USA TODAY bestselling author Colleen Coble explores the mystery and the romance of the Revolutionary War. A young lighthouse keeper must navigate the dangerous waters of revolution and one man’s obsession with her to find safe harbor with the sea captain she loves. Hannah Thomas believes she’s escaped Galen Wright’s evil intentions by marrying an older lighthouse keeper. Seemingly safe in faraway … lighthouse keeper. Seemingly safe in faraway Massachusetts, her world is upended when John is killed in one of the first battles of the Revolutionary War. Hannah is allowed to continue the difficult task of tending the twin lighthouses in John’s place, though she faces daily disapproval from John’s family. She thinks her loneliness will subside when her younger sister arrives, but she finds Lydia’s obsession with Galen only escalates the dangerous tides swirling around her.
A stormy night brings a shipwrecked sea captain to Hannah’s door, and though he is a Tory, her heart is as traitorous as the dark-eyed captain. Even though she discovers Birch Meredith isn’t the enemy he seemed at first, Hannah isn’t sure their love will ever see the light of freedom.
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This was a great book. Of course when I read something by Colleen Coble I expect nothing less. She has a reputation of keeping me on my toes, and making it impossible to stop reading. Freedoms Light was one of those books. I usually try to spread a book over a couple days, but this book had me hooked. The characters were all so unique, and I enjoyed seeing their relationships change and grow. Thinking about how life was back then amazes me. I felt transported to another place and time and enjoyed every moment. Even when those moments ranged from sad and nerve wracking to joyful and expectant. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers and Netgalley. I was in no way forced to post a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
A different style for this author. Completely enjoyed this story.
What a great story
Some of the events in this story were not the most likely to happen. It was interesting to read about these things happening during the American Revolution and the daily lives of the colonists.
Set during the Revolutionary War, this is the tale of two sisters. One sister is in charge of two lighthouses due to the early death of her husband, and when the younger sister comes to join her, life really takes a turn for the two of them. No spoiler here–but every page holds another exciting adventure for one or both of them. Great book!
One of my favorite authors!! Suspense, and a little romance with twists and turns. She doesn’t disappoint. I love all her books!
I enjoyed reading this story. Sometimes our history is just laid by the wayside & we forget or don’t know about the characters that played important parts in our history. This was a nice story to read & go back in time with.
I felt so bad for the main character as she had a lot of bad stuff happen to her, but she just kept on going….which is commendable.
This was a great, faith-filled, revolutionary war era, historical fiction novel. This was my first time reading a book by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more of her books!
I thoroughly enjoy all of Coble’s books. I enjoy the lighthouse setting of this book a the well developed characters.
Freedom’s Light is a Historical Romance, unlike Colleen Coble’s usual Suspense novels, set during the time of the Revolutionary War. Hannah leaves home to marry John, a lighthouse keeper, only to have him die in one of the first battles of the war. She’s lonely taking care of the lighthouse in his place and not receiving support from her mother- and sister-in-law. So, she asks her younger sister, Lydia, to come stay with her. Lydia has other plans, to use the trip to contact Galen, the man Hannah was supposed to marry and she’s always been in-love with. This relationship causes several hardships throughout the book and both women heartache.
One of Hannah’s responsibilities as Lighthouse Keeper is to sound the alarm and attempt to rescue any survivors of shipwrecks. This is how she meets Birch. Their relationship, although a bit rushed, is very sweet and refreshing. This story is one of comparisons…love vs lust, sacrifice vs selfishness, true friendship vs using someone for your own gain.
I enjoyed this tale from Colleen Coble and am glad she held on to her manuscript all this time!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Loved it!
I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild, I was not required to give a favorable review. This was another wonderful story from Colleen, it’s nice that she can write such a wonderful historical romance novel that brings to the characters to life like you can feel what they are. A young woman is running the lighthouse and has to help a man that was fighting against the freedom of the US but he does learn to keep her safe and she feel safe with him. I loved it.
I’m wondering if I read the same book that others read according to some reviews. While we all have personal opinions and beliefs that reflect that, I cannot read this with legalistic beliefs and come away with anything. It has to be read with an open mind to the real world and how turning your back on God can lead down the road to a life of depravity. Having a woman like Hannah praying for her sister and others is the glue and substance of this book and leads to God making changes in some lives who listen to the Holy Spirit pricking at their hearts. I admire the strength Hannah shows living among the strict rules of the Puritans and how she understands the grace and mercy of God and tries to reflect that in her life during the difficult times of the Revolutionary War. I admit I’ve enjoyed other books by this author more, as I had trouble connecting with some of the characters, but all in all I found it enjoyable and came away with the fact that anyone can slide down that slippery slope that Lydia followed by listening to our wants instead of what a God wants for our lives.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction Guild. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
Freedom’s Light is set during the Revolutionary War. It tells the story of Hannah Thomas a young light house keeper near Plymouth, Massachusetts. When Hannah’s husband John goes off to fight for the colonial army it becomes her responsibility to tend the lights in the light house. Soon word comes her husband has died and the full responsibility of tending the lights falls on her permanently.
Lost in loneliness Hannah invites her sister Lydia to come and stay with her. Lydia is obsessed with an old childhood friend who courted her sister Galen Wright who is a Tory. What she doesn’t know is the cruelty and manipulation Galen is capable of. Hannah thought she had escaped Galen only to find her sister has invited him back into their life.
One of Hannah’s responsibilities is to rescue men when their ships come to close and break apart on the rocks. One night sea captain Birch Meredith is rescued by Hannah and their attraction grows into love.
The storyline of the book is well developed. It includes family secrets, betrayals and necessary secrets due to war time. Their are several plot lines that interweave well and tell a story of love, faith, patriotism, revenge and forgiveness. I just wish this historical novel included more history. Important pieces of history and people of history are mentioned but are not developed at all so I can’t honestly call this a historical novel.
Character development is well done. We get to know who all these characters are but I found them to be a cross purposes for no reason except stubbornness and lack of communication. Hannah tries to draw Birch back to God but instead of trying to lead him she tells him it’s up to him. I found this beyond frustrating because her guidance and perspective would have accomplished much. Instead he’s left to flounder and at times just dismiss her feelings.
This book was just okay. I didn’t find it compelling or exciting in any way. If you’re looking for a basic love story it’s an easy okay read. If you are looking for historical fiction with a deep message about love and faith you will not find it in this book.
I’ve always been fascinated with lighthouses, so this book was a window into a lighthouse keeper’s harsh life. Would have enjoyed more details and descriptions of the lighthouse keepers job. The Revolutionary war time frame gave the story lots of action as well as tragedy. An interesting study of good vs evil.
“Sometimes our lives look like the backside of that tapestry, all mixed up with no sense or pattern. But . . . . . God sees the other side and is molding us to fit the picture he has in mind. ”
Hannah Thomas’ life has been a tangle of sad circumstances. Married briefly to a man she honored and respected but didn’t love, she struggles to maintain a livelihood by continuing as a light keeper on the rocky coast of Massachusetts, during the perilous years of America’s revolution.
Hannah’s life is doubly upended when she pulls a badly injured Tory sea captain ashore, while at the same time offering a modicum of refuge to her younger, unpredictable sister Lydia. Coupled with strict oversight and harsh retribution for imagined offenses from community elders, Hannah’s hopes and dreams for the future become as sooty as the light she so meticulously cleans.
After regaining his health and returning to an appointment laced with subterfuge, Captain Birch Meredith’s conscience repeatedly finds a way to replay Hannah’s parting words, “Jesus must save you, I cannot”, daring them to penetrate a heart that he has gladly filled with hate, bitterness and a thirst for revenge. It’s a dangerous game that he plays.
A simple, ingenious story that sheds light on unique aspects of the Revolutionary War, demonstrating how spies and turn-coats infiltrated just about every aspect of our nation’s society in an effort to gain valuable information.
My copy of this book was provided by the publisher. The opinions stated are entirely my own.
Wow! I absolutely loved this story. I am a fan of Colleen Coble’s books but this one was especially good. The story takes place during the later part of the Revolutionary War in 1777. Hannah married a man much older than she was to escape the evil intentions of her suitor, Galen Wright. She was a supporter of the American Colonists and Galen fought on the side of the British Army. He was convinced that Hannah belonged to him so he arranged for the death of her husband determined that she would be his now.
Hannah was the light keeper for a lighthouse on the NorthEastern shore during the absence of her husband. During one night, when she extinguished the lights in the lighthouse to protect it from attack, a ship wrecked on the rocks and she went out to rescue those men on the lost ship. Birch Meredith was the captain of the lost ship and Hannah brought him to shore and tended to his wounds allowing him to stay in her home while he healed. While they got to know each other, they discovered a connection they both felt but the fact that Birch was not a God-fearing, God-believing person was something that Hannah could not abide. Birch sought revenge for his brother’s murder and until justice was served, he couldn’t relax.
There was romance, suspense, tragedy, injustice, war, intrigue . . . this book had it all. It was clean with no foul language or sex scenes, but was realistic about life. The book was well written and characters were fleshed out. I absolutely loved it and lost sleep because I wanted to finish it and couldn’t stop reading long enough to get a good night’s sleep. (c:
I was given an arc by NetGalley and I wholeheartedly and willingly offer my review.
This was an excellent book. Very different from most of her books yet unique in it’s on way. I enjoyed it so much.
Colleen Coble has written a truly wonderful book this one will keep you reading for many hours at a time Excellent.