The Lightkeeper's Ball
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4.1 • 23 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
Romance and mystery intertwine at the turn of the 20th Century.
It is the dawn of a new century and Olivia Stewart is heiress to an empire. Her family numbers among the Four Hundred—those considered the wealthiest and most distinguished in America. Unfortunately their wealth has nearly disappeared, and now their security rests upon the Stewart daughters marrying well.
Olivia's sister, Eleanor, was engaged to Harrison Bennett, one of the nation's wealthiest men, but has since died. Now the pressure is on Olivia to take her place, despite her suspicions about Eleanor's fiancé. Using her family's long-forgotten English title, Olivia travels to Mercy Falls, California, as Lady Devonworth, hoping to learn more before committing to marriage. There she finds that Eleanor's death was no accident. And Harrison is not the man she thought he would be.
When Mercy Falls holds a charity masquerade ball to raise funds for the new lighthouse, secrets—and truths long hidden—will be revealed. But can Harrison really love Olivia when he discovers her true identity? Can she live with the repercussions of failing her family, or will she finally realize that nothing—not money, family, or romance—will ever compare to God's unconditional love?
Full length historical romantic suspenseIncludes discussion questions for book clubsPart of the Mercy Falls series, but can also be read as a standaloneBook One: The Lightkeeper’s DaughterBook Two: The Lightkeeper’s BrideBook Three: The Lightkeeper’s Ball
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
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 fianc 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. Coble spins a tangled web in this third book in the Mercy Falls series (after The Lightkeeper's Bride), with red herrings and oodles of duplicity. Some complications (letters conveniently found) simply strain credibility, as does the revelation of the villain. Coble's fans won't mind that the plotting is a little loosely woven.
Customer Reviews
*This is a clean Christian historical mystery romance book.
Olivia's family is known as one of the wealthiest families in America, but their wealth has nearly disappeared. Her sister agreed to marry Harrison to save their family, but she died before the wedding. Olivia travels to Mercy Falls under the name Lady Devonworth to meet Harrison and investigate her sister's death. Olivia agrees to hold a masquerade ball to raise money for a new lighthouse, but many hidden secrets are revealed.
This was a fun read. I love Olivia's character, and I love that we got to see Katie and Addie again! This book has it all: a little romance and a little mystery. I also love that Harrison decided to stay true to himself and strike out on his own.
Content Warning:
-Murder
-Plane crash
-Shady business dealings
*This is a clean Christian historical mystery romance book.
Not Worth Reading
I am trying to find something good to say, really. The book was well written. BUT in a nutshell, it was the most Unbelievable story, simple and juvenile dialogue, it's attempt at depth (about relationship with God...) still stayed surface-level... And maybe there were righteous, just diamond miners in South Africa (I don't know I haven't researched it), but as one that lives in South Africa, historically diamond mining is noted for its exploitation and injustice.