Six long years ago, Captain Reynolds Macy sailed away from his bride, looking forward to the day when he would return to Nantucket Island with a ship’s hold full of whale oil. But when that momentous day finally arrives, Ren soon discovers that everything has changed in his absence. Everything. “Is nothing on this island as it appears to be?” he whispers in despair.Unlike most islanders, bold and … islanders, bold and spirited Daphne Coffin doesn’t defer to Ren as an authoritative whalemaster, but sees through his aloofness to the aching heart beneath. She encourages him to return to his Quaker roots and “mind the Light,” finding solace in God and community. As Ren becomes the man she believes him to be–honorable, wise, faithful–she finds herself falling in love with him.
But how can she, when her heart is spoken for? Tristram Macy is Ren’s business partner, cousin, and best friend–and Daphne’s fiancé. Love always comes at a cost, but when is the price too high?
Suzanne Woods Fisher welcomes readers back to the Quaker community on Nantucket Island for this riveting love story, full of unexpected moments.
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What a great book Minding the Light, by Suzanne Woods Fisher, is for a book club! Chock-full of little-known history from whaling Nantucket Island, this split- time novel contains an enticing and clean romance, and an insider’s look at the Quakers on the island. This book will weave its magic around your heart while challenging your sensibilities. Frankly, I wish I were a high school English or history teacher in a parochial school, who could use this book as a wonderfully fun teaching tool.
I often love novels that divide their time between narrators of different time periods. It is interesting to see how Great Mary’s life affects individuals of future generations on the island who are fortunate enough to receive her diary and learn from it.
This book really made me think about so many issues. Daphne made Ren want to be a better man. How do I make my husband want to be a better man?
Tristram says, “And the only islanders who end up getting hung are Wampanoags.” The Quakers were guilty of social injustice while preaching racial equality. Every society seems to pick another culture to abuse and subjugate.
Patience, when asked about her life and family, replied it was complicated and things are not as they seem. Truly, a lot of things in this book were surprising and not what one might have expected. The novel is full of incongruities lived out in people’s lives:some flaunted, some hidden as long as possible.
While richer for being read as part of the series, enough backstory is provided that one will enjoy this story by itself. I gratefully received a complimentary copy from the publisher, NetGalley, and CelebrateLit. This in no way affects my opinions, which are freely given, and for which I am solely responsible.
I love Christian historical fiction. Suzanne Woods Fisher is one of my favorite authors and I’ve enjoyed many of her books. Although both of those things are true, I almost passed over reading this book because it’s my least favorite time period and I have very little interest in Quaker history. Wow—would that have been a huge mistake! This book is terrific. By the end of the first chapter I was completely invested in the story. There are many things that impact this storyline: Love, romance, faith, hope, treachery, bigotry, revenge, compassion. All blend together to create a book that compelled me to keep reading and finish it quickly.
The historical research the author did for this book is accurate and adds much to the story. The author describes the setting so well that you can almost hear the sounds of the waves as you read. Every character is unique. Daphne and Ren hold center stage in the story, but each supporting character played a crucial role, too. The Quakers’ core beliefs are challenged all throughout the story, and as is true in our own time, each individual had choices to make that had a crucial impact on others.
I also loved the “split time” feature of the story. As Daphne reads through her ancestor’s diary, she finds help for her own pressing dilemma and solidifies her faith.
One note for Christian readers: The Quakers’ belief in “minding the light” might bother some readers, but I thought it fit well with this story
and the Quaker history of the time period.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Minding the Light is a fabulous, top notched historical romance fiction by bestselling author, Suzanne Woods Fisher. This is a powerful dual story with the history of Mary Coffin Starbuck, daughter of one of the first proprietors of Nantucket Island (17th century) and her great, great, great granddaughters, Daphne and Jane (19th century).
This dual story is penned with vivid pictorial and meaningful script that placed me in the midst of the 17th and 19th century with events that transpired on Nantucket Island. The authenticity of the history and similarities of the characters for each century was impressive, similar and gave way to that Inner Light and speech the Quakers were known for each tale. The characters were strong and realistic with their resilience, sorrow, faith, jealousy, disappointment, fortitude, tenacity, deceit, and bigotry. The detailed history that Suzanne Woods Fisher brought to life about the Quakers and the settling of Nantucket Island residents gave more reverence to all the hardships the settlers faced and beliefs about no man owned another, while holding on to their faith and belief from God as their “Inner Light” to guide them. The sea adventures and description of the ships and whaling to provide oil to the island added even more valuable history to the story. I was in the moment whether at sea or on the island in this latest grand historical story by Suzanne Woods Fisher.
After reading the sneak preview of The Light Before Day, I’m abiding my time until my preorder arrives to conclude this superb well researched series. Suzanne Woods Fisher is one of my favorite Christian Historical Fiction authors and I look forward to her next series.
I purchased this book at a book signing with Suzanne Woods Fisher and was not required to write a positive review. However, I have shared my honest thoughts for this outstanding book woven in a way that will remain in my thoughts and heart.