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Mercy Falls #1
The Lightkeeper's Daughter
This book is in good condition and is a hard cover.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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About the author
Colleen Coble
147 books6,382 followersUSAToday 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 644 reviews
March 12, 2022
It’s been a bad week. Books got me through the worst of it. I can’t process anything enough to write a review. We had a man in my city kill 2 police officers and critically injuring the 3rd. I am sorry if reviews don’t get written for a while. My brain is dead my heart is wounded ✌🏽
June 18, 2011
I don't know if I'll be able to convey just how badly written/edited/constructed this book is but boy will I make a valiant effort.
If I could give this a negative star-rating I would choose a -10 for "don't-bother-save-yourself-the-trouble/money-and-just-say-NO-before-you-start-banging-your-head-on-the-wall-after-every-chapter". I even had a dream (before I finished the book) about writing a review giving it a negative-star review because, yes, it IS that bad. If I hadn't been participating in a book reading challenge I would've tossed this book into a bonfire after chapter 2 and not persevered with this rubbish.
Which, honestly is a shame. I naively thought, "Hmm, lighthouses, I like lighthouses". Goodbye lighthouse after Chapter 2 (I don't really count the nonsense with Josephine because at that point it became, "Oh, she's not been angsting for five sentences LET'S GIVE HER A REASON TO MOAN ABOUT HER LIFE AGAIN").
Was it necessary for the author to vomit Addie's back-story/mystery/Mary-Sue-character-introduction at us within the first two chapters? Oh, sorry, I guess it WAS necessary to neglect writing a proper mystery set-up when clearly all the author cares about (God aside which I'll get to later), was the ridiculous romance between John and Addie where, naturally, the first moment they lay eyes upon one another they're in love. Does the author, at least, show us how these two people could fall in love? Does the author bother to show us how and why the reader should like her characters? The answers are no and no. Most of the cast are two-dimensional at best and I'm sorry to say we are generally told what to think about the main characters. Addie is an "angel in skirts" but are we truly shown any outstandingly angelic behavior on her part? No and no, I do not count the arbitrary/unnecessary mother-of-five-has-consumption-woe-child-labor-in-1907 episode on the grounds that it was so obviously contrived (and utterly left-field in its bizarre placement). Is John really anything beyond the physical impulses Addie stirs in him (and what's the point of giving him a dead wife if all she does is serve as a point of comparison, oh, did we mention his wife is Addie's half-sister/cousin, daughter of her mother's half-sister and therefore her half-aunt/step-mother)?
Anyway, before I derail any further into churlish commentary, the author neglects developing her characters in favor galloping into the lack-luster arms of the romance. In fact, EVERYTHING she set up in those first two horrifically convoluted chapters takes a back-burner. Epileptic child is neglected in favor of the romance, pony and horse are neglected in the random horseback riding scene (Oh yes, let's not forget the "thankyousomuch for almost killing my child on a run away pony, it taught him to be brave" scene because clearly someone's not read Gone With the Wind and seen how that pony scene goes down) and estranged Dad, well, sorry Mr Eaton, you just get systematically turned into a stereotypical petty villain.
That aside, I still thought, "Hmm, she's got some nice minute detail in here about the historical period".
Does it make up for her glaring and sometimes contradictory continuity errors? Does it make up for her grammatical errors? Does it make up for the terrible transitions that make me wonder "what was the point of you writing out that scene if each interaction was a sentence long and you just breezed through three different people"? Is that worth wanting to gouge my eyeballs out every time John/Addie decide to talk about how wonderful/attractive/insert-syrupy-adjective-here the other is? I honestly started feeling like I was reading Twilight at times with all the ridiculous mooning.
Also the God-issue. Was it really-truly-ABSOLUTELY necessary to throw in God and her Faith every five seconds? I've read plenty of Victorian novels written by preachers' daughters and other Christian authors that have managed to get across the moral-point and not had to resort to flaunting weirdly and jarringly placed God-conversations/observations/questions-to-God. Or the mind-boggling fact that one of the characters then started saying "God might be punishing someone so, don't intervene".... Excuse me, WHAT? Are we now manipulating Faith for plot-points, to justify the characters bizarre behavior? She keeps going on and on about her faith but I'm still questioning the ramifications of her STEALING PROPERTY, DECEIVING, oh, sorry, God's on her side (because she asked him five seconds ago, dontcha know) so it's okay that the characters just committed the time-period equivalent of grand-theft-auto.
I could go on. Seriously. But I won't. Please, save yourself from this grandiose waste of time and just don't bother with this book.
If I could give this a negative star-rating I would choose a -10 for "don't-bother-save-yourself-the-trouble/money-and-just-say-NO-before-you-start-banging-your-head-on-the-wall-after-every-chapter". I even had a dream (before I finished the book) about writing a review giving it a negative-star review because, yes, it IS that bad. If I hadn't been participating in a book reading challenge I would've tossed this book into a bonfire after chapter 2 and not persevered with this rubbish.
Which, honestly is a shame. I naively thought, "Hmm, lighthouses, I like lighthouses". Goodbye lighthouse after Chapter 2 (I don't really count the nonsense with Josephine because at that point it became, "Oh, she's not been angsting for five sentences LET'S GIVE HER A REASON TO MOAN ABOUT HER LIFE AGAIN").
Was it necessary for the author to vomit Addie's back-story/mystery/Mary-Sue-character-introduction at us within the first two chapters? Oh, sorry, I guess it WAS necessary to neglect writing a proper mystery set-up when clearly all the author cares about (God aside which I'll get to later), was the ridiculous romance between John and Addie where, naturally, the first moment they lay eyes upon one another they're in love. Does the author, at least, show us how these two people could fall in love? Does the author bother to show us how and why the reader should like her characters? The answers are no and no. Most of the cast are two-dimensional at best and I'm sorry to say we are generally told what to think about the main characters. Addie is an "angel in skirts" but are we truly shown any outstandingly angelic behavior on her part? No and no, I do not count the arbitrary/unnecessary mother-of-five-has-consumption-woe-child-labor-in-1907 episode on the grounds that it was so obviously contrived (and utterly left-field in its bizarre placement). Is John really anything beyond the physical impulses Addie stirs in him (and what's the point of giving him a dead wife if all she does is serve as a point of comparison, oh, did we mention his wife is Addie's half-sister/cousin, daughter of her mother's half-sister and therefore her half-aunt/step-mother)?
Anyway, before I derail any further into churlish commentary, the author neglects developing her characters in favor galloping into the lack-luster arms of the romance. In fact, EVERYTHING she set up in those first two horrifically convoluted chapters takes a back-burner. Epileptic child is neglected in favor of the romance, pony and horse are neglected in the random horseback riding scene (Oh yes, let's not forget the "thankyousomuch for almost killing my child on a run away pony, it taught him to be brave" scene because clearly someone's not read Gone With the Wind and seen how that pony scene goes down) and estranged Dad, well, sorry Mr Eaton, you just get systematically turned into a stereotypical petty villain.
That aside, I still thought, "Hmm, she's got some nice minute detail in here about the historical period".
Does it make up for her glaring and sometimes contradictory continuity errors? Does it make up for her grammatical errors? Does it make up for the terrible transitions that make me wonder "what was the point of you writing out that scene if each interaction was a sentence long and you just breezed through three different people"? Is that worth wanting to gouge my eyeballs out every time John/Addie decide to talk about how wonderful/attractive/insert-syrupy-adjective-here the other is? I honestly started feeling like I was reading Twilight at times with all the ridiculous mooning.
Also the God-issue. Was it really-truly-ABSOLUTELY necessary to throw in God and her Faith every five seconds? I've read plenty of Victorian novels written by preachers' daughters and other Christian authors that have managed to get across the moral-point and not had to resort to flaunting weirdly and jarringly placed God-conversations/observations/questions-to-God. Or the mind-boggling fact that one of the characters then started saying "God might be punishing someone so, don't intervene".... Excuse me, WHAT? Are we now manipulating Faith for plot-points, to justify the characters bizarre behavior? She keeps going on and on about her faith but I'm still questioning the ramifications of her STEALING PROPERTY, DECEIVING, oh, sorry, God's on her side (because she asked him five seconds ago, dontcha know) so it's okay that the characters just committed the time-period equivalent of grand-theft-auto.
I could go on. Seriously. But I won't. Please, save yourself from this grandiose waste of time and just don't bother with this book.
August 5, 2019
Just as captivating and mysterious the second time around! This is one of my favorite Coble books. I was kept guessing all along the way, and the plot twists were stupendous. Hopefully I’ll be able to read other books in this series soon.
Content: one profane word, tobacco, alcohol
Content: one profane word, tobacco, alcohol
April 5, 2011
UPDATED REVIEW: finished reading this yesterday, and here's my grand opinion -- a much better book is in here somewhere, nearly completely obscured by the flim-flam. coble has potential as a writer, but she needed to start with a simpler story. her ambitious enthusiasm results in a drowning, flailing mess. my advice, which is oh-so-expert, would be to cut this down to about 50 pages as a writing exercise. back to the basics, ms. coble.
---------- 1.5 stars, because i finished it and it made me want to visit lighthouses ---------
ORIGINAL REVIEW: sometimes, the best way to communicate is through examples:
p. 7 our plucky heroine asks "Driscoll" a question, one paragraph before he introduces himself as Driscoll. then, later on, he's referrred to as Walter, which is his first name, but the whole exchange is confusing.
minus two for editing and coherence
p.22 our heroine's uh-mazing dog leads her into a sweatshop to find a child hurt and upset. this is merely one of many such flimsy plot devices, or --dare i say -- contrivances-- used in the story so far.
minus 4 for not enough development of believable events or reactions
throughout chapter 1, our resilient heroine helps her mama patiently, despite the overt hatred and spite emanating from the woman, only to discover the reason her "mother" has never loved her. sorry, but someone who grows up like that is going to have ISSUES. and how did she become such a christian? doesn't sound like she had a great example of loving and serving others.
minus 6 for it just doesn't happen that way!
____________so... what's that... a total of 6 out of 20 possible points? i'm a reader, not a math geek. and if i run out of things to read before this has to go back to the library, or if i just can't stand not knowing what happens, i'll pick this one up again. otherwise, i'll have to pass on this morsel of mediocrity.
PG
---------- 1.5 stars, because i finished it and it made me want to visit lighthouses ---------
ORIGINAL REVIEW: sometimes, the best way to communicate is through examples:
p. 7 our plucky heroine asks "Driscoll" a question, one paragraph before he introduces himself as Driscoll. then, later on, he's referrred to as Walter, which is his first name, but the whole exchange is confusing.
minus two for editing and coherence
p.22 our heroine's uh-mazing dog leads her into a sweatshop to find a child hurt and upset. this is merely one of many such flimsy plot devices, or --dare i say -- contrivances-- used in the story so far.
minus 4 for not enough development of believable events or reactions
throughout chapter 1, our resilient heroine helps her mama patiently, despite the overt hatred and spite emanating from the woman, only to discover the reason her "mother" has never loved her. sorry, but someone who grows up like that is going to have ISSUES. and how did she become such a christian? doesn't sound like she had a great example of loving and serving others.
minus 6 for it just doesn't happen that way!
____________so... what's that... a total of 6 out of 20 possible points? i'm a reader, not a math geek. and if i run out of things to read before this has to go back to the library, or if i just can't stand not knowing what happens, i'll pick this one up again. otherwise, i'll have to pass on this morsel of mediocrity.
PG
February 5, 2020
I really enjoyed this romantic suspense by one of my favourite suspense authors. I loved Addie from the first moment I met her and enjoyed seeing her journey of finding answers about her heritage and also her identity.
Usually I’m not a fan of insta-love/love at first sight, but the way the romance developed between Addie and John was sweet and I loved how they were honest with each other about their feelings and intentions and did not play games.
The suspense plot was really well executed. The prologue was intriguing with a mystery man we can’t identify and clues throughout. There was a few accurate guesses but also a lot of twists and the twist at the end was very surprising.
Recommended for fans of romantic suspense.
Usually I’m not a fan of insta-love/love at first sight, but the way the romance developed between Addie and John was sweet and I loved how they were honest with each other about their feelings and intentions and did not play games.
The suspense plot was really well executed. The prologue was intriguing with a mystery man we can’t identify and clues throughout. There was a few accurate guesses but also a lot of twists and the twist at the end was very surprising.
Recommended for fans of romantic suspense.
October 20, 2012
The ONLY thing that keeps this from being a 1-star review is that I know the fictional town of Mercy Falls is based on the very real -- and very beautiful -- town of Ferndale on California's historic Gold Coast. Apart from that, I was shocked at just how dismal this novel was. The writing was laughable at best, so stilted (either from style or severe editing) that it read like a classic Dick & Jane or See Spot children's book. The references to Scott Joplin leapt off the page not because they were well-written, but because they were such patented cliche attempts at "historical authenticity." There is almost no historical detail in this story whatsoever, nothing to pull you into the world of 1907 Humboldt County. In fact, the only inkling I had that the author even LIKED history was in her "Dear Reader" section at the end when she explicitly said as much. Overall, I am bitterly disappointed in this book, and may not even bother trying to read its two sequels. I'm not sure my writer's brain -- or my historical fiction Reader's heart -- could handle another such atrocity.
August 9, 2014
It was an enjoyable mystery with romance thrown in. I really enjoyed the twists at the end! There were a few things that made me laugh a bit...the hero would not likely have spoken of the heroine's leg as a "Left limb", but mostly it stuck true to time and was quite the treat.
Read
May 4, 2024Dnf 15 pages in. Intolerable main lead and annoying characters and a beginning that bored me incredibly. I’m not saying this isn’t a good book, because I didn’t read long enough to find out, just that it’s not for me.
January 17, 2010
In my opinion, this book is actually a Romantic Suspense, as well as a Historical Romance. And, I absolutely loved it! The Lightkeeper's Daughter will keep you guessing until the very end! There really were no slow parts in this book, and I could have read it in one sitting if everyday life didn't interfere. If you've never read any of Colleen's books, this is a great place to start. I also recommend that you read her Rock Harbour series.
There isn't much I can say about this story without giving away the important parts, but I'll try. We meet Addie Sullivan just as her life is turned upside down by the shocking news that she is not at all who she thought she was. She is actually Julia Eaton, daughter to Henry and Laura Eaton, and was lost at sea in a shipwreck at two years of age.
Addie agrees to go to her biological father's home under the guise of being a governess for his grandson, Edward. She enjoys getting to know her "real" family, but isn't comfortable hiding her true identify from them. After a couple of life-threatening experiences, she feels the need to confide in someone, and spills the entire story to her boss, Edward's father, Lieutenant John North. John was married to Addie's half sister, Katherine, and is still very much a part of the family. He feels responsible for Clare, Katherine's mother, plus he wants Edward to have a relationship with his grandfather.
As tender love starts to bloom between John and Addie, they face much interference from Addie's father, who is determined that his daughter, Julia, will marry into royalty and cement his monetary reign over the city he has created.
Addie is still curious about her mother, but no one seems willing to discuss her mother's death with her. While living in her father's house, Addie starts searching for information concerning her mother's life, before the shipwreck. She finds some disturbing clues that lead her on a perilous search for the truth. This was my favorite part of the story...trying to piece together the last days leading up to her mother's death. I enjoy a fast-paced mystery from time to time, and this one was executed perfectly!
*I would like to say a big "thank you" to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a review copy of The Lightkeeper's Daughter.*
There isn't much I can say about this story without giving away the important parts, but I'll try. We meet Addie Sullivan just as her life is turned upside down by the shocking news that she is not at all who she thought she was. She is actually Julia Eaton, daughter to Henry and Laura Eaton, and was lost at sea in a shipwreck at two years of age.
Addie agrees to go to her biological father's home under the guise of being a governess for his grandson, Edward. She enjoys getting to know her "real" family, but isn't comfortable hiding her true identify from them. After a couple of life-threatening experiences, she feels the need to confide in someone, and spills the entire story to her boss, Edward's father, Lieutenant John North. John was married to Addie's half sister, Katherine, and is still very much a part of the family. He feels responsible for Clare, Katherine's mother, plus he wants Edward to have a relationship with his grandfather.
As tender love starts to bloom between John and Addie, they face much interference from Addie's father, who is determined that his daughter, Julia, will marry into royalty and cement his monetary reign over the city he has created.
Addie is still curious about her mother, but no one seems willing to discuss her mother's death with her. While living in her father's house, Addie starts searching for information concerning her mother's life, before the shipwreck. She finds some disturbing clues that lead her on a perilous search for the truth. This was my favorite part of the story...trying to piece together the last days leading up to her mother's death. I enjoy a fast-paced mystery from time to time, and this one was executed perfectly!
*I would like to say a big "thank you" to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a review copy of The Lightkeeper's Daughter.*
November 28, 2013
Addie Sullivan isn't who she thinks she is. And it explains so much while at the same time opening up a whole new realm of questions. When a man claiming to be her uncle discovers Addie scraping by with her widowed, lighthouse-keeper mother he shocks her with truth that soon snowballs. Addie is the daughter of an influential family, the Eatons. Two decades ago she was presumed lost in a shipwreck along with her biological mother. Convinced by her new-found Uncle Walter that she should keep quiet about her identity until further proof is uncovered, Addie leaves the lighthouse and is hired out as governess to her late half-sister's son. But someone wants to keep the truth from leaking out. Kidnapping attempts occur and Walter is injured by a mysterious visitor. Threatening notes show up and then Addie's adopted mother is murdered. All is not well in the Eaton household and Addie must get to the bottom of it before it is too late.
What's not to love about The Lightkeeper's Daughter? I've said this before and I'll say it again - I've been wanting to read this series for ages. When the final page was at last reached I was reminded all over again why I had sought out books written by Colleen Coble. Such talent! I couldn't put the book down until the last secrets were finally unveiled and what a surprise it was. Usually I have an idea what is going to happen at the end of a story, but this one had so many twists my suspicions and theories weren't even close to being correct. Don't you love it when an author can yank the rug out from under your feet like that? And then there were ships, sailors and lighthouses - double plus! There was so much going on in this book I don't know how Ms. Coble accomplished what she did, but she did.
DISCLAIMER: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” we would like to note that we have not received compensation for our book review of “The Lightkeeper's Daughter”.
reetchampionbookreviews.wordpress.com
What's not to love about The Lightkeeper's Daughter? I've said this before and I'll say it again - I've been wanting to read this series for ages. When the final page was at last reached I was reminded all over again why I had sought out books written by Colleen Coble. Such talent! I couldn't put the book down until the last secrets were finally unveiled and what a surprise it was. Usually I have an idea what is going to happen at the end of a story, but this one had so many twists my suspicions and theories weren't even close to being correct. Don't you love it when an author can yank the rug out from under your feet like that? And then there were ships, sailors and lighthouses - double plus! There was so much going on in this book I don't know how Ms. Coble accomplished what she did, but she did.
DISCLAIMER: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” we would like to note that we have not received compensation for our book review of “The Lightkeeper's Daughter”.
reetchampionbookreviews.wordpress.com
March 27, 2021
Another excellent series by Colleen Coble. When I first start reading one of her novels, I try to determine the direction the author is going, and then it turns around better than I thought it would go. I really enjoyed this book and reading about the characters that were developed in the story.
January 16, 2012
This book was kind of like a bad car accident: I didn't want to keep reading it, but I couldn't force myself to stop. A romance/mystery? I didn't know those even existed...
The writing was atrocious and I really question the amount of research the author did to qualify this as historical fiction. There were only fleeting details that could have been attributed to any particular time period. I also found it increasingly annoying that story lines were completely glossed over, as though an in-depth discussion of them had happened at some point in the novel, even though they had not. The main character goes from meeting a girl once to considering her a close, personal friend whom she discusses personal matters with, for example.
All in all, this was an awful book. I consider the writing sub-par even compared to some of the very trashy YA I so greatly enjoy. Not worth your time or effort.
The writing was atrocious and I really question the amount of research the author did to qualify this as historical fiction. There were only fleeting details that could have been attributed to any particular time period. I also found it increasingly annoying that story lines were completely glossed over, as though an in-depth discussion of them had happened at some point in the novel, even though they had not. The main character goes from meeting a girl once to considering her a close, personal friend whom she discusses personal matters with, for example.
All in all, this was an awful book. I consider the writing sub-par even compared to some of the very trashy YA I so greatly enjoy. Not worth your time or effort.
September 18, 2020
— When a book's cover changes...
— When seven years have passed...
— When a free audiobook is offered...
— When you don’t check Goodreads to see if you read it already...
All reasons to get halfway through a book and suddenly realize something is awfully familiar with what you’re reading.....
Until I realized the main female lead is uncharacteristically honest and says exactly what she thinks did I look to see if I’d read this before. Yep. Puttering through the book I kept saying to myself, “How refreshing! She's not being proper, and holding everything in, and making hundreds of assumptions, but just asking what most people won’t ask!!
Then it dawned on me, I've only read one other book like this! Pffft! I’ve read this before!
But you know what? It’s still good and I’m delighted I’m getting to enjoy it a second time.
Link to original review
— When seven years have passed...
— When a free audiobook is offered...
— When you don’t check Goodreads to see if you read it already...
All reasons to get halfway through a book and suddenly realize something is awfully familiar with what you’re reading.....
Until I realized the main female lead is uncharacteristically honest and says exactly what she thinks did I look to see if I’d read this before. Yep. Puttering through the book I kept saying to myself, “How refreshing! She's not being proper, and holding everything in, and making hundreds of assumptions, but just asking what most people won’t ask!!
Then it dawned on me, I've only read one other book like this! Pffft! I’ve read this before!
But you know what? It’s still good and I’m delighted I’m getting to enjoy it a second time.
Link to original review
August 4, 2016
This is a pretty good book. I listened to the audio book this time through and I must say the narrator left a little to be desired...
The romance had me rolling my eyes in good-natured mockery at times, but it wasn't too bad. ;P
The mystery/suspense was actually really good! Not surprising, considering who the author is. I have always enjoyed Colleen Coble's writing. It's been a while since I last read this book and some elements of the story took me by surprise all over again!
I did like the epilogue, though I must say that I was left wanting more of an ending. Some things just still felt slightly unresolved to me...
Overall, it was a good book that I enjoyed re-reading. And in spite of the less-than-impressive narrator, it was nice to be able to "read" at work. ;)
The romance had me rolling my eyes in good-natured mockery at times, but it wasn't too bad. ;P
The mystery/suspense was actually really good! Not surprising, considering who the author is. I have always enjoyed Colleen Coble's writing. It's been a while since I last read this book and some elements of the story took me by surprise all over again!
I did like the epilogue, though I must say that I was left wanting more of an ending. Some things just still felt slightly unresolved to me...
Overall, it was a good book that I enjoyed re-reading. And in spite of the less-than-impressive narrator, it was nice to be able to "read" at work. ;)
December 13, 2021
2 1/2 stars. I enjoyed this story but was a bit bothered by both how simple Addie’s faith is, and how conveniently God answers her prayers. Not the complexity of a true to life relationship with God, in my opinion. This story would make a good Hallmark movie.
April 21, 2022
The Lightkeeper's Daughter is the first book in the Mercy Falls series. I've had this book and the others in the series on my TBR for a very long time. Addie is living with her mother in a lighthouse when a stranger shows up and tells her she is really a missing heiress who was presumed dead at age 2. This starts her on a journey to discover her lost family and a bigger mystery of what happened to her birth mother.
I really enjoyed this historical romance. I haven't read a book set in the early 1900s in a long time, so it was a nice change of pace. It's a very clean, Christian romance, which was also a nice change of pace. Addie is a little naïve, but she is also not afraid to speak her mind. She was my favorite of the book. The romance was sweet and a pleasure to watch. I also enjoyed the mystery. I did call on of the twists fairly early on, but I still enjoyed the journey. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I really enjoyed this historical romance. I haven't read a book set in the early 1900s in a long time, so it was a nice change of pace. It's a very clean, Christian romance, which was also a nice change of pace. Addie is a little naïve, but she is also not afraid to speak her mind. She was my favorite of the book. The romance was sweet and a pleasure to watch. I also enjoyed the mystery. I did call on of the twists fairly early on, but I still enjoyed the journey. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
January 21, 2025
An interesting read.
At times it was slow and some of the characters were annoying, but there were other moments with great twists and good relationships. I don’t have much to say on this book. The ending shocked me, and I’m glad I finally got to it. I would recommend if it sounds interesting 🤷🏼♀️
Content: violence (semidetailed), romance and kisses (lightly to semidetailed), insane asylum and drugging (lightly detailed), lying parents (just a major plot line especially in the beginning
At times it was slow and some of the characters were annoying, but there were other moments with great twists and good relationships. I don’t have much to say on this book. The ending shocked me, and I’m glad I finally got to it. I would recommend if it sounds interesting 🤷🏼♀️
Content: violence (semidetailed), romance and kisses (lightly to semidetailed), insane asylum and drugging (lightly detailed), lying parents (just a major plot line especially in the beginning
May 2, 2016
This book started out a bit rocky for me and continued to be so to the very end. For almost fifty pages at the start of the book, I couldn't figure out what relation Addie and John were. Right off, we are shown the story of how two-year-old Addie was found after a shipwreck and how her whole world get's overturned when she discovers as a young woman that she is quite possibly the lost daughter of a rich family. She is caught between being plain old Addie and being Julia Eaton, the heiress of a fortune.
We meet John North at the beginning of the book and it is introduced that Addie will work for him as a governess to the man's son. In the first chapter, it is insinuated that John was connected to the family but it isn't really explained what title he holds. I was confused for a little while. At first I thought he was Addie's uncle which was just weird when they began to have romantic feelings for one another right at the beginning of the book. It wasn't until fifty or so pages in that I finally figured it out and everything was more clearly explained. He ended up being her widowed brother-in-law. That little hiccup muddled everything in the beginning of the book for me but once it was cleared up, the rest of the book ran more smoothly in terms of the character's and who was related to whom.
We follow Addie and John as they work together to uncover the mystery surrounding the shipwreck and Addie's disappearance as well as the identity of the person who was secretly paying for her upkeep while she was growing up. Throughout the book, we also meet John's son, Edward who suffered from Epilepsy but had an adventurous, sweet spirit that was nurtured and protected by Addie throughout the book.
I thought the mystery surrounding Addie's disappearance and her mother's death was interesting, if not confusing at times. I never really knew who to look at as a possible bad guy/girl. There were so many candidates that popped up throughout the book and the only people that weren't suspects for me were Addie, John, and Edward. That left maybe a dozen or so candidates in my mind which was a bit overwhelming at times. There were moments where I suspected that Addie's mother or John's wife weren't actually dead; that they had just run away into hiding themselves. The fact that John's wife might not actually be dead kept me from really enjoying reading through John and Addie's romantic relationship. I kept expecting his dead wife to show up and threaten everyone.
I felt that the three clues that Addie's mother left behind were too vague – The clues for finding her mother's messages were “Sunlight, Pigeons, and Dust.” Even when Addie and John found them, it was unclear to me at first how the hiding places matched some of the clues. I couldn't understand what Sunlight had to do with a music box at all until it was revealed that the music box was in a sort of greenhouse area of the house where rays of sun shone through the glass walls/ceiling. The Pigeons were even more vague to me although I did finally figure it out; and while Addie was looking in many dusty places, like the library and the attic, eventually, the clue was found in a toy box. Some of the clues just seemed a bit dumb to me really. It would have been impossible for Addie's mother to know whether or not the family would keep that toy box and the toys in it over the years. Equally, that music box could have been moved to a different area of the house as well. After all, it was around twenty years that passed between Addie's disappearance and the discovery of the clues. I kind of felt like the clues left too broad a spectrum of possibilities and were very far-fetched. They should have been a bit more specific about “what” they had been hidden in rather than the area/room they were in, while still remaining cryptic.
There was also a short scene where John and Addie were kissing and when they pulled away, John realized that they were laying on the floor together. I didn't really see the point of such a scene. You could already tell that they had strong feelings for each other and that they intended to marry and were trying to remain pure beforehand without needing to put them right in the path of temptation to prove it. There was also absolutely no conversation that occurred between them as a result of this scene. John inwardly warned himself to keep things pure and take it slow but there wasn't a talk with Addie where he and she discussed their belief's on this topic and their plans for what was acceptable behavior before marriage. The subject was completely ignored. Addie didn't seem to mind what had happened at all and just fully put all her trust in John as if he wasn't a man with the ability to fail and sin. She never said she was uncomfortable or wanted to take things slow and he never promised to her that he would protect her purity before marriage and reign in his passion for her. He inwardly warned and reprimanded himself, but that was as far as the subject went.
When the mystery was finally revealed at the end of the book and the story came to a close, I admit to being a bit underwhelmed. Over all, I think I was intrigued but left unimpressed with this book. It wasn't as magnificent as I expected.
We meet John North at the beginning of the book and it is introduced that Addie will work for him as a governess to the man's son. In the first chapter, it is insinuated that John was connected to the family but it isn't really explained what title he holds. I was confused for a little while. At first I thought he was Addie's uncle which was just weird when they began to have romantic feelings for one another right at the beginning of the book. It wasn't until fifty or so pages in that I finally figured it out and everything was more clearly explained. He ended up being her widowed brother-in-law. That little hiccup muddled everything in the beginning of the book for me but once it was cleared up, the rest of the book ran more smoothly in terms of the character's and who was related to whom.
We follow Addie and John as they work together to uncover the mystery surrounding the shipwreck and Addie's disappearance as well as the identity of the person who was secretly paying for her upkeep while she was growing up. Throughout the book, we also meet John's son, Edward who suffered from Epilepsy but had an adventurous, sweet spirit that was nurtured and protected by Addie throughout the book.
I thought the mystery surrounding Addie's disappearance and her mother's death was interesting, if not confusing at times. I never really knew who to look at as a possible bad guy/girl. There were so many candidates that popped up throughout the book and the only people that weren't suspects for me were Addie, John, and Edward. That left maybe a dozen or so candidates in my mind which was a bit overwhelming at times. There were moments where I suspected that Addie's mother or John's wife weren't actually dead; that they had just run away into hiding themselves. The fact that John's wife might not actually be dead kept me from really enjoying reading through John and Addie's romantic relationship. I kept expecting his dead wife to show up and threaten everyone.
I felt that the three clues that Addie's mother left behind were too vague – The clues for finding her mother's messages were “Sunlight, Pigeons, and Dust.” Even when Addie and John found them, it was unclear to me at first how the hiding places matched some of the clues. I couldn't understand what Sunlight had to do with a music box at all until it was revealed that the music box was in a sort of greenhouse area of the house where rays of sun shone through the glass walls/ceiling. The Pigeons were even more vague to me although I did finally figure it out; and while Addie was looking in many dusty places, like the library and the attic, eventually, the clue was found in a toy box. Some of the clues just seemed a bit dumb to me really. It would have been impossible for Addie's mother to know whether or not the family would keep that toy box and the toys in it over the years. Equally, that music box could have been moved to a different area of the house as well. After all, it was around twenty years that passed between Addie's disappearance and the discovery of the clues. I kind of felt like the clues left too broad a spectrum of possibilities and were very far-fetched. They should have been a bit more specific about “what” they had been hidden in rather than the area/room they were in, while still remaining cryptic.
There was also a short scene where John and Addie were kissing and when they pulled away, John realized that they were laying on the floor together. I didn't really see the point of such a scene. You could already tell that they had strong feelings for each other and that they intended to marry and were trying to remain pure beforehand without needing to put them right in the path of temptation to prove it. There was also absolutely no conversation that occurred between them as a result of this scene. John inwardly warned himself to keep things pure and take it slow but there wasn't a talk with Addie where he and she discussed their belief's on this topic and their plans for what was acceptable behavior before marriage. The subject was completely ignored. Addie didn't seem to mind what had happened at all and just fully put all her trust in John as if he wasn't a man with the ability to fail and sin. She never said she was uncomfortable or wanted to take things slow and he never promised to her that he would protect her purity before marriage and reign in his passion for her. He inwardly warned and reprimanded himself, but that was as far as the subject went.
When the mystery was finally revealed at the end of the book and the story came to a close, I admit to being a bit underwhelmed. Over all, I think I was intrigued but left unimpressed with this book. It wasn't as magnificent as I expected.
October 12, 2023
Excellent! Perfect Christian Historical Romance! Love the characters, settings, plot, twists, and the Christian faith!
July 23, 2025
3.5 stars ⭐️
This book started my reading journey, but now that I’ve re-read it in my big old age…it’s not as good as I originally thought lol don’t get me wrong, the mystery was phenomenal! However, the love trope was really quick as well as her friendship with Katie. It felt a little rushed, but I loved the inclusion of her faith in God! It wasn’t cheesy or cringe. I’m gonna re-read the other two books as well and hope for the best 😬
This book started my reading journey, but now that I’ve re-read it in my big old age…it’s not as good as I originally thought lol don’t get me wrong, the mystery was phenomenal! However, the love trope was really quick as well as her friendship with Katie. It felt a little rushed, but I loved the inclusion of her faith in God! It wasn’t cheesy or cringe. I’m gonna re-read the other two books as well and hope for the best 😬
January 19, 2010
The Lightkeeper's Daughter was an incredible story and I loved it. Full of romance and mystery, it kept me reading and I couldn't put it down. Seriously. John was the dreamiest hero ever! I loved him and how he treated Addie. She was a great heroine, too. She loved the Lord and it was evident in her life. The spiritual thread in this book was excellently inserted and made the book just that much better. It didn't feel forced, but very natural. I loved how Addie's respect for the hero made him want to be a better man. Shouldn't our lives and love for the Lord attract people? This story shows that very well. It makes me want to show my husband even more respect and that is what good fiction should do, IMHO. It should inspire us to be better at loving others.
The coolest part of this story was that you just never quite knew who the bad guy was. I changed my mind several times (and my theories) and honestly, it surprised me at the end to find out who the culprit was, yet it also made total sense. The foundation was very well laid and prepared me to accept that twist. This book was so full of surprises, but they were all believable and worked well for the story. This was the perfect historical mystery with enough warmth to make romance lovers like me sigh with pleasure. I truly enjoyed this story and it's making my top fiction for 2010 list. While I've read other books written by this author, this is definitely my favorite book by Colleen Coble. I think she has a real knack for historical fiction with mystery and romantic elements. I plan to read the next book in this series and can't wait for it's release.
The coolest part of this story was that you just never quite knew who the bad guy was. I changed my mind several times (and my theories) and honestly, it surprised me at the end to find out who the culprit was, yet it also made total sense. The foundation was very well laid and prepared me to accept that twist. This book was so full of surprises, but they were all believable and worked well for the story. This was the perfect historical mystery with enough warmth to make romance lovers like me sigh with pleasure. I truly enjoyed this story and it's making my top fiction for 2010 list. While I've read other books written by this author, this is definitely my favorite book by Colleen Coble. I think she has a real knack for historical fiction with mystery and romantic elements. I plan to read the next book in this series and can't wait for it's release.
May 22, 2010
This is the first book by Colleen Coble that I have read. It was a very enjoyable read. I started in the morning and I was done by the end of the day (I even went to a movie and ran errands in between). After finishing this one, I am looking forward to more in the Mercy Falls series.
Addie Sullivan is shocked when she finds out that she is the thought-dead daughter from a wealthy family. The man she believed to be her father passed away 5 years earlier and the woman who said she was her mother has never loved her. So, she is more than happy to leave in search of a family that will lovingly welcome her (hopefully). She keeps her identity hidden because someone may have wanted to keep her away from the family and she needs to find out who.
This story has plenty of mystery woven into it with a bit of romance to boot. Addie was a wonderful character that was easy to like. John was also an easy character to like. They made a wonderful couple and had me rooting for them from the beginning. They mystery was well written and not obvious--the clues revealed the mystery a little bit at a time.
This was a wonderful read and I plan on reading more from the author.
*I received this book from Amazon Vine.*
Addie Sullivan is shocked when she finds out that she is the thought-dead daughter from a wealthy family. The man she believed to be her father passed away 5 years earlier and the woman who said she was her mother has never loved her. So, she is more than happy to leave in search of a family that will lovingly welcome her (hopefully). She keeps her identity hidden because someone may have wanted to keep her away from the family and she needs to find out who.
This story has plenty of mystery woven into it with a bit of romance to boot. Addie was a wonderful character that was easy to like. John was also an easy character to like. They made a wonderful couple and had me rooting for them from the beginning. They mystery was well written and not obvious--the clues revealed the mystery a little bit at a time.
This was a wonderful read and I plan on reading more from the author.
*I received this book from Amazon Vine.*
July 24, 2011
My overall impression of this book was very good. I would like to share some things I liked and others I thought could be improved upon. The historical fiction setting and historical details of the early 1900's, including the realistic social struggle and varying attitudes between different societal classes, the clean romance between two of the main characters, and the suspense/mystery element of the story were all well done and, in my mind, definite pluses. The areas that could have perhaps used slight improvement were that, to me, the dialogue seemed a little stilted at times and the main characters a little bit too "perfect"; I would have liked to have seen a minor flaw or two and don't feel it would have made me turn against them in the least. I did enjoy the story immensely, and plan to read the other books in the "Mercy Falls" series.
October 27, 2011
I would have read this sooner if I had known this would be so good! There is mention of God and prayer in this but not enough to distract from the story which turns out to be a romantic mystery.
After a steamboat explosion, a two year old heiress is washed up on shore and taken in by the local lighthouse keeper. Twenty three years later, her uncle arrives to reveal her true identity but did her mother, Laura really die in the steamboat accident? At first Addie is introduced into the Eaton household as a governess but soon she finds things are not as they should be. She also falls madly in love.
I found this book impossible to put down and read it straight through. The plot took turns and twists that kept me reading until everything was tied up neatly in a bow.
After a steamboat explosion, a two year old heiress is washed up on shore and taken in by the local lighthouse keeper. Twenty three years later, her uncle arrives to reveal her true identity but did her mother, Laura really die in the steamboat accident? At first Addie is introduced into the Eaton household as a governess but soon she finds things are not as they should be. She also falls madly in love.
I found this book impossible to put down and read it straight through. The plot took turns and twists that kept me reading until everything was tied up neatly in a bow.
May 21, 2017
this was not just a great historical fiction work but also an excellent suspense novel. I was delighted with how Addy interacted with her new family and John. The fact of little Edward's epilepsy was treated with compasson and empathy and not used as a crutch by the author and the way she wrote about the shepherd Gideon behaving like a therapy dog and hero was ingenious. I also loved all the twists and turns of the mystery of who was attacking Addy and Walter and the real culprit behind the boat sinking all those years ago and her mom's death.
Great read can't wait to read the next in the series!
Great read can't wait to read the next in the series!
February 22, 2020
Even while she mourns her father’s death, Addie wonders if her mother ever really loved her. Then a stranger arrives in her life who turns her world upside down. Little by little, the truth finally emerges about who she is and how she came to live at the lighthouse. But this knowledge puts her life in danger, for there is someone who wants the past to remain secret. This tale has a bit of mystery, intrigue, and danger as well as romance in its pages. The story is entertaining, and the characters are interesting. Though the first in a series, the main characters in this story take a backseat in the next installment as that story focuses on other characters.
July 1, 2014
Delightful tale of intrigue and love. Addie Sullivan has always wished for a large and loving family. When a stranger insists she's someone other than her parent's daughter, she finds herself plunged into a family of dark secrets. Who paid the couple who raised her all those years? Who can she trust? Who is it safe to love?
Well written, this book will keep you guessing. Addie is a likable young woman who captures the reader's attention from the start. She and her faithful German Shepherd tackle a world they never knew existed.
Well written, this book will keep you guessing. Addie is a likable young woman who captures the reader's attention from the start. She and her faithful German Shepherd tackle a world they never knew existed.
July 28, 2021
have read 16 Colleen Coble of her novels. I know some readers are turned off by the word ‘Christian’ but I don’t have a problem with inspirational stories.
This is one of her early novels. In fact, I have not read any in ‘The Mercy Falls Series’. I checked the reviews some time ago and the first review was a scathing negative 1 star review so figured I had other options so would bypass.
Since I liked her other inspirational novels, I decided I would give it a try and decide for myself.
(I did check Amazon reviews ~ 66% gave 5 stars and 1% gave 1 Star ~ Hmmm).
Story starts with 23 year old Addie Sullivan who lives in a northern California lighthouse. Her father the keeper of the Lighthouse recently died. He was always good to Addie and she misses him very much. For some reason her mother Josephine has always been distant to her, in fact, mean to her.
It turns out that neither are her biological parents.
As a Lighthouse keeper, her father is always on the lookout for what is happening on the sea. Often sees ship wrecks. One morning twenty-one years ago, he spots a baby near a ship wreck. It is believed that the baby is Julia Eaton who was on the ship with biological mother when the ship wrecked. Her mother was never found. She was raised in the Lighthouse as Addie Sullivan.
Now as a young adult she is in search of her roots; which brings her to Lt John North and his young son Edward.
She does discover her roots but there is still a bit of a mystery as to why her mother was never found.
The end had some twists ~ Some I sort of expected and some I didn’t!!!
Thant you Ms. Coble for an enjoyable read!
This is one of her early novels. In fact, I have not read any in ‘The Mercy Falls Series’. I checked the reviews some time ago and the first review was a scathing negative 1 star review so figured I had other options so would bypass.
Since I liked her other inspirational novels, I decided I would give it a try and decide for myself.
(I did check Amazon reviews ~ 66% gave 5 stars and 1% gave 1 Star ~ Hmmm).
Story starts with 23 year old Addie Sullivan who lives in a northern California lighthouse. Her father the keeper of the Lighthouse recently died. He was always good to Addie and she misses him very much. For some reason her mother Josephine has always been distant to her, in fact, mean to her.
It turns out that neither are her biological parents.
As a Lighthouse keeper, her father is always on the lookout for what is happening on the sea. Often sees ship wrecks. One morning twenty-one years ago, he spots a baby near a ship wreck. It is believed that the baby is Julia Eaton who was on the ship with biological mother when the ship wrecked. Her mother was never found. She was raised in the Lighthouse as Addie Sullivan.
Now as a young adult she is in search of her roots; which brings her to Lt John North and his young son Edward.
She does discover her roots but there is still a bit of a mystery as to why her mother was never found.
The end had some twists ~ Some I sort of expected and some I didn’t!!!
Thant you Ms. Coble for an enjoyable read!
February 15, 2020
“I hope you know how to get out,” she said.
“I have a good sense of direction, but I wouldn’t mind being stuck in here with you for a few days.”
She lifted a brow. “You might change your mind when I grow grouchy from hunger.”
“Oh you’re that kind of lady, eh? One who demands food?”
“Especially sweets.”
“I admit I noticed how you prefer the trifles.”
“Don’t talk about it or I might have to go back for food.”
^ i mean, dude, same.
I picked this up this morning because a) it's Valentine's Day and I knew it was a romance, b) I knew I was spending most of the day in the car and lately I've done my best reading in the car, and c) I'm making it my mission to read more books off my physical TBR this year. And um... wow, I didn't expect what I got?? Like I didn't expect the mystery aspect?? But it was a really fun part?? ((wow, look at me calling murder fun, I'm not crazy, I promise))
I won't go into spoilers but I really enjoyed this a lot. Addie and John are so cute. (though they spend an awful lot of time wanting to smell each other/smelling each other/wanting to touch each other's hair? like... chill?) (but also the scene of them playing in the river was my fave) Edward and Gideon are my faves and i love them, what pure sweet beans. ((also Gideon jumping in to save everybody at the least threat to their safety I'm not okay ;-; dogs are too good for this world))
Anyway yeah I had a great time reading this. Was it perfect? No. But it gave me all the snuggly feels I want from a historical romance with the added bonus of being a mystery. So for that, I give it 4 stars.
“I have a good sense of direction, but I wouldn’t mind being stuck in here with you for a few days.”
She lifted a brow. “You might change your mind when I grow grouchy from hunger.”
“Oh you’re that kind of lady, eh? One who demands food?”
“Especially sweets.”
“I admit I noticed how you prefer the trifles.”
“Don’t talk about it or I might have to go back for food.”
^ i mean, dude, same.
I picked this up this morning because a) it's Valentine's Day and I knew it was a romance, b) I knew I was spending most of the day in the car and lately I've done my best reading in the car, and c) I'm making it my mission to read more books off my physical TBR this year. And um... wow, I didn't expect what I got?? Like I didn't expect the mystery aspect?? But it was a really fun part?? ((wow, look at me calling murder fun, I'm not crazy, I promise))
I won't go into spoilers but I really enjoyed this a lot. Addie and John are so cute. (though they spend an awful lot of time wanting to smell each other/smelling each other/wanting to touch each other's hair? like... chill?) (but also the scene of them playing in the river was my fave) Edward and Gideon are my faves and i love them, what pure sweet beans. ((also Gideon jumping in to save everybody at the least threat to their safety I'm not okay ;-; dogs are too good for this world))
Anyway yeah I had a great time reading this. Was it perfect? No. But it gave me all the snuggly feels I want from a historical romance with the added bonus of being a mystery. So for that, I give it 4 stars.
April 21, 2025
My first Colleen Coble, at the recommendation of a friend. 😄
I'll admit, I was surprised by the level of suspense in this book! Never once did it feel lagging or boring. The whole "surprise identity" trope (is that what they call it? When you're someone you didn't know? XD) was really cool, and I loved how Coble portrayed the need to stay true to yourself, despite what or who people tell you you are. Looking forward to the rest of the series!
I'll admit, I was surprised by the level of suspense in this book! Never once did it feel lagging or boring. The whole "surprise identity" trope (is that what they call it? When you're someone you didn't know? XD) was really cool, and I loved how Coble portrayed the need to stay true to yourself, despite what or who people tell you you are. Looking forward to the rest of the series!
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