace or a new start in a picturesque, perhaps isolated, coastal community, with the lighthouse serving as a poignant symbol. Clipston excels at creating a vivid sense of place, making the reader feel the sea spray and hear the gulls. Her characters are typically well-drawn and relatable, grappling with past challenges and navigating new relationships. The prose is evocative, painting beautiful scenes while maintaining a compelling pace.

Themes of healing, resilience, the strength of community, and the uncovering of long-held mysteries are central to the story's charm. "The Lighthouse at the Cove" is a perfect read for anyone looking for a heartfelt and engaging tale that combines a strong sense of place with a journey of personal discovery. It's a truly absorbing book that leaves a lasting impression.

A sweet small-town romance set in Coral Cove, this book follows Kaiah, a travel journalist who meets Reid, a widowed single dad, after unexpected car trouble strands her in his coastal town. The story is gentle and heartwarming, with themes of love, healing, and finding home in unexpected places. While the pacing felt a bit slow for me, fans of clean, cozy romances (especially Gilmore Girls lovers) may really enjoy this comforting read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, and to Amy Clipston for sharing this story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Kaiah's car breaks down in Coral Cove on her way to an assignment a writer for an online travel site. It's going to take weeks to get it fixed. She meets Reid who offers her his apartment. Shen then gets involved in the festival to raise money for the school and lighthouse

I’ve loved Amy Clipston’s books ever since she came out with With this Ring and just about all over her clean romance . She finds the perforce settings for her characters for the meet cutes and it’s just like they met in the movies . I highly recommend this book
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this copy

This was delightful. I was hooked from page one. The plot was well-paced and captivating from start to finish. The characters were lovely with growth and development. This is definitely one I'll read again! Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.