Title: The Lighthouse Keeper
Author: Cynthia Ellingsen
First published April 4, 2017
380 pages, Kindle Edition
Rating: 4.17
Overview
Meet Dawn Conners, a woman who has lost almost everything she had. She has lost her job, her boyfriend, and her reputation.
Her late great-grandfather is accused of stealing silver from a century-old shipwreck, leaving her with a perplexing family mystery to solve. To clear her great-grandfather’s name, she returns to her hometown, Starlight Cove, on Lake Michigan.
The lighthouse in Starlight Cove is where the doomed vessel sleeps. Her plan is to remodel and sell the lighthouse, but that is easier said than done.
Her well-meaning parents and the quirky locals, including the town’s most eligible bachelor, Kip Whittaker, get involved in her plan. Despite her attraction to Kip, Dawn is reluctant to trust him or any of the townsfolk.
As she delves into the truth, Dawn’s closed heart opens up, and the lighthouse might guide her to a place she never expected to find, where the past intertwines with a bright new beginning. Will she succeed in clearing her great-grandfather’s name?
Join Dawn on her journey to find out.
Editoral Review
The Lighthouse Keeper, a poignant and electrifying novel by Cynthia Ellingsen, delves into the complexities of loss and love, redemption and madness, and the power of forgiveness. First published on April 4, 2017, The Lighthouse Keeper is a stirring masterpiece in the contemporary fiction genre that would captivate the hearts of readers of all ages.
Ellingsen, an accomplished author with a knack for penning enchanting stories, weaves a mesmerizing tale of two women from different generations, united across time by the imposing presence of a picturesque lighthouse. With a keen sense of historical and cultural significance, Ellingsen transports readers to the small town of Lakeside, Michigan, in the 1940s, where the beautiful and spirited Hannah Hastings, a Navy WAVE assigned to maintain the lighthouse, encounters the handsome and dashing Jack Finley, a Coast Guard sailor tasked with providing support for the lighthouse.
As Hannah and Jack embark on a passionate romance despite societal taboos and family rejections, they are confronted with an unwavering enemy – the raging storms and brutal waves that threaten to destroy the lighthouse and their love. In the present day, the novel explores the ramifications of the blast that destroyed the lighthouse years ago, and how its impact lingers on the community to this day.
Ellingsen masterfully interweaves the past and present of Lakeside, rendering a rich tapestry of characters whose fates collide in unforeseen ways. From the enigmatic and resilient Clare, a young woman who inherits her mother’s bookstore and discovers a shocking secret that shakes her very core, to the empathetic and kind-hearted Nate, a local reporter investigating the truth behind the lighthouse tragedy, The Lighthouse Keeper is a sweeping epic that keeps readers on their toes.
One of the strengths of The Lighthouse Keeper lies in Ellingsen’s expertly crafted prose. She imbues her writing with a lyrical quality that transports readers to the salty shores of Lakeside, the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks, and the smell of the seafoam in the air.
Her characters are fully fleshed-out and multi-dimensional, each with their unique strengths, flaws, and motivations. As a result, readers grow to care deeply about their struggles and triumphs, and feel emotionally invested in their tales.
Another highlight of The Lighthouse Keeper is its thematic depth. Ellingsen explores themes of love, loss, regret, forgiveness, and redemption with a deft hand, weaving them seamlessly into the narrative.
She doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of life, but imbues her novel with a sense of hope and optimism that leaves readers feeling uplifted. Despite its many strengths, The Lighthouse Keeper is not without its limitations.
Some readers may find the pacing a bit slow at times, and the twists and turns of the plot might be predictable for those familiar with the genre. However, in the grand scheme of things, these flaws are minor and don’t detract from the overall quality of the novel.
In conclusion, The Lighthouse Keeper is a literary gem that offers an engrossing and moving tale of love and loss, hope and restoration. It is a novel that transcends time and place, and speaks to the very essence of the human experience.
I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating read that lingers long after the final page is turned. On a scale of 1 to 10, The Lighthouse Keeper earns a solid 9 for its exceptional writing, memorable characters, and thematic richness.
