What do you think?
Rate this book
The Lightkeeper
#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs sweeps readers away to the past in this classic tale of buried secrets and second chances.
Jesse Morgan is a man hiding from the pain of his past, a man who has vowed never to give his heart again. Keeper of a remote lighthouse along a rocky and dangerous coast, he has locked himself away from everything but his bitter memories.
Now, the sea has given him a second chance.
A beautiful stranger washes ashore, the sole survivor of a shipwreck. Penniless and pregnant, Mary Dare is a woman who carries painful memories of her own.
With laughter, hope and joy, Mary and her child bring light into the dark corners of Jesse’s world. But when their friendship turns to passion and passion becomes love, secrets from the past threaten to take it all away.
Originally published in 1997.
377 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1997
371 people are currently reading
1365 people want to read
About the author
Susan Wiggs
169 books7,420 followersSusan Wiggs's life is all about family, friends...and fiction. She lives at the water's edge on an island in Puget Sound, and she commutes to her writers' group in a 17-foot motorboat. She serves as author liaison for Field's End, a literary community on Bainbridge Island, Washington, bringing inspiration and instruction from the world's top authors to her seaside community. (See www.fieldsend.org) She's been featured in the national media, including NPR's "Talk of the Nation," and is a popular speaker locally and nationally.
According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual "Best Of" lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.
The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. Readers can learn more on the web at www.susanwiggs.com and on her lively blog at www.susanwiggs.wordpress.com.
According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual "Best Of" lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.
The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. Readers can learn more on the web at www.susanwiggs.com and on her lively blog at www.susanwiggs.wordpress.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
January 9, 2012
3.5 stars
Yes, the lighthouse and towns from this book are places that really existed, and can still be visited today.
Unable to bear the pain of his wife's death, Jesse Morgan fled from his home and wealthy family in Portland by taking the position of light keeper at Cape Disappointment Lighthouse in Washington Territory. He might think he's accomplished his goal of burying his grief until a lone survivor from a shipwreck washes up on the beach below - and that survivor definitely upsets his applecart. Mary Dare is Irish, spunky as all get-out, beautiful and pregnant and she knows a wounded man when she sees it. Can she break through the shell and bring Jesse back to life? And what about the man who fathered Mary's baby? Might he have some ulterior motives going on there?
You will just have to read it for yourself. This was a quick, easy and enjoyable read with a nice touch of romance and a wee bit of mystery and adventure tossed in. I really liked the Cape Disappointment/Ilwaco setting and was seriously tempted to get in the car and take a road trip - haven't been out there in years. I did think Jesse took his pity party a bit too much to the extreme and admit to wanting to strangle him on occasion, but on the other side of the coin Mary's spunkiness and irrepressible good nature can grate at times, so this book might not suit every reader. YMMV.
Yes, the lighthouse and towns from this book are places that really existed, and can still be visited today.
Unable to bear the pain of his wife's death, Jesse Morgan fled from his home and wealthy family in Portland by taking the position of light keeper at Cape Disappointment Lighthouse in Washington Territory. He might think he's accomplished his goal of burying his grief until a lone survivor from a shipwreck washes up on the beach below - and that survivor definitely upsets his applecart. Mary Dare is Irish, spunky as all get-out, beautiful and pregnant and she knows a wounded man when she sees it. Can she break through the shell and bring Jesse back to life? And what about the man who fathered Mary's baby? Might he have some ulterior motives going on there?
You will just have to read it for yourself. This was a quick, easy and enjoyable read with a nice touch of romance and a wee bit of mystery and adventure tossed in. I really liked the Cape Disappointment/Ilwaco setting and was seriously tempted to get in the car and take a road trip - haven't been out there in years. I did think Jesse took his pity party a bit too much to the extreme and admit to wanting to strangle him on occasion, but on the other side of the coin Mary's spunkiness and irrepressible good nature can grate at times, so this book might not suit every reader. YMMV.
June 9, 2018
DNF at 53%. What a horrible pair of characters!
Mary has got to be one of the most annoying heroines ever, and Jesse has been wallowing in self pity for 12 years over he a wife he cheated on while she was pregnant with his child. Both of these people should have been lost at sea.
Mary has got to be one of the most annoying heroines ever, and Jesse has been wallowing in self pity for 12 years over he a wife he cheated on while she was pregnant with his child. Both of these people should have been lost at sea.
February 28, 2018
The lightkeeper by Susan Wiggs
Starts out in 1886, Jessie Morgan is the lightkeeper and he feels a disturbance in the air and then notices something has washed up on the shore.
He then notices it's a female body, a pregnant one and the town soon learns of her living there as the doctor has been to visit. They figure out where she came from and help her recuperate.
We also learn of Jessie's past, his two best friends Emily and Granger and how things change forever one night...
Love hearing of the mermaid quilt and apples-we've always loved the huge apple when in WA.
Liked learning what hsi job is at the light house. I recall visiting the area ourselves and enjoyed the day. They do come together and with fears her married man will come for the child Jessie marries her.
One woman with many children comes with others from town to congratulate them and Mary has an idea of how she can remain in town and make money to survive on....
Mary tells him the man's name of the babys father and it sends Jessie into a deep dark world. He will get revenge on Granger this time, who's now married to his sister and she's miserable...
Sex scenes as they draw closer to one another and just want to survive the winter long months.
Granger appears to his wife who's at the cottage with Mary and David and they all leave together...Jessie can follow what happened with Anna's scent of gardenias and he gets in the boat to take care of them all. he can make it happen as the gale gets stronger and the light is out...
From NLS for my BARD player.
Starts out in 1886, Jessie Morgan is the lightkeeper and he feels a disturbance in the air and then notices something has washed up on the shore.
He then notices it's a female body, a pregnant one and the town soon learns of her living there as the doctor has been to visit. They figure out where she came from and help her recuperate.
We also learn of Jessie's past, his two best friends Emily and Granger and how things change forever one night...
Love hearing of the mermaid quilt and apples-we've always loved the huge apple when in WA.
Liked learning what hsi job is at the light house. I recall visiting the area ourselves and enjoyed the day. They do come together and with fears her married man will come for the child Jessie marries her.
One woman with many children comes with others from town to congratulate them and Mary has an idea of how she can remain in town and make money to survive on....
Mary tells him the man's name of the babys father and it sends Jessie into a deep dark world. He will get revenge on Granger this time, who's now married to his sister and she's miserable...
Sex scenes as they draw closer to one another and just want to survive the winter long months.
Granger appears to his wife who's at the cottage with Mary and David and they all leave together...Jessie can follow what happened with Anna's scent of gardenias and he gets in the boat to take care of them all. he can make it happen as the gale gets stronger and the light is out...
From NLS for my BARD player.
February 20, 2025
3.5 Stars
Jesse Morgan left his successful and affluent life behind to hide himself far away in a lighthouse in an isolated corner of the Pacific NW. He can never forgive himself for the shipwreck that took his pregnant wife, so he pours himself into his light-keeping duties. It is 1876 and he has spent the last 12 years isolating himself from the world.
Mary Dare was a likeable character, especially her ability to retain such wonder and happiness after suffering much loss and disappointment. There were times though that she was a little too much, and there were times when she seemed to forcibly try to take over his solitary life.
This story may have been a little longer than necessary, but I did become invested in the characters and the action kept my interest.
My favorite part was when she was retelling the shipwreck and rescue to Jesse to rewrite in his log, and it was so fanciful and grandly embellished that he was having trouble keeping up. And having trouble keeping himself from laughing.
Jesse Morgan left his successful and affluent life behind to hide himself far away in a lighthouse in an isolated corner of the Pacific NW. He can never forgive himself for the shipwreck that took his pregnant wife, so he pours himself into his light-keeping duties. It is 1876 and he has spent the last 12 years isolating himself from the world.
Mary Dare was a likeable character, especially her ability to retain such wonder and happiness after suffering much loss and disappointment. There were times though that she was a little too much, and there were times when she seemed to forcibly try to take over his solitary life.
This story may have been a little longer than necessary, but I did become invested in the characters and the action kept my interest.
My favorite part was when she was retelling the shipwreck and rescue to Jesse to rewrite in his log, and it was so fanciful and grandly embellished that he was having trouble keeping up. And having trouble keeping himself from laughing.
December 12, 2023
My first book by this author and I’m uncertain about reading another. While many parts of this book felt genuine, emotional, painful, hopeful, too much of it felt forced and lurched toward melodrama. The same themes were hammered so often that they got boring and it felt like this book got nowhere so.very.slowly.
And just how does a woman shoot a man in the chest with a pistol across a lurching boat in a storm while that man is locked in a fight with another man? C’mon.
And just how does a woman shoot a man in the chest with a pistol across a lurching boat in a storm while that man is locked in a fight with another man? C’mon.
July 1, 2018
Susan Wiggs is one of my favorites, and she didn't disappoint with this one! lovely, stand-alone story!
January 22, 2018
Mary Dare is a pregnant Irish immigrant on the run, when the boat she stowed away on is wrecked on the Columbia Bar. Mary survives and is rescued by Jesse Morgan, the lighthouse keeper. He's haunted by the death of his wife and unborn child 12 years earlier in a wreck when the light went out. Mary worms her way into his life against his will and they heal each other as they fall in love.
Slow start, good ending.
Slow start, good ending.
September 25, 2020
Another captivating book!!
November 27, 2020
Oh, well... It was an okay read. Not one of her best for sure.
July 13, 2014
I read this one quite a few years ago and it recently came up on a recommended list. So with a 50% off deal, I downloaded a copy for my Kobo reading app.
I think I loved this book even better the second time around and I loved it dearly the first time. Jesse suffered a tragedy in his privileged life and had been hiding his heart and his life away in a small coastal town, handling the job as the lighthouse keeper, pledging his life to making sure no one else suffered the loss he had.
But what the sea takes, the sea gives back and he rescues a young pregnant women who was the lone survivor of a shipwreck. Jessie is adamant that she leave as soon as possible; the moment she is recovered enough to let him go back to his solitary existence. But fate and Mary Dare, our heroine, our heroine, make sure that doesn't happen.
Mary is running away from a horrible situation and feels safe with Jesse. And although he fights it tooth and nail, she is determined to bring Jesse back to life.
I loved everything about this book. Both Jesse and Mary broke my heart and I dearly loved them both. Despite profound losses in her own life, Mary has a deep appreciation and joy in life. Jesse NEEDS her, you can feel that in every interaction between the two of them. He is gruff to the point of rudeness but that doesn't discourage Mary. She sees beneath his bear-like shell to the lonely and suffering man beneath.
I love the writing. Susan Wiggs is a wonderful writer. I have quite a few of her books and after adoring The Lightkeeper, I plan to reread a lot more of them now. I highly recommend this book.
I think I loved this book even better the second time around and I loved it dearly the first time. Jesse suffered a tragedy in his privileged life and had been hiding his heart and his life away in a small coastal town, handling the job as the lighthouse keeper, pledging his life to making sure no one else suffered the loss he had.
But what the sea takes, the sea gives back and he rescues a young pregnant women who was the lone survivor of a shipwreck. Jessie is adamant that she leave as soon as possible; the moment she is recovered enough to let him go back to his solitary existence. But fate and Mary Dare, our heroine, our heroine, make sure that doesn't happen.
Mary is running away from a horrible situation and feels safe with Jesse. And although he fights it tooth and nail, she is determined to bring Jesse back to life.
I loved everything about this book. Both Jesse and Mary broke my heart and I dearly loved them both. Despite profound losses in her own life, Mary has a deep appreciation and joy in life. Jesse NEEDS her, you can feel that in every interaction between the two of them. He is gruff to the point of rudeness but that doesn't discourage Mary. She sees beneath his bear-like shell to the lonely and suffering man beneath.
I love the writing. Susan Wiggs is a wonderful writer. I have quite a few of her books and after adoring The Lightkeeper, I plan to reread a lot more of them now. I highly recommend this book.
January 22, 2008
A book like this makes me want to run away and find a rocky shore, buy a house and escape from the world. Which is the opposite of the point of this book.
A man who lost his wife to an accident at sea becomes a lighthouse keeper at the lighthouse that went out, causing her death. He's exiled himself to that place as penance to make sure something of the same never happens again.
A girl on the run from a lover who wants to claim her unborn child as his own washes up on the shore below that lighthouse. The man takes her in and is slowly forced to return to the world.
Coincidences abound, you know what's going to happen pretty much throughout the book, but it's well-paced and keeps you reading (if you ever started reading).
It reminded me a little of Anita Shreve's The Weight of Water, for the late 1800's time period, and Luanne Rice's Summer of Roses for the escape/renewal aspects.
A man who lost his wife to an accident at sea becomes a lighthouse keeper at the lighthouse that went out, causing her death. He's exiled himself to that place as penance to make sure something of the same never happens again.
A girl on the run from a lover who wants to claim her unborn child as his own washes up on the shore below that lighthouse. The man takes her in and is slowly forced to return to the world.
Coincidences abound, you know what's going to happen pretty much throughout the book, but it's well-paced and keeps you reading (if you ever started reading).
It reminded me a little of Anita Shreve's The Weight of Water, for the late 1800's time period, and Luanne Rice's Summer of Roses for the escape/renewal aspects.
November 4, 2008
THE LIGHTKEEPER - VG
Wiggs, Susan
Jesse Morgan is a man hiding from the pain of his past, a man who has vowed never to give his heart again. Keeper of a remote lighthouse along a rocky and dangerous coast, he has locked himself away from everything but his bitter memories.
Now, the sea has given him a second chance.
A beautiful stranger washes ashore, the sole survivor of a shipwreck. Penniless and pregnant, Mary Dare is a woman who carries painful memories of her own.
With laughter, hope and joy, Mary and her child bring light into the dark corners of Jesse's world. But when their friendship turns to passion and passion becomes love, secrets from the past threaten to take it all away.
I really enjoyed this. It was definitely a step above the usual romance. Good characters, great story.
Wiggs, Susan
Jesse Morgan is a man hiding from the pain of his past, a man who has vowed never to give his heart again. Keeper of a remote lighthouse along a rocky and dangerous coast, he has locked himself away from everything but his bitter memories.
Now, the sea has given him a second chance.
A beautiful stranger washes ashore, the sole survivor of a shipwreck. Penniless and pregnant, Mary Dare is a woman who carries painful memories of her own.
With laughter, hope and joy, Mary and her child bring light into the dark corners of Jesse's world. But when their friendship turns to passion and passion becomes love, secrets from the past threaten to take it all away.
I really enjoyed this. It was definitely a step above the usual romance. Good characters, great story.
September 17, 2016
I listened to this book as an unabridged audiobook, and it was absolutely stunning! The narrator Patrick Lawlor deserves an academy award for his rendition of this tale--unbelievable performance, he gets 8 stars!
Wiggs does an incredible job with this story and to create a story that is mostly characterization as the plot is one of the most difficult books to write. She excelled with The Lightkeeper. Between her story and the awesome narration, this audiobook went straight to the "listen again many times" shelf. Loved it!!
Wiggs does an incredible job with this story and to create a story that is mostly characterization as the plot is one of the most difficult books to write. She excelled with The Lightkeeper. Between her story and the awesome narration, this audiobook went straight to the "listen again many times" shelf. Loved it!!
April 26, 2019
3 1/2 stars. A good story about two people, who have not always loved wisely or well, who help each other heal.
The book started slowly, but my interest and the pace picked up as I read.
The book started slowly, but my interest and the pace picked up as I read.
September 8, 2018
I had mixed feelings about this book. The story of Mary and Jesse is touching. But Jesse is so hard to like, it is really hard to imagine Mary loving him which makes her all the more remarkable. I also have problems with the climax.
Despite being difficult to like Jesse, who is so intent on being withdrawn from the world, he is courageous and heroic. He has a sense of right and wrong and he also has compassion. He clings to the belief that he can't love Mary, yet that view of love is all wrong. Love is in actions and his actions reveal how great his love is.
Mary is another wonder woman, not in skills, but in attitude. The text never really allows us to believe that gratitude for saving her life is the only thing that drives her feelings for Jesse. She has tremendous patience. And she quickly sees that Jesse needs saving more than she did. She is incredibly optimistic and appreciates the joy in simple things.
The story, if you call it that, focuses on the relationship. The plot is pretty basic and the reader has a good idea where it is heading. Jesse's secret gives us some suspense, but it isn't that surprising. The climax includes physical peril for the main characters.
There is some reference to discrimination and hatred against Irish immigrants.
Mature themes: there is very mildly explicit sex between married people. There is a fight and some death. The most mature topic is physical abuse of wives by their husbands, but only the results are described briefly. Having read so many books from an earlier age, it is nice to be in an era where it is not just assumed that husbands have that right.
Despite being difficult to like Jesse, who is so intent on being withdrawn from the world, he is courageous and heroic. He has a sense of right and wrong and he also has compassion. He clings to the belief that he can't love Mary, yet that view of love is all wrong. Love is in actions and his actions reveal how great his love is.
Mary is another wonder woman, not in skills, but in attitude. The text never really allows us to believe that gratitude for saving her life is the only thing that drives her feelings for Jesse. She has tremendous patience. And she quickly sees that Jesse needs saving more than she did. She is incredibly optimistic and appreciates the joy in simple things.
The story, if you call it that, focuses on the relationship. The plot is pretty basic and the reader has a good idea where it is heading. Jesse's secret gives us some suspense, but it isn't that surprising. The climax includes physical peril for the main characters.
There is some reference to discrimination and hatred against Irish immigrants.
Mature themes: there is very mildly explicit sex between married people. There is a fight and some death. The most mature topic is physical abuse of wives by their husbands, but only the results are described briefly. Having read so many books from an earlier age, it is nice to be in an era where it is not just assumed that husbands have that right.
January 18, 2025
In 1876 Washington Territory, a lighthouse attendant who has isolated himself after personal tragedy rescues the lone survivor of a shipwreck. The pregnant woman who washes up on his shores unravels his determination to finish his life as a passenger in it, forcing him to deal with his demons both real and imagined.
This is a classic historical romance written well, with a slow build toward the flowery spicy scenes included during the back third of the book (the kind where the sexual moments involve shooting stars and images of glorious sunsets). Our main characters were sweet and tormented, our supporting characters charming if slightly flat, and our villain creepy enough to be happy when justice finally serves.
I had some struggles with the timeline established by the author for the heroine's misadventures--she apparently sailed from Ireland to New York, to then SF by way of around Cape Horn and then on to Washington in less than a year with time along the way to have dealt with not being able to find work/accommodations in NY due to racism, a stop in Buenos Aires, and to again experience the same issue in SF to drive her into the arms and bed of a man and end up washed ashore in Washington already 4 months pregnant. I mean...I guess it's possible but wow.
Overall though, the book was fine. It was sweet, a nice cozy read for the start of the year.
This is a classic historical romance written well, with a slow build toward the flowery spicy scenes included during the back third of the book (the kind where the sexual moments involve shooting stars and images of glorious sunsets). Our main characters were sweet and tormented, our supporting characters charming if slightly flat, and our villain creepy enough to be happy when justice finally serves.
I had some struggles with the timeline established by the author for the heroine's misadventures--she apparently sailed from Ireland to New York, to then SF by way of around Cape Horn and then on to Washington in less than a year with time along the way to have dealt with not being able to find work/accommodations in NY due to racism, a stop in Buenos Aires, and to again experience the same issue in SF to drive her into the arms and bed of a man and end up washed ashore in Washington already 4 months pregnant. I mean...I guess it's possible but wow.
Overall though, the book was fine. It was sweet, a nice cozy read for the start of the year.
August 18, 2020
This is my introduction to Susan Wiggs and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Twelve years ago Jesse Morgan had everything, member of an affluent family, co-owner of shipping company, happily married with a child on the way. Now, he's banished himself from society and makes his living as a lighthouse keeper.
Mary Dare, in a short timeframe lost her entire family in Ireland, sold everything and departed for America. But, America's streets are not paved in gold for the Irish and when she is shortly down-on-her-luck, she meets a charming man, who sets her up in a nice apartment and charms her into overcoming her beliefs and training. But, once she's pregnant, apparently he's married and using her as a broodmare.
Jesse, manning his post, sees something washed up on the shore, and it turns out to be Mary, having run away from her "benefactor".
Now the few people in Jesse's life are determined to keep Mary in Jesse's life. They're determined for him to rejoin the human race and Mary's lover is just as determined to get her back.
Twelve years ago Jesse Morgan had everything, member of an affluent family, co-owner of shipping company, happily married with a child on the way. Now, he's banished himself from society and makes his living as a lighthouse keeper.
Mary Dare, in a short timeframe lost her entire family in Ireland, sold everything and departed for America. But, America's streets are not paved in gold for the Irish and when she is shortly down-on-her-luck, she meets a charming man, who sets her up in a nice apartment and charms her into overcoming her beliefs and training. But, once she's pregnant, apparently he's married and using her as a broodmare.
Jesse, manning his post, sees something washed up on the shore, and it turns out to be Mary, having run away from her "benefactor".
Now the few people in Jesse's life are determined to keep Mary in Jesse's life. They're determined for him to rejoin the human race and Mary's lover is just as determined to get her back.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2023
Looking for a good escapist vintage book? The Lightkeeper by Susan Wiggs (1997) is a story of second chances for two strong willed individuals. The book is based on actual locations on the coast of Washington state.
Jesse Morgan turned his back on society after the accidental death at sea of his wife. He has lived an isolated life for twelve years as the keeper of Cape Disappointment lighthouse. It’s 1876 and a stormy shipwreck tosses a woman up on the beach and he rescues her…. a young pregnant Irish woman fleeing her wealthy lover. Jesse wants nothing to do with her. Mary Dare is full of laughter, hope and joy and he’s consumed by guilt and darkness as he blames himself for his wife’s death.
Coincidences abound and there is a slow start, but they do not take away from this delightful read. Wiggs has written incredibly developed characters and a plot with a bit of mystery. If you’re a fan of Maggie Osborne’s HRs you should enjoy The Lightkeeper.
Jesse Morgan turned his back on society after the accidental death at sea of his wife. He has lived an isolated life for twelve years as the keeper of Cape Disappointment lighthouse. It’s 1876 and a stormy shipwreck tosses a woman up on the beach and he rescues her…. a young pregnant Irish woman fleeing her wealthy lover. Jesse wants nothing to do with her. Mary Dare is full of laughter, hope and joy and he’s consumed by guilt and darkness as he blames himself for his wife’s death.
Coincidences abound and there is a slow start, but they do not take away from this delightful read. Wiggs has written incredibly developed characters and a plot with a bit of mystery. If you’re a fan of Maggie Osborne’s HRs you should enjoy The Lightkeeper.
December 10, 2023
Great read
Grief affects everyone differently, as does fear and adversity.
Jesse Morgan was born into wealth, but lost his young wife to drowning in a ship wreck. As penance, he became the Lightkeeper and locked himself deep in his grief, isolating himself from everyone.
Mary was an Irish immigrant who was born poor, but who was rich in love. When she lost her entire family and was forced to emigrate to America, she chose to honor her lost loved ones by being joyful in the knowledge of their love.
Through a series of events, Mary found herself in San Francisco pregnant, unwed and fearful for her unborn child, so she stowed away on a ship.
The ship on which she stowed away was wrecked and she was the sole survivor, rescued from the sea by Jesse.
What follows is the story of how Mary tries to bring Jesse back to life and overcome his self-imposed grief stricken isolation.
Grief affects everyone differently, as does fear and adversity.
Jesse Morgan was born into wealth, but lost his young wife to drowning in a ship wreck. As penance, he became the Lightkeeper and locked himself deep in his grief, isolating himself from everyone.
Mary was an Irish immigrant who was born poor, but who was rich in love. When she lost her entire family and was forced to emigrate to America, she chose to honor her lost loved ones by being joyful in the knowledge of their love.
Through a series of events, Mary found herself in San Francisco pregnant, unwed and fearful for her unborn child, so she stowed away on a ship.
The ship on which she stowed away was wrecked and she was the sole survivor, rescued from the sea by Jesse.
What follows is the story of how Mary tries to bring Jesse back to life and overcome his self-imposed grief stricken isolation.
December 29, 2019
Jesse is a man haunted by his past, and now he is the light keeper on an island, trying to atone for his past sins. Mary, a runaway, somehow ends up on his island. Jesse is full of regrets and diligently lights the lighthouse every day. Mary is full of attitude and sass, who somehow warms to Jesse. The 2 residents on the island that interact with Jesse and gives off this little riddles here and there are rather quirk and interesting. But are honestly more in the background just like every other character in the book.
This turned out to be a fairly decent read. I really like how both of them took their own time to heal from their past and learned to open their hearts to each other, but can they weather what danger is about to come? While the plot is pretty simple and you have an idea of where this is going, the main focus is on the relationship of Mary and Jesse.
This turned out to be a fairly decent read. I really like how both of them took their own time to heal from their past and learned to open their hearts to each other, but can they weather what danger is about to come? While the plot is pretty simple and you have an idea of where this is going, the main focus is on the relationship of Mary and Jesse.
March 26, 2021
WA Territory 1876. A beautiful young pregnant woman washes up on the shore. Discovered by the handsome yet reclusive lighthouse keeper, what will happen next is unsurprising- yet no less enjoyable for its predictability. A sweet, historical romance with likable characters, a unique setting amidst a rather cozy community. I loved Mary’s confident optimism in spite of her treacherous situation. And how she is so capable! And seeing Jesse’s hard walls being worn down is sweet. The changes in their community are also a lovely surprise. I would like to return to this community and hear more stories from some of the other residents- maybe some of the women from the women’s shelter, or the fishermen injured at sea. I feel like there’s a lot more to explore. I loved the happy ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2025
Hard to like MMC and borderline annoying MFC
Although the MMC was hard to like most of the time and the MFC is borderline annoying at times, I still really liked this. Both have suffered loss and the MFC has suffered hardship, but the way they handle it is like night & day. Mary still can smile & great the day as an adventure whereas Jesse has closed himself off from EVERYONE. Mary comes into his life in a very unusual and memorable way and she stays. Much to Jesse's dismay. Also, they are unknowingly tied together by someone they both know which causes problems later on. As annoying & frustrating as the MCs where, they were still endearing and I found myself immersed in their story. I definitely recommend!
Although the MMC was hard to like most of the time and the MFC is borderline annoying at times, I still really liked this. Both have suffered loss and the MFC has suffered hardship, but the way they handle it is like night & day. Mary still can smile & great the day as an adventure whereas Jesse has closed himself off from EVERYONE. Mary comes into his life in a very unusual and memorable way and she stays. Much to Jesse's dismay. Also, they are unknowingly tied together by someone they both know which causes problems later on. As annoying & frustrating as the MCs where, they were still endearing and I found myself immersed in their story. I definitely recommend!
May 24, 2019
Il primo libro che ho letto in Italiano!
The first book I read in Italian.
Not a comic, un vero libro senza pictures. Accomplishment!
I'm so impressed with my linguistic feat that I don't really have all that much to say about the story itself.
A good, solid, old-fashioned romance: a man and a woman, thrown together by "fate", gradually get to know each other, help each other face their inner demons, spend a lot of time working out the internal obstacles to their relationship, overcome a big, flashy external one near the end, and - happy ending.
A pleasant light read, to be taken to the beach. :)
The first book I read in Italian.
Not a comic, un vero libro senza pictures. Accomplishment!
I'm so impressed with my linguistic feat that I don't really have all that much to say about the story itself.
A good, solid, old-fashioned romance: a man and a woman, thrown together by "fate", gradually get to know each other, help each other face their inner demons, spend a lot of time working out the internal obstacles to their relationship, overcome a big, flashy external one near the end, and - happy ending.
A pleasant light read, to be taken to the beach. :)
July 21, 2017
The sea took Jesse Morgan's pregnant wife from him twelve years ago. The accident left him an angry
hermit. As his personal punishment he took it upon himself to become the keeper of a remote lighthouse along a rocky, dangerous coast so no one else would have to lose their loved ones. But there is a ship wreck. A young pregnant woman is the lone survivor who washes up on the shore. Mary Dare has suffered hardships too. She sees Jesse as the hope for her future - to be able to live and raise her child in the lovely area where the lighthouse stands.
hermit. As his personal punishment he took it upon himself to become the keeper of a remote lighthouse along a rocky, dangerous coast so no one else would have to lose their loved ones. But there is a ship wreck. A young pregnant woman is the lone survivor who washes up on the shore. Mary Dare has suffered hardships too. She sees Jesse as the hope for her future - to be able to live and raise her child in the lovely area where the lighthouse stands.
November 5, 2014
Wow- What a gut wrenchingly passionate love story! I agree with the New York Times review of this story being "a classic beauty and the beast that will stay in your heart....."
Our lead hero, Captain Jesse Morgan has lost his wife and unborn child mysteriously to the sea. Both grew up together. They came from wealth and no one can replace his beloved wife and best friend Emily. Although he is part owner of a shipping company, he is trying to heal his twelve year old deeply embedded wounds by tending Cape Disappointment's lighthouse. The sea currents near the cape are dangerous and Jesse has vehemently vowed that no one will ever lose their life due to a malfunctioning beacon like Emily did.
One stormy night, "a mass of seaweed, and strands of golden-brown kelp shrouding an elongated shape" washed up on shore. As Jesse was digging through the mass of seaweed and broken wood that seemed to belong to a ship's mast, he finds an unconscious woman with the most beautifully angelic face, who is also very pregnant! It seemed that the sea took all that Jesse loved twelve years ago, but on this stormy night, the very same sea might be changing his destiny yet again. After a few days of whipping in and out of consciousness, the woman turns out to be an unwed, red headed Irish named Mary Dare O'Connell. Mary is very beautiful and Jesse finds himself battling his growing feelings for the very opinionated woman he is tending. He can't wait for Mary to heal from her broken clavicle and finally be rid of her once and for all; -except that Mary has no family and doesn't want to discuss the baby's father.
The story starts off with Jesse running to the beach because he had a very bad feeling about the large object that washed-up on shore. The story captivates readers because of the many struggles they share. Their dialog and personifications completely bounces off the story pages. Mary is a beacon of light an hope. She wears her heart on her sleeve and readers can understand why she was fooled by the lover that impregnated her. She is scared as to what future she will be facing alone with a baby, especially since she is an unwed Irish woman. Apparently the Irish were very much discriminated against to the point that finding decent work was difficult to come by in 1876. Yet, Mary remained strong and lovely throughout the entire story. She was truly an all around and completely dimensional character.
Jesse was extremely admirable. He would huff and puff all day from beginning to end, and watching Mary and the rest of the supporting characters ruffle his feathers was indeed comical. Jesse would protect his neighbors and town-folk with whatever threats they were facing. He didn't like the lime light nor would accept the accolades that came with being the town hero, but he knew that the very same people he protected loved him; to the point that they reminded him to no end that it was his destiny that washed ashore that stormy night. They wanted Jesse to find true love and happiness again.
While the story tended to slow down during Mary's convalescence at the lighthouse under Jesse's care, the suspense did move at a gripping speed. Mary was running away from the baby's father with good reason- what a very dark character and obvious villain, but the twist surrounding this character was very well thought. Jesse's constant battle with his demons did drag a bit since he kept himself always at bay with other, but this made his character authentically rich. When Jesse loved, he loved beyond all reason and this is why I totally fell in love with him myself. He was a very strong character that stayed true to his given character traits and did not whimper in the end like most lead heroes do. I hate it when writers turn the lead hero into whimpering fools resulting in very unrealistic endings, and this is not the case in "The Lightkeeper." Romance and relationships are a two way street and it is extremely unrealistic that a true and solid character falls so helplessly in love to the point that his proof of love beyond all reason is to allow his leading lady to stomp all over him, and thus the basis for the author's "happily every after."
Mary understood Jesse and they both suffered a great deal in life. Mary called it like it is "we are both damaged goods," but she was witty and brilliant even though she didn't know how to read and write. The way she got under Jesse's skin was beautiful because she didn't antagonize him and would give him her reasons for braving out the worst of life's circumstances. She was always standing from the point of view that the "glass is half full" while Jesse's point of view was that the "glass was half empty." I loved these two characters even though they were a bit polarizing for one another. They will indeed go down as one of my all time favorites even though I am not too keen on widowed men trying to make a go of it, and naïve happy go lucky leading ladies. But the author sold this relationship very well in my opinion.
This was my very first read from this author and thank goodness I purchased the sequel "The Drifter" along with it. Just by glancing at the first sentence for "The Drifter," we have the leading lady already being held at gunpoint by her leading man! - wow!- taking a breath here. If this book is just as exciting as "The Lightkeeper," I will have to make fast dishes for the family for dinner, because each chapter left me begging for more.
Our lead hero, Captain Jesse Morgan has lost his wife and unborn child mysteriously to the sea. Both grew up together. They came from wealth and no one can replace his beloved wife and best friend Emily. Although he is part owner of a shipping company, he is trying to heal his twelve year old deeply embedded wounds by tending Cape Disappointment's lighthouse. The sea currents near the cape are dangerous and Jesse has vehemently vowed that no one will ever lose their life due to a malfunctioning beacon like Emily did.
One stormy night, "a mass of seaweed, and strands of golden-brown kelp shrouding an elongated shape" washed up on shore. As Jesse was digging through the mass of seaweed and broken wood that seemed to belong to a ship's mast, he finds an unconscious woman with the most beautifully angelic face, who is also very pregnant! It seemed that the sea took all that Jesse loved twelve years ago, but on this stormy night, the very same sea might be changing his destiny yet again. After a few days of whipping in and out of consciousness, the woman turns out to be an unwed, red headed Irish named Mary Dare O'Connell. Mary is very beautiful and Jesse finds himself battling his growing feelings for the very opinionated woman he is tending. He can't wait for Mary to heal from her broken clavicle and finally be rid of her once and for all; -except that Mary has no family and doesn't want to discuss the baby's father.
The story starts off with Jesse running to the beach because he had a very bad feeling about the large object that washed-up on shore. The story captivates readers because of the many struggles they share. Their dialog and personifications completely bounces off the story pages. Mary is a beacon of light an hope. She wears her heart on her sleeve and readers can understand why she was fooled by the lover that impregnated her. She is scared as to what future she will be facing alone with a baby, especially since she is an unwed Irish woman. Apparently the Irish were very much discriminated against to the point that finding decent work was difficult to come by in 1876. Yet, Mary remained strong and lovely throughout the entire story. She was truly an all around and completely dimensional character.
Jesse was extremely admirable. He would huff and puff all day from beginning to end, and watching Mary and the rest of the supporting characters ruffle his feathers was indeed comical. Jesse would protect his neighbors and town-folk with whatever threats they were facing. He didn't like the lime light nor would accept the accolades that came with being the town hero, but he knew that the very same people he protected loved him; to the point that they reminded him to no end that it was his destiny that washed ashore that stormy night. They wanted Jesse to find true love and happiness again.
While the story tended to slow down during Mary's convalescence at the lighthouse under Jesse's care, the suspense did move at a gripping speed. Mary was running away from the baby's father with good reason- what a very dark character and obvious villain, but the twist surrounding this character was very well thought. Jesse's constant battle with his demons did drag a bit since he kept himself always at bay with other, but this made his character authentically rich. When Jesse loved, he loved beyond all reason and this is why I totally fell in love with him myself. He was a very strong character that stayed true to his given character traits and did not whimper in the end like most lead heroes do. I hate it when writers turn the lead hero into whimpering fools resulting in very unrealistic endings, and this is not the case in "The Lightkeeper." Romance and relationships are a two way street and it is extremely unrealistic that a true and solid character falls so helplessly in love to the point that his proof of love beyond all reason is to allow his leading lady to stomp all over him, and thus the basis for the author's "happily every after."
Mary understood Jesse and they both suffered a great deal in life. Mary called it like it is "we are both damaged goods," but she was witty and brilliant even though she didn't know how to read and write. The way she got under Jesse's skin was beautiful because she didn't antagonize him and would give him her reasons for braving out the worst of life's circumstances. She was always standing from the point of view that the "glass is half full" while Jesse's point of view was that the "glass was half empty." I loved these two characters even though they were a bit polarizing for one another. They will indeed go down as one of my all time favorites even though I am not too keen on widowed men trying to make a go of it, and naïve happy go lucky leading ladies. But the author sold this relationship very well in my opinion.
This was my very first read from this author and thank goodness I purchased the sequel "The Drifter" along with it. Just by glancing at the first sentence for "The Drifter," we have the leading lady already being held at gunpoint by her leading man! - wow!- taking a breath here. If this book is just as exciting as "The Lightkeeper," I will have to make fast dishes for the family for dinner, because each chapter left me begging for more.
May 26, 2019
As the book progressed, the story line seemed familiar. Am not sure if I read this one before or that it's similar to another book I've read. Characters are very well done but the historical romance bit well I could do without that. I picked up the book because I like Susan Wiggs. What was not noticed is that it was a Harlequin romance. Read a lot of those in my earlier years and just got very weary of the genre. Nothing wrong with Harlequins, they are just not for me.
August 23, 2022
One of the best books I have read in a while. The history of Sea Rescue is reflected in this story of 2 broken people, Mary is Irish and treated with prejudice, she is a soul survivor of a ship wreck. Mary is also pregnant and unmarried. Mary is rescued by a Lighthouse keeper that is bitter, from losing his pregnant wife at sea. I read this in 2 nights. Such great characters and a Wonderful story. I want to read more of Susan Wiggs.
November 20, 2022
A lightkeeper has kept to himself for twelve years, doing his job, hiding from the pain of the loss of his wife Emily.
Into Jesse Morgan's life comes Mary Dare, the sole survivor of a shipwreck. She will upend his life with her joy, her love, and a baby.
Will he ever let her and the baby into his heart? A historical romance set on the Pacific coast--basically a beauty-and-the-beast romance.
Into Jesse Morgan's life comes Mary Dare, the sole survivor of a shipwreck. She will upend his life with her joy, her love, and a baby.
Will he ever let her and the baby into his heart? A historical romance set on the Pacific coast--basically a beauty-and-the-beast romance.
January 12, 2025
This was a reread for me, 4.5 stars. I’ve been trying to clean my bookshelf of old books, so I read this one again. I really loved it. I’m not a huge fan of Susan Wigg books but I thought this one was well written. It explores the process of grief and giving yourself permission to heal and move on. I liked the setting of the lighthouse and shipping history in Washington. It’s a keeper for me and will reread again!
November 27, 2022
I just couldn't. I rarely leave a book midway , specially if i have paid for it but this was so messed up. And not the story not really , it could have been good. But the writting was just messy. It felt like first draft of the story where it can only make sense to the author. I had loved the plot but goddamn the writing was AWFUL
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews