by Amanda Cox
Publisher: Revell
ISBN: 9780800742744
Amanda Cox's stories always draw me into a new time and place. Her stories are so rich with the characters and the setting, I can't say no to any of her books! Thanks to Revell for sending me her newest release for review!
Summary:
Every family has its secrets. Josephina "Joey" Harris wouldn't mind if her family still had a few of their own after a lawsuit tarnishes their name. When an opportunity opens to become a temporary keeper of a decommissioned lighthouse on a North Carolina island, she takes the opportunity to escape the scrutiny of her small town to oversee its restoration.
Soon Joey discovers strange notes tucked deep in the crevices of the lighthouse's old stone walls--pages torn from a keeper's log recounting harrowing rescues at sea. When things start to go amiss on the island, locals are convinced that it is the ghost of the lighthouse keeper and his daughter who were lost at sea during World War II.
As Joey sifts through decades of rumors and legends and puts together the pieces of the past, a love story emerges--one that's clearly not over yet.
Soon Joey discovers strange notes tucked deep in the crevices of the lighthouse's old stone walls--pages torn from a keeper's log recounting harrowing rescues at sea. When things start to go amiss on the island, locals are convinced that it is the ghost of the lighthouse keeper and his daughter who were lost at sea during World War II.
As Joey sifts through decades of rumors and legends and puts together the pieces of the past, a love story emerges--one that's clearly not over yet.
My Review:
What an incredible story! While I've always enjoyed the author's stories, this one had a bit of a deeper mystery to me than her other ones. Initially I thought it might be heading in a more Jaime Jo Wright kind of way. If you've read any of her books you know what I mean. Thankfully, that wasn't it at all, but there was still quite the mystery!
I really enjoyed getting to know spunky Joey. She had a lot of tenacity, especially after all her family had been through. When her opportunity came to try something a bit new (but not really), while she didn't quite grab the bull by they horns (thank goodness for bffs) she didn't let anything get in the way! It was clear that those who had an interest in Bleakpoint came to care for Joey!
Then we meet Finn and his sweet grandpa Walt. Walt was around during the WWII time and through the telling of the story, we come to find out why this lighthouse and the people who took care of it meant so much to him as a young boy. Trust me when I say your heart will go out to him!
Oh, we can't forget Finn. Gruff and grumble Finn. Does he care more about his grandpa or how he's spending his money? Thankfully throughout the story we get to know him better and what makes him tick. Like Joey, she wanted to say on his good side while also keeping him informed of how his grandpa was doing.
During the restoration of the lighthouse and the keeper's shanty, we meet a variety of characters along the way. Some who stir up crazy ideas, others who help, and a couple who might have some unexpected answers! I was really heartwarming on a number of levels how the story wrapped up. Can't give anything away on that front. The connections made are quite the interesting twist!
About the Author:
Amanda Cox is the Christy Award-winning author of The Edge of Belonging, The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery, and He Should Have Told the Bees. She holds a bachelor's degree in Bible and theology and a master's degree in professional counseling, but her first love is communicating through story. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with her husband and their three children. Learn more at AmandaCoxWrites.com.
