Tuesday, March 5, 2019

"The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection" book tour and GiveAway



About the Book



Title: The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides  
Author: Kathy Rouser  
Genre: Christian Historical Romance  
Release date: November 1, 2018  
Publisher: Barbour  

Lighthouses have long been the symbol of salvation, warning sailors away from dangerous rocks and shallow waters. Along the Great Lakes, America’s inland seas, lighthouses played a vital role in the growth of the nation. They shepherded settlers traveling by water to places that had no roads. These beacons of light required constant tending even in remote and often dangerous places. Brave men and women battled the elements and loneliness to keep the lights shining. Their sacrifice kept goods and immigrants moving. Seven romances set between 1883 and 1911 bring hope to these lonely keepers and love to weary hearts. The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser 1899—Mackinac Point Lighthouse Natalie Brooks loses her past to amnesia, and Cal Waterson, the lighthouse keeper who rescues her, didn’t bargain on risking his heart—when her past might change everything.

Click here to purchase your copy.


My Review:
"The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection" is a collection of seven stories by seven different authors.  The stories are all about lighthouses and women lighthouse keepers. Since the stories are all about the same topics such as light houses and are love stories, they seem, to be alike in some aspects.  These stories do all have different plots. The plots involve keeping secrets and not remembering because of amnesia and kidnapping and etc.  My favorite story was "Safe Haven."

These stories are full of hope and they are short reads about 60-70 pages each.

I liked these stories because they made me see that a light keeper's job isn't an easy one and not really  all that safe. It also made me see that it is also a lonely one sometimes.

I recommend this book to anyone that likes lighthouses and short reads and clean love stories.

I was given a complimentary copy by the authors and Celebrate Lit. These opinions are my own.






About the Author


Kathleen Rouser is the multi-published author of the 2017 Bookvana Award winner, Rumors and Promises, her first novel about the people of fictional Stone Creek, Michigan, and its sequel, Secrets and Wishes. She is a longtime member in good standing of American Christian Fiction Writers. She longs to create characters who resonate with readers who realize their need for the touch God’s grace and hope in their everyday lives. A former homeschool instructor, mild-mannered dental assistant, and current Community Bible Study kids’ teacher, she lives in Michigan with her hero and husband of thirty-some years, and the sassy tail-less cat who found a home in their empty nest. Connect with Kathleen on her website at kathleenrouser.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kathleenerouser/, and on Twitter @KathleenRouser.

Guest Post from Kathy

When author Pegg Thomas approached me about writing a novella for The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides book proposal I couldn’t refuse the chance. After all, I am a lifelong resident of Michigan, which is the Great Lakes State! Plus, I had a favorite lighthouse in mind, though I briefly considered others. For over 20 years we have ventured “up north” for a week-long summer vacation on Lake Michigan, most of them spent in the same cottage. Since the cottage is almost 20 miles west of Mackinaw City, I’ve made the annual pilgrimage to the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse since they reopened with exhibits in 2004. Part of the first floor has since been restored to the middle-class furnishings of 1910 when George Marshall and his family resided there. Two generations of Marshalls manned the lighthouse and George Marshall’s brother, Charles, was at one time the assistant lighthouse keeper. There is also an area of the lighthouse where they display maps, photographs and other information, chronicling the history of the lighthouse built on the Straits of Mackinac in 1892. Fresnel lenses, like those used in the tower, and interactive displays are also included. Did you know for several years, the fourth-order Fresnel lens flashed a red light? I’d always pictured a yellow light! A tour guide, dressed in period clothing, such as a U.S. Lighthouse Service uniform, will take you up the tall, winding metal staircase to enjoy the view. My many visits, whether they’ve included the long climb to the tower or not, have intrigued me. I’d often thought that someday I would like to write a fictional story about this lighthouse. Built with Cream City brick, in a Norman architectural style, the building reminds me of a castle. Perhaps that’s why I chose to have the lighthouse keeper hero, Cal Waterson, rescue Natalie Brooks, a lone shipwreck survivor. She is the proverbial damsel in distress. Yet, despite her amnesia she finds a new strength in her faith to face an unknown future and in a sense rescues Cal and his daughter. Returning to the lighthouse last year, I did climb to the tower to examine the view my characters might have had. Of course, I had to imagine what it would have been like without the Mackinac Bridge, which has joined our upper and lower peninsulas since 1957. It’s a spectacular view, where you can also see Mackinac Island, home of the famous Grand Hotel, which was already there in 1899, when my story takes place. Not only do lighthouses spark so many ideas of history and romance, they are so symbolic— as guiding lights—and beacons of hope to lead through treacherous waters, much like our Savior, Jesus Christ, is the true Light who leads us to the Father. Indeed, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse played a strategic part in guiding ships through the dangers of the straits. I look forward to visiting this beautiful historic landmark again and hope my readers will be drawn into an intriguing visit to the lighthouse through my story, The Last Memory.

Blog Stops

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, February 21
The Power of Words, February 21
Simple Harvest Reads, February 22 (Guest Post from Mindy Houng)
Bibliophile Reviews, February 23
Just the Write Escape, February 24
Carla Loves To Read, February 24
Book by Book, February 25
EmpowerMoms, February 26
Back Porch Reads, February 27
Mary Hake, February 28
KarenSueHadleyMarch 4
Carpe Diem, March 5
BigreadersiteMarch 6

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Kathy is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card, a signed copy of The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection, a sterling silver charm of the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, and a souvenir pictorial book of some of the Great Lakes lighthouse!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/db9a/the-great-lakes-lighthouse-brides-collection-celebration-tour-giveawayhttps://promosimple.com/ps/db9a/the-great-lakes-lighthouse-brides-collection-celebration-tour-giveaway

6 comments:

  1. Thank you, Debbie, for reading The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection, for being a stop on my Celebrate Lit blog tour, and for taking time to write a review. Have a great week!

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  2. I have read about male lighthouse keepers but not women. I look forward to reading these stories. Have a blessed day.

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  3. This book sounds like a really great read. Especially for those of us who live near any of the Great Lakes.

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  4. thank you for your review. I like to read stories surrounded by a light house. there is romance, danger, mystery and hope
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete