Guide Us Home

by Jesse J. Thoma, C.F. Frizzell

Nancy and Sam have no intention of playing nice. Each aims to win the bid for the abandoned Narragansett Island Lighthouse, and compromise isn’t in the cards. It’s preservation versus profit, but the lighthouse’s dissatisfied governing board insists on better from both women.

Ironically, a battered old book at the lighthouse just might provide the key to success. Inspiring parallels are discovered in the dog-eared the struggles, dreams—and love—between two Danish women braving WWII’s desperate days, guided by a valiant lighthouse they know well.

The heroic tale could navigate Nancy and Sam to success, if they stop floundering long enough to see love coming to their rescue.

288 pages, Paperback

Published February 13, 2024

About the author

Jesse Thoma splits her professional time between graduate school and work. She is a project manager in a clinical research lab and spends a good amount of time in methadone clinics and prisons collecting data and talking to people. Jesse grew up in Northern California but headed east for college. She never looked back, although her baseball allegiance is still loyally with the San Francisco Giants. She has lived in New England for ten years and has finally learned to leave extra time in the morning to scrape snow off the car. Jesse is blissfully married and is happiest when she is out for a walk with her wife and their dog, pretending she still has the soccer skills she had as an eighteen-year-old, eating anything her wife bakes, or sitting at the computer to write a few lines. (from the publisher's website)

Reviews

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story with two books in one. Current day story takes place in Rhode Island where an old lighthouse is up for auction. A local woman, Nancy, wants to turn it into a historical museum. Sam is an executive from California who want to turn it into a high end resort. They start out as enemies and become lovers. The romance was fun and kept me interested. The second story is about WWII Denmark and a lighthouse that is run by a Danish women Jonna and her father. Trove is working in a fishing boat in. Jonna and Tove fall in love and work together to rescue and transport Jewish children to Sweden.

The chapters are headed by the location and dates so you can tell when you are switching stories. I enjoyed both stories and recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction.

ARC received from BSB and Net Galley for an honest and voluntary review.

[Aleana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Nancy and Sam both want the abandoned Narragansett Island Lighthouse. Nancy wants it to preserve the history while Sam wants to turn it into high end resort when the committee rejects both proposals they suggest they work together to combine their ideas. While Nancy and Sam tries finding common ground we get to know two women of the past Jonna and Tove who fell in love and work together while trying to survive WWII. Good Read.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dual stories with page time split fairly evenly. In modern times Samantha wants to buy a small island with a lighthouse off the coast of Rhode Island and turn it into a luxury resort or spa. Nancy wants to open a museum celebrating its history. When neither plan is accepted they are encouraged to work together to come up with more viable solutions. From a book they read the story of Trove and Jonna who are trying to get to safety during WWII. There is more exciting action in the historical parts of the story. The historical chapters are dated so It is easy to follow the transitions in timelines. But by sharing the narrative you don't have a lot of time with either couple. Thank you to Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars)

[Fran Sappharc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two stories in one. The historical story has more action and although I enjoyed the modern couple, once they got together, pacing was a bit ho-hum. Conversely, the historical couple being apart meant the romance pacing was a bit ho-hum, and unfortunately both these situations happened at the same time. Towards the end it was quite exciting and I liked the way all the loose ends were tied up.

[Monna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guide Us Home by Jesse J. Thoma and CF Frizzell has multiple layers. I received a free ARC copy from NetGalley for this book. I was tempted by the lighthouse on the cover and at the center of the story. I was glad I tried it. There’s a love story, multiple history lessons, and another love story. Yes, it’s a happy ending for both love stories. The history lessons aren’t all happy, but the authors have woven them into their story quite well. Past history, whether world or personal, isn’t always pleasant. Samantha and Nancy go on a journey they never expected, and they follow history as much as they pursue the lighthouse. Our other pair of women, Jonna and Tove, struggle to survive and deal with their harsh reality while trying to nurture and grow their relationship. So many layers! It’s a book with a story within a story. And it works.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book by either of these authors. It was an enjoyable book with both couples featured prominently.

Samantha McMann is the heir to a company she doesn't want and seeks to find happiness elsewhere. She decides to buy a lighthouse and make it her own pet project, but Nancy Calhoun has other ideas. She finds a book about two women and a lighthouse and gets immersed in their story that's woven throughout the book.

Nancy Calhoun wants to preserve the history and turn the lighthouse into a museum, not a high end resort like Samantha does. Low and behold, they are told to work together and come up with a new combined proposal that doesn't start off the best, but sparks fly.

I enjoyed this book, but it moved quickly and the relationships between the women seemed to happen too quickly despite not spending a lot of time together. I enjoyed the ending and epilogue, but it lacked buildup and the climax wasn't as great as I expected.

Overall, not a bad book. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two stories in one. Nice. Four women. Nice. Different time periods. Nice. Dealing with similar yet not of how to be with each other. Tove and Jonna fighting the good fight for their country. Samantha, local woman, cares deeply about the lighthouse and Nancy, executive, looking for a business opportunity, fighting the good fight for a sense of self. Both couples have the Narragansett Island Lighthouse at the center and do not want it to fall into ruins. The flow of the stories was interesting as well as engaging. Although two stories were going on simultaneously, there was no confusion due to the chapter headings. The challenges each couple faces does not compare but it helps to tell a good story.

ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great location, plot and character development. Overall, a well written story that jumps between two eras. Great Job Jesse.


Thank you, Bold Strokes Books, and NetGalley.

[Henriette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sea, its lighthouses and two f/f romances
This book starts of with two rivals bidding for an old lighthouse: one a history nerd (Nancy), the other an investor looking to build a luxury resort (Sam). Of course there is a big clash - I loved the vibe of competition and the early threads of mutual attraction and mutual understanding.
Triggered by an old book found by Sam early on we are transported way back to another lighthouse in Denmark - a beacon of hope and a beacon of love for two women in desperate times during WW II.
Although I felt that the intertwining of the two storylines was a bit random at times each had its merits on its own and was enjoyable. Alas as a history nerd myself I raised my eyebrows a few times at too much modern thinking creeping into a different time and age.
This novel gives us two f/f romances and if you enjoy the sea, lighthouses and a pinch of adventure this is a good, enjoyable read.

I received an ARC via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the historical part of this book. The modern day couple was interesting. The characters are interesting and likable. Very good read

[Alex Soucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down. I’ve never read a co-novel like that, so I’m not sure how to feel. This was a fairly fast-paced romance, but I think I prefer slower-burn romances.