Lighthouses have long been the symbol of salvation, warning sailors away from dangerous rocks and shallow waters. Along the Great Lakes, America’s inland seas, lighthouses played a vital role in the growth of the nation. They shepherded settlers traveling by water to places that had no roads. These beacons of light required constant tending even in remote and often dangerous places. Brave men … places. Brave men and women battled the elements and loneliness to keep the lights shining. Their sacrifice kept goods and immigrants moving. Seven romances set between 1883 and 1911 bring hope to these lonely keepers and love to weary hearts.
Anna’s Tower by Pegg Thomas
1883–Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse
Anna Wilson’s plan to be the next lighthouse keeper is endangered when Maksim Ivanov is shipwrecked on Thunder Bay Island. Handsome and capable, he could steal her dream. Or provide a new one.
Beneath a Michigan Moon by Candice Sue Patterson
1885–New Presque Isle Lighthouse
Ava Ryan’s father has passed, leaving her alone, and ill, to tend the light with nowhere else to go. Logging foreman Benjamin Colfax needs the height of the lighthouse to determine the best cutting route, but he senses something amiss in Ava and her determination to remain reclusive. Can he get her to open up, or will she keep herself locked away?
Safe Haven by Rebecca Jepson
1892–Old Mission Point Lighthouse
Rose Miller was found on the lighthouse doorstep as an infant, and now she must hide her quest to find the child who left her there from Captain Nathan Perry, the man she loves to hate.
Love’s Beacon by Carrie Fancett Pagels
1898–Round Island Lighthouse
Valerie Fillman’s best hope for a future lies on the tiny island that holds her worst memories. Can Paul Sholtus, the new lightkeeper, and his daughter help bring healing? And love?
The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser
1899–Mackinac Point Lighthouse
Natalie Brooks loses her past to amnesia, and Cal Waterson, the lighthouse keeper who rescues her, didn’t bargain on risking his heart–when her past might change everything.
The Disappearing Ship by Lena Nelson Dooley
1902–Whitefish Point Lighthouse
Romance and mystery collide at Whitefish Point Lighthouse when unemployed doctor Norma Kimbell and Drake Logan, owner of a steamship line, search for evidence of a supposed shipwreck.
The Wrong Survivor by Marilyn Turk
1911–Au Sable Lighthouse
Lydia Palmer’s dream for happiness as a lighthouse keeper’s wife shatters when her fiancé Nathan Drake drowned in a shipwreck, but his brother Jesse survived.
more
The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection: 7 Historical Romances Are a Beacon of Hope to Weary Hearts
I have always loved lighthouses and even climbed a couple ending in breathtaking views. I cannot imagine climbing all those steps during storms with snow, winds and sea lashing at the lighthouse and the lighthouse keeper. The upkeep of the lighthouse and the isolation that the lighthouse keeper endured made for a hard life. The stories in this collection set in 1883-1911 give us glimpses of the life of a lighthouse keeper and his or her family. We read of a stowaway, mysteries unraveled, stolen child, shipwreck victim with amnesia, death and a ship that seemingly disappears along with it’s cargo. At times I could almost feel the spray of the sea and the wind on my face as I read. Forgiveness, second chances and faith make these novellas captivating and heartwarming. Each author brings her own unique writing style making each story unique as well. I enjoy the historical aspects of the stories and the historical notes four of the authors’ include. A wonderful, inspiring and heartwarming collection.
1. Anna’s Tower by Pegg Thomas
Thunder Bay Island, Lake Huron October 1883
2. Beneath A Michigan Moon by Candice Sue Patterson
New Presque Isle Lighthouse, Lake Huron June 1885
3. Safe Haven by Rebecca Jepson
Old Mission, Michigan New Year’s Eve 1892
4. Love’s Beacon by Carrie Fancett Pagels
Mackinac Island September 1897
5. The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser
Straits of Mackinac April 1899
6. The Disappearing Ship by Lena Nelson Dooley
Upper Michigan Early Summer 1902
7. The Wrong Survivor by Marilyn Turk
Au Sable Lighthouse September 1911
~I also received an e-book copy from the author/publisher via NetGalley (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~