The Lightkeeper's Daughter by Colleen Coble

I do not know who sent this to me. I did not order for Booksneeze from Thomas Nelson, it wasn't on the list at Glass Roads, nor for CFBA. I am at a loss to know who to notify of my review. Notwithstanding, I shall review it and hopefully whomever requested the review will stumble upon it.

 I love this human character study. The sharp contrasts between brothers create interest because one just knows where the wickedness will lead, yet hopes it won't go that far. Can a man be that wicked? Certainly. But, is it true of one brother and not the other? Well, the reader finds out along with Katie. I really like for an author to drag me along like that instead of hooking me with a gimmick and then letting me slip off the hook without any bait.

However, I do find an obtuse character very frustrating and I think Colleen Coble could have shortened the misunderstanding between Katie and John down to one page instead of the lengthy time it took for her to "see" the light so to speak. An author should never let the reader see into the thought processes of both protagonists when they are at odds because it creates false tension. Of course, misunderstandings happen all the time in life, and they obviously come from thought processing without facts, aka jumping to conclusions. Having a single point of view, rather that two or five points of view allows for much better story flow and is much easier on the reader, in my opinion.

Other than that, this story is a light read and will entertain. It gets 2 of 5 stars.

When Katie answers the call of duty, she awakens the call to her heart.
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 diappeared, and the crime may be linked to another investigation by handsome new lighthouse keeper, Will Jasperson. 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.