Tag: Coming of Age Fiction

Book Review: The Lighthouse

Published on by Joan Hall29 Comments

I’ve always been fascinated with lighthouses, so the title and cover of this book drew me in. After reading the blurb, it sounded like a good read, so I obtained an ARC.

Blurb

Amy Tucker is struggling to put her life back together following the death of her mother. The loss has left the eighteen-year-old heartbroken, and she doesn’t know if her world will ever be whole again.

Meanwhile, in Seabrook, a small town famous for its haunted lighthouse, Ryan Porter lives a simple but busy life, maintaining the ranch which he shares with his father.

Separated by hundreds of miles, yet drawn to each other by forces they can’t understand, Amy and Ryan spend a magical day together and quickly forge a deep connection. But all is not what it seems in Seabrook and when strange events begin happening around town, they question if their meeting really was an accident at all.

Trusting in themselves and in each other, they attempt to unravel the mystery of why fate has brought them together, and in doing so they embark on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery, a journey that leads straight to the heart of Seabrook’s mysterious lighthouse where they uncover the most shocking secret of all… a secret that will change the course of their lives forever.

My Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Not what I expected, but…

Eighteen-year-old Amy Parker is trying to come to terms with her mother’s unexpected death. She and her father have never been close, and in the month since her mother’s death, she thinks he’s trying to micromanage her. This puts a further strain on their relationship.

Kevin Parker, a detective with the Criminal Investigation Division of the Oregon State Police also struggles with his wife’s death. Kevin’s brother Jack, also with the CID, sends him to the town of Seabrook to meet with the family of a missing person to inform them they are closing the case. Jack suggests Kevin take Amy with him, thinking the overnight trip might be good for both of them.

Once in Seabrook, strange things begin happening. The town is gearing up for its annual Lighthouse Festival. The derelict structure is the source of dispute—some believe it should be torn down, others think it should remain. Several people in the town believe the ghost of a former keeper still inhabits the place. And Amy finds herself caught in the middle.

The morning after arriving in Seabrook, she’s unable to find her father—or reach him by phone. She meets a young man, Ryan Porter, who lives on a nearby ranch with his ailing father. Amy and Ryan set about trying to discover the secret of the mysterious lighthouse.

I expected this to be more of a mystery, but it was a coming-of-age story with a blend of contemporary, a bit of magic, and a touch of romance. I loved the setting—the small town, the Porter ranch, the nearby forest, beaches, and cliffs. Amy and Ryan both had issues to overcome but they were both well-rounded and likable. And there was a mystery—just not what I expected.

I found it refreshing there was no graphic violence or excessive use of foul language (something a lot of authors often tend to do). A well-written debut novel for Christopher Parker.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Beacon Press for an advanced reader copy.

Finding Katie #SomethingWickedTour @StoryEmpire

Published on by Joan Hall24 Comments

Hey, everyone. It’s hard to believe the week has passed and we’re wrapping up the Something Wicked Tour. For the complete list of today’s stops, click this link.

Today, I have the pleasure of hosting fellow author and friend Harmony Kent to tell us about her book, Finding Katie. Harmony, take it away!

Hello everyone, Harmony here. Thanks for hosting me today, Joan! It’s great to visit with you and your readers to kick off my fifth and final stop on Story Empire’s Something Wicked Blog Tour. In keeping with the scary theme, I’d like to visit the world of a troubled teenager, where those we should fear the most aren’t always strangers …

I killed someone, you see. I killed the girl who used to be me.

About the Series:

Evil doesn’t always lurk without. All too often, the people we should fear the most are those with whom we are closest. Find out how teenager Kate Charlesworth deals with the aftermath of human cruelty and devastation in this compelling read.

 

About Finding Katie:

I killed someone, you see. I killed the girl, who used to be me.

I’m Kate … Kate Charlesworth. I’m seventeen, and self-harming. This time I cut too deep, and I’m in hospital. I hadn’t meant for it to be so bad—it just sort of happened. I needed a lot of distraction that day.

You’ve had bad days, right? Days it hurts too much to think. Days you just wanna stay in bed. Days when the world needs to go away for a while. Right?

What do you do when you’ve hit rock bottom? When there’s nowhere left to turn?

This one little mistake lands me back on a psych unit—the last place I wanna be. Only this time, the nurse I end up with isn’t content to stick on a band-aid and send me home. She wants me to face my demons. But to do that, I’ll have to face who I am … who I used to be … I’ll have to find Katie.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Finding Katie, please click HERE.

_______________________________________________

About Harmony:

After spending around thirteen years as an ordained Buddhist monk, living in a Zen Buddhist temple, and six years after a life-changing injury following a surgical error, Harmony Kent returned to the world at the tender age of forty. Now, she is famous for her laughter, and has made quite the name for herself … she’s also, um, a writer … and fairly well known for that too. She’s even won a few awards. Harmony lives in rural Cornwall with her ever-present sense of humour, adorable husband, and quirky neighbours. Harmony is passionate about supporting her fellow authors.

 

To Learn More About Harmony Check Out:

Website|Story Empire (co-authored) |Amazon Author Page |

Twitter | LinkedIn | Goodreads | BookBub |

It’s hard to believe the week is over. I hope everyone has enjoyed the tour. I had fun with it. Who knows? We Story Empire authors might have something else in the future.

Review: Will O’ The Wisp #TuesdayBookShare

Published on by Joan Hall41 Comments

Several weeks ago, I posted about the Marfa Lights, a mysterious phenomon that happens in far west Texas. But there are also similar occurrences in other parts of the country, often called Will O’ The Wisp.

C. S. Boyack’s book by the same title transports you back to the 1970s – a time when life was simpler. The main character, Patty Hall, becomes convinced her family is cursed and sets about trying to break it.

Blurb:

There is something evil up Bergamot Holler, and it’s been targeting the Hall family for generations.

Patty Hall is fifteen years old. She loves stargazing, science fiction, and all things related to space exploration. This leaves her perfectly prepared for the wrong problem.

Patty is afraid her mother will send her to a care facility if she tells her what she’s seen. If she doesn’t figure things out soon, she’s going to join her father in the Hall family cemetery plot.

Patty has to come to grips with her own physical handicap, survive the wilderness, and face an ancient evil all alone if she’s going to survive.

Will O’ the Wisp is suitable for young adults. It involves strong elements of suspense, and is set in the mid 1970s.

My 5-Star Review:

Having grown up in the 1970s, I was drawn to this book. It’s the story of Patty Hall, a teenage girl who enters her freshman year of high school. Patty feels somewhat of an outcast because she had to wear leg braces. However, her two friends, Laura and Pete, are always there for her.

The story begins with the three of them going to a ridge near Patty’s home and seeing a mysterious light. Strange events start happening, and Patty soon learns about a centuries-old curse.

There is an element of suspense throughout the story that kept me wanting to read more. Boyack did an excellent job at writing this coming-of-age story from the perspective of a teenage girl. It’s written in first person, which usually isn’t my preference to read, but he did a remarkable job at holding my interest.

If you’d enjoy being transported back to the 1970s, like a little mystery and elements of supernatural, this book is for you.

A note about ratings. I consider three stars and above as positive reviews. I reserve five stars for books that keep me turning the pages and that I would read again. (Yes, I’ve been known to do that.)
5 Stars: Awesome story! Couldn’t put it down – Highly recommend.
4 Stars: The book kept me interested – Check it out.
3 Stars: It was okay. Not my favorite, but I didn’t dislike it enough to discontinue.
2 Stars: Book didn’t hold my interest, problems with the plot, characters, poor writing, etc.
1 Star: Don’t bother!