Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Call number
F HED
Publication
Bethany House
Description
"Shipwrecked and stranded at Presque Isle port, Emma Chambers is in need of a home. Could the widowed Great Lakes lighthouse keeper and his young son be an answer to her prayer?"--
User reviews
LibraryThing member Beverlylynnt
This book has a lot to offer a reader. There's adventure when pirates threaten the waters near the Presque Isle lighthouse, a marriage of convenience, a vengeful gossiping neighbor, a man with dark secrets, a family trying to survive deep oppression, and sexual tension. It is a historical fiction
Patrick Garraty, the lighthouse keeper at Presque Isle, was a man with numerous secrets and a shady background, yet his story is one of miraculous redemption. But, as so often happens to us, the past rears its ugly head and threatens Patrick and his son's future.
Emma Chambers and her brother Ryan are all the family they have left. Their mother died during the potato famine, their father leading them to America before drowning his sorrows in alcohol. His death on Mackinaw Island prompted them to take a steamer to Detroit to start their life over again. But on the way, pirates raided their ship, stole their life savings and the ship's cargo, and set the steamer on fire. Emma and Ryan swam to shore, guided by the nearby lighthouse's beacon. Reaching Burnham's Landing, Ryan found a job chopping firewood. But there was no place for Emma to stay. The only females in the area already had seven people living in their tiny cabin.
When the kindly Reverend William Poyseor, the traveling minister often fondly called "Holy Bill", arrived to conduct a funeral, he suggested a solution to Emma's problem; she should marry Patrick Garraty. She agrees and married Patrick the day after her escape from the pirates. She immediately inherits the care of rambunctious 2-year-old Joey. But she sees in Patrick a dedicated, loving father and thoughtful husband. Despite Ryan's concerns she wants to stay in the remote northeast part of Michigan with Patrick.
I enjoy reading historical fiction and the combination of that with a marriage of convenience is irresistible. In this case, Emma has never kept house, cooked a meal without burning it, or taken charge of a child. She feels woefully inadequate for the task. This leads her to befriend Bertie Burnham for guidance and cooking lessons. But Bertie secretly seeks revenge on Patrick. Emma allows Bertie's poisonous tongue to color her perception of Patrick, and coupled with the secrets he keeps, disaster nearly overtook the newlyweds before they became better acquainted. The suspense, mystery and revelations as I read this book made it difficult to put this book down at times.
Not only is the action riveting, but the character development is well done. Several bits of Patrick's past haunts him so that he has to struggle with his new found faith to find inner peace. Like us many times, he is his own worst enemy when it comes to living under the umbrella of "no condemnation."
The third part of this book I like is the author's use of comic relief through little Josiah, Patrick's son. His antics keeps the story warm and charming. His legendary temper tantrums tested Emma to her limits, although he is endearing nonetheless. He is essentially the glue keeping Emma and Patrick together while they work their issues out.
This book is the first book of the Beacons of Hope series by Jody Hedlund. The prequal to the series is an ebook novella, Out of the Storm. I highly recommend these stories for you.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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set in the mid-1800's at one of Michigan's scenic lighthouses. Much of the material has basis in historical facts, including the presence of a circuit riding preacher, a pirate that robbed ships and goods at various docks, the lighthouse keeper himself and his wife, and the setting at Burnham's Landing.Patrick Garraty, the lighthouse keeper at Presque Isle, was a man with numerous secrets and a shady background, yet his story is one of miraculous redemption. But, as so often happens to us, the past rears its ugly head and threatens Patrick and his son's future.
Emma Chambers and her brother Ryan are all the family they have left. Their mother died during the potato famine, their father leading them to America before drowning his sorrows in alcohol. His death on Mackinaw Island prompted them to take a steamer to Detroit to start their life over again. But on the way, pirates raided their ship, stole their life savings and the ship's cargo, and set the steamer on fire. Emma and Ryan swam to shore, guided by the nearby lighthouse's beacon. Reaching Burnham's Landing, Ryan found a job chopping firewood. But there was no place for Emma to stay. The only females in the area already had seven people living in their tiny cabin.
When the kindly Reverend William Poyseor, the traveling minister often fondly called "Holy Bill", arrived to conduct a funeral, he suggested a solution to Emma's problem; she should marry Patrick Garraty. She agrees and married Patrick the day after her escape from the pirates. She immediately inherits the care of rambunctious 2-year-old Joey. But she sees in Patrick a dedicated, loving father and thoughtful husband. Despite Ryan's concerns she wants to stay in the remote northeast part of Michigan with Patrick.
I enjoy reading historical fiction and the combination of that with a marriage of convenience is irresistible. In this case, Emma has never kept house, cooked a meal without burning it, or taken charge of a child. She feels woefully inadequate for the task. This leads her to befriend Bertie Burnham for guidance and cooking lessons. But Bertie secretly seeks revenge on Patrick. Emma allows Bertie's poisonous tongue to color her perception of Patrick, and coupled with the secrets he keeps, disaster nearly overtook the newlyweds before they became better acquainted. The suspense, mystery and revelations as I read this book made it difficult to put this book down at times.
Not only is the action riveting, but the character development is well done. Several bits of Patrick's past haunts him so that he has to struggle with his new found faith to find inner peace. Like us many times, he is his own worst enemy when it comes to living under the umbrella of "no condemnation."
The third part of this book I like is the author's use of comic relief through little Josiah, Patrick's son. His antics keeps the story warm and charming. His legendary temper tantrums tested Emma to her limits, although he is endearing nonetheless. He is essentially the glue keeping Emma and Patrick together while they work their issues out.
This book is the first book of the Beacons of Hope series by Jody Hedlund. The prequal to the series is an ebook novella, Out of the Storm. I highly recommend these stories for you.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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LibraryThing member Virginia51
This is a story that takes place on Presque Isle, Michigan. There is a lighthouse romance and pirates. Who would have thought there were pirates in Michigan on a Great Lake. I had never read anything about that before. This really kept my interest throughout the whole book. There were some twists
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and turns that helped the romance and hurt it. People need to learn to talk and listen. I really look forward to reading more in this series called Beacons of Hope. I received this through Bethany House for a fair and honest opinion. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookwormMama14
Lighthouses are a thing of beauty. Yet they are also to be feared and respected. The dangers of being a lightkeeper are known all too well to Patrick Garraty.
Emma Chambers has longed for nothing more than to settle down and have a home and a family. When her and her brother Ryan are stranded in
Jody Hedlund has done it again! She sucked me into this story until all I could think about was what was going to happen next? I have to admit I was quite anxious the whole time I was reading Love Unexpected. Not only because I was constantly hoping that Emma and Patrick would be able to work things out, but because of the realness of the past coming back to haunt us. I believe that a lot of people have things in their past that they would prefer to be left forgotten. But as Jody touched on so accurately, when we ask the Lord's forgiveness he forgives, and forgets. Tossing our sins into the swirling waves of grace where they are dissolved and never brought back up. The only thing left for us to do is forgive ourselves and walk forward. Trusting in Him and letting Him lead our steps. Then, if our past does try to resurface, we can rest in God. Knowing that that is no longer who we are or what we do. We have been forgiven, cleansed and are His holy children. I look forward to the release of the second book in Beacons of Hope series Hearts Made Whole.
As part of their Blogger Review Program I received a free digital copy of Love Unexpected from Bethany House Publishers through Net Galley.
Check out the prequel to Love Unexpected for free! Out of the Storm
Emma Chambers has longed for nothing more than to settle down and have a home and a family. When her and her brother Ryan are stranded in
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Burnham's Landing, a little fishing village on Lake Huron, her dream becomes reality. Patrick Garraty, the head keeper at the Presque Isle Lighthouse, has recently lost his wife and is need of someone to help run the lighthouse as well as raise his son Josiah. Circumstances couldn't have worked out better, except when Patrick's past literally comes knocking at the door. Will his past crimes and sins destroy all that Emma has come to love? Will she be able to forgive him for his mistakes? Will they ever be able to cherish the unexpected love that has come into their lives?Jody Hedlund has done it again! She sucked me into this story until all I could think about was what was going to happen next? I have to admit I was quite anxious the whole time I was reading Love Unexpected. Not only because I was constantly hoping that Emma and Patrick would be able to work things out, but because of the realness of the past coming back to haunt us. I believe that a lot of people have things in their past that they would prefer to be left forgotten. But as Jody touched on so accurately, when we ask the Lord's forgiveness he forgives, and forgets. Tossing our sins into the swirling waves of grace where they are dissolved and never brought back up. The only thing left for us to do is forgive ourselves and walk forward. Trusting in Him and letting Him lead our steps. Then, if our past does try to resurface, we can rest in God. Knowing that that is no longer who we are or what we do. We have been forgiven, cleansed and are His holy children. I look forward to the release of the second book in Beacons of Hope series Hearts Made Whole.
As part of their Blogger Review Program I received a free digital copy of Love Unexpected from Bethany House Publishers through Net Galley.
Check out the prequel to Love Unexpected for free! Out of the Storm
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LibraryThing member Lindz2012
What a sweet story this book is. Emma and her brother Ryan start out on a steamer boat. They are attack by pirates. Emma see that the steam boat catch fire. Emma and Ryan jump into the lake and are now trying to survive. Patrick see the steam boat catch fire.
Things start to happen once they arrive
Things start to happen once they arrive
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to the island. Patrick is in need of a wife to watch over his son Joisah. There are secrets and a romance and a traveling preachers believe they may be answers to each other problems. Can they find the true meaningful word of wife and husband. Will Emma find her own home? Though for having faith you need to believe in god himself and not believe in people. You can not put all your faith in people you love to have all that you need. Does Patrick, Emma or Ryan find that faith? Do they find Joisah? To know these answer and more you need to read the book. Will Patrick get over his Past? Show Less
LibraryThing member Lindz2012
Love Unexpected by Jody Hedlund What a sweet story this book is. Emma and her brother Ryan start out on a steamer boat. They are attack by pirates. Emma see that the steam boat catch fire. Emma and Ryan jump into the lake and are now trying to survive. Patrick see the steam boat catch fire.
Things
Things
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start to happen once they arrive to the island. Patrick is in need of a wife to watch over his son Joisah. There are secrets and a romance and a traveling preachers believe they may be answers to each other problems. Can they find the true meaningful word of wife and husband. Will Emma find her own home? Though for having faith you need to believe in god himself and not believe in people. You can not put all your faith in people you love to have all that you need. Does Patrick, Emma or Ryan find that faith? Do they find Joisah? To know these answer and more you need to read the book. Will Patrick get over his Past? Show Less
ISBN
9780764212376
Series
Beacons of Hope 1