Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
In 1876 Washington Territory, a lighthouse attendant who has isolated himself after personal tragedy rescues the lone survivor of a shipwreck. The pregnant woman who washes up on his shores unravels his determination to finish his life as a passenger in it, forcing him to deal with his demons both real and imagined.
This is a classic historical romance written well, with a slow build toward the flowery spicy scenes included during the back third of the book (the kind where the sexual moments involve shooting stars and images of glorious sunsets). Our main characters were sweet and tormented, our supporting characters charming if slightly flat, and our villain creepy enough to be happy when justice finally serves.
I had some struggles with the timeline established by the author for the heroine's misadventures--she apparently sailed from Ireland to New York, to then SF by way of around Cape Horn and then on to Washington in less than a year with time along the way to have dealt with not being able to find work/accommodations in NY due to racism, a stop in Buenos Aires, and to again experience the same issue in SF to drive her into the arms and bed of a man and end up washed ashore in Washington already 4 months pregnant. I mean...I guess it's possible but wow.
Overall though, the book was fine. It was sweet, a nice cozy read for the start of the year.
This is a classic historical romance written well, with a slow build toward the flowery spicy scenes included during the back third of the book (the kind where the sexual moments involve shooting stars and images of glorious sunsets). Our main characters were sweet and tormented, our supporting characters charming if slightly flat, and our villain creepy enough to be happy when justice finally serves.
I had some struggles with the timeline established by the author for the heroine's misadventures--she apparently sailed from Ireland to New York, to then SF by way of around Cape Horn and then on to Washington in less than a year with time along the way to have dealt with not being able to find work/accommodations in NY due to racism, a stop in Buenos Aires, and to again experience the same issue in SF to drive her into the arms and bed of a man and end up washed ashore in Washington already 4 months pregnant. I mean...I guess it's possible but wow.
Overall though, the book was fine. It was sweet, a nice cozy read for the start of the year.
fast-paced
This book looked interesting to me as it first passed through my hands over the circulation desk to a waiting library patron. I love lighthouses, and the story jumped out to me. I could definitely see parallels between this and the classic Beauty and the Beast fairytale, but this romance failed to reach the bar I had previously set for it.
I liked the protagonist, gruff and sullen widower Jesse Kane Morgan, keeper of the light. The sassy Irish lass, Mary Dare, who he rescued from the depths, seemed too fiery for him, and the speedy way they fell in love seemed a bit unlikely. Also, I did not appreciate the "Jesus on a flaming crutch" euphemism that both the characters Jesse and Mary used.
The scene, however, where Mary leaves for town and leaves her little baby, Davy, in the care of Jesse, who has never been a father, was very heart-touching. Jesse holds the screeching infant close, sings him silly ditties and sea chanties, talks about his lighthouse duties, and before he knows it, tiny Davy is asleep. I like this sentence: "Jesse shocked himself by wanting, just for a moment, to see the boy grow big enough to see the rainbows in the crystals." Paragraphs later, however, Jesse, usually so strong and guarded, is crying quietly to himself as he holds the baby to his chest. "Why can't you be mine?" he pleads. "Why the hell can't you be mine?"
I didn't much care for Jesse's sister, Annabelle - I thought she was pretty pathetic. At one point in the story she says "I didn't think about what it would mean to rip an infant from his mother's arms." Really??! To me that seems pretty heartless. But, I was very surprised indeed when Annabelle murdered her conniving husband, the cold and calculating Granger Clapp, a truly evil man.
Characters I liked included Magnus and Palina, an Icelandic couple who were Jesse's neighbors. Palina was wise and nurturing, and they both spoke of myths of the sea. To Palina, it was destiny that Jesse should keep and look after Mary, the treasure he pulled from the sea.
I loved, as the ending of the story of the lightkeeper unfolded, watching this dark angel named Jesse become a loving, protective parent to another man's child. He finds love again in the form of the free-spirited Mary, who he makes his bride.
I really liked the epilogue - I thought it was very well written. The happy ending for Jesse and Mary's blended family was full of joy, laughter, and promise.
I liked the protagonist, gruff and sullen widower Jesse Kane Morgan, keeper of the light. The sassy Irish lass, Mary Dare, who he rescued from the depths, seemed too fiery for him, and the speedy way they fell in love seemed a bit unlikely. Also, I did not appreciate the "Jesus on a flaming crutch" euphemism that both the characters Jesse and Mary used.
The scene, however, where Mary leaves for town and leaves her little baby, Davy, in the care of Jesse, who has never been a father, was very heart-touching. Jesse holds the screeching infant close, sings him silly ditties and sea chanties, talks about his lighthouse duties, and before he knows it, tiny Davy is asleep. I like this sentence: "Jesse shocked himself by wanting, just for a moment, to see the boy grow big enough to see the rainbows in the crystals." Paragraphs later, however, Jesse, usually so strong and guarded, is crying quietly to himself as he holds the baby to his chest. "Why can't you be mine?" he pleads. "Why the hell can't you be mine?"
I didn't much care for Jesse's sister, Annabelle - I thought she was pretty pathetic. At one point in the story she says "I didn't think about what it would mean to rip an infant from his mother's arms." Really??! To me that seems pretty heartless. But, I was very surprised indeed when Annabelle murdered her conniving husband, the cold and calculating Granger Clapp, a truly evil man.
Characters I liked included Magnus and Palina, an Icelandic couple who were Jesse's neighbors. Palina was wise and nurturing, and they both spoke of myths of the sea. To Palina, it was destiny that Jesse should keep and look after Mary, the treasure he pulled from the sea.
I loved, as the ending of the story of the lightkeeper unfolded, watching this dark angel named Jesse become a loving, protective parent to another man's child. He finds love again in the form of the free-spirited Mary, who he makes his bride.
I really liked the epilogue - I thought it was very well written. The happy ending for Jesse and Mary's blended family was full of joy, laughter, and promise.