Thanks to @netgalley for this one! There were just a few times that I thought that this book was going just a bit long, but I enjoyed it. As the story unfolded, themes of love, duty, and mystery emerged. It started as a ghost story, and was not quite what I expected, but was a really nice surprise.

I honestly don't know what to say about this book except that I didn't like it.

I felt that the final idea was somewhat childish, that the booked was soooooo long and for no reason, it dragged on FOREVER. Several final chapters were just filler content and I was THIS close to giving up after the big realization.

I didn't like any of the characters. I thought Amy was a little brat and I hated her actions.

I also disliked the narrator. I really can't understand why there would be a male narrator for a book mostly told by a teenage girl. This really put me of!

I didn't dislike the book per se, there just wasn't a single thing or a sentence that I did like.

Magical Realism at its best, The Lighthouse is heartfelt from cover to cover and if you're not careful, a real tear jerker besides!
Amy has just lost her mom in a tragic accident and now feels estranged and alienated from her Dad. Together they journey to Seabrook, a quaint town overseen by a crumbling old Lighthouse that has been abandonded for years. But the first night they stay, the Lighthouse mysteriously begins shining and thus begins a journey through this world and the next, where Amy begins to process her loss and rekindle her hope.
I loved the setting and the sweetness of Seabrook, it sort of reminded me or SyFy's Haven but with more tenderheartedness. This is a must read for anyone looking to really have their hearstrings tugged on!

The first thing I would like to point out is how different this book is, in a very good way. The theme of the story isn’t one I’ve read before, and I’ve read over 1,000 books in my life. It is enthralling and riveting. I was sucked in by the summary on Goodreads, but the book itself was better than I could have imagined.

The ONLY reason I give it 4 stars, and not 5, is because I couldn’t imagine what the characters looked like. There is usually enough descriptions for me to form faces at the least, however, not here.

Aside from that, it’s one of the most interesting books I’ve read in a LONG time.

The Lighthouse
by Christopher Parker
An amazingly personal book, talking about grief and responsibility. Amy and Ryan had to face a lot of things challenged them. Both had lost their mothers in the teens. Amy having happened more recently was still struggling with her grief. In the small town of Sea brooke finding out the mystery of the remarkable lighthouse that lights without a source.

Wow. High 5. I really enjoyed this story. I am going to say, I would have preferred the book to end with chapter 51. I would have wiped my eyes, took in a few deep breaths and spent a few minutes reflecting on this creepy good story. Chapter 52 through the epilogue seemed off for me. However, not enough to not love the book.

I am not going to rehash the synopsis, and I don't give spoilers. I did have the audiobook, and the narrator was good. The story was beautiful, incredibly sad, funny, and heartbreaking. There is some profanity, limited to the point that I'm starting to wonder if there is a quota requirement.

I had to remind myself that the young lady, main character, was 18. Her really childish demands are possibly spot on. Basically, the usual bantering: Silently asked to be quiet and of course loudly demands to know why. She is 18 and a main character, prepare yourself. She wasn't my favorite character, and bordered on me not liking her. However, I do remember how I was when I had two separate deaths, not just her one. The young man was so real, I choked up several times. Yes, he was my favorite. I did suspect some of the paranormal early on, but no where near the degree that is in this book. I may never look at a snow globe (inside The Lighthouse readers unite) the same. Did I mention I liked this book?

Thank you NetGalley, Christopher Parker, and Beacon Press Limited for accepting my request to read and review.

#NetGalley
#ChristopherParker
#BeaconPressLimited
#Audiobook
#NarratorBradenWright
#TheLighthouse

Thank you to NetGalley and Beacon Press for an advance audio copy of The Lighthouse by Christopher Parker, narrated by Braden Wright. My review consists of thoughts and opinions which are all my own.

Amy and her dad, Kevin, are dealing with the recent loss of Amy's mom and Kevin's wife. On an assignment for work, Kevin brings Amy along from their home in Portland to a small town called Seabrook. During their stay, Amy meets Ryan. The story which unfolds contains facets of mystery, supernatural, romance, and family. Amy endures many experiences in attempts to cope with her profound grief from losing her mom.

I must admit, for me, the story was slow to start off. However, once it did take off, I could not stop listening. I thought all the elements were brought together well and made for a very relatable experience about loss, grief, recovery, and rediscovery of oneself.

The only downside for me personally was the narration. I did not particularly enjoy the narrator. With the main character being female, and pretty much everything from her point of view, think I would have preferred a softer voice to represent her.

This book was so good, I truly am struggling to find words to help explain how great it was. I loved this book. I laughed, I cried, I connected so much with the characters and the author did an amazing job of pulling everything together. He gave you the ending you were hoping for, plus so much more.

Amy is struggling with her mothers death and when her father tells her they are going to a small town to help wrap up a missing persons case for his job, she ends up coming along. Amy meets Ryan in the most bizarre way, but its like the universe is pulling the two of them together. Ryan has made Amy forget about the depression she has been in since her mothers death. He shows her around his home town, his ranch, and they bond over the fact that they both have lost their mother.

Ryan was sure his life was over after finding out his family ranch was going to be foreclosed on. He goes to drink is sorrows away and stumbles on Amy. He soon fins that all his worries have gone away when he is around her and he cant seem to let her out of his sight. He enjoys every moment with her and even confesses his biggest problem: not telling his elderly handicap dad that they are about to be kicked out of their family home.

The two help to heal each other, even if they don't realize it. This book is all about processing death and dealing with the aftermath of bad decisions. This book was everything that I wanted, plus more. The ending was exactly what I wanted it to be, although there was a great twist in this book. I love the small home town, the ghost stories and the scary truth that comes out. I think this was a perfect magical, spooky book that is more realistic. I loved it so much and I cant wait for it to hit the shelves because I know it will be an instant hit.

This adventurous love story mysteriously uses tragedy and fate to connect characters across time. The Lighthouse is a magical tale that promises to take the reader to destinations that can only survive the most creative imagination! Excellent performance on audible!

ARC provided by NetGalley

• Thank you to Beacon Press Limited and NetGalley for providing this Advance Reading Copy. Expected publication date is October 26, 2021.

Meet Amy who is mourning the death of her mother after a tragic car accident. Meet Ryan who is running the family ranch after his father’s almost fatal stroke. Meet Seabrook a town with a haunted, abandoned lighthouse. The trio comes together one weekend revealing secrets that will change their lives forever.

This was quite a beautiful story of loss and grief with a touch of magic. And October was definitely the right time to read this mysterious story.

Eighteen years old Amy lost her mother, is struck with grief and has to navigate a difficult relationship with her detective father Kevin. The pair move to spooky Seabrook where things, well start happening. I'm not going to say more on the plot, other than it is overall enjoyable.

This was a classy mystery novel without overly graphic scenes, so it suits for YA audience as well. The dialogue is a bit shallow at times but I don't think this book is even meant to go too deep. I do recommend you read this

Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for providing this ARC!

A Perfect October Read!

This book will bring you so many emotions. It made me smile, made me cry, made my heart ache and made me believe that in the end things fall to where they belong.
So many elements in this story were so beautiful. So many side stories that came within this story and stole my heart. It is so hard to believe that this is the first book ever written by the author. It is so perfectly crafted. The emotions are so well articulated. This story restores my faith in - ‘Death is not the end of true love’

It is a perfect blend of love, spooky, grief, life, and so much more. It was so easy to connect with the characters - all of them. The magical realism is so flawlessly executed. I would not change a thing about this beautiful story!

Thank you netgalley for providing the advanced reader’s copy of this beautiful story.

#JourneyToSeabrook #Netgalley

You can read the complete review over at my blog - https://www.storiescapebysania.com/post/the-lighthouse-christopher-parker

This is an incredible book. I’ll be honest, I almost stopped listening during the first quarter of the book - it did give some serious romance vibes at first but I am so glad I stuck with it. Amy and her father are grieving from the loss of Amy’s mother but have to travel to a small town to investigate a missing person case. Amy meets Ryan, a man trying to help his own father keep the struggling family farm afloat. They form a bond that goes beyond reality, and Amy is given a unique opportunity for more closure after her mother’s death.

Thank you to NetGallery and Beacon Press Limited for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5
#JourneyToSeabrook #NetGalley

Thank you netgalley and publisher for this free e arc of The Lighthouse.

This novel was a mix of a book about loss & also a paranormal read with a bit of a love story and a theme if overcoming fear. I can't say much more without spoiling the novel. I loked it. I really enjoy a good paranormal read. Perfecting timing for October.

4*,
I highly recommend this novel and I would read more books by Christopher Parker in the future.
The audio was very good.

I loved this way more than I anticipated. It made me cry, made me smile, and made me dream. I recommend this book to everyone. Was such a heartfelt story that everyone can relate too in their own way. Beautifully written.

The Lighthouse, by Christopher Parker, is a well written, fast paced paranormal mystery. So, you're going to want to be sure you have several free hours before you start this story because you're probably not going to want to put it down. I thought all the main characters were likeable and the story kept me hooked even after the mystery was revealed.
I also enjoyed listening to the narrator, Braden Wright. His voice fit the characters, his narration flowed easily and he clearly defined the beginning & end of each chapter.
There's something weird going on in Seabrook. Their lighthouse has been inactive for over thirty years and is supposedly haunted, when it suddenly starts working. The townspeople are so spooked that they can't stop talking about it.
Amy is visiting the small town along with her Dad, just for the night. She's trying not to get caught up in the town's mania but that starts to change after she meets Ryan. Then it turns into an unforgettable weekend,
A lighthouse crazed town, a shocking discovery about Ryan and a startling secret will change the course of their lives forever.

I finished this book in less than 24 hours and will be pressing it into the hands of everyone I know. It's the perfect fall read! Spooky and ghosty but with so much more to the story. I was so impressed with the way the story and twists unfolded, and I just absolutely loved and connected to the characters. I will have a book hangover for a while.

The narrator sounded a bit like Scott Brick, but he had sort of a strange cadence at times that pulled me out of the story.