Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Puffin Bay #1

Puffin Bay

Rate this book
Heartbreak led me to Puffin Bay, searching for peace in a small, coastal town. Four years later, my bar is thriving and my next business is just what the town needs.

It doesn’t need Roman Tominey. Arrogant, city-boy, suit-wearing grump - he knows how to push every one of my buttons, and after an evening of bad decisions, he knows how to push that one too.

When Roman’s newly found teenage son joins him, Roman’s summer stay is extended. We spend the days arguing over a building project the local council insist we do together, and the evenings with him sneaking into my room.

Then Roman’s ideas for Puffin Bay’s development cause all out war between us.

Those sparks between us? They become weapons.

Only Roman doesn’t fire his. It seems he wants something more than another zero on the end of his bank balance and he might just discard his suit - and its buttons - to keep on pressing mine.

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 27, 2023

466 people are currently reading
1014 people want to read

About the author

Annie Dyer

64 books1,145 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
419 (38%)
4 stars
381 (34%)
3 stars
231 (21%)
2 stars
48 (4%)
1 star
17 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
Profile Image for Jacqueline.
1,717 reviews156 followers
May 13, 2023
2.5

I enjoyed some parts of this but there were so many characters and friends and relatives of characters appearing then disappearing again in this I lost track of what was going on a bit.

And while I loved the whole community vibe going on, I was astonished at the way that community welcomed newcomers. No village I’ve ever known has been that friendly to newbies so I struggled to believe that.

I loved the start when they were sneaking around hate fucking each other but it turned quite saccharine later.

First in a new series from this author l I wasn’t feeling this one and much preferred others she’s written where the characters are edgier and just not as wholesome and chummy.

Available on ku.
Profile Image for Debbie.
482 reviews
April 26, 2023
A lovely read about a small community who pulls together at all costs, whatever the situation.

Amelie is a single woman in her late thirties, although fiercely independent she also has trust issues and avoids long term relationships to save herself from heartbreak - again!

Roman is a suited and booted businessman, he knows what he wants and will go for it regardless of the costs, until he meets Amelie and the folks of Puffin Bay!

This enemies to lovers story is sweet, funny and definitely worth a read. I laughed out loud at some parts and at others could have cried! Neither of them have had it easy, but when you are willing to open your heart then you might be surprised at what happens!
Profile Image for Michelle.
310 reviews
April 20, 2023
Finally we get Amelie’s story!!! I’ve been waiting a looooong time for this, and it was worth it! She is fun, witty and kind-hearted. She relocated to the coast, away from London and the busyness of the big city to this small, quiet town. He’s a businessman who comes to buy and turn over abandoned buildings. They hate each other initially, but it becomes an attraction difficult to hide. He has an interesting upbringing and personal history.

The whole town loves her and the characters are just so much fun! I love how characters from other books are mentioned here and somehow are all connected! I really enjoyed reading this book and I’m excited for Fleur’s story next!
Profile Image for Genesis Murphy.
225 reviews1 follower
April 22, 2023
Annie , Annie Annie !!! Okay so this was the perfect small town / single dad / enemies to lovers I read in a long time ! I finish in a day , like I was obsessed and even make myself a bath 🛁 to finish the last part of the book in luxury 💕✨🤤

Okay so I need to catch with her other books in this universe because I love it so much ! The green family support my entrainment last year and now we get to meet another extension of this universe with Emelie ✨💕 I love Roman so much , the way Annie make me fall in love with all his male characters 🤤🤤 I mean Shay was my top one but Roman just make me want to have his babies !!!

I love Caleb and I actually wouldn’t mind read a book about him ( just living this here @) to be honest I don’t how many pages this book got but by the end I was like it that all ? I wanted more and yes my Lady Annie was good enough to provide us with an extra epilogue that I read twice … you can sue me !

I can’t wait for book 2 coming out next month , when I saw the cover yesterday I literally scream ( see next slide ) fleur was my favourite character and I can’t wait for to finally get her happiness 💕💕 and is a Surprise pregnancy!!!!! I love suprime pregnancy so yes ! I can’t wait for next on this series that is slowly becoming my fav 💕💕💕

Thank you Annie for the Arc , it was a honour to read this as it was one of my most anticipated read of the year ( you alway are ) this was just the perfect Sunday gift 💕🌊
Profile Image for Yamina -Women Who Stare at Books.
832 reviews72 followers
May 14, 2023
“What I’m hearing is that you want me to be your bad decision.”

I enjoy reading this small town romance. This is my first book by Annie Dyer and I love the dialogues between Annie and Roman and how they love to hate each other.

Roman is the know it all character, full of arrogance and SEXY…VERY SEXY!!

Can’t wait to read the new book in the series.
Profile Image for Payton Box.
1,482 reviews22 followers
April 25, 2023
Since this is also the week I’ve finished my 3000th book, I want to just say that Annie Dyer is one of the authors who I remember finding early into my transition to romance, and that I still love her books just as much as I did back when I first found her. Puffin Bay is everything I love about Annie Dyer’s writing, and while I have my top two couples and books set and chosen, each book is as good as any other.

Roman and Amelie are one of my favorites because we’ve been seeing Amelie for so long now and her book was perfect for her story. I loved their banter and the back and forth as they figured out their feelings and what they wanted. I love the town of Puffin Bay, it is described so beautifully that I can easily picture it. I loved the small town shenanigans in this book and how it still had that big city guy/small town girl feel to the plot line. I could rave forever about this book, and I can’t wait to continue the series!
Profile Image for Camryn Bushong.
106 reviews7 followers
April 29, 2024
This book was painfully boring and had so much going on. Sooo many characters to keep track of but some parts were like alright? Kind of cringy and unnecessarily sexual but meh. A 2 is probably generous but I wasn’t infuriated after reading it 😭
Profile Image for Booklover Judy Lynn.
1,647 reviews30 followers
April 25, 2023
Book one in a new series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV. This book also sets up the next books in the series perfectly. I think it is going to be completely bingeable.
I met Amelie in the Callaghan Green series and have loved her ever since. I am thrilled that she finally got her HEA with Roman in this book. She has always been a strong, kind, and feisty character. She has always fought for what she wanted, and I am so happy that she has found a fresh start in the small coastal town of Puffin Bay. She is unapologetically herself. She is fully confident and certain of her worth. She is absolutely one of my favorite heroines.
In the beginning, I wasn’t sure I would like Roman. He is a little abrupt and bold. It didn’t take long for me to learn that he is much more than he seems. His hidden vulnerabilities are perfectly revealed over the course of the book. I love his emotions relating to fatherhood. I adored his relationship with his very interesting grandfather. His fast fall for Amelie was really special to read.
As a couple, they share witty banter, intense sparks, and hot times once they agree to try to get each other out of their system. I loved the relationship Amelie formed with Roman’s son. Caleb is a fun character and I look forward to reading more about him. The setting: off the coast of Anglesey is perfectly described, idyllic, and volatile. It reminded me of coastal Alaska while reading and made me a little homesick. Funny moments, small town shenanigans, solid characters, and just the right amount of sm-exy steam made this a read that was tough to put down. I wanted to stay in Puffin Bay, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series.
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving an advance reader copy of the book.
Profile Image for Eileen.
2,696 reviews
April 27, 2023
Puffin Bay by Annie Dyer, book one in her Puffin Bay series, written in first person from an alternating dual POV, features a small community who pulls together at all costs, whatever the situation. This is an enemies to friends, friends to friends with benefits, a hidden “baby”/now teen – single dad, story that reminds one of how fine that line between hate and love truly is.

Amelie is a single woman in her late thirties, although fiercely independent, with trust issues, and avoids long term relationships to save herself from heartbreak; again. She relocated to the coast, away from London and the business of the big city to this small, quiet town. Roman is a suited and booted businessman, who knows what he wants and will go for it regardless of the costs; until he meets Amelie and the folks of Puffin Bay. He came to Puffin Bay to buy and turn over abandoned buildings. Add in Roman’s hysterical, curmudgeon grandfather (grandpop) and their relationship and you begin to finally see some of his vulnerabilities. Then there’s also Roman’s reactions to being a father to Caleb; a well adjusted teen, adapting to the changes in his life. There’s also relationship Caleb builds with Amelia and his Grandpop. I love how although Roman is wealthy, Caleb isn’t coddled and instead encouraged to work at Amelie’s pub and B&B.

Set off the coast of Anglesey, filled with funny moments, small town shenanigans, this enemies to lovers story grabbed me, made it difficult to put down, and stayed with me after the pages were done, is a sweet, funny, sizzling and definitely worthy a read. I laughed out loud at some parts and at others could have cried. Neither have had it easy, but when you are willing to open your heart then you might be surprised at what happens. Puffin Bay is a captivating tale, which I highly recommend to other readers. I am definitely looking forward to future visits to Puffin Bay and the next book in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Profile Image for kreadsoften.
1,473 reviews82 followers
April 27, 2023
This was my firs tbook by Annie Dyer, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I can safely say that I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more! This was a small town, enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine romance, and those are some of my favorite tropes.

Amelie and Roman, from the start there was tension between them. Amelie was newish to the town of Puffin Bay, but she was already at the heart of the community. Roman was the buisnessman in town who had just purchased an old building to develop something new.

Amelie had left her hometown because of an awful situation, but she settled in well in Puffin Bay. She was fiercely loyal to the town and I loved how she didn't let anything knock her down. She was strong and very practical.

Roman also had some surprises dumped on him a couple of years ago, but he took it in stride and didn't let it truly upset him. Despite being somewhat of a pariah, he still helped out in the town. I liked when he called Amelie out when she was lying about her feelings for him. Also, he was truly just a sweet guy with how he cared for others.

The banter between Amelie and Roman was great. They knew how to push each other's buttons but also how to joke around with each other. I also loved Grandpops (Roman's grandpa). Oh, and Roman's son was a sweet kid and completely adapted to the small town mindset with the way he gossiped. Honestly, every character in this book was great, so I can't wait to see what's next.
Profile Image for Laurie.
1,555 reviews34 followers
May 21, 2023
Four years ago, Amelie decided to leave London and invest in a pub in the small coastal town of Puffin Bay, on the Welsh island of Anglesey. Since then, she's become an integral part of the community, with plans on how to revitalize the town and create more year-round jobs that don't depend on tourism. Unfortunately, those plans may be in jeopardy after out-of-town investor Roman Tominey purchases several properties that Amelie's had her eye on. She's concerned that his ideas to develop them will only benefit his company's bottom line, not the community. When a storm rolls in one evening and Roman and Amelie are stuck together in her bar, the sparks that have been flying between them finally ignite, and they're forced to admit the attraction that underlies their animosity. But Roman never stays in one place long enough to have a relationship, and besides, he's already got too much on his plate with a cantankerous grandfather recovering from hip replacement surgery and a newly discovered teenage son who's coming to visit for the summer. Are he and Amelie destined for a summer fling, or has he finally found the place - and person - who can make him want to stay?

I really enjoyed the fun, quirky vibe of Puffin Bay and its characters, and there is plenty of potential for future stories set in this world. Since it was the first book of the series, a fair amount of time was devoted to establishing the setting and introducing secondary characters, and if I'm being honest, I was more interested in some of them than I was in Amelie and Roman. That's not to say that I didn't like them, because I did. I was amused by their witty banter and empathized with the struggles they faced in working through the baggage leftover from their childhoods. Overall, they really seemed to bring out the best in each other, and I love where they ended up.

I'd recommend "Puffin Bay" for all contemporary romance fans and look forward to the next book of the series.

*Review copy provided by the author via Wildfire Marketing Solutions. All opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Neeru Rana.
1,025 reviews6 followers
April 27, 2023
I had high hopes with this read and Annie delivered every single one of them. Yet again, Annie has casted her spell with her words and created a community which you cannot help but fall in love with.

I have been eagerly waiting for Amelie's book from a long time and it was worth the wait. I had a soft corner for Amelie and wanted her to find her HEA with a worthy partner. Roman is everything she needs and doesn't know.

I loved getting to know both Amelie and Roman. There families and past have molded them for who they are. There banter left a huge smile on my face and I loved every moment of them falling in love and becoming a family especially as I loved Caleb.

There chemistry was off the charts and I was swooning as they were there for each other. They both had to work towards there happiness. I could not help but fall in love with residents of Puffin Bay and after getting a glimpse of what's coming next I am counting days.

It's a perfect Small town, single dad, enemies to lovers to finish in a single sitting. By the end I felt content and the bonus epilogue brought yet another smile to me. Thanks to Annie and Wildlife Marketing for the advanced copy of this amazing read.
Profile Image for Zoe.
517 reviews10 followers
April 20, 2023
Puffin Bay
Annie Dyer
Welcome to Puffin Bay on the Welsh Island of Anglesey. “CROESO I GYMRU”
Amelie could be described as a fierce, feisty little pixie, or an accomplished business woman, depends what she thought of you. Fast becoming a local in her island paradise. Her nemesis Roman is more of a newbie than even Amelie. He is a developer, he bought the land Amelie had wanted and she didn’t like it one bit. He reminded her too much of London and her past, too many suits. But their magnetic attraction is combustible.
Enemies to lovers. Small town steamy romance. If you are a Ms Dyer fan you will love Amelie’s long awaited story and the beginning of a new series. You will also I’m sure appreciate glimpses of Max, the Callaghan’s, the Holland’s and just bask in Anglesey. Love, love, love this novel. Ms Dyer is a master crafter of characters and plot. A compelling story that I just got lost in and stayed with me after the pages were done.
I received an arc of this book.
5 stars
Profile Image for Sarah.
400 reviews13 followers
April 26, 2023
One of Annie Dyer's strengths is the variety of memorable characters she creates, and this new series starter is a perfect example of that, mixing a few known characters from previous series with a number of new and well-defined ones. It's lovely to see Amelie, a minor character in the Callaghan Green series, getting her own story, and her tale unfolds against an Anglesey backdrop which is so well realised that it makes you a) feel like you're there, and b) want to visit. Amelie is a strong, practical character who's overcome her share of adversity, and in Roman she meets her match - a combustible one at that. There's plenty to appreciate about the way the book develops: the fact that both main characters are late 30s/40s with the maturity of outlook you'd expect for that age, the lack of manufactured drama, the slight twist on the single dad trope, and the acres of potential for future stories. I'm certainly looking forward to future visits to Puffin Bay.

Thanks to the author for the advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Brandi-Lynn Weiser.
2,171 reviews77 followers
April 25, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! This was the first book I’ve read by Annie, so I didn’t know what to expect. But I love small town romances that have that sweet and fun feeling. And “Puffin Bay” has all that and more! The banter between Amelie and Roman was fun and interesting. And I absolutely loved Alfred, his humor was the best and had me laughing. There were a few times I was shaking my head at Amelie, I wished she communicated better with Roman. I felt she had such an issue with trust and relationships that it would’ve been nice to see her relax more- especially when Roman was trying ask her about her saying she loved him.
I definitely recommend this book, and can’t wait for Fleur’s story next!
Profile Image for CzekMart.
313 reviews21 followers
April 24, 2023
Puffin Bay is such a heartwarming story!
I fell in love with the community and how they work together, and gossip together, to have the best outcomes for everyone.
It was so great to see Amelie to get her HEA.
I loved the humor, GrandPops, and his amazing horticultural (and other) skills in particular, cracked me up.
There were so many beautiful and defining moments in this book that made me tear up, as well as laugh out loud with hilariousness, and lets not forget the steamy scenes!
Puffin Bay is a captivating tale, we get to visit with many of our good friends from Annie Dyer’s literary world and enjoy Amelie’s and Roman’s journey to HEA.
I definitely recommend this book to all romcom enthusiasts!
Profile Image for Cindra Lawson.
615 reviews4 followers
April 23, 2023
So happy that Amelie finally got her chance at a forever love. I really loved Amelie and Roman's journey to their HEA it was a steamy, funtastic, all the feels everything and more enemies to lovers story with a cast of characters that I'd love to revisit again and again. What a brilliant start to another wonderful series.
Profile Image for Robin.
1,337 reviews6 followers
April 18, 2023
Waiting all this time for Amelie's book was so worth it! We've seen her a lot throughout the Callaghan-Green series, and now we get her Love story with Roman. And even better the Love story that is Puffin Bay. Annie's writing is so well done, I could picture this place in my mind and to be honest, it sounds like an amazing place to live! The banter between Amelie and Roman is top notch enemies to lovers and to top it off with a grumpy/sunshine mix and this makes the perfect read. There's a lot that goes on in this book, but it's such a good read it goes way too fast and I can't wait for book 2 in the Puffin Bay series.
Profile Image for Christal.
203 reviews1 follower
April 27, 2023
I was so happy to see Amelie get her story, and finally get her man. As always, the author built so many fun characters into this story, as well as bringing back characters from her previous books. While this can be read as a standalone, there will be more to come.

I loved seeing how Amelie, while still relatively new to the area, has become a major asset to the community. When Roman arrives to scout the area for a new hotel, little did he know that the community would eventually embrace him as well.

5 stars from me!
737 reviews6 followers
January 25, 2025
Solid romance book, loved the community vibes and thoroughly enjoyed Roman.
Amelie was childish but had her moments. I also liked that the characters were in their late thirties, I've read too many 18-25 year romances and enjoyed the more mature themes with the business plot and blended families. Roman's subplot with his ex and son was interesting too.
Profile Image for Emily.
392 reviews25 followers
April 20, 2024
I really liked this! Perfect amount of small town life, enemies to lovers, spicy scenes that weren’t overdone, and a happily ever after!
Profile Image for Robin.
1,176 reviews14 followers
February 3, 2024
This was a change from my usual reading and I truly just loved it. Roman and Amelie were both a bit broken. They were each successful, but emotionally closed off to romance. It was a treat to watch them go from enemies to lovers and find that one lasting love.
Profile Image for Janice.
3,067 reviews
June 25, 2023
Amelie left London to start over in Puffin Bay, where she bought an old pub to renovate. It quickly became a cornerstone of the community. Then along comes Roman Tominey, a real estate developer.
Profile Image for Ana Isabel.
50 reviews2 followers
July 8, 2024
I thought this would be a cute read but unfortunately I did not enjoy it.
There's so many characters that at one point I had forgotten who they were and I was so bored while reading this, almost dnf but I wanted to know how it ended. The chapters are huge and I completely lost the motivation.
Profile Image for Kesia.
154 reviews
July 16, 2024
It had so much potential for being a great cozy book, but I found that it just fell into the footsteps of a billion other books with the same concept and plot.

Quick read that required zero engagement, lazy flight read for me.
Profile Image for noithinknot.
97 reviews4 followers
May 20, 2023
slow.

So slow it never took off. No climax. No conflict. No avast. Three single dad? Not really. Not a whole lot going on between to these two main characters either.
Profile Image for Jody.
2,090 reviews61 followers
April 28, 2023
A delightful small town romance drives this tale of opposites attracting in the bedroom while fighting each other in public. With a likable main couple, and a colorful community of characters just screaming for their stories to be told, this ends up being a sweet and entertaining series starter that kept me turning the pages with a smile on my face.

Amelie is the kind of heroine that you like from the very start. She was seen in a previous series of books by Ms. Dyer and quickly became someone readers wanted to see get a HEA. With her move to this small town she's made a successful start for herself, becoming a strong and confident businesswoman. She's a more mature heroine than you usually find in romance books, fiercely independent, and a bit set in her plans for herself and the town. She's thoroughly endeared herself to the denizens of the town though and I truly enjoyed her interactions with each and every one of them. She's unfortunately had her heart stomped on in the past which has her barricading her heart behind a very thick wall of distrust...a wall that Roman starts to wear down the moment he meets Amelie.

Roman Tominey is a big city developer who comes to this small town with a plan of his own after buying a piece of land Amelie wanted, a plan that immediately puts them at odds but also shows sexual sparks igniting between the two apparent opposites. Roman's a stoic and determined man, a man who looks a bit too polished for small town living, but he and Amelie just clicked. As the story progressed, as he and Amelie had more and more clandestine encounters, and as he interacted more with his grandfather and newfound son, readers discovered a softer and more vulnerable side that made him very appealing.

Amelie and Roman were an entertaining couple with witty and playful banter teeming with sexual tension. To the outside world they seemed like opposites but in the bedroom they crackled in their secret connection. This was a pleasant read on a whole with no manufactured drama, just a glimpse of small town living with a HEA made possible through the machinations of the likable and colorful townsfolk. Ms. Dyer beautifully and realistically depicted Puffin Bay, showed a sweetly serene and idyllic town and gave readers numerous appealing denizens that enriched this story and made me smile. Among the secondary characters, I found myself particularly drawn to Roman's grandfather and son. His grandfather was utterly charming with homespun humor and wisdom that warmed my heart while bringing out a soft and caring side to Roman that made his interactions with his son Caleb even more emotionally satisfying. Fleur too caught my attention...thanks to an unexpected twist towards the end that has me counting down the days until the next installment in the Puffin Bay series hits bookshelves!

4.25 STARS!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.