Romance and mystery intertwine at the turn of the 20th Century.
It is the dawn of a new century and Olivia Stewart is heiress to an empire. Her family numbers among the Four Hundred—those considered the wealthiest and most distinguished in America. Unfortunately their wealth has nearly disappeared, and now their security rests upon the Stewart daughters marrying well.
Olivia's sister, Eleanor, was engaged to Harrison Bennett, one of the nation's wealthiest men, but has since died. Now the pressure is on Olivia to take her place, despite her suspicions about Eleanor's fiancé. Using her family's long-forgotten English title, Olivia travels to Mercy Falls, California, as Lady Devonworth, hoping to learn more before committing to marriage. There she finds that Eleanor's death was no accident. And Harrison is not the man she thought he would be.
When Mercy Falls holds a charity masquerade ball to raise funds for the new lighthouse, secrets—and truths long hidden—will be revealed. But can Harrison really love Olivia when he discovers her true identity? Can she live with the repercussions of failing her family, or will she finally realize that nothing—not money, family, or romance—will ever compare to God's unconditional love?
Full length historical romantic suspenseIncludes discussion questions for book clubsPart of the Mercy Falls series, but can also be read as a standaloneBook The Lightkeeper’s DaughterBook The Lightkeeper’s BrideBook The Lightkeeper’s Ball
USAToday bestselling author Colleen Coble lives with her husband, Dave, in Arizona. She is the author of dozens of novels including the Rock Harbor Series, the Aloha Reef Series, the Mercy Falls Series, the Hope Beach Series, the Lonestar Series and two Women of Faith fiction selections, Alaska Twilight and Midnight Sea. She has more than 6 million books in print.
I was disappointed by this book, even though I quite enjoyed it. I really liked the premise and I expected a good mix of mystery and romance, but The Lightkeeper's Ball was not exactly a masterpiece.
Olivia was probably the main reason: she was too irritating for her own good with her spoiled ways and her rudeness (in some parts, I was internally begging her to shut. up.) and, most of all, the way the author constantly tried to make her appear as "an admirable clever woman that wanted more from life than mere balls and dresses". So yeah, I almost couldn't stand her.
On the other hand, Harrison was a good character, I liked the way he cared for her mother and the strong belief he held in his dreams.
Whereas the mystery was good enough to keep me interested, though not complicated enough to surprise me, Olivia's charade wasn't very plausible, as well as the fact that Harrison asked the lady's hand without even knowing her first name.
I would recommend The Lightkeeper's Ball to people who like Colleen Coble's writing.
I have never read any book by Colleen Coble yet, but I have always heard great things about them. I was eager to dive into The Lightkeeper’s Ball because of this and the fact that the cover was just so beautiful! I began the book at breakfast and finished it before dinner. For those who know me, that obviously means it was unputdownable and, in consequence, an amazingly awesome story! Loved it!
The characters in this book are very believable and three-dimensional. Olivia was spunky and brave and I connected with her almost from the very first few pages. She reminded me of myself. Harrison was great as well. It took me a little while to warm up to him—I felt like I was in Olivia’s shoes, not sure if he was good or bad—but once I got to know him he became a great hero for this story. It was also neat seeing characters from the two previous books in here. While I haven’t read either book, I still recognized character names like Katie, Will, and Addie. It made me want to go back and read the other books so I could get to know them better.
When I first began this book, I thought I knew how it was all going to go. Pretty girl goes to find her sister’s murderer—falls in love with her top suspect—finds real murderer who is not her new love—couple live happily ever after. The end. Right? Wow, was I wrong! Colleen threw in dozens of twists and surprises along the way until I gave up trying to predict how the plot would go. Always a great sign that you are reading an awesome book by a talented author. I commend Colleen for her ability to surprise her readers.
I easily dived into the lives of Olivia and Harrison through Colleen’s vivid writing voice. A few times, during an action scene, I felt that things were told to the reader more than showed. But after getting into the story I didn’t even notice it, I was so wrapped up in the story. While there is nothing wrong ever described, this book does deal with a husband cheating with another woman and an unfaithful fiancée. Besides stating these facts, it doesn’t go into too much detail and I never became uncomfortable. A man and woman do get stranded in the forest for two days, but nothing wrong happens besides that they end up sleeping beside each other when they are finally rescued and therefore gives a bad impression to their rescuers. This situation was necessary for the plot and Colleen handed the situation so well that I had no problem with it.
In closing, I loved this book—the cover, the characters, the plot…everything! Colleen did a fabulous job and I will most assuredly be keeping my eye out for more of her work in the future. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an awesome historical that has mystery, suspense, danger, love, intrigue, and deception all rolled into one book!
This series got better with each book. This was my very favorite of the 3. A cross between a cozy with some suspense thrown in along with being historical really satisfied my reading tastes.
Olivia has everything she wants that money can supply, but she's not happy with her life and not happy with the parade of men her mother has thrown at her. She is discontent. When her sister dies mysteriously in California where she has gone to be with her fiancee, Olivia takes on the persona of Lady Devonworth (her actual but unused English title) and heads to California to find out what really happened to her sister. Loved Harrison Bennett as the hero as he kept me guessing as to whether he was the hero or villain. Olive was independent, self-sufficient, and a strong young woman. Touch of a faith thread added to this novel.
Filled with many twists, turns, and unexpected events, Coble kept my attention from start to finish. I have to admit I stayed up til 1:30 AM in order to finish it which is way past my bedtime!!
I made the mistake of reading the sample chapters on CBD. I couldn't get the book fast enough afterward. Colleen Coble weaves a delightful and intriguing tale amid the Redwoods in The Lightkeeper’s Ball. Keeping up with the twists and plots proved as adventurous as keeping up with the Stewarts—especially one in particular, Olivia Stewart. With the perfect blend of romance and suspense, THE LIGHTKEEPER’S BALL is a wonderful read! While I would’ve loved to have seen more of the actual masquerade ball, the characters held my interest. I absolutely loved the element of the aeroplane in the story, and honestly, that's a large part of what kept my interest.
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I'd give this 4 1/2 stars if I could figure out how to do the half star!
Of the 3 Mercy Falls books, this is definitely the best one. Each gets better, so I'm hoping there are more in the works :-) I absolutely love Colleen Coble's writing; the only time I've ever been critical of any of her novels it's been about editing errors. I did find one little edit-type thing in this book...at the very beginning there's an explanation of why Harrison is part of Bennett & Bennett that confused me. But it's something that is easily dismissed, really didn't need to be in the novel; I think it was there to tell us Harrison doesn't want to be part of his father's business. But Colleen Coble goes on to show this fact quite succinctly by Harrison's actions as the story progresses.
The thing that stands out to me as to why Colleen Coble is a great author is her suspension of disbelief. Throughout this novel, Olivia Stewart keeps her real name secret from Harrison. He knows her only as Lady Devonworth, even after their engagement. Every time I set the book down, I thought about the improbability of that plot. Especially considering that Olivia tells 3 people in Mercy Falls her real name. And servants - well, they talk & I can't believe this truth would really have been kept hidden. But whenever I started reading again, the spell caught me and my disbelief was thoroughly suspended.
The story is that Olivia's father lost his fortune and forged an agreement with another diamond mine owner, a Mr. Bennett. Olivia's sister, Eleanor, was to wed Mr. Bennett's son, Harrison, in order for the Stewarts to get any monies from the joint mine venture. But then Eleanor dies, tragically and in a manner that Olivia immediately suspects murder. Now Olivia must marry Harrison to keep her father's bargain. Before she'll agree to this, she travels to Mercy Falls using only her family title, Lady Devonworth, in order to look into her sister's death. A letter sent the day before Eleanor died has Olivia suspecting Harrison of foul play.
Even before setting foot in Mercy Falls, an attempt is made on Olivia's life. She is in danger throughout most of the book. Though Harrison rescues her from that first murder attempt, Olivia still doubts the quality of his character. For his part, Harrison is attracted to Lady Devonworth though he does not care for the society snobs she represents. They forge a tentative friendship that grows as the novel proceeds, each wishing to find the truth behind Eleanor's death.
Two mysteries in this book surprised me: I did not expect the true identity of Mr. Stewart's illegitamate son nor that of the murderer. The man I did suspect of evil deeds turned out to be innocent - of murder, at least. I do so love it when an author manages that kind of surprise. The truth was not shocking, either. No characters tossed in out of the blue. All the key players are presented early in the story (the first 1/3) so the reader sees all the same clues as the heroine and hero.
If you're looking for a good book to bring to the beach or on vacation, this is a good choice.
"The Lightkeeper's Ball" by Colleen Coble was a true pleasure to read. This book reminded me again of why I fell in love with reading so many years ago. The story takes place at the beginning of the 20th century, a time in history when Victorian societal strictures were battling the oncoming radical changes of the modern world. When New York socialite Olivia Stewart learns of her sister's suspicious death, she travels to California to investigate her sister's fiance, Harrison Bennett. Olivia and Harrison are both pressured to accept marriage to each other as a financially and socially rewarding merger for their two families. However, Olivia at first keeps her identity a secret in order to observe Harrison and learn more about the circumstances of her sister's death. The more that Olivia discovers about Harrison, the more attracted she is to him, and her mistrust of him slowly lessens. Harrison does not know what to make of the mysterious "Lady Devonworth" who claims to be a friend of his late fiancee's family. Both Olivia and Harrison are repressed by family and society demands, and both long to be themselves and find happiness. They discover in each other a mutual adventurous streak and a shared love of flying. Harrison builds flying machines, and Olivia loves the idea of flying. Mishaps, mistrust, murder, and mayhem threaten to keep them apart. Faith plays an important role in this story, and Olivia and Harrison learn that taking a leap of faith is like flying without the need of wings. The greater their love for each other becomes, the higher they soar! Colleen Coble is a skilled storyteller who creates interesting, dimensional characters and a vivid, richly detailed story line. "The Lightkeeper's Ball'' is the third book in the "Mercy Falls" series. I haven't read the first two books in the series yet, but I plan to remedy that as soon as possible. I will definitely be reading more of Ms. Coble's work, and I look forward to much more genuine reading enjoyment!
When heiress Olivia Stewart finds out her sister Eleanor died from drowning, Olivia becomes suspicious and leaves for Mercy Falls to investigate. Olivia's mother wants her settle down and marry Harrison Bennett the son of her father's business partner. The Stewarts wealth is in decline and the Bennetts are in need of entrance into ultra high society. Olivia decides to go to Mercy Falls to investigate her sister's death as well as better know Harrison her sister's intended fiance'.
As Olivia arrives in Mercy Falls, prior to a storm, an attempt is made on her life. Luckily for Olivia, Harrison was there to rescue her from death. Olivia stays briefly and befriends a small family that runs the lighthouse. When the storm blows the light house down Olivia decides to throw a fundraising ball. While staying at the Stewart mansion a letter from her father who is believed to be dead surfaces which casts doubt on Mr Stewart's death. As Olivia gets to better know Harrison under the guise of Lady Devonworth, more attempts are taken on her life. How will Olivia reveal her true identity and is Harrison as bad as she first thought he was?
I am not a regular historical romance novel reader but this book changed my mind. It had mystery, romance and history that I found it to be a good escape novel. A good escape novel means the reader can immerse completely into the story and the book's characters,plot and places become real. I found the book easy to read and very interesting for some of the other back stories it brings up such as one's identity and freedom to be who one wants to be. I read the third book of the Mercy Falls series and found that this book is good as a stand alone. I am interested in reading the first two books. I received The Lightkeeper's Ball from a book program from Thomas Nelson publisher's and am not required to give a favorable review.
This historical Christian romance had a little bit of everything, and I loved it all! I will admit, the book started out a little slow for me. I thought it was going to be a typical run of the mill Christian romance. I was even a little confused by the two characters named Mr. Bennett. But I encourage you not to quit reading if you're feeling the same way. This book turns into a quick-paced, modern-thinking mystery and romance.
My favorite thing about the book was the positive message about women's roles. I enjoy Christian fiction, but sometimes I feel like they look at women in an old fashioned way, which is so far from the way I feel that it discourages me from reading some books in the genre. But this book took a very forward and modern view on women's roles, and their value and worth. Harrison was especially encouraging of Olivia taking charge of her life and breaking out of society's rules for women. Harrison respects Olivia as a woman and a partner, and even more importantly, Olivia respects herself as a woman.
I also liked that the author doesn't shy away from the passionate side of Harrison and Olivia's feelings for each other. These feelings are discussed in a respectful and realistic way, not glossed over or ignored like some books in the genre do.
I appreciate that Harrison had a large role in the book, the story wasn't skewed towards Olivia's point of view. The mystery definitely kept me on my toes, and never overshadowed the romance or the personal stories in the book.
A lot of people have raved about the cover of this book, but in my opinion, the story is even better than the gorgeous cover.
book sent by publisher in exchange for honest review
This is the third book in the Mercy Falls series. I haven't read the first two, but after reading this one I definitely will have to go back and read them.
The cover is the first thing that draws me to this novel. The gown is absolutely beautiful and the room she is standing in just makes you want to know why she is in such an opulent setting.
Olivia Stewart has always been known for her wealth. Unfortunately, this draws unwanted attention from suitors who only want to be with her for her money. When Olivia's sister dies in an accident, she decides to go check out the circumstances of her death because she is suspicious of the details. Harrison Bennett himself is a man of great wealth whom Olivia is expected to marry since her sister died and did not get to marry him. The Stewart family fortune has dwindled and Olivia's mother expects her to marry Harrison in order to keep their family in the same social connections and wealth. When she meets the man her sister was to marry, she is immediately taken aback by his presence and doesn't know how she feels about her own reactions since she is suspicious of anyone. When Olivia meets Harrison she gives goes by the name of Lady Devonworth so that she can learn more about him and so that he would not know she is a Stewart. This could be her undoing in the end when her secret is revealed.
Colleen Coble is an amazing writer. I have read several of her novels and have never been disappointed in any of them. She crafts a story that stays with you and makes you long for more. Once again, I had that same thought. I would highly recommend this book and any other book by Colleen Coble.
I have to start off by stating I did not read numbers 1 or 2 of this "series", but it really didn't matter, I still enjoyed myself.
So, I'm not even going to call this a review.... this is more like notes/thoughts and my usual rambling....
I fell in cover love with this and didn't bother to research at all and just gave in to an impulse buy. I don't regret it, but $12 is kind of expensive for this type of a book.
This was somewhat predictable, a little murder mystery that had a few twists I wasn't expecting.
Pretty likable characters, pretty imagery. Somewhat lacking romantically for me, I wanted a little more. A couple of cheesy moments. This was a pleasure read for me, nothing more.
Good times. Curious about the others in this series..... this author has a TON of books!!!!!!
3.75 stars. I liked this better than the second book of the series, and the last third was really excellent and difficult to put down. I felt like it bogged down a trifle around a quarter of the way in, but I kept going. One thing that REALLY threw me for a loop was high-society Mr. Bennett telling his son that "we do not hang out with [their sort]." "Hanging out" is a very modern term, and even if it had been common in the day, it would be very out of character for a man of his sort to stoop to slang. To stay true to character, he should have simply said, "do not associate." I did love how the killer is so well hidden until the very end. Usually I'm very good at guessing such things.
A little bit of romance, plus a little bit of intrigue, with a little history mixed in, gives you The Lightkeeper's Ball by Colleen Coble. Lovely Olivia Stewart, New York socialite, finds that her sister Eleanor who moved to California to marry her Father's business partner's son is now dead. Determined to get to the bottom of this mystery and find out what caused her death, Olivia heads west to see who is responsible. With her first suspect being Harrison Bennett, her sister's fiance, she arrives in Mercy Falls, CA using her formal name of "Lady Devonworth" so that she might try to ascertain who killed her sister without others knowing her true identity. But as she gets to know Harrison Bennett better,she soon realizes that he is probably not the one who killed her sister and she also realizes that her feelings for him are going beyond what she expected. Harrison finds himself kept rather busy rescuing Olivia time after time as she face several perilous situations. Could the same person who killed her sister be after her as well? Things get even more complicated as family secrets emerge from both sides. This adds to the intrigue as there are several characters that are not who they seem to be.
Colleen Coble did a good job in showing the progression of the journey that Olivia takes in the book. She has been raised to be concerned with primarily outside appearances, both physical and social standing. As the character of Olivia grows you find her exploring the fact that she is so much more than that. Harrison takes a journey of his own, which is quite similar actually. He finds himself being crushed under the "go into the family business" expectations that often fall on the shoulders of the son of the family. Both have expectations on them given by their parents that they need to figure out with regards to their decisions for their respective futures.
This mystery/romance was an enjoyable and quick read. As in many stories this one hits on the "honesty is the best policy" theme as without it trust is eroded in a relatsionship. There are a few times in this story where things start to unravel because of this, but in the end truth and forgiveness win out.
So for those that enjoy romance, intrigue, and oh lets throw a masquerade ball in for good measure, I think it's a safe bet to say that you will enjoy this book.
This book was graciously provided for me by Thomas Nelson throught the Netgalley program. The opinions represented in this review are my own.
This is my first Colleen Coble book and I definitely wouldn't mind reading more by her. The characters were well developed and the scenes were beautifully set without going into too much detail. A nice amount of twists and turns presented throughout the novel and, without giving too much away, I certainly did not expect the newest family member to be who it turned out to be.
One relationship in the novel feels unresolved, but then I suppose that is how life sometimes turns out. Perhaps it will be resolved in a later novel as I understand this to be a series of books. Because it not the first in the series, I did have a little trouble getting into the groove of it, but that did not last long and I did not feel horribly left out of details or events. Overall, it was well done.
I think this was my favourite of the series. I read this every chance I could. The danger started from the start straight to the end.
I loved Olivia and Harrison. Both of them had to overcome boxes people placed them in to find their own feet in the changing world. However, there was times I found both a bit naive/ignorant especially with certain situations Olivia found herself in and how Harrison missed all the clues of Olivia’s true identity.
I enjoyed all the scenes with the flying machine and how Harrison turned/spoke to God about everything.
An enjoyable historical romantic suspense. I highly recommend this series.
. Each of the books in the Mercy Falls series can be read as stand alone books.
They do intertwine some of the characters.
I really enjoyed the first two books in the series. I had a difficult time retaining interest during the first half of this book, but resumed my interest in the second half.
It is a clean story, stands on its own, and what an HEA.
This third book of the trilogy centers on Olivia Spencer and her quest to uncover the mysterious drowning death of her sister. She meets her sister’s ex-fiancé, and after an initial mistrust, finds herself liking him more and more. Secrets and deceit abound in this novel and all are touched by danger. It’s a satisfying conclusion to the series, with a well written plot and interesting characters. Author Colleen Coble knows how to tell a story that is entertaining and captivating, and stays in the inspirational genre without being preachy.
The first half feels like there is a lot of world and background building even though this is the 3rd and final book in the series. Of course there are new characters and a new plot introduced, but it drags on a bit. However, by page 130 it started to pick up a lot! So it was an easier and enjoyable read for the rest of the book! I enjoyed it over all!
Book 3 is the best of this series. I was hooked from the first chapter. The twist and turns it takes and has you thinking one thing but turns into another was brilliantly written. Another great read by Colleen Coble.
The dazzling cover of this book made me stop and stare – then pick it up to see what was inside. I was so thankful for a review copy so I could discover the mysteries this book held! I’ve enjoyed several of Coleen’s books and was excited to have the opportunity to read her newest book.
The Lightkeeper’s Ball is the third book in A Mercy Falls series; I was worried I’d be lost because I didn’t read the first two. As I read I didn’t feel like I was lost at all, but it did make me want to read the first two books in this series called, The Lightkeeper’s Daughter and The Lightkeeper’s Bride.
Eleanor is dead! Drowned! (I was gripped by this books dramatic beginning) Olivia and her mother can’t believe their ears. Olivia doesn’t believe she drowned- Eleanor hated water how could she have drowned? Something’s fishy about all this and Olivia was going to get to the bottom of it but how? She comes up with a plan to go to Mercy Falls using her official title “Lady Davenworth.” No one in Mercy Falls has met her so using this identity would allow investigating her sister’s death a lot easier.
Olivia – “Lady Davenworth” meets up with Harrison Eleanor’s fiancé in order to discover more clues to this mishap. Harrison is in the aviation business telling people that this is the transportation of the future. Harrison’s father and others think he’s crazy but his investors think he’s onto something. It even catches the attention of Olivia. I really enjoyed the aviation aspect to the story; it was fun. I liked reading about a time of innocence, when everything was fresh, new and exciting.
Colleen Coble pens a engaging, suspenseful murder mystery I couldn’t put down. Colleen’s characters grabbed my heart, attention and made me smile. It also had a believable spiritual thread I liked. I loved all the behind scenes preparation as the reader saw how Lady Davenworth orchestrated a grand Ball event as a fundraiser for a worthy cause. I felt like I was at the Ball when the event finally happened. It was exciting!
Looking for a good summer read, or a monthly book club pick? I highly recommend The Lightkeeper’s Ball. It won’t disappoint!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Olivia and her family have received word that her sister, Eleanor, has died. She was betrothed to the wealthy Harrison Bennett and now it's on Olivia to marry him to keep the family fortune going. Olivia sets out instead, to find out why/how her sister died, and not to marry Harrison. Afterall, he's nothing but a nob (or so people say). While in route to Mercy Falls, California, she is shoved off the boat. Who else will save her except for Harrison himself. Suspicions immediately are aroused by Olivia (now known as Lady Devonworth) as to who caused her sister's death. Will she ever find out? Will other secrets learned devastate her family and their social standing?
This is the first Colleen Coble book that I've read. It's the third book in the Mercy Falls series. However, I don't feel that this book has to be read in order. I didn't sense that I was missing any pieces as I read this book. I will be seeking out the other two books in this series and reading them though, as I have thoroughly enjoyed this historical romance/mystery novel.
I have to say that I *love* historical fiction. Add a great romance and mystery to that and I'm as good as sold on the story! I fell in love with the cover of this book and would love to own a dress like this!! I also appreciated the details provided in this book of the homes, dresses, and even the food! I would have loved to have jumped in this story and had it be mine! I had no idea who could have been the cause of Eleanor's death (although I had a couple of suspicions I wasn't even remotely close to guessing correctly) and I wasn't sure how the end would go! This was a story that I wasn't ready for the ending...and I hope that more books will be written in this series to highlight a few more characters!
This book captured and held me from start to finish. I hope it will do the same for you!
Many thanks to Audra Jennings and The B&B Media Group for providing this copy to read.
THE LIGHTKEEPER’S BALL, the third book in the Mercy Falls series by Colleen Coble, was a romance/suspense book with more than your average twists and turns.
Olivia Stewart is determined to get to the bottom of her sisters untimely death. Some say it was suicide, but Olivia is convinced it was murder. Suspecting her sister’s fiancé, Harrison Bennett, she decides the only way to get to the truth, is to get close to Harrison. She soon finds out Harrison is not the man she thought him to be, and her heart has judged him innocent. But is her heart leading her astray? When Olivia’s life is threatened on more than one occasion, she is more convinced than ever that her sister’s death was not from her own hand and that some of her sister’s secrets could be the reason for her demise.
THE LIGHTKEEPER’S BALL is set in at the dawning of a new century, and amongst the wealthiest in the world. Olivia and Harrison’s family our considered to be most affluent, but neither Olivia nor Harrison wears the mantel of privilege well. They both want more from life than social gatherings and society’s pecking order. They live for adventure, and soon find in each other something they feel they’ve been looking for their entire life. But, will their families and their stations in society keep them apart? The twists the turns in THE LIGHTKEEPER’S BALL kept me turning page after page. There were some lulls to the book, but they never lasted for too long. Coble presented secondary characters that gave the story depth and fullness. I’ve read and enjoyed all three books in the Mercy Falls Series.
Olivia Stewart is almost past marriage age. Though, she is only twenty-five, which is not that old, when you live in a society like Olivia, twenty-five is considered a spinster. Olivia and her mother are in desperate need of money. When they learn that Olivia’s sister, Eleanor has drowned prior to marrying her fiancé, Harrison Bennett, this is bad news. Both that Eleanor has died and without Harrison being married, Olivia’s mother has lost rights to part of the diamond mine. Before Olivia can stop her head from spinning, she is offered up to Harrison as his new wife. Olivia has suspicions about Harrison. She believes that he had something to do with Eleanor’s death. She aims to learn the truth.
The Lightkeeper’s Ball is the latest book in the Mercy Falls series. It can be read as a stand alone novel. Which is good as this is the first book I have read in this series. I was able to jump right in. I could tell right away that Harrison’s reputation was worse than his real personality. He actually did care and had great drive on his mission. I thought it was funny that everyone that he talked to about how some day airplanes will be the new way of transportation just laughed at him and said it would never happen. Well Harrison was right or I should say…”Wright” as in the Wright Brothers. While the romance between Harrison and Olivia was slow to get start, which is understandable considering that Olivia hated Harrison at first. When they did finally fall for each other it was alright, nothing to write home about. The Lightkeeper’s Ball did have some sweet moments, the story was alright but my favorite was Harrison.
Eleanor Stewart leaves her home in New York to marry Harrison Bennett, but when her mother gets word that Eleanor is dead, a drowning no less, Olivia, Eleanor's sister thinks something isn't right, her sister was afraid of water so why would she have drowned. She thinks the fiance might have had something to do with it and decides to take hop a ship to Mercy Falls to get some answers. When she is pushed off the ship before arriving at Mercy Falls she begins to think someone is out to get her. The man that saves her turns out to be Harrison Bennett, but he has no idea who she is because she is using the families formal English title of Lady Devonworth. As the story unfolds its obvious that Olivia's life is in jeopardy, can she figure out the truth before its to late? The author weaves together suspense, romance, action and mystery along with several plot twists which held my attention until the final pages as I tried to guess who-dun-it. While there is a definite christian message it isn't preachy or overwhelming. While I enjoyed the mystery in this story, but the historical flavor of the book was what drew me to the story, that and the beautiful cover. Sometimes you can judge a book by the cover, and this one is a real winner! Even though this is the third book in the Mercy Falls series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, I didn't read the first two and had no problems jumping right into this story!
rating 5/5 I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It took me a long time to start it, but when I started, I couldn't keep off myself from reading it! It is very easy to follow, but very exciting too. "The Lightkeeper's Ball" by Colleen Coble is the third book of the series and it's a romance blended with mystery and suspense. You can see how the hate between the young man and woman turns into very strong love (although this happens somehow quickly). While sharing the deep emotions of the two young people, you also feel the horror, because there is a bad guy who consistently tries to kill this woman for the sake of revenge and money. And of course the love always wins as the woman is saved by her lover, her hero every time she is in danger. I like that it's hard to guess the bad guy. There are many options, but none of them comes true, the real one is a surprise! This is not a pure romance, but it has some religious points. The book emphasizes the strength in faith and God, but not too densely. When viewed from this aspect, we can say the book is also about the journey of the protagonists in search of themselves, their personalities. Also, whenever Olivia is in danger, she learns that God hears her voice, which can be interpreted as the miracle of the God. I truly recommend this book. Now, I'm very curious about the other books of the author.
I really enjoyed this book. It does say that it is the third book in the Mercy Falls series. I have not had the chance to read either of the first two books. However, I did not feel lost because of it. And I really didn’t feel that there were spoilers from the first two in this one.
The characters were really great. I love Olivia’s headstrong attitude. She did not want to necessarily go along with societies views of women for that time. And thankfully, Harrison encourages her instead of demeaning her.
I can’t wait to find the first two books in this series. I know that they are going to be just as great as this one was.
I ended up receiving two copies of this book by accident. One through Booksneeze and one through FIRST Wild Card. This is my post for Booksneeze, there will be another post on May 13th with more information.
I am also going to be giving away one copy of this book to a lucky reader of Wakela's World (http://www.wakelarunen.com).
In conjunction with the Wakela's World Disclosure Statement, I received a product in order to enable my review. No other compensation has been received. My statements are an honest account of my experience with the brand. The opinions stated here are mine alone.