Rekindled Light

Author: Marilyn Turk
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Coastal Lights Legacy, # 4

At the onset of the Civil War, Sarah Turner’s hope to marry fiancé Josiah Hamilton crumbled when her father forbade her to ever see Josiah again because he chose the Union side. Now the war has ended, and Sarah and her family return to Pensacola to start life over. For seven years, Sarah harbored hope that she and Josiah could be reconciled, but she never heard from him again, and her father is pushing her toward marrying his business partner, a man Sarah has no attraction to. But when she sees Josiah with another woman, her hope of a future with him ends.

​Lieutenant Josiah Hamilton has returned to Pensacola as well, as an engineer for the US Army with orders to find the original lens of the Pensacola Lighthouse and build the new keepers’ house. He still loves Sarah, but when he sees her with a young child, he assumes she is married, and the child is hers. Meanwhile, Josiah is being pursued by the lightkeeper’s daughter and distracted by an apparent plot to prevent him from carrying out his job. Who is the arsonist starting fires at area lumber mills? What will happen when Sarah’s life and Josiah’s mission collide with someone who wants to end them both?

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Reviewer: Marta Aldrighetti

Pensacola, Florida - 1869.

The Turner family returns to their house near the bay in Pensacola, after the Civil war.

The book gives the readers a good idea about the city of Pensacola and the surrounding places, with descriptions of landscapes and trips, so the readers can imagine where the story is set.

The characters are well developed with different roles (lighthouse keeper, lieutenant, lumber owner, cook, gardener, wife, freed slaves...) they are active, interesting, not boring, lovely.

I enjoyed reading the book, I've barely put it down, because it's attractive, with a mix of romance and mystery, easy to read, entertaining, original. I recommend it.

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Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

I have never read a book by Marilyn Turk, but the story intrigued me so much I went a bought a copy. I'm glad I did.

Set after the Civil War we follow the lives of Sarah Turner, her family and Josiah Hamilton. Sarah's father had ended her engagement to Josiah because he chose to fight for the Union. Now both Sarah and Josiah are back in Pensacola and both assume the other has gone on to marry. As we find out in the story, nothing could be further from the truth.

As well as the backstory about the two main characters there are two separate mysteries in the book that will keep the reader riveted. While I did run into a few typos I still found the book entertaining and would enjoy reading more by this author.

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Reviewer: Paula Shreckhise

Rekindled Light by Marilyn Turk is the fourth book in this Historical Christian fiction series. It can be read as a stand-alone. 

It is after the Civil War and Pensacola, Florida is in the midst of reconstruction. Sarah Turner and her family are returning to help rebuild her father’s mill and lumber business. Sarah was parted from Josiah Hamilton because he left to fight in the Union Army. Now he is back as an engineer to oversee the rebuilding of the lighthouse and keeper’s quarters.
 
Will the lighthouse be rekindled? Will the romance be rekindled between Sarah and Josiah as well? Or is it too late? 

This is a very interesting and informative book in many ways. There is even a mystery involved. The author’s descriptions were adept at putting me on the streets of Pensacola and at a working saw mill. I have read stories of the Civil War but this book gave me much to ponder as I learned about the years after the war ended. The prose flowed from one scene to another and the words felt very true to the period. It was a very enjoyable read. Even the cover was spot on. It set the stage for the whole book. I will certainly look up the other books in this series.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

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