Phoebe Starbuck has always adjusted her sails and rudder to the whims of her father. Now, for the first time, she’s doing what she wants to do: marrying Captain Phineas Foulger and sailing far away from Nantucket. As she leaves on her grand adventure, her father gives her two gifts, both of which Phoebe sees little need for. The first is an old sheepskin journal from Great Mary, her highly … revered great-grandmother. The other is a “minder” on the whaling ship in the form of cooper Matthew Macy, a man whom she loathes.
Soon Phoebe discovers that life at sea is no easier than life on land. Lonely, seasick, and disillusioned, she turns the pages of Great Mary’s journal and finds herself drawn into the life of this noble woman. To Phoebe’s shock, her great-grandmother has left a secret behind that carries repercussions for everyone aboard the ship, especially her husband the captain and her shadow the cooper. This story within a story catapults Phoebe into seeing her life in an entirely new way–just in time.
In this brand-new series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings her signature twists and turns to bear on a fascinating new faith community: the Quakers of colonial-era Nantucket Island.
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What a book to get lost in, and thank goodness there is a sequel, I didn’t want to leave, and yet I did want a conclusion.
This book is a perfect blend of history, romance, adventure and mystery, and boy do things explode when facts begin to unfold, and surprises sure abound.
Can you imagine reading the thoughts of your Great Grandmother, you never met, it would be such an irreplaceable treasure, and this is the gift that Phoebe is given. Now why would the Captain be interested in the thoughts of a young girl? Thank goodness it is very hard to read, but we get to peruse it, and I enjoyed reading it, and then it is a story in itself.
This is a new series that you really don’t want to miss, and I am glad I was given the chance to enjoy.
I received this book through Celebrate Lit, and was not required to give a positive review.
I seemed like forever until the newest release from Suzanne Woods Fisher arrived in my mailbox, but it wasn’t, not really. Now that I’ve devoured Phoebe’s Light, the first in the Nantucket Legacy series, I can be sure that waiting for the second book in the series, will most certainly be an eternity.
Phoebe’s Light begins in the year 1767, with Phoebe Starbuck’s 18th birthday, a birthday that she hoped would be momentous indeed. She was a woman now and if her hopes that a whaling ship, captained by one Phineas Foulger, the father of one of her not so good friends, Sarah. But it is on the day that her father gifts her with a treasure far more valuable than all ambergris the whaling ship of Captain Phineas Foulger carried in her hold upon her recent arrival on its long, very long voyage.
Phoebe’s new treasure is her great-grandmother’s journal. A journal that had been missing for a very long time. A journal that interests Captain Foulger for reasons she doesn’t understand. A journal with legendary proportions for it was Mary Coffin Starbuck’s journal, one of the first inhabitants of Nantucket.
As Phoebe sails away with her new husband Captain Phineas Foulger, her hopes of happiness at his side are soon dashed when she finds that not only is he not the gentleman he purposes himself to be on land, he is a bit of a brute who has no compassion for his very seasick young wife. His first love is treasure, the kind rumored to be buried on Nantucket. If he could only get his hands on that journal, but Phoebe needed to her fathers instructions to keep the journal on her person at all times, not to let it be separated from her.
The inscription inside the front cover of the novel states, “To Mary Coffin Starbuck (1645-1717), a Weighty Friend to all Nantucketers, A woman far ahead of her times, who indeed build something that endured.)
A Weighty Friend is someone who is recognized as particularly wise, with a special experience that lends itself to others, freely given.
To attempt to describe my entrancement with this novel, with Nantucket Island and its history, with mere words, would not do this story justice. Therefore I issue this invitation,
Come sail away with me to the Nantucket of the 17th and 18th centuries, a place where few inhabit, where the wind always blows, with cliffs and strange foliage, where nothing seems to grow easily. Where the Quakers have come, to find a place to live in peace, away from persecution. A place where they can let their Inner Light Shine.
If you like historical books like I do, you are in for an adventure. The author takes us back to the late 1700s where we will set set on the high seas. What a treat it is to read about captains that everyone looks up to. Captain Phineas Foulger is quite a catch and he catches glances from those who wish to be noticed by him. I’m not sure I trusted him and sensed that maybe his feelings for Phoebe were not as sincere as he has led her to believe.
Phoebe is so taken with the captain that she kind of pushes herself on him. Does she want to be with him because she loves him? Is the adventure on the sea what intrigues her? She does try her best to get her way at times but the author gives us glimpses of her softer side. I could feel the anxiousness of Phoebe as she began her journey on the ship. Whaling was a huge profit during this time and it was hard work. Does Phoebe realize what she has gotten herself into? The first clue that something wasn’t right should have been when the entire crew quit. Phoebe I hope you know what you are doing. What must it feel like to be on a large ship, sailing out into unknown waters? What awaits Phoebe as she starts a new chapter in her life? The author gives us a story filled with suspense, secrets and unrequited love.
I loved the journal from Phoebe’s great-grandmother. I learned so much about the Quakers and how mistreated they were during the 1600s. It would be so exciting to find a diary from one of my ancestors. Phoebe has a treasure that will become very important as the story progresses. Why was the Captain so insistent that Phoebe bring the journal with her? I think the captain is arrogant, mean and selfish. The things he does is horrible. I have to say the author has really written a wonderful story of a high sea adventure that has all the makings of a wonderful movie. It is a vivid portrayal of the days long ago where people had to struggle to survive while others took advantage and took what wasn’t theirs. I love this book and how realistic it is. Thank you for taking me on a journey where I could picture the howling winds as it tossed the ship around. I love the emphasis on faith and how God protected people and opened their eyes to untruths.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The book is my own opinion.
Phoebe’s Light is the beginning of a new series “Nantucket Legacy” that takes place on Nantucket Island and is very enlightening on the Quaker beliefs and the whaling industry in 1767. Some characters you will grow to love and others you will wonder how can they be so cruel. I love reading about history in the midst of a fictional story, as you can learn about times and places without being bored. Ms Fisher creates a story that captures that time and place while drawing you in to the creative story of Phoebe’s plight aboard the Fortuna. I enjoyed the journal of her Great Aunt Mary she carried with her and how we get to read the excepts of it intertwined within the story. The secret it holds can become a life changing moment to Phoebe in a time of need. Very interesting and page turning read. I look forward to reading book two in this series.
I received a complimentary copy from the author/CelebrateLit. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
Phoebe’s Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the first book in the Nantucket Legacy series. On September 8, 1767 on Nantucket Island, Phoebe Starbuck, a Quaker, turns eighteen. Her father, Barnabas Starbuck presents her with Great Mary’s journal (her great grandmother). It passes from one generation to the next to the one who would benefit most from Great Mary’s wisdom (it is a shame that Barnabas never read it). Phoebe is excited to see that Phineas Foulger, captain of the Fortuna, has returned to the island. Phoebe fancies herself in love with the older widower and hopes to finally capture his attention. After a short time, Phineas and Phoebe are wed and set sail on the Fortuna. Phoebe has longed for adventure her whole life, but she soon discovers that life at sea does not suit her (she suffers from mal de mer). She spends her days in her quarters with the comfort of Great Mary’s journal. Matthew Macy and Phoebe were once betrothed to one another until Matthew turned away from God. Matthew, though, has never stopped caring for her. When Barnabas asks him to join the crew of the Fortuna to keep an eye on Phoebe, Matthew agrees. Phoebe is in for a life altering journey, and she will soon need the wisdom in Great Mary’s journal and help from Matthew to aid those she loves.
Phoebe’s Light is a captivating historical novel. It was fascinating to go back to this time period and read about life on Nantucket Island. The author did a wonderful job at integrating the diary entries into the book. I was afraid the entries would pull me out of the story, but it did just the opposite. I kept wanting to know what else was in the diary and what would happen next to Phoebe. Phoebe’s Light well-written and it has a nice steady pace with vivid descriptions of the island, people, the ships, whales and etc. I appreciate authors whose words allow me to picture the scenes in my head as I read (just the right amount of detail). The transitions were smooth between chapters and the diary entries. I could tell that the author did her research for this novel especially on Mary Coffin Starbuck and the whaling industry. She captured the speech of the Quakers and the people of this era (there is a glossary). The story contains incredible characters that are well-developed and realistic. There are characters readers will love and others that you will dislike intensely (and hope that they get what they deserve). I like that Ms. Fisher did the book on Quakers. There are few fiction books that incorporate this religious sect and it was interesting to learn more about their history (how they came to America and the persecution they suffered). The mystery element added another level to this rich story. There is a lovely ending that will have you anxiously awaiting Minding the Light (second book in Nantucket Legacy series).