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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Minding the Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the second novel in the Nantucket Legacy series. Jane Macy is thrilled that her husband, Captain Reynolds “Ren” Macy is returning home after being gone on the Endeavor for over six years. They had been married less than a month when he departed. Ren is thrilled to see his wife, but he is unprepared for the twin children by her side. As Ren settles back into island life, he is surprised by all the changes that have taken place in his absence and not ready for those to come. After being greeted by Jane, she collapses. Daphne Coffin, Jane’s sister, will need all of her strength to help Ren and the children through the trying times ahead. Daphne trusts that God will help her guide Ren and that He will speak to his heart. She finds the journal of Great Mary in her sister’s bedside and begins reading it. It provides comfort, wisdom and guidance. Abraham, a sailor from Ren’s ship, is loyal, smart and kind and he is falling in love with Patience, their Indian maidservant. Then a bounty hunter shows up to take Abraham back to his master. What can Ren and Daphne do to keep Abraham safe? Great Mary experienced a similar situation and her insight will prove invaluable to Daphne. Come along for the voyage to Nantucket in Minding the Light.
Minding the Light is a well-written novel that pulled me into its world. I was pulled into the story and my attention was held by this dual timeline story. Ms. Fisher did a wonderful job at incorporating her research (of the area, people, whaling industry, the two time periods, the Quaker beliefs). The author’s descriptive writing brought the book alive. I could imagine the waves hitting the island, the smells (which had me wrinkling my nose), the homes lit by candles, well–you get the picture (pun intended). Daphne is a good character with strong faith. She was the perfect counterpart for Ren as she guided him on the path to be a father, responsible businessman, and a man of faith. It was fascinating to learn about the Quaker customs and beliefs as well as the Cent School. I liked that the author provided a glossary of nineteenth century Nantucket words at the beginning of the book along with a cast of characters. While Minding the Light can be read alone, I recommend reading Phoebe’s Light (just to read and enjoy). The two stories (Daphne and Great Mary’s) are equally fascinating, and I like how they complimented each other. In Minding the Light, we get to see relationships develop, a man grows in his faith, a rift divide a family, secrets revealed, and two children get acquainted with their father. Minding the Light is an intriguing historical novel. I cannot wait for the next novel in the Nantucket Legacy series.
Suzanne Woods Fisher’s novel, Minding the Light, is full of history and tidbits of folklore about Nantucket. Although it is the second book in the Nantucket Legacy series, it can easily be read as a standalone as it is about a different generation of the founding families.
I was fascinated to learn of the history of the early founders of Nantucket. Almost everyone on the island was a Quaker, so I learned a lot of the history of the Quaker religion, too.
There were many heavy, sad details in the story. Surprisingly, some of the details were quite unexpected, such as drug abuse (and possibly addiction), whereas others, such as slavery and bigotry, weren’t as surprising but were still sad.
A captivating and enthralling novel of life in a whaling community, fraught with danger and excitement… Minding the Light is a gripping, authentic representation of life in the 19th Century, further enhanced by the glossary of terms, resources and discussion questions included in the book.
I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher through Celebrate Lit. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.
What an incredible second book in the Nantucket Legacy series! Minding the Light can definitely be read as a stand-alone, especially since this book features characters one generation removed in time from the first book. But if you haven’t read Phoebe’s Light, you must read it!
Suzanne Woods Fisher combines great writing with wonderful dialogue, sprinkles intrigue and mystery within a well-plotted and well-executed storyline, enchants with beautifully real and lovable characters, and convicts with reminders of what faith is really about. She addresses difficulty issues like racism and addiction which are so prevalent today as they were back in 19th century Nantucket. And to realize that the author used many historical facts and people to craft this story is astounding! The fictional diary of Mary Coffin Starbuck (though she indeed was a real person on Nantucket), Daphne’s ancestor, from 17th century provides a semi-dual timeline of sorts within the story and correlates well with Daphne and Ren’s story in 19th century.
Daphne is an outspoken, intelligent, loving, compassionate, insightful Quaker who lives under a pretentious mother. Ren is a kind, generous whaling ship captain who is married to Daphne’s older sister, and the story begins when returns home after a six year whaling voyage. Ren is bereft when he returns home and faces emotional, financial, and spiritual crises simultaneously. His sorrow, pain, and desire to do right are palpable and he’s such a strong, dependable yet vulnerable hero. Ren’s twins are amazing and fun and the secondary characters add depth and dimensions to the story.
Anyone who enjoys a historical romance would totally love this book. If you’re a fan of Suzanne Woods Fisher, this is a must read!
I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher through Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to write a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Minding the Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher
My rating is 4.5 Stars
Ren’s twins were already 6 years old before he knew they existed. Not because his wife had hidden the fact she had them. It was because he had been whaling. For 7 long years! It is hard to fathom having the kind of career that would require a commitment like that.
Ren was so noble. During the time away from his wife of just a few months, he remained faithful to her and loved her dearly. He also bucked tradition and promoted a Negro to the position of second mate and treated him with kindness.
Daphne was amazing! She was so determined to do what was right and good. Her deep love for her sister and her children was so natural and motivated so much of what she did. This was at least a little amazing considering her mother was shrewish and bitter.
I related well to the characters and found them to be multi-faceted and very interesting. There was some mystery related to Jane’s death and the deplorable way that it came about.
Apparently, the Quakers in the 1600s and at the beginning of the 1800s struggled with issues related to slavery and bigotry and prejudice. I remember hearing the part many Quakers played in the Underground Railroad and assumed that they would have always taken a stance against slavery. The author tackled this difficult subject and shed light on the fact that there were struggles within the community of “Friends”. Though they refused to purchase products that used slave labor, such as cotton and sugar, they still segregated the Negros and the natives and treated them with less respect than they showed each other.
Minding the Light was a great addition to this series.
This review was originally posted on AmongTheReads.net.
Get a preview of Minding the Light at amongTheReads.net
I would like to thank Celebrate Lit for giving me this copy of the book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
If you’re like me and find a series you really enjoy, then you might understand having anxiety over whether or not you’ll love the second book as much as the first one. Let me assure you, you won’t have that problem with the Nantucket Legacy by Suzanne Woods Fisher. Minding The Light is the second book in the series and is just as good as Phoebe’s Light (book one.)
Minding The Light skips a couple generations, so all the characters on Nantucket are brand new to the reader. But don’t worry, you’ll recognize a lot of the surnames and…they’re just as thrilling as the original cast! There were literally some pages I read and then set the book down and sat dumbfounded on my couch because I didn’t suspect a certain twist in the story. I think that’s why I love this series so much, you’re reading along thinking this is going to be a sweet romance, intertwined with a good plot and some struggles. Just when you think you have it all figured out, the author drops a bombshell that changes everything. It’s still a great story with a slow budding romance, but wow, does it get complicated towards the end!
I also loved how entries from Great Mary’s journal appeared in this novel like they did in the first book. Once again, the short tidbits from the journal gave the book an extra layer of excitement and told more of Great Mary’s story, after she married Nathaniel. Because of the journal, I would definitely say that this is a series you should read in order. The journal gives you info in the first book that makes you anticipate how it will come up again in Daphne Coffin’s story. The sheer excitement you get when you realize the character’s problem could be solved in an instant if they knew a certain something makes you want to cry out, “But there’s a …..!” So read book one first – you’ll be glad you did!
Conclusion: Minding The Light is another great read from Suzanne Woods Fisher and a wonderful follow up to Phoebe’s Light! I could not put this book down. I would easily read 100 pages in one sitting, and for me, that’s a lot. (I’m a slow – 50 page a day – reader, normally.) The writing style was so easy to read, yet, there was so much packed in these chapters. This author knows how to tell a story! I would highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys an easy going romance, but doesn’t mind a good challenge to the characters in between. Book number three, here I come!
Minding the Light is book#2 in the Nantucket Legacy series by Suzanne Woods Fisher. Usually known for her Amish Fiction, this series explores early life for Quaker Settlers in the Nantucket area.
Usually, I’m a huge fan of Suzanne Woods Fisher but so far this series just isn’t my favorite. I’m having a hard time getting into the characters and the different writing style. It just feels different. Now, I’m not trying to stick this author in a box—not at all. I do enjoy books outside the Amish genre. The writing style just feels different to me.
The characters in this book were okay. Not bad, not great. They were just okay. No one really stood out to me. They had a purpose, they were well-developed. They just didn’t speak to me.
This is nothing at all to do with the author and I think maybe it has to do with me. I’d be curious to pick this series up in a year or so and see how I feel about it then.
I do like that the author is not afraid to tackle hard topics such as racism and intolerance. These are such deep-seated issues that have long been ingrained in our culture and it’s time to start recognizing that so that we can change for the better.
Overall the book is well written and I do want to continue the series. I just didn’t feel like it was speaking to me at this time. I truly feel that sometimes you read a book when it’s not the time to read that particular book. I wanted to love it and as I already said, I’d like to read it again in the future—just to see how the characters speak to me then.
This book was provided to me by Revell Reads. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. All opinions are my own.
I loved Daphne and her stabilizing influence on the young family who is going through a rough transition. They are all grieving from an unexpected loss, and the long-awaited return of Ren brings secrets to light that have great effects on the islanders. I absolutely loved the historical Nantucket setting and learning more about their way of life. The excerpts from Great Mary’s aged journal also show the survival of the first group of settlers to the island, and her unique way of looking at predicaments provide wise counsel to the generations who read her words. There is a strong supporting cast in this story with Patience, the servant who helps Daphne and then Ren with the children, Abraham, the first mate of the Endeavor whose unfailing loyalty to his captain comes back to save him, and even Lillian, Daphne’s controlling mother who is a leader among the Quakers but her rigid hypocrisy brings conflict and consequences. This is a compelling story that brings its characters to life. I would have liked a little more romance, but the love triangle was drawn out and part of the conclusion.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Great historical fiction
Ya’ll, I have Bloggers Block. That moment when the flashing little line on the screen mocks all the words my brain is not capable of mushing together. Forget words, I’ll take letters at this point. That being said I will tell you a story about where my mind is detouring. It’s related, I promise. Last fall I missed an opportunity to meet Suzanne Woods Fisher. I missed it literally by hours. I live very close to the college in my small town, very close. She was here. I didn’t know she was here. Until that night, after it was over, and I realized I was walking (WALKING) distance to where the event was occurring and I didn’t know about it. I try to keep up with events at the college, where I also graduated from a few decades ago. There’s a Biblical artifacts exhibit on through winter that I have plans to attend with a friend and her children. But this one squeaked through the cracks by hours people. I was heart-broken and disappointed. She was walking distance from my personal library of most of her books. Am I a bad book fan? Here’s the thing, that’s somewhat how I feel about this book. I’ve taken a recent hiatus from all things blogging over the last several weeks. It wasn’t planned (which means a total over-haul of the schedule as a revamp is too small in scope). Grief has been slowly taking all the things and turning them sideways. It was small at first and then took on larger proportions as the months went by. It took me ages to read this book because well, I just couldn’t focus. I sorta felt like Ren, needing somewhere to channel the grief but not finding a solid landing spot that felt right. I channeled mine right into Netflix and sleep. Ren, into misguided blame and uncertainty. Grief does that to a person.
The thing is, once I found my stride with this book I really found it. I’m not all in like Flynn mind you but I’m eeking back. I connected better with this book than I did ‘Phoebe’s Light’. There was less of that drat character introspection, or if it was there I didn’t notice it. I also enjoyed the mirror of Great Mary’s Journal with Daphne’s life. I do have to tell you that I did figure out one of the threads through the story long before I was supposed to. For me it wasn’t a distraction at all and honestly, I wonder if I only figured it out as I was reading so intensely in order to keep finding my reading groove again. That’s a thing that might have happened. I read this book in spurts and starts just trying to find my groove. And that last third read like the wind. And then the blinking cursor taunts me still with all the words I cannot create. I didn’t quite connect the dots on the family lineage that brought us Daphne (and Jane) with the journal. It really didn’t matter though.
This book gave me a lot of thoughts and take aways. When you act out of revenge you do eventually get your due. When your revenge is petty sometimes your due is more satisfying. When you truly ‘mind the light’ you do find what you are seeking. Perhaps not what you thought it looked like but definitely what you were seeking. Sometimes doing things for the wrong reasons brings about the right results. True love is not jealous. True love is patient. True love is kind. Sometimes love doesn’t look like you anticipated it to look. And sometimes things masquerade as love when it’s not really love. I loved the history of ‘minding the light’ and how the theme wove so seamlessly through the book that it almost ran seamlessly into my own outlook on life and people and even grief. I can say with absolute certainty that everyone would benefit from a lesson or twenty on how to ‘mind the light’ in their own lives. And pretty much be lifted in love from this book as well.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Revell. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
I LOVED LOVED LOVED this series!
Suzanne Woods Fisher’s Minding the Light will capture your imagination from page one onward. The characters are lively and not what you might expect from the black and white pages of your history books about Quakers.
A coveted journal from one of the first white settlers on Nantucket Island makes its way into book two of the Nantucket legacy series. Written by Mary Coffin Starbuck, who wrote about her life in the 17th century, her days seemed to parallel the life of her forbears.
Captain Reynold Macy had much to look forward to when he returned home after a six year voyage. What waited for him on arrival was more than he bargained for. The story unfolds it is certain that the life he dreamed of with his young wife Jane was never going to be what he imagined. The ship’s hold was full and should turn a profit. His cousin and business partner Tristram Macy, had looked after his business affairs so all would be well.
His young sister-in-law, Daphne, was about to become engaged to Tristram. She had been helping Jane manage the large house on Orange Street where all fine captains lived. Her heart was with her family, and although her mother was pushing her engagement, she was reluctant to set her heart fully on the match.
I meant to read only a few pages as the hour was late when I began, but soon found the time had moved along until I was well into the third chapter before I had to put it down. I was looking forward to this book since I read the sneak peek in Phoebe’s Light. The Quaker faith in this series is inspiring as it relates to bringing forth the light. Jane, and her sister Daphne have a strong faith and live their lives accordingly. However, while the Quakers considered themselves “Friends” they also do not welcome the native population or blacks into the polite society of their meetings. This is very evident with their own mother, Lillian Coffin, whose standards are so different than her daughters.
I recommend Minding the Light with 5 stars for those who love historical fiction. The characters are engaging and the plot well written.
I love all books by Suzanne Woods Fisher. She has a great sense of humor and keeps your interest all throughout the book.
Minding The Light is a fantastic historic romantic story. Wow, now that is an eye full. It is the words of Mary Coffin’s journal and the life of Daphne. The depth of history is incredible and the details are immense. The details are so picturesque of the life in the 19th Century as well as the 17th Century where as you could see for yourself what was happening. The Nantucket Island series is full of Faith with GOD as their “Inner Light”. The description of Whaling and sailing ships are so spectacular and specific and you could clearly see them in your mind., It is a wonderful story you should find out for yourself just how good it truly is. I received a copy of this book from the Publisher and Netgalley; all of the opinions expressed in this review are all my own.
if you would like to read more of my Christian book reviews go to christianlybookreviewers.blogspot.com
This is the second book in Suzanne Woods Fisher’s Nantucket Legacy series. The first book tied up many loose ends, but there was a thread that related to the journal that contains Great Mary’s story, and that one continues here, along with a new thread, largely unrelated to the first book except in genealogy, and it is mostly completed within these pages. Unlike the earlier installment, however, we are left with a bit of a cliffhanger in both times, which leaves me eagerly awaiting the next book!
I really enjoyed the characters in this novel, especially in the later timeline. These are wounded people, hurting in many ways, yet still finding the strength to carry on. For Daphne, faith is a strong sustainer; Ren is an honorable man, but his faith needs some shoring up. This is a society where church and state are not very separate, and that lack of division is shown as having both positive and negative elements.
Perhaps the part that surprised me the most was the deep questions this novel asks about what we believe to be true and how actions either confirm or discount that. While the larger question of hypocrisy is addressed, the more nuanced one is what I found fascinating: If we believe something to be wrong, how does that show in what we do? For example, if I truly believe all men are created equal, am I associating with all men, befriending them, serving them?
This book is much deeper than I expected it to be, a more thoughtful and thought-provoking read. The question of our beliefs and how they translate to action caused me to examine my own heart, and the fictional characters captured my imagination. This is an enjoyable read for those who like historical romance in a unique setting and I highly recommend it.
I received a review copy of this book through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a positive review. The thoughts expressed are both honest and my own.
I was excited to get the opportunity to read the next installment in the Nantucket Legacy series, and sure was not disappointed.
Love that this is a historical book, and although I may not agree how their living was made, it is what was accepted and what happened.
As with the first book we go back in history with the journal of the matriarch of this New England Family, and spending time with a Quaker Community. Of course, I wondered if the treasure would come into play and if it was still there, this and others questions are answered here, and you are not going to want it to end.
I see that there is another novel in this series to come, and a teaser is offered at the end of this book.
I received this book through Celebrate Lit, and was not required to give a positive review.
First off, I kept thinking, “Six years? He was out whaling for six years?” And yes, they really did that as research shows. Author Suzanne Woods Fisher does a great job of researching the whaling trade. I learned a lot from this book.
The characters are strong and well written. Of course you love some and dislike others. Some are misguided in their faith. I don’t know much about Quakers so found several interesting facts.
I enjoyed the way Fisher interspersed an old diary into the story. It really helped to pull it all together. All in all, it was an enjoyable read, with enough tension to keep my interest.
And what an ending! It sure surprised me. But no spoilers here. You’ll need to read the book and I do highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Very interesting story. Captured me on the first page. The characters are brought to life with strong emotions and devotion. Loss, love, hope, faith and more are all in this special story. I received a copy of this book and this is my personal honest opinion. No review was required.
Minding the light
It is very interesting to read a book of two time periods and both were still historical. I wondered as I was reading it if both time periods were written at the same time or separate and then combined together. This book must of taken a while to write. This is one of those books that has a surprise ending and no way I am giving any hints, I love books like that. When I got to the end I wasn’t ready to leave the characters. I felt bad for Daphne’s mother, she missed out on so much by the way she felt about things. I received an complementary copy of the book from Celebrate Lit and the publisher. I was not required to write an positive review and this is my own opinion.
Minding the Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the second book in the Nantucket Legacy series and, having read the first, I was eagerly anticipating reading this one and was not disappointed. Fisher is an expert storyteller and she does not disappoint with Ren and Daphne’s story. The characters are strong and vibrant. Daphne is a selfless woman who has chosen to care for her sister’s children and faces life head-on with a confident faith. Ren has little regard for the Quaker faith for all its religious trappings and yet he is not unteachable and seems willing to learn what it means to mind the Light within. It was such a pleasure to get to know these characters and others in this book. Some twists to the plot were expected but there were a few that were ‘wow, I didn’t see that coming!’ The story is full of secrets and hypocrisy, deceit and vengeance, and as one character mused, “was nothing on this island like it appeared to be?” The author has written a dual story in this book as she uses Daphne’s great (times 3!) grandmother’s diary to allow readers to see Nantucket life from years earlier in the 17th century. A parallel story in the diary gives Daphne information and courage to right a wrong. Lots of history and interesting facts about Nantucket and the whaling industry in the early colonial years of Quakers in Massachusetts help to keep the pages turning. At the end of the book, the author adds an enlightening section of historical notes that gives further insight into some of the scenes and situations that she has used in the book. Minding the Light is a wonderful book of learning to recognize love and to trust God, knowing that ultimately He is in control of our lives and we need not fear the future, but can embrace it because we are not alone on this journey called life.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required and the opinions are my own. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour.
There is nothing better than being transported back in time by an author’s talented writing skills. I love how the author has included historical facts about Nantucket and placed it in the story with realism. I have never been to Nantucket, but after reading the book, I feel like I know about its history better. It’s interesting to read about the Quakers and their lifestyle during the early 19th century. It must have been very hard to live during this time period as the characters seemed to struggle with finances. To say that whale hunting intrigued me would be an understatement. The men were brave to fight the waves and live at sea for long periods of time.
I was saddened by the abruptness of the demise of a beloved character at the beginning of the story. What I did like was how the author once again uses her historical knowledge to introduce readers to laudanum. Many people during this time period used it for different ailments, but as we find out it can be harmful as well. I liked Daphne a lot and loved her fierce protection of her niece and nephew. It surprised me that their father, Ren returns after six years to think his children would welcome him with open arms. He sure has a lot to learn about children and one of them should be to put their needs first.
Being a captain does have its responsibilities but being gone for so long, would put a real strain on any relationship. I wonder if he will step up and care for his children ? Maybe he can take a lesson from his friend Abraham who tells him, “There is no secret , sir. Children require time.” The story is quite a journey into the workings of a ship and what a sacrifice it can be on families that are left behind while their family members are at sea. Daphne is not quite sure where Ren stands when it is discovered that a new ship has been bought that was not approved by him.
I appreciate how the author shows us the different ways that people lived and how slavery was a way of life for some. I could feel the pain as Patience shared about her past. She is very loyal to the family but doesn’t share much of her past. It leads me to believe her life has not been easy but she is very humble. She reminds me to be thankful for what I have and not be envious of others.
There is so much to like in this story from the intrigue of a possible poisoning, peace, revenge, hate, prejudice, the high seas and lessons that will stay with you long after the last page has been turned. I learned a lot about the Quakers and their traditions thanks to the brilliant writing of the author. The story flows with ease and I kept wondering who Daphne would end up with. I absolutely loved the surprise ending and can’t wait for the next book in the series. Thank you for reminding us to see through the darkness and be set free in the light.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit and Baker Publishing Group. The review is my own opinion.