The White Oak Lodge

by Katie Winters

It's been decades since a mysterious fire engulfed the White Oak Lodge. But what really happened that night?

Why haven't Benjamin and Jack Whitmore been seen since?

Can the remaining Whitmores discover the truth and restore the once-great White Oak Lodge to its former glory?

The Fourth of July night Nina Whitmore's home went up in flames, she was ten years old. After that, her father and brother disappeared, her mother left the country, and Nina was sent to live with her Great Aunt Genevieve in Northern Michigan. There, she tried (and failed) to forget about the White Oak Lodge and Nantucket Island.

Now, Nina is a professor of anthropology at Princeton University. Her greatest joy is looking at the clues of humanity's past and rewriting the stories of how we see ourselves. She lives with her husband and two wonderful children and has her fingers crossed for tenure.

But when secrets about her marriage seep to the surface, Nina is forced to ask herself questions about her career, her happiness, and her past.

Her husband is an anthropologist, too. There's a chance he's been studying Nina for clues of what happened almost thirty years ago. But why is her husband so curious? Besides the Lodge and her family, what else was lost that night?

What else isn't he telling her?

Heartbroken and heavy with shock, Nina flees Princeton for Nantucket. Armed with a photograph that provides an important clue regarding the disappearance of her brother, she digs into her memories and Nantucket history to discover what really happened the night of the fire.

To her surprise, her return marks a shift in the Whitmore Family's history.

Suddenly, she's not the only Whitmore back on Nantucket Island.

Can the Whitmore family rip through the boundaries of time to see one another for who they really are?

Can they ever forgive?

The White Oak Lodge is book one of The Whitmore Series, a heartfelt and hopeful family drama perfect for your next beach read.

Genres: Mystery

204 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 27, 2025

About the author

Katie writes women's fiction and clean, wholesome contemporary romance. She looks to everyday, real-life family issues to weave stories of heartfelt emotions, love and loss, and everything in between.

Come transport yourself to Martha's Vineyard: an island of vivid blue ocean, white sand, and a lively community of locals, who celebrate everything from the bright New England summers to the cold, yet cozy, snowcapped winters.

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Reviews

[Judith Levis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie Winters first book in The Whitmore Series is a captivating read. If you love a good mystery, this is a great book. The characters are very interesting and the plot is filled with twists and turns. Anthropology professor Nina is the main character, but Amos, the handyman, plays an important role too. More than 20 years ago, the famed White Oak Lodge on Nantucket Island burnt down, leaving questions on how the fire started and what happened to some of the members of the Whitmore family. Nina and Amos become amateur detectives, trying to know what really happened. Not all the questions are answered, so I'm really looking forward to the next book.

[Patricia Baxes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes the start of a new series just sort of misses the mark. This is exactly how I feel about THE WHITE OAK LODGE. Although the storyline is solid; the characters are pretty well fleshed out; the plot, however, is predictable. There is not clear cut HEA —but it does feel like there’s a continuation of the Whitmore story coming. Let’s hope the next one gives us some much needed answers! (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and found it a tad short of Katie Winters high marks.) Bring on the next part of the journey! 🌺

[Sue Negrillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nantucket.
Nina is a professor at Princeton as is her husband of 12 yrs. Nina was raised on Nantucket till she was 11 when her family Lodge burned and she was sent to her great aunts in Michigan. As Nina realized her husband’s been unfaithful she goes to Nantucket to figure out what happened that night 25 yrs ago when the Lodge burned and her father and brother went missing.
When she gets there the handyman Amos is there to change the light bulb. She befriended him. He knew her brother and worked for her dad at the lodge. She has a picture of her brother that was taken yrs after his supposed death. She gets back from talking to someone who knew the brother and knew where he lived. When she returns her husband is at her cabin. She wants him out knows he has only used her, he thinks the family treasure is some where in the remains of the lodge and he wants he’s cut. He gives her a letter he found that says she wasn’t her mother’s daughter, was from an affair her dad had. She finds her sister Charlotte at the house her brother was supposed to be at.

[Pam Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting start to a new series. Nina’s life has been filled with mystery lies and deceit, both as a child and later in her marriage. When her husband receives tenure, and Nina does not she realizes just how bad her marriage has been

Nina decides to go to Nantucket Island for the summer to try to uncover the mystery of her childhood and the fire that show down White Oak Lodge. A surprise handyman, Amos sets aside time to help Nina unravel parts of her past.

Thank you to the author for this ARC. This review is my honest opinion.

[Jennie Fortna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The White Oak Lodge is book 1 in the Whitmore series by Katie Winters 4.5 stars

What a start to this new series long time in the making for Nina to come back to Nantucket and try to discover what happened when she was eleven…filled with secrets, hurts, mystery, romance and more..

I voluntarily read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kathleen Abeel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

A riveting prelude that masterfully sets the stage for an enthralling narrative, igniting an insatiable curiosity to delve deeper into the unfolding story. The initial glimpse promises a rich, immersive journey that beckons readers to explore further.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooh good start to some new characters, secrets, and romance . The White Oak Lodge holds lots of secrets and Nina is on the hunt. ❤️❤️❤️

[diane c tice]

A really enjoyable read…

[Kathleen A · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT? Katie Winters never left a cliffhanger before! Another great story with lives inter-tangled with loss, mystery, sadness, betrayal, truth seeking, and love. Great story enjoyed it!

[Donna Kale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great new series!

[COLLEEN D UPTON · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happiness

Oh my gosh!!! I absolutely loved this book! Good ridden to the past! Live your life to the fullest you deserve to be loved💜

[Phyllis Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it

Want to read more. Want this couple to continue their story. Maybe with children of their own. Let’s move on!

[Pat Weingartner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!

I really enjoyed book 1 in this series and can't wait to read book 2 to see how they solve this mystery. I will definitely recommend this book to everyone.

[kathleen Mattiace · Rating 3 out of 5]

The start of a good series surrounding Nantucket. It is an interesting story with mystery involved. I am looking forward to Book #2 which is due out next week.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing story. I just wish some of these authors would just combine their books into a regular length book rather than several short ones that just continue the story.

[Martha A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book

This was such a great book. I love this author. I read the book in a day because I could t put it down. I can’t wait to read the next in the series.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to a new ,Nantucket story

This is a love story and a mystery that Amos and Nina are try to solve about the Whitemoresnow on to book two

[Patricia Petrie, · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!!

Can’t wait for Book2. I’ve never read this author before and find her very satisfying and unusual! Can’t wait to begin Book 2!!

[Helen Souza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Goog writing and character development. This was a good start on what I hope is s great book series. Can't wait to read #2 in the Whitmore series

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book of a new series by Katie Winters. I will read anything and everything she writes. This new series focuses on Nantucket and The White Oak Lodge - the former home of the Whitmores. Nina Whitmore is the FMC and she hasn't returned to Nantucket since the fire that occurred when she was 11 years old. She's in the process of some self discovery - getting a divorce, trying to move forward by finding out about her past. I really can't wait for the next book in the series - dying to find out more about the supposed "Whitmore treasure" and to see what happens next for Nina and the other Whitmore children. Really great start to a new series.