One of the settings that tends to catch my eye is a lighthouse. Set that lighthouse in my native Michigan and I had to give it a go. I just wasn’t crazy about the main character and I am not a romance fan, at all. At times too cutesy, too cliched, too stilted and too farfetched for my taste. The writing wasn’t bad…simply average and too predictable.

“The Lighthouse Keeper” by Cynthia Ellingsen

Dawn Collins had a nomadic childhood, moving around a lot, not being able to put down roots or make long time friends. Her parents were divers who searched old ship wrecks. And brought up ad many treasures as possible: treasure hunters. Hence, as an adult, her life is almost regimented: same job, same boyfriend, same routine. That is until a documentary of her family turns into an expose of her great grandfather. Suddenly, her job, her boyfriend, and her regimented life had been turned upside down.

Around the same time, her parents may lose the only house she, and they, have ever known.

Ironically, she finds that the lighthouse on Starlight Cove has been put up for auction. She bids, she wins, it gives her something to do while hunting for ways to save her family home. (Hey, being surrounded by good looking men while she is remodeling the lighthouse and searching for the truth about her great grandfather doesn’t hurt, either.)

Secrets and mysterious leads are found in the oddest places, as is friendship, deepening family relationships, self and familial understanding, and all types of love.

A self-reflecting story of one woman and her journey to find the truth, and herself. An enjoyable and fun read, that has a bit of everything for every reader. It kept me engaged enough I read it all in one day. Cynthia Ellingsen has written a gem of a novel that I highly recommend as a light, easy and wonderful novel.

Rating: 4.56
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

** I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Of all the book I have on my Kindle I pretended to be someone who chose a book by its cover. The cover draws one in. i was glad to be drawn. Lighthouses, a bit of a mystery, Lake Michigan and light romance. How could this book be possible bad? AIt couldn'.t. For a light summer read, or even winter, this book is a joy!

I really enjoyed this book, from the restoration of the lighthouse, the treasure hunting, the antiques, the old houses, and the little bit of romance. It was a good read, well written and with interesting characters.

An ok story I did loose momentum after the first few chapters

First time I've read book by this author but would read again. Loved the description of treasure hunting. Also brought to life Starlight Cove and all it's residents. Was good getting to see the relationship with Dawn and Kip unfurl. Also the lengths some people will go to to get their hands on treasure. Really good book. Would definitely recommend

I really enjoyed the lighthouse Keeper. The idea of renovating a Lighthouse has a certain mystique to it and it drew me in. This is a beautiful book.

The perfect summer read ! I love this book. The author has richly drawn characters, a exciting location and a great premises for the story.

Dawn returns to Starlight Cove, her idyllic hometown on Lake Michigan, Her parents are in the family business of treasure hunters and her late Great Grand Father has been accused of theft from a shipwreck. Dawn is in the process of rebuilding her life and comes home to help clear her Grand Father's good name. She begins to rebuild the lighthouse over the shipwreck and hopes to solve the mystery. Along the way she runs into fascinating small town characters and clues to a ancient mystery.
This book is summer reading perfection. It has a beautiful location, great characters and a fun mystery. I found it hard to put down and enjoyed it in its entirety., Very well done to the author !

How's this for a disclaimer: I went to high school with the author. Cynthia Ellingsen is a couple years younger than I am, her older sister, Carolyn, was in my class, and we were all "band kids." I reconnected with Cynthia in 2011, at RWA (yes, my Librarian of the Year year) right before her first book with Berkley came out. Since then she and her husband have had a couple of kids and her latest book, The Lighthouse Keeper sees her moving over to Amazon's Lake Union imprint (print everywhere, ebook exclusive to Amazon, but if you're a Kindle Unlimited person you can read this book for free!).

Dawn Connors has her life mapped out before her, until her family's past comes back to haunt her. Her parents were treasure hunters, diving and recovering ship wrecks. They now own an antiques store in picturesque Starlight Cove, Michigan but they made their money thanks to one really well-documented treasure recovery. So it's not unheard of that they would be the subject of a television documentary. Dawn spent her childhood being constantly uprooted and longed for a "normal" existence. She somehow gets talked into hosting a viewing party for the TV special and that's when all hell breaks loose.

The on-air personality resurrects the family scandal. Dawn's great-grandfather was a sea captain who lost his ship off the cost of Starlight Cove. On board? Prohibition era whiskey and a pile of Morgan silver dollars - neither of which was ever recovered. The TV show digs up all this dirt, leading to Dawn losing her boyfriend and her job in the ensuing publicity. That's when the insurance agency comes calling. Hand over the silver dollars and all will be forgiven. If not? Her parents lose their house. At the end of her rope, lost in despair, Dawn does something rash. She notices the Starlight Cove lighthouse is for sale via online auction. She makes a bid, and wins it. So now she's on her way to northern Michigan to look over the albatross she just bought, reconnect with her parents, oh and she has to figure out a way to find the silver dollars and clear her family's name. Which means she has no time to waste getting sucked into the orbit of Kip Whittaker, the town's most eligible bachelor.

You know those cozy mysteries that the Hallmark Movie Channel is running non-stop these days? Yeah, this book. However enjoyment of the story hinges on the reader's ability to "roll with it." Is this probable? Honestly? I have no idea. But it does strain a bit that an insurance company would make threatening overtures regarding a ship wreck that happened in the 1920s. Although who knows? Maybe they would. Insurance companies don't exactly have a warm and cuddly past (or present for that matter....).

It also requires patience on the part of the reader. This is one of those Throw The Reader In Head First when it comes to character development. Ellingsen tosses you right in and then employs the backtracking method to reveal more about her characters. It's not a slow build kind of read - it's sink or swim in the early chapters. But once Dawn wins the lighthouse and the action moves to Michigan, the author finds surer footing and we're off to the races.

It is an engaging read. I would label this women's fiction with a touch of romantic mystery. If you're a fan of small town contemporaries, this is the book for you. The author does a great job of creating the town of Starlight Cove and all the residents - some welcoming to Dawn and some not. It's the kind of small town where even if your family has been there for 20 years, the old guard is still going to consider you an "outsider." It's also the best of both worlds, since the mystery of the shipwreck dates back to the 1920s and there was a great love affair between Dawn's great-grandparents - so there's a little something here to engage the historical fan. I got invested in the mystery and the author sprinkles in various puzzles for the characters to, well, puzzle over and it kept me engaged all the way to finish line.

Fair warning, this is one of those books where the big city heroine ditches it all for the small town (Dawn's living in Boston when it all goes bust), but given Dawn's unhappiness in Boston (and the fact that her life implodes there) I didn't have an issue with it. The editing could have been a bit tighter in spots for me, but I'm the sort of small town contemporary reader who wants less of the small town world-building (which, again, the author does exceedingly well) and more of the main couple - so take that for what it's worth. The one solid detraction I have for the story is that the author leaves Dawn's ex-fiance' twisting in the breeze, but by then the mystery is in full swing and things are heating up between Dawn and Kip so.....a quibble more than anything else.

There's some history, some mystery, and some romance (kisses only, fade-to-black style). If you're a reader who cannot get enough small town contemporary, this one will likely be a winner for you. Personally it made me a little home sick (and that's a compliment).

Final Grade = B-

Likeable, real life characters, a mystery, interesting history, and a little romance all come together to make this a great read!

When Dawn Connors buys an old lighthouse in her hometown of Starlight Cove she doesn't expect to be embroiled in a years old mystery. While looking for sunken treasure she comes to realize that she might have more in common with her treasure hunting parents then she might think. During the remodel of the lighthouse she makes new friends and finds that small town life might just be what she's been looking for. I really loved all the characters and enjoyed the mystery. This is a great summer read !

This is going to be a good summer read- or a good read for right now. Ellingsen has a deft way with characters- she made Dawn come alive for me. I also liked the northern Michigan setting and the town of Starlight Cove. Some of this might be predictable but there's also a twist in the story, some romance, and a lighthouse (for those of us who are fascinated by them.) Thanks to netgalley for the ARC- I'd like to see more from Ellingsen. A smooth, easy, entertaining read.

Dawn Conner's unexpected breakup and firing sent her running for the only home she had ever known. Growing up the only child of treasure hunters, her life had always been unstable at best. When she returned to the quaint Starlight Cove after impulsively buying the town's lighthouse, Dawn expected a little recuperation before rehabbing her purchase and selling it for a profit. She assumed she'd return back to her city life and move on with things, before she became wrapped up in trying to clear her family's name and found herself attracted to small-town Kip.

The Lighthouse Keeper by Cynthia Ellingsen captured me, heart and soul. I loved the sad, sweet way this story unfolded. I look forward to more by Ellingsen in the future.

This book was a very pleasant surprise for me – the author manages to incorporate so many different things into a story that I found completely riveting and it kept me engaged from beginning to end. It is a mystery, with a little romance thrown in. A story that makes modern day treasure hunters and pirates believable things.

The main character, Dawn, finds her predictable and stable life unexpectedly upended after a TV show makes claims that her great grandfather was responsible for a crime before his disappearance decades earlier. Not only is her current life in shambles, but the only place where she was ever able to call home is threatened to be taken away. After a very unusual childhood, this home is very important to her, so Dawn returns to Starlight Cove in an attempt to finally solve the mystery surrounding her great grandfather’s shipwreck.

There are so many things that I liked about this book. Dawn’s purchase of the lighthouse and renovation of it is a big fantasy for me; how many people would not find that exciting? The renovation definitely has challenges, and the author must have done a lot of research to not only highlight the problems (i.e. lack of plumbing), but have come up with real-world solutions, as well! The idea that you can go on a modern day treasure hunt and solve a mystery that is decades old is such a fun premise, and this book will keep you guessing until the end.

I really enjoyed this book. It had beautiful descriptive language that showcased lake Michigan, the lighthouse and the quaint small town. The two main characters in the novel were so down to earth and real I felt I was saying good bye to old friends when the ending came. If you like books by Nicholas Sparks or Kristen Hannah you will love this one.

The Lighthouse Keeper is an extremely well written book. I loved the plot and the characters. I highly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this story. With a bit of mystery, romance and humor it was a great combination. I loved that it took place in a small Michigan town that I could totally relate to. I will definitely be looking for other titles by this author.

This is the first book I have read by Cynthia Ellingsen and it will not be my last. I love her writing style. Ms. Ellingsen makes you feel like you there in the story as it unfolds. I love lighthouses (I have many pictures) so the cover and the title was the first thing that appealed to me, along with the blurb. Dawn comes home after losing her job and her boyfriend after a television show that slandered her family name. On a whim, she bought the lighthouse that was up for auction. There was some resistance with a few of the hometown locals of her being an outsider and buying the lighthouse. Some people disliked her just because her late great grandfather had been branded a thief and considered guilty of piracy. How Dawn handled the hometown folks was great. The hometown feel in the story was great. You could pictures the beach as Dawn was walking/running, the lighthouse as she went through the remodel, and the food - yummy. Her parents antique store, the Shipwreck Antiques and Treasures shop makes we want to know if there is really such a town as I would like to visit. There are many more stories to tell and hope that this will become a series of books. Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance copy of this book and have given my honest opinion.

This book was a fun read about a young woman whose parents are famous treasure hunters. She moves back home after failed job and relationship to buy a historic lighthouse. Trying to solve the mystery of what happened to her great grandfather, who stole the silver, etc. while making new friends and some enemies for awhile. Good humorous, romantic and suspenseful.