A review by cdjdhj
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

5.0

Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia from WWI damaged and alone. He takes a job as a lighthouse keeper on remote Janus, an island off the coast of Eastern Australia. When Tom meets and then marries Isabel, bringing her to Janus, he dares to believe that the two of them can be happy forever alone together there. Then fate intervenes and three pregnancies leave the couple still childless and Isabel in deep despair. When fate intervenes again and they find an infant girl alive in a small boat with a dead man, Isabel believes that God has given her a child after all. Tom reluctantly allows his wife to keep the child, who they name Lucy, knowing within his heart that the baby's mother is somewhere waiting for the return of her little girl. The years go by, the child grows, and both Tom and Isabel love and parent her tenderly, believing that just maybe this little family can exist together forever in the lighthouse centered world of Janus. Eventually however, the truth of the situation is brought to light, the deception is revealed and the child's real mother comes forward to claim her, devastating Tom, Isabel and Lucy and destroying their family.

This is a beautifully written and compelling novel of love, loss and loyalty. It confronts the issues of right and wrong and deception and truth with human characters who are complex and neither all good, nor all bad - very much like us all. Author M.L. Stedman paints each character in such a way that the reader empathizes with each one and wonders "what would I do in that situation."

This book is unforgettable. It is tender, yet riveting at it takes the reader to the unexpected yet satisfying ending where we learn true lessons about love, family, repentance, forgiveness and moving on. Highly recommended. Five Stars *****