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Review No 1 - Lighthouse Bay by Kimberley Freeman

3/3/2014

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When Libby Slater returns to her childhood home after twelve years living in Paris she has no firm plans in place beyond grieving for the married lover she recently lost and attempting to regain some sense of balance. She knows her reappearance in the small coastal community of Lighthouse Bay will raise many eyebrows, especially those of her estranged sister Juliet. The siblings have not spoken in years, unable to resolve the personal tragedy that divided them more two decades before.

Almost a century before Isabella Winterbourne was the only survivor of a shipwreck in the same small town. In possession of a priceless gift intended for the Australian parliament, she sees it as an opportunity to make a new life for herself. But in order to reinvent herself she will need some help - who can she turn to who won't reveal her secret?

The discovery of an old diary plunges Libby into the century old mystery. Amid dealing with her own grief and attempting to re-establish a relationship with her sister, Libby cannot help but be drawn into the tangled web of Isabella's survival and the one person who shielded her from prying local eyes and the gnarly fingers of her cruel in-laws.

The story moved between 1901 and 2011 in a seamless way with alternating chapters telling the stories of Libby and Isabella. The suspense built gradually as the story progressed and towards the end I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, determined to discover just what did happen all those years ago.

I really liked the fact the book was set near my backyard (the Sunshine Coast) and thought the historical references to towns was really well done. The language and settings of the 1901 settings were accurate and I had no trouble transporting myself back in time as I read.

I really loved this book. Although the mystery might not be a jaw dropping one, it was enough to suck me right in and keep me fully engaged. I also enjoyed the modern side of the story and the gradual revelation of the secret that has kept Libby and Juliet estranged for so long.

All in all a beautifully told historical tale. Those who enjoy Kate Morton would also enjoy Lighthouse Bay.


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    I am excited to once again be participating in the Australian Women Writers Challenge for 2019. Although I am not currently reviewing books for the challenge,  I am still reading. You can find my reviews from previous years below.

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