From The New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Came Home comes a historical novel inspired by true events, and the extraordinary female lighthouse keepers of the past two hundred years.“They call me a heroine, but I am not deserving of such accolades. I am just an ordinary young woman who did her duty.”1838: Northumberland, England. Longstone Lighthouse on the Farne Islands has been … Longstone Lighthouse on the Farne Islands has been Grace Darling’s home for all of her twenty-two years. When she and her father rescue shipwreck survivors in a furious storm, Grace becomes celebrated throughout England, the subject of poems, ballads, and plays. But far more precious than her unsought fame is the friendship that develops between Grace and a visiting artist. Just as George Emmerson captures Grace with his brushes, she in turn captures his heart.
1938: Newport, Rhode Island. Nineteen-years-old and pregnant, Matilda Emmerson has been sent away from Ireland in disgrace. She is to stay with Harriet, a reclusive relative and assistant lighthouse keeper, until her baby is born. A discarded, half-finished portrait opens a window into Matilda’s family history. As a deadly hurricane approaches, two women, living a century apart, will be linked forever by their instinctive acts of courage and love.
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Beautifully written.
A must read for women. A truly lovely book.
Great read!!
This was an extraordinary period piece. I was enthralled from the very beginning. Switching back forth from one century to another kept you so motivated to keep turning pages. I wish it could have gone on I wanted it to continue.
I finished the book but was not one of my favorites… dragged in places
I enjoyed this book. It was fun for me to learn about late 18th century lighthouse keepers. Had a really good love story and a surprise ending.
It was way more than I expected. It was heartfelt and genuine and a great story.
Wonderful story ray to read.
I enjoyed this book, couldn’t put it down! Although there were many tragic events, the author had a realistic way of weaving the story that kept me engaged.
Couldn’t put this book down
I love lighthouses. I seem to be drawn to them. I find the history most interesting.
This novel is another great read from Hazel Gaynor. It is based on the true story of Grace Darling, the heroine of the Farne Isles.
“They call me a heroine, but I am no deserving of such accolades. I am just an ordinary young woman who did her duty.”
Grace Darling lived in Northumberland England. Her father was the keeper of the Longstone Lighthouse on the Farne Isles.
Grace was a very strong and independent woman and assisted her father in his daily routines of the lighthouse. She even stood watch for any events that may occur. Grace loved the lighthouse and the sea. There was a horrific storm in 1838 while Grace stood watch. She persuaded her father to search for survivors of a shipwreck.
This story alternates between 1838 and 1938 with Matilda’s story.
In 1938 Matilda is sent from Ireland to Newport Rhode Island. She is pregnant with no husband. She is to stay in Rhode Island and return to Ireland without her child. Adoption is her only option according to her parents.
She is to live with a distant relative and everything will be taken care off.
Harriet is also a lighthouse keeper. Matilda discovers family secrets, when she finds an unfinished picture.
Both stories are intertwined and very engaging. This book is very well written.
It is an inspiring story of brave young women.
It should be read by all.
I anticipated this novel to be one I would fall in love with, and it didn’t disappoint. Gaynor weaves an enchanting story of historical figure, Grace Darling. Renown for helping her father rescue a boat full of survivors from a ship wreck off the Irish coastline in 1838, Grace’s life becomes intertwined with one of the survivors.
Her life at the Longstone Lighthouse with her family becomes fraught with story hounds, reporters, performers, and artists all wanting a piece of Grace’s glory or an inside scoop into the life of an idolized lighthouse keeper’s daughter.
Sara Dawson, a survivor Grace rescued, and Grace develop a friendship, which leads Grace to form a romantic inclination with Sara’s brother George.
The story jumps ahead one hundred years to Matilda, who travels from Ireland to America to live with a relative, Harriet, on Rhode Island. Matilda carries a secret with her, but little does she know that a secret awaits her in Newport.
Rich with heartfelt emotion, Gaynor conveys Grace, Matilda, and Harriet’s points of view in first person and highlights minor characters through a third person narrative.
I found The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter a tragic, detailed drama of what it might be like to live in a lighthouse and just how much it might demand of you.
An entertaining historical novel based on real people. Very enjoyable.
I like historical fiction especially when the novel is about a little known individual. In “The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter” we meet Grace Darling, who helps to rescue the survivors of a shipwreck and bring them the lighthouse. Her courageous actions turn her life upside down. But more profound are the connections she makes to people she would otherwise have never met. It is their descendents who bring her back to our attention 100 years later.
A wonderful read!
BLURB
1838: Northumberland, England. Longstone Lighthouse on the Farne Islands has been Grace Darling’s home for all of her twenty-two years. When she and her father rescue shipwreck survivors in a furious storm, Grace becomes celebrated throughout England, the subject of poems, ballads, and plays. But far more precious than her unsought fame is the friendship that develops between Grace and a visiting artist. Just as George Emmerson captures Grace with his brushes, she in turn captures his heart.
1938: Newport, Rhode Island. Nineteen-years-old and pregnant, Matilda Emmerson has been sent away from Ireland in disgrace. She is to stay with Harriet, a reclusive relative and assistant lighthouse keeper, until her baby is born. A discarded, half-finished portrait opens a window into Matilda’s family history. As a deadly hurricane approaches, two women, living a century apart, will be linked forever by their instinctive acts of courage and love.
http://www.darlenejonesauthor.com
This was something different for me. I enjoyed the history of lighthouse keepers andthe trials of female keepers of the time. Had me looking into some history.
One of the rare books I cried at. So emotional, so wise.
Wonderful!
Loved the historical information. Didn’t realize it was based on actual people until the end.
A bit unusual. Good characters.
I think this quote used in the book says it all. “I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul”-Charles Dickens. This heartfelt wonderful but mostly tragic story is about 3 women. Grace, Sarah and Matilda. They are strong women, stronger then they thinks they are. They all face the worst that life can throw at them, yet they do it with heart, with courage, alone but of knowing love in the purest form. It will keep you reading, and these women will stay with you long after the book is finished a put down. When I read the words of thanks that most authors put in there books either at the beginning or the end of their book I always want to say “We thank you for this book, we thank you for the hours of research you must have done to get all those details so right that we can see your words in front of us much like a movie. I think that is why no movie ever does a book justice, we have in our mind what is should be like. That is why I love to Thank the Authors for there work. Thank you Hazel for the wonderful 2 days of reading you gave me, I was so hard pressed to put this book down to spend the evening with my husband last night, but I did and could not wait to pick it up again this morning. I thank you for all the wonderful books that came before this one and that will come after. Thank you so very much.