The Lightkeeper's Ball by Colleen Coble

Title: The Lightkeeper's Ball (A Mercy Falls Novel #3)

Author: Colleen Coble

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 2011

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 292

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Historical

How I Got It: Borrowed from the library

In 1910, New York socialite Olivia Stewart resists an arranged, socially advantageous marriage, and the mysterious death of her sister Eleanor in Northern California is an unhappy but convenient excuse to go West to investigate. On the way, she is thrown off a Bay area ship and nearly drowned, so she has a number of reasons to hide her identity when she arrives in Mercy Falls, Calif. Her shipboard rescuer turns out to be her dead sister's fiancé Harrison Bennett, about whom she has suspicions. Harrison in turn has his reasons to distrust the Stewart family. In this atmosphere of deceit and suspicion, attraction between Olivia and Harrison grows.

I had read the first two Mercy Falls novels way back at the beginning of the year. I had been waiting for this one to release and thank goodness the library had it. Another good mystery/historical romance.

I like Coble's characters. We see the spirit of Olivia. We also get appearances by the leading ladies of the first two novels, Katie and Addie. Together they make quite the trio. I loved the side characters, Mrs. Fosberg, Mrs, Bennett, Mr. Bennett, Nealy (the dog), Euguene, Goldia. They added to the realness of the novel. I also appreciated the tone. Just like the others, I could see the Christian angle, but it was overwhelming. Any conversation the characters had about God seemed natural. I didn't suffer through the 3-page sermons like many CHF books.

My only complaint about this one: the rushed ending. I felt like the book was moving along at a nice pace until the last 30 pages when all the reveals happened one after another. How realistic is it for all the secrets to come out to different people at practically the same time. A bit far-fetched. But the other mystery was well done.

The Lightkeeper's Bride by Colleen Coble

Title: The Lightkeeper's Bride (Mercy Falls #2)

Author: Colleen Coble

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 2010

Genre: Historical Fiction; Christian; Romance

Pages: 284

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Historical Fiction; Support Your Local Library; A to Z Titles: L

Katie Russell loves working as a telephone operator in Mercy Falls, California. But since childhood she has been expected to marry well. Her family presses for an engagement to wealthy bachelor Bartholomew Foster and though he doesn't stir her heart, their engagement promises a secure financial future.
Working the phone lines one evening, Katie overhears a chilling exchange between her friend Eliza and a familiar male voice. Katie soon learns that Eliza has disappeared, and the crime may be linked to another investigation by handsome new lighthouse keeper, Will Jesperson. Katie and Will soon form an alliance. An alliance that slowly blossoms into something more.
Despite the danger surrounding her, Katie is powerfully drawn to Will. But she is not at liberty to marry for love. And though society forbids their growing affection, Katie can't help but notice Will's sense of peace. It's a peace that rests on his trust in God—a trust that Katie has never had to depend on, with her future so clearly mapped out before her.
But the more Katie uncovers of the mystery, the more she discovers about herself, her past, and the brilliant future that could be hers if only she has the courage to trust in God and follow where her heart so fearlessly leads.

The second book in Coble's Mercy Falls series reads just as well as the first. I find that I am really enjoying the mix of Christian romance and mystery/thriller. The second novel's heroine makes a brief appearance in the first novel as Addie's new friend. Katie Russell is a great character, full of stubbornness but a caretaker's heart. I really connected with this character. of course, the male interest is also intriguing. I could exactly picture Will Jesperson in my mind throughout the story. His quiet strength and determination are a perfect match for Katie.

Of course, Coble packs the novel with red herrings and obvious suspicions, leading the reading on a twisting and turning ride to the truth. The revelations of the villains didn't fail to satisfy and surprise. I enjoyed the ride. And I heard there's a third Mercy Falls novel coming out this year. I look forward to it!

Mercy Falls

The Lightkeeper's Daughter by Colleen Coble

Title: The Lightkeeper's Daughter (A Mercy Falls Novel)

Author: Colleen Coble

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 2009

Genre: Historical Fiction; Christian; Romance

Pages: 306

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Historical Fiction; A to Z Authors: C; Support Your Local Library

Addie Sullivan leads a quiet life in a northern California lighthouse. She mourns the death of her father and endures her mother's bitterness, until the night a storm brings an injured stranger and a dark secret to her home. The man insists she is not who she thinks she is, but rather "Julia Eaton"—the child long lost and feared dead by her wealthy family. Seizing the chance to be reunited with the Eatons, Addie leaves her lighthouse home but decides to keep her true identity a secret until they can unravel the mystery.
Addie loves the Eatons' palatial home tucked away among the California redwood forests. She feels secure with the jovial family, adores the young boy who is her charge as governess, and finds romance with his father John, a young widower. But sinister shadows overtake Addie's joy. As dusty rooms and secret compartments give up their clues about her past, Addie finds a faith and a love she could never have guessed. To embrace this new world of promise is to risk her life; but to run away is to risk losing the greatest love she's ever known.

I read a lot of Christian historical fiction. It's quick, easy, and guaranteed to have a good message. Unfortunately, a lot of the genre falls into a very formulaic structure. By the end, I often want to chew my arm off because of the predictability.

That being said, The Lightkeeper's Daughter was a refreshing change. Maybe it was because the characters weren't stereotypes of people. Maybe because the writing, specifically the dialogue, didn't seem forced and from an 8th grader. Maybe because the story had many twists and turns to which I didn't know who was the villain. Maybe because the story was saved from being overly sermonized (is that a word?, it is now); the Christian message was still there, but subtle.

Whatever the reason, I enjoyed the book immensely. I found out there was another book released in the Mercy Falls series. Of course, I ran to the library to get that one too. It's next on my reading list: The Lightkeeper's Bride. I give The Lightkeeper's Daughter 4 out of 5 stars. I definitely recommend to anyone loving mysteries with a bit of romance and without all the sex and violence of my other authors. Enjoy reading! And don't worry I won't give away the ending. You just have to find that out for yourselves.

Mercy Falls