The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter by Hazel Gaynor on October 9, 2018
Genres: Fiction / Biographical, Fiction / Historical / General, Fiction / Sea Stories
Pages: 416
Format: Paperback
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“They call me a heroine, but I am not deserving of such accolades. I am just an ordinary young woman who did her duty.”
This historical fiction is told in a few POV’s and two time periods. This one is told by three strong women who have a connection to a Lighthouse that forever changed their lives. The characters in this one are unforgettable, the plot is complex and engaging, and the heartwarming themes will bring you to tears.
It starts out in 1838 with Grace Darling’s story. She is single, 22, and living at the lighthouse with her parents, where she assists her father in Lighthouse duties. During a horrible storm she spots a shipwreck and she and her father rescue the survivors. Grace is honored and celebrated throughout England. She doesn’t care for her fame, but ends up developing a friendship with George Emmerson. He is an artist and is also a relative to one of the people rescued.
In 1938, Matilda Emmerson is being sent from her home in Ireland to America to live with a cousin she has never met because she has disgraced the family. She meets Harriet, an assistant lighthouse keeper and all around ornery lady. But Harriet takes good care of Matilda thru the birth of her baby. Matilda discovers a portrait at the lighthouse and discovers her family history is deeper than she ever thought.
One of my favorite quotes: “Even the brave were once afraid. The sum of generations of strong, courageous women who came before her, an echo of them all lingering in her soul.”
I loved this one! The ending really made this one. It wasn’t necessarily a HEA, but the discoveries that were made totally completed the emotions for me in this book! The characters were well developed and all their stories came together in the end in such an amazing way. The plot was steady and interesting so that I kept wanting to find out more about these characters lives and move right in to their lighthouse. The themes were so endearing with the strong females, father-daughter relationship, lost love, duty vs desire, and the lighthouse being the beacon of strength for all who sought refuge there. This is a must read for fans of historical fiction or those who like strong female leads.