Keeper Of The Light

Kiss River #1

by Diane Chamberlain

You're on duty in the emergency room and despite desperate efforts, the victim of a gunshot wound loses her life. She is Annie O'Neill. Your husband's mistress.

Olivia can't watch any longer as her husband grieves the love of his life. Desperate to understand who this perfect woman was, Olivia finds herself stepping into Annie's shoes. Into another family one with an adoring husband and troubled young daughter. A family who make Olivia feel needed, but don't know who she really is. And the façade is cracking with every step she takes.

There's still time to turn back to a husband who loves her second best. Or to keep walking to a new future but in a dead woman's shoes.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Contemporary, Mystery, Womens Fiction

508 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 1992

About the author

Diane Chamberlain is the New York Times, USA Today and (London) Sunday Times best-selling author of 28 novels. The daughter of a school principal who supplied her with a new book almost daily, Diane quickly learned the emotional power of story. Although she wrote many small “books” as a child, she didn’t seriously turn to writing fiction until her early thirties when she was waiting for a delayed doctor’s appointment with nothing more than a pad, a pen, and an idea. She was instantly hooked.

Diane was born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey and lived for many years in both San Diego and northern Virginia. She received her master’s degree in clinical social work from San Diego State University. Prior to her writing career, she was a hospital social worker in both San Diego and Washington, D.C, and a psychotherapist in private practice in Alexandria, Virginia, working primarily with adolescents.

More than two decades ago, Diane was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which changed the way she works: She wrote two novels using voice recognition software before new medication allowed her to get back to typing. She feels fortunate that her arthritis is not more severe and that she’s able to enjoy everyday activities as well as keep up with a busy travel schedule.

Diane lives in North Carolina with her significant other, photographer John Pagliuca, and their odd but lovable Shetland Sheepdog, Cole

Reviews

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a horrible book. I am sorry. A very weird love triangle, oops How do you say that but then with 5 people? ;) fiveangle?

I have read some of this author's books and I did enjoy some but this ............
I had to stop reading.

The begin is quite interesting but then when you get to know the other characters (and they are all very unlikable!) it gets weird. Real weird and stupid.
Apparently everybody and their dogs loves this one red head woman. Men hate their wives because they compare them to her. Women try to be her.

Okay Is there something I can puke in. I read way too much so I think can judge this book and I give it 2 stars cause am nice like that. ;)

[Taury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast read. Amazing read. So many messages in this book! First! This struck me the most. Kids need structure, limits and balance. Second! Embrace and love who you are. Do not compare yourself to others. You don’t know what demons others are silently facing. Thirdly! Honesty, trust and loyalty must be completed in all things.

5⭐️ might be too high but I am so enamored by this book. So much emotion. Characters are eh. But the messages included more than make up for what it is lacking.

2 more books in this series.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous book by Diane Chamberlain. I was so drawn into this book I actually forgot where I was when reading it. I'm so glad it's the start of a trilogy!

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I'm so glad I bought the trilogy.
I'm now starting book two.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ahhh here we go again. It does seem that every month I pull a Diane Chamberlain book out of my TBR Jar and I think to myself... 'maybe this one will change my mind' but alas it was not to be with this book. Fun Fact: I've actually read book 3 in the series without knowing it was even part of a trilogy until I checked on GoodReads. So it was all in all a bit of a weird experience because i've read about some of these characters in about 20 or so years so it was strange going back to them in this story.

I really did not enjoy this book - neither the plot nor the characters were well thought out in my view and were just bad. What is completely baffling to me throughout this book is the insane amount of obsession people have with Annie and the real lack of explanation for this; she is portrayed both as a saint who helps out at the battered-women's shelter and visits the old people's home, but on the other hand she is a rabid anti-abortionist (whilst having multiple abortions herself BECAUSE OF COURSE) and she repeatedly repeatedly cheats on her husband with what appears to be any man that she crosses her path with. Men want to be with her and women try to be her - but with no clear explanation really as to why this is. The whole plot felt really flakey and underdeveloped.

Let me break down the characters:

Olivia: Olivia finds out that her husband (Paul) is utterly obsessed with another woman (Annie) - so obsessed that he laments how committed Annie is to her husband (Alec) IN FRONT OF OLIVIA. This man literally complains TO HIS WIFE that he can't cheat on her as he wants to AND SHE STAYS WITH HIM?!?!?! Their relationship breaks down when Olivia tells Paul that Annie has died and he feels he needs to go and mourn her. Honestly Olivia spends half of this book desperate to get Paul back and I just utterly lost my respect for her. It then gets really weird in that Olivia wants to know what is so special about Annie (don't we all) and so decides to walk a mile in her shoes; learning about her art and creativity and befriending Alec - which then leads to a romantic relationship which honestly felt very dodgy. Olivia lies to Alec throughout the entirety of the book but at the end they end up together - whilst she's pregnant with Paul's child may I add. I just couldn't enjoy her as a character - it really feels that she serves no overall purpose because she doesn't have a personality of her own and is just meant to be used as a comparison to Annie for both Alec and Paul. There's one addition to Olivia's story that is absolutely unnecessary and honestly quite disturbing; there's a really graphic description of Olivia being raped from when she was a child but it utterly served no point to the story and I feel it was completely unnecessary.

Paul: He is just completely unlikable. There is nothing redeemable about this character and I just spent most of the book wishing he would disappear. Paul is obsessed with Annie, like utterly obsessed that he is virtually stalking her even when she keeps telling him to stay away. Paul mistreats his wife constantly by comparing her to Annie and essentially just being a shit husband. Paul knows Annie from their college days and although their relationship didn't work out, he seems to have a view that he owns her and at one points displays "pride" at having her before Alec. Honestly so disturbing. Paul constantly treats Olivia as a second choice; he never seems to genuinely love her because he is utterly obsessed with Annie. He cheats on her, repeatedly, but has no remorse for this. Paul only loses his obsession with Annie when he realises that she was sleeping with every other man in town and not just him. Like he rapidly goes off her when he finds out he's not unique, and then seem to think that he and Olivia will just get back together now that he's seen the light.

Alec: what a terrible parent; he is absolutely useless but it really felt like he was meant to be shown as the better option compared to Paul. Alec is so wrapped up in himself and his own grief that he leaves his teenage children to parent themselves and it's only after Olivia confronts him that he starts to realise that he maybe isn't doing the best job out there. Alec seems absolutely fine with his 13 year old daughter coming in at god knows what time and drinking and smoking. Alec's argument is that Annie would have let them be, but Annie never offered the children rules or boundaries either. We learn that Annie was neglected as a child and just had money thrown at her, so it's meant to appear that she allows her children to do what they want... so they don't feel like she did?? But to me her kids are just as neglected through lack of rules and boundaries. Alec seems to forget that Lacey literally witnessed her mother be murdered in front of her, and he doesn't seem to think she'll need a bit more help. This book has some real bad ideology; Alec tells Lacey she shouldn't sleep around and should wait for someone special BUT SHE IS LITERALLY 13 YEARS OLD AND IS SLEEPING AROUND. My god man. Step up and support your child. Oh I also forgot to add - he repeatedly calls Lacey by her dead mother's name and then forgets her birthday.... Outside of that his relationship with Olivia just seems to odd and I couldn't get on board with it at all.

Annie: Annie just seems to be a complete mess of a character and I don't feel like Chamberlain really knew what to do with her; they wanted her to be this saint-like character whilst also portraying her as someone who repeatedly cheats on her husband with a multitude of men and has no real remorse over it because she KEEPS DOING IT. There's also an obvious paternity plot line that comes out in this story that again just was't necessary, but it really just adds to what a terrible person Annie is. You can't have it both ways.

This book is just far too long and so many bits felt repetitive and unnecessary. I'm not sure what was meant to be achieved by this book and it really fell flat for me. If you like love triangles... or love pentagons? Then I guess you would enjoy this one? But I really really didn't - it just felt like a soap opera.

[Shaikha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god, this book is exactly what I needed!

The drama and the twists are TOO good.
Unpredictable; kept me at the edge of my seat!
Never thought I'd love and enjoy this so much, such a satisfying book. ❤

Keeper of the Light is a romantic fiction, but it’s embedded with lots of lessons that we can apply to work and life.
It’s a story about love, loss, betrayal, forgiveness and starting over. As I was reading this book my heart ached so bad.



The story plot is wonderfully paced and the characters are well developed, the main ones are: Annie (stained glass artist) and Alec O’Neill (veterinary doctor), Dr. Olivia Simon (surgeon) and Paul Macelli (journalist).

Paul Macelli has done a profile on Annie O’Neill and has become obsessed with her. He tells his wife Dr. Olivia Simon about his love for Annie, but stresses that it’s one-sided on his part and a platonic relationship. Paul starts to withdraw from his wife.

In the beginning of the book, a husband goes to a shelter for abused women where Annie volunteers and points a gun at his wife. Annie steps in the line of fire and tries to talk the man out of shooting, but he pulls the trigger. Annie is rushed to the hospital where Dr. Simon works, and she is on duty that night. She works hard to save this gun shot victim and at midway through trying to save her, she recognizes that her patient is the woman that her husband is in love with.

Despite that, she fights to save Annie’s life, but she loses the battle. When she goes home and tells her husband Paul that Annie was shot and died, he completely flips out and packs his bag and leaves. The story unfolds, and many people have put Annie on a pedestal and even call her Saint Annie. Dr. Simon tries to be more like Annie, volunteering at the shelter, and taking stained glass classes because she wants to know what this woman had that she doesn’t have.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Diane Chamberlain novel I totally enjoyed even though it was just a little outdated (originally published in 1992). It did not, however, detract from the story as the 500 pages just flew by. Certainly look forward to reading more of DC's books!

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of my favorites from Diane Chamberlain. An awesome writer! Highly recommend all her books.

[Kiki Z · Rating 2 out of 5]

Damn it, I have to retype this review. So excuse me if it's not as nice as it could be. Let's bullet point it because I can't remember everything I said.

--Odd writing style. For example, Clay calls his sister by their last name, which makes no sense to me. Characters are often referred to by their first and last names, which is unnecessary, and when it happens all the time, it takes away any meaning it might have had.

--Very 90s ideologically at points. Uncomfortably so.

--Paul is unlikable. He's just plain unlikable. He's obsessed with Annie. He knows he's obsessed and he keeps going to where she is. It's portrayed like an addiction, which I guess is possible, but it often feels like author is trying to excuse it to make this plot line. Later, we learn Annie and Paul have a history together (one there's no reason for the author to hide, and in fact, makes no sense for the author to hide) but I can't help but wonder if it would have worked better if they didn't.

Paul's treatment of Olivia is appalling for a variety of reasons. His love for her never feels genuine, especially given his 'addiction' to Annie. As soon as he comes in contact with Annie again, Olivia is all but forgotten. He has zero problems lying to his wife--she has no idea he has a history with Annie--he doesn't tell her his ex is living in the town his wife has been offered a job, and he blames her for her long hours as a doctor. This is later shown to happen before their move even. He doesn't realize Olivia's pregnant, although it should be obvious, I thought. Her body would be changing, but I guess it's presumptuous to assume this guy has ever paid attention to his wife. A huge amount of his plot revolves around Annie, to the point where his relationship with his WIFE seems unimportant by comparison in the narrative.

--Alec's refusal to actually parent his children. Even after learning his FOURTEEN year old daughter is sleeping around, he refuses to limit where she's going or who she's with. Because Annie. Annie didn't make her children do anything or limit them or anything. She always offered unconditional support. Whatever. The obsession with her is ridiculous. My point here is: her mother just died, and she was there. She saw her get shot. Lacy has issues, and while I don't expect a book from the nineties to advocate for therapy, I do expect some parenting beyond "you're too special to give it anyone." SHE IS A CHILD. SHE SHOULDN'T BE SLEEPING AROUND AT ALL. AND YOU ARE HER FATHER. YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD. It takes Olivia possibly overstepping and telling him flat out he's being an idiot for him to get it. He wanted to do things Annie's way--but Annie's way comes from her being neglected by her parents. Annie was over restricted as a child, but that doesn't mean no rules is the way to go. It's nice that Clay appeared to turn out just fine, but he was older when Annie dies, and he's clearly more responsible than his father.

Point here: The argument that well, Annie lost her virginity when she was 15 and she turned out fine is a stupid argument. One could argue Annie clearly did not end up fine, even though her husband didn't know. One could argue that she was obsessed with being desired, wanted, and admired because of her childhood, and could not function normally.

--On that, Annie. I think the author is trying to portray her as a damaged woman who is nonetheless attractive, whimsical, and unconventional. Instead, she comes across as needy, flaky, and phony. Or maybe that's just because we see Annie through the eyes of a man who loved her, a man who was obsessed with her, and a woman whose husband was obsessed with her. And Paul's and Alec's point of views are severely biased. We see that she lies--even though the lies are unnecessary--and we learn that she has secrets. Instead of making her feel fully formed, with both bad and good traits, she just seems two-faced. Possibly because none of the story is from her point of view, and possibly because it seems like literally everyone loved her.

--I would have liked Olivia if she wasn't so desperate to have her husband back despite his mistreatment of her. I also would have liked Olivia and Alec together more if it wasn't for the situation they were in. Olivia's traumatic backstory feels unnecessary and gratuitous. It adds very little to the story, even in the Lacy plot line, which I think it was trying to connect to. Olivia in general feels a little hazy--she has very little character and only serves as a counterpoint to Annie for both men.

[Deacon Tom F. (Recovering from a big heart attack) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keeper of the Light was a very well written book that I enjoyed. The characters were realistic with strong development throughout the story. Olivia's, low self-esteem was the best example.

The plot line is very strong across themes like betrayal and marital breakup with good pacing and several twists and turns.

I highly recommend. I plan to read book #2 in this trilogy very soon.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️s

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a trilogy (other novels are Kiss River and Her Mother's Shadow).

Diane's books are always full of complex interesting characters, good plots, family relationships and drama, suspense and many secrets to be revealed in the end.

[Darla Stokes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I absolutely hated this book at first. A married couple separates because the husband is in love with a woman who has died, and with whom he apparently had only a superficial relationship. He reminded me of when my daughter was about 12 and was "in loooove" with a boy she'd never spoken to.

But I can't NOT finish a book, so I pushed on. Surprisingly, it did pick up in the last half of the book, with revelations that made the characters make more sense. But this was accomplished by the heavy use of disorienting flashbacks. Flashbacks may have their place, but in this book, they felt like a cheat. There's no way the characters would not have remembered the events revealed in the flashbacks in the "now" of the story--they were only hidden to keep the reader guessing... or in my case, to make the reader loathe the characters. Once I learned the whole story, I hated the characters too much for any revelations to help.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not my favorite of her books but it was still a good book. A friend who recently read this said it was too long and I couldn't agree more. Overall though Diane Chamberlain writes damn good stories that keep you engaged and wanting more at every turn of the page.

[Myrn🩶 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diane rocks! She really knows how to tell a story. Though dated (beepers, stone wash jeans, and hair band posters), it’s still a great storyline. 4.5★s

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot even attempt to properly describe this book to you, because it is way better than even the description on the back cover of the book! Really, the description of this book is the bare minimum of what it is really about. Yes that is the main idea, but there is so much more to it! Slowly throughout the novel, connections between people, events, and places are being made. As I read on, I was realizing more and more the weaving of the characters and their lives. The only way I can describe the ending of this book is "BOOM". Everything that I thought was going on wasn't even the big deal anymore. Truths are coming out, and the weaving of the characters stands out so much more. It's absolutely amazing.

I absolutely love the description and details of characters in Diane Chamberlain's novels. Every character serves a purpose and was put into the novel for a reason. Diane included a woman who caused so much pain even though she is dead, a daughter who is doing anything and everything to get somebody to pay attention, a son who is completely ignoring what has happened, a father and husband who is completely shutting down, one friend who wants to come in and save it all, another friend who is trying to understand what is going on by living through the dead woman, a man who is in love with and setting up his life with the dead woman, and finally, an old lady who knows everybody's secrets. Everyone just fits perfectly together by the end of this book. It's absolutely amazing how well written Diane Chamberlain's novels are. She doesn't forget a single detail.

I did absolutely love it though, like I do all Diane Chamberlain novels. She is just a wonderful writer. Every one of her books I have rated 5 stars. The details of events, places, etc. is just amazing!

[Judy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!! I do not believe Diane Chamberlain could write a bad book – everything she writes is extraordinary! I loved the book and looking forward to reading the other two in the Kiss River series, as just purchased the next two Nook books.

My favorite characters were Olivia and Alec!!. Wow, did Annie have everyone fooled along with Mary, the old lady! Loved the setting¸ the lighthouse, and the twists and turns which were page turners! Highly creative writer and each of her books are different and reads which you cannot put down!

[Diana Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really don’t know how to rate this book. To hate it or not? Chamberlain is a good author, and I love her style of writing. But this book, the story, really irritates me. Annie is a real f***ing bitch. She deserved to die. She’s so sick in the head. She’s ruined everybody’s life even after she’s dead!! So much so as Saint Annie hey? Paul is a stupid spineless of a man. Alec and Olivia are the real victims here although these 2 are also sometimes quite annoying. I guess Chamberlain has achieved successfully in what she intended to do while writing it and for that I’d give it a 3⭐️.

[Jennifer N · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a weird book to read. I love Diane Chamberlain and wanted to read some of her older books. This is the first in a trilogy. This is one of the first books that I have read where I dislike most of the main characters but still enjoyed the book.
Annie is shot to death while volunteering at a woman's shelter. She is Saint Annie. Everyone loves this woman and she is just so perfect. Annoyingly so as we realize that she was far from it.
Paul is obsessed with Annie after interviewing her. He leaves his wife to mourn after learning of her death. He is weak and pathetic and I can't believe any woman would be interested in him.
Olivia is Paul's wife and also the ER doc who tried to save Annie. She knows her husband is obsessed with a dead man but still tries to win him back. She starts doing all of the things that Annie did.
Alec is Annie's widower. He chooses not to parent his teens because Annie wanted them to make their own choices. He continues this behaviour even when his daughter does off the rails.
IT was still an interesting book and the minor characters like Mary were amazing.

[❤Marie Gentilcore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have yet to read a Diane Chamberlain book that I didn’t really, really enjoy. She is so adept at creating multifaceted characters and building her story layer by layer. The only bad thing about that is that it makes it hard to briefly summarize because there is so much to tell. Keeper of the Light was first published in 1992 but it doesn’t feel dated. And, I was really glad to find out there is a second book that focuses on Lacey O’Neill who was a young teen in book 1.

[Neils Barringer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Please do not let this influence your thoughts on Diane Chamberlain as an author, she is fantastic. This is the only book that I have not given a 4 or 5 stars too (I think!)

Keeper of the Light Centers on Olivia an ER doctor who tries to save her husband's lover one night in the ER. (I wish the focus of the novel had been more of a mystery surrounding this incident) but no....we are led down a path of a disgustingly weird "love" triangle(??) To quote Austin Powers, Annie O'Neil is the village bicycle....everyone's had a ride.

Chamberlain's calming and effortless text and dialogue is what kept me going despite the awkward storyline that unfolded in this unnecessarily long book. It was a very frustrating read because all of Kiss River (the town) was infatuated with this dead woman who in my opinion was really not that fantastic of a person. Yeah she did some good things, but they were just merely covers for her "sins" if you will.
I felt like throwing my phone across the room at how desperate Olivia was at times. Her husband, Paul's fatuation with Annie was wrong in so many ways. It was so unrealistic for a married man to literally throw everything away on a dead woman who was also married....with children. I mean move on man seriously. In my real opinion this character was just well a particular orphus on the rear end . Next there was Alec, Annie's husband. Talk about a terrible dad.
He set no limits on his children, somehow Clay walked away unharmed (well except for the fact he ended up going to Duke, I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy). But poor poor Lacey. Alec apparently never parented a day in his life. Annie parented like a 15 year old wild child living out of a VW bus- no watches, no curfew, no monitoring of where the children are...it was abhorrent. Once Annie days Alec completely shuts off, he forgets his child's birthday, he allows his teenage daughter--not older teen but 14 year old daughter go to parties sleep with multiple guys that at one point leads to a pregnancy scare where she doesn't know who the father could be---Im sorry but what?
Chamberlain's novels are usually so realistic and follow some sort of logical reasoning, but this one was just too unbelievable and too many unlikeable characters. The book went in circle after circle, 2 steps forward 3 steps back.
The sexual encounters were very awkward, like how Dear Abby would write a scene-eww. It was SO awkward.
And the amount of people who were all sleeping with one another just weirded me out.
-Sleeping with a pregnant woman
-Sleeping with your husband's lover's husband'
-Sleeping with your wife's lover's wife
-Sleeping with every man in town x 2
Trigger Warning: Rape, Child abuse, Abortion

I am sorry,....DC love ya, but this was a definite NO!

[Lu Bielefeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Liked it!
=====================
Olivia and Alec are the only characters who aren't submerged in a sea of mud and deceive. I decided not to put quotes for you to enter the story with no idea how it will evolve. I liked it a lot and was pleasantly surprised, the book was on my cheaters list.

[Meridith · Rating 2 out of 5]

too much sex, and it seemed like a soap opera

[Lainy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time Taken To Read - 1 day

Blurb From Amazon

As your husband grieves his mistress, You find yourself falling for the family she left behind. But she hid secrets that will destroy him...or you. Do you tell? I m going to die as punishment for all the bad things I ve done... You are on duty in the emergency room when, despite your desperate effort, the victim of a gunshot wound loses her life. She is Annie O Neill. The same woman your husband is in love with... Olivia can't watch any longer as her husband - the father of her unborn child - grieves his adulteress. She can t bear the faces who judge her professionalism and brand her guilty. She can let it drive her mad, or compete with the wake of perfection Annie has left behind. Stepping into Annie s shoes, Olivia finds another life. One with an adoring husband and troubled young daughter. But the façade is cracking with every step she takes. Because Annie s life was built on secrets...ones that will destroy everyone she left behind.


My Review

From reading the blurb on the back I knew I had to get this book. Imagine being an a&e doctor in a small town when a gunshot victim comes in. You have to make some risky and quick decisions and then you realize this is the lady who has come between you and your husband, her life is in your hands. When Olivias husband hears of his other womans death he can't take it and leaves his wife, utterly distraught and heartbroken. Olivia wants him back and sets about finding out what is so special about the woman who ruined her marriage. Her journey finds secrets that could tear lives apart, she learns new insights about herself and makes new friends and enemies along the way.

I went through the motions with this book, I went from liking Olivia to thinking she was pathetic and acting like a door mat. The more you get into the story the more you uncover about the characters and why they have behaved as they did. There is a lot of concealed back story that doesn't come out immediately but is tantalizingly revealed as the story unfolds.

The characters are very well done and one or two tends to stay with you. The story flips from present day to the past to clarify some of the story but it is done in a way that is very easy to follow. There is some sex scenes in the book but nothing too over the top and it is relevant to the part of the story and to emphasize the relationship and feelings. I thought this was a fantastic read and have already gotten some more from the same author, 5/5 for me.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 out of 5 stars -- Soap opera at the Outer Banks!

The one thing that can ruin an otherwise good book for me is the ending of it. I don't know why I am so picky, but that is the big thing for me. I want the characters to be people I can admire and whose actions follow that quality. I was really looking forward to this book as I have come to expect great stories and in-depth relationship development with a Diane Chamberlain book. As this was one of her earlier novels (1992), I can see how she has really grown as an author in the last 10+ years.

This book was fine though it had a little too much romance for me -- a love triangle -- or should I say, quadrangle, but the way it ended left me feeling a bit let down and irritated. It was as if the author had to create extreme character flaws in order to make the story turn out the way it did. As I'm finding, I do not like the way that Diane Chamberlain concludes her books! I did not like the resolution of the love dilemma nor did I find it realistic or believable. In fact, I was hoping that she would surprise me this time. Without writing spoilers I can't say more. Frankly I didn't think any of the characters in this novel were likable or worthy of respect so was happy to turn the last page with a sense of relief that I was done hearing about their antics and behavior.

I will likely continue to read more of this author's books hoping that eventually there will be an ending that I think fits before giving up.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Keeper Of The Light.
An absorbing, touching, fast-paced story that had me drawn into the lives of the wonderfully written characters, so much so, that I felt as if I was actually there watching the events unfold.
This is my first book by Diane Chamberlain and I am thrilled to discover that it is the first book in a trilogy.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Keeper of the Light" is Diane Chamberlain at her best! Once again we are introduced to fully rounded characters that are faced with choices and secrets that will either make them stronger or tear them apart.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping tale of obsession and betrayal. Loved it!

[Sarah Dowsett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow beginning, not my favorite book. Well written, but could have been a better story line.

[Kelly (miss_kellysbookishcorner) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Keeper of the Light
Author: Diane Chamberlain
Series: Kiss River #1
Genre: Women's Fiction
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: March 1, 1992

T H R E E • W O R D S

Melodramatic • Unexpected • Complex

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Dr. Olivia Simon is on duty in the emergency room of North Carolina’s Outer Banks Hospital when a gunshot victim is brought in. Midway through the desperate effort to save the young woman’s life, Olivia realizes who she is—Annie O’Neill. The woman Olivia’s husband, Paul, is in love with.

When Annie dies on the operating table, she leaves behind three other victims. Alec O’Neill, who thought he had the perfect marriage. Paul, whose fixation on Annie is unshakable. And Olivia, who is desperate to understand the woman who destroyed her marriage.

Now they are left with unanswered questions about who Annie really was. And about the secrets she kept hidden so well.

💭 T H O U G H T S

Keeper of the Light was the June selection for our yearlong Diane Chamberlain buddy read. I'd honestly never heard of this one beforehand and didn't know much going in. It started with the trademark Diane Chamberlain mystery and intrigue, but it soon went in directions that made every single character seem sketchy, and definitely felt dated.

As the story progressed, I really struggled with the characters behaviour. I found myself caring less and less about them, which caused my interest to wane significantly. If not for Alec (the widower) and Lacey (Alec's daughter) I'd likely wouldn't have made it through. I struggled with the structure at times, as reading smaller chunks at a time made me lose my momentum.

It's safe to say that Keeper of the Light was my least favourite DC book so far. I struggled with the infidelity trope, and I had to keep reminding myself it was written in the 90s. There is definitely some poor choices of words that doesn't hold up over time. Although I still saw traces of her signature style with building mystery early on, this one just wasn't for me. I'm still curious in seeing where book two goes and how connected it is to this one.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Diane Chamberlain fans
• fans of the love triangle

⚠️ CW: medical content, medical trauma, gun violence, death, death of partner, death of parent, grief, infidelity, pregnancy, abortion, sexual content, sexual assault, rape, alcohol