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Lighthouse Keeper #1
Wanted: Lighthouse Keeper
A bitter drunk meets a lonely paraplegic with a target on his back. Almost on the rim of the Arctic Circle, they’ve both run out of places to hide.
Dirk Black is a lost soul with a troubled past. When the washed-up cop happens to see an odd notice in a newspaper, his unshakable sense of irony sends him to a remote point in Scotland’s Shetland Islands. There he discovers something he’s never wanted and bloody hell doesn’t need—a computer nerd and recluse who’s confined to a tiny promontory in the North Sea.
Stephan Tavish is a scholar and business entrepreneur who’s managed to run from his family and from society, hoping for peace of mind in the solitude of his own land and his ancestor’s old isolated lighthouse. But karma has bitten him in the arse. He finds himself in a very dark place where he needs to ask for help, from a stranger who’s lost himself in a whisky bottle.
Two alienated men, each with a mystery to solve, end up working together at the edge of nowhere. Together, they discover that something in their own past may hold the key to a very intriguing future.
Dirk Black is a lost soul with a troubled past. When the washed-up cop happens to see an odd notice in a newspaper, his unshakable sense of irony sends him to a remote point in Scotland’s Shetland Islands. There he discovers something he’s never wanted and bloody hell doesn’t need—a computer nerd and recluse who’s confined to a tiny promontory in the North Sea.
Stephan Tavish is a scholar and business entrepreneur who’s managed to run from his family and from society, hoping for peace of mind in the solitude of his own land and his ancestor’s old isolated lighthouse. But karma has bitten him in the arse. He finds himself in a very dark place where he needs to ask for help, from a stranger who’s lost himself in a whisky bottle.
Two alienated men, each with a mystery to solve, end up working together at the edge of nowhere. Together, they discover that something in their own past may hold the key to a very intriguing future.
- GenresM M Romance
154 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 19, 2022
10 people want to read
About the author
Erin O'Quinn
65 books72 followersErin O’Quinn earned a BA (English) and MA (Comparative Literature) from the University of Southern California. Her life has been a pastiche of fascinating vocations—newspaper marketing manager, university teacher, car salesperson, landscape gardener—until now, in relative retirement, she lives and writes in a small town in central Texas.
Erin has published six M/M novels and three novellas with AmberQuillPress and two independent M/M novels.
Her series titled “The Gaslight Mysteries” includes Heart to Hart, Sparring with Shadows, To the Bone. and Thin as Smoke.
Erin's indie books are NEVADA HIGHLANDER and THE KILT COMPLEX, both very well received.
In addition to these Amber Quill Press and indie books, Erin has thirteen other published novels. Of those, two are M/M historicals published by Siren Bookstrand, set in the Ireland of badass clansmen, cattle drovers, druids, Saxon mercenaries and St. Patrick himself.
Erin has published six M/M novels and three novellas with AmberQuillPress and two independent M/M novels.
Her series titled “The Gaslight Mysteries” includes Heart to Hart, Sparring with Shadows, To the Bone. and Thin as Smoke.
Erin's indie books are NEVADA HIGHLANDER and THE KILT COMPLEX, both very well received.
In addition to these Amber Quill Press and indie books, Erin has thirteen other published novels. Of those, two are M/M historicals published by Siren Bookstrand, set in the Ireland of badass clansmen, cattle drovers, druids, Saxon mercenaries and St. Patrick himself.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 27, 2022
3.25 stars
Very much like this author's Gaslight Mysteries, although those ones are set in Ireland and this one in Scotland. Like those, this seemed to move along at breakneck speed, glossing over a lot of what's going on inside the heads of these men. I understand the physical attraction, but somehow things moved from flirting and raised eyebrows to hold-me-down-and-have-your-way-with-me faster than if they'd met in a dive bar.
Very much like this author's Gaslight Mysteries, although those ones are set in Ireland and this one in Scotland. Like those, this seemed to move along at breakneck speed, glossing over a lot of what's going on inside the heads of these men. I understand the physical attraction, but somehow things moved from flirting and raised eyebrows to hold-me-down-and-have-your-way-with-me faster than if they'd met in a dive bar.
May 8, 2022
Another Highlands Wow
Erin O'Quinn has brought more fun to us about Scotland and its merry men who like men than any other author out there. This is a remarkable achievement because she is not a bonnie lass herself, but rather one heck of a story spinner.
And in this one she spins all her talents into an extremely exciting plot and a beautifully developed love story, both of which have sub plots that will grab your gut and almost crush your heart.
The characters of Dirk Black (left on the cover) and Stephan Tavish will grab you instantly--the former a drunk detective on leave for a horrifying accident and the latter a semi-paraplegic recovering from what was obviously not an accident.
That's as far as I am going to go. Other than tell you that she hints at a sequel (which is absolutely necessary, y'all hear me, Ms. Quinn?) to a book which like so many others by her takes your breath away in the first few pages and forces you to keep it right there until the end.
Erin O'Quinn has brought more fun to us about Scotland and its merry men who like men than any other author out there. This is a remarkable achievement because she is not a bonnie lass herself, but rather one heck of a story spinner.
And in this one she spins all her talents into an extremely exciting plot and a beautifully developed love story, both of which have sub plots that will grab your gut and almost crush your heart.
The characters of Dirk Black (left on the cover) and Stephan Tavish will grab you instantly--the former a drunk detective on leave for a horrifying accident and the latter a semi-paraplegic recovering from what was obviously not an accident.
That's as far as I am going to go. Other than tell you that she hints at a sequel (which is absolutely necessary, y'all hear me, Ms. Quinn?) to a book which like so many others by her takes your breath away in the first few pages and forces you to keep it right there until the end.
August 28, 2022
Dirk Black has made a mistake! He’s dealt with a great trauma and still suffering with dark thoughts and the fallout. His bitterness and a few too many drams has him completing a job application for a lighthouse keeper, with survival skills. What would it hurt?
After sleeping it off, Dirk is woken hungry, with his cell phone ringing. Seems his snarky response get’s him many return calls that he continues to ignore for various reasons. Reaching the Sea Shanty he finally breaks down and returns the call from “Livingstone.” The voice on the other end of the line is intriguing and proceeds to tell Dirk about the lighthouse. Livingstone’s great-grandfather built the northern-most lighthouse on the Mainland of Shetland Islands in 1880. The more Dirk hears the voice on the phone tell his story of destruction, he follows his every request.
Peter Tavish arrives at the Sea Shanty and Dirk finds himself on the Seagull and on his way to Fethaland. Dirk finds himself below ground and there he meets Stephan Tavish son to Peter Tavish.
Dirk is very surprised with Stephan and more of his story. There’s definitely crimes to be solved and Dirk craves the danger. With Stephans issues and his help, he awakens Dirk to pursue his own tragic issue and just maybe find closure.
Erin O’Quinn never fails to bring out her creativeness with stories and her wonderful characters. Many of her novels bring out the Scottish flair and this one is no different. Her description of Scotland and her characters are outstanding.
Dirk Black is exceptional and I love the writing for him especially when his Scottish wording comes out. Dirk’s portrayal of the dark, snarky, brooding and lonely man come through clearly.
Stephan Tavish is a definite genius and has accomplished more than one man can. He’s a loner too and needs to be safe and protected. He doesn’t let his situation hold him back. He’s been degraded and humiliated to the point it ruined his relationship with his son.
Peter Tavish, Stephan’s father is a wonderful man. He is so accepting, loves his son and his grandson and is there whenever he’s needed. Dirk and him grow to have a special connection.
DI Alan Ainsley is also quite the character. Being Dirk’s boss he has his hands full. But he believes in Dirk.
With all the evil character the mystery is plotted out well. There’s also danger, excitement, suspense, it’s fast paced action, a page turner and very steamy! Never disappointed in an Erinn O’Quinn tale! Next installment is “Lighthouse Keeper’s Holiday”.
After sleeping it off, Dirk is woken hungry, with his cell phone ringing. Seems his snarky response get’s him many return calls that he continues to ignore for various reasons. Reaching the Sea Shanty he finally breaks down and returns the call from “Livingstone.” The voice on the other end of the line is intriguing and proceeds to tell Dirk about the lighthouse. Livingstone’s great-grandfather built the northern-most lighthouse on the Mainland of Shetland Islands in 1880. The more Dirk hears the voice on the phone tell his story of destruction, he follows his every request.
Peter Tavish arrives at the Sea Shanty and Dirk finds himself on the Seagull and on his way to Fethaland. Dirk finds himself below ground and there he meets Stephan Tavish son to Peter Tavish.
Dirk is very surprised with Stephan and more of his story. There’s definitely crimes to be solved and Dirk craves the danger. With Stephans issues and his help, he awakens Dirk to pursue his own tragic issue and just maybe find closure.
Erin O’Quinn never fails to bring out her creativeness with stories and her wonderful characters. Many of her novels bring out the Scottish flair and this one is no different. Her description of Scotland and her characters are outstanding.
Dirk Black is exceptional and I love the writing for him especially when his Scottish wording comes out. Dirk’s portrayal of the dark, snarky, brooding and lonely man come through clearly.
Stephan Tavish is a definite genius and has accomplished more than one man can. He’s a loner too and needs to be safe and protected. He doesn’t let his situation hold him back. He’s been degraded and humiliated to the point it ruined his relationship with his son.
Peter Tavish, Stephan’s father is a wonderful man. He is so accepting, loves his son and his grandson and is there whenever he’s needed. Dirk and him grow to have a special connection.
DI Alan Ainsley is also quite the character. Being Dirk’s boss he has his hands full. But he believes in Dirk.
With all the evil character the mystery is plotted out well. There’s also danger, excitement, suspense, it’s fast paced action, a page turner and very steamy! Never disappointed in an Erinn O’Quinn tale! Next installment is “Lighthouse Keeper’s Holiday”.
January 27, 2024
The cop, the nerd and two mysteries
Dirk, a disgraced ex-cop is in a many months drunk stupor when he impulsively answers an intriguing ad for a lighthouse keeper. There he finds a paraplegic Stephen who was injured when his lighthouse was bombed. He and his father, Peter, are now living isolated in an underground bunker for fear of another attempt on his life. Stephen is a brilliant business man still working with the help of his huge computer system. Dirk helps him to discover who is trying to kill him and sets up a plan to catch the criminal. In turn Stephen finds the information to prove Dirk is innocent of the crime that lost him his job. They have a brief affair while they help each other get their lives back. It is a very good story taking place in Scotland so there are a few phrases unknown to this American but added color to the story. Highly recommended.
Dirk, a disgraced ex-cop is in a many months drunk stupor when he impulsively answers an intriguing ad for a lighthouse keeper. There he finds a paraplegic Stephen who was injured when his lighthouse was bombed. He and his father, Peter, are now living isolated in an underground bunker for fear of another attempt on his life. Stephen is a brilliant business man still working with the help of his huge computer system. Dirk helps him to discover who is trying to kill him and sets up a plan to catch the criminal. In turn Stephen finds the information to prove Dirk is innocent of the crime that lost him his job. They have a brief affair while they help each other get their lives back. It is a very good story taking place in Scotland so there are a few phrases unknown to this American but added color to the story. Highly recommended.
September 10, 2022
Quite a quick and easy read as it is mostly dialogue, and generally from Dirk's POV.
The story does make quite big leaps - Dirk and Stephan meet and get it on within hours!
There is the mystery of who blew up the lighthouse, causing Stephan's paralysis - Dirk to the rescue there - though some of the end of this felt a bit missing.
Dirk's own trauma was resolved thanks to Stephan's cyber antics.
The story does make quite big leaps - Dirk and Stephan meet and get it on within hours!
There is the mystery of who blew up the lighthouse, causing Stephan's paralysis - Dirk to the rescue there - though some of the end of this felt a bit missing.
Dirk's own trauma was resolved thanks to Stephan's cyber antics.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews