With thanks to Net gallery, the author and publisher for free access to an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I enjoyed this book very much and would recommend to others.

Vincent is from a wealthy non-magic family, he has money but no contact with his family due to a small magical gift which is gained in an accident at birth. We start the story as Vincent has just woken up but he doesn't remember much about the night before, he finds that his friend is missing and he has committed magical crimes against this backdrop he is sent to a lighthouse to find a powerful magical object.


I enjoyed the system of magic which is explained in enough detail but still maintain an air of mystery, Vincent doesn't fully understand how it works and this fits well with the character and the story. The most explained gift type is the 'weatherwitch', they can encourage the weather (surprisingly!), to make storms less dangerous and bring rain when needed it is easier for them to control weather from certain places. There are consequences with this system of magic, which is referred to fleetingly in the story. I hope the author does more with this concept in the sequel.

Most of the plot takes place at the lighthouse, the way the author writes about the weather and storms is almost like it is an additional character, there is lots of rain and wind which adds to the atmosphere of the story and would definitely make this a cosy autumn (fall) read.

The main plot is the mystery around finding the powerful magical object, but there is a cute queer romance subplot which I enjoyed.

The ending ties up most of the loose ends in a satisfying way for the reader but does leave room for a sequel, which the author is intending to write and I would very much enjoy reading.

Just finished reading this unique tale of magic and love, set in a world that straddles both fantasy and reality. This book is an engaging narrative with LGBTQ+ representation, though I found it could have dug deeper into the emotional journey of the characters.

I really enjoyed the character Margaret, who added an interesting dimension to the narrative. She was a captivating presence, and I was left wanting to know more about her. The lead characters, Vincent and Rafe, are wonderfully designed with their individual traits and vulnerabilities, creating a sweet budding relationship.

However, I felt the potential for an emotionally powerful narrative was not fully utilized. Rafe's life-altering experiences and adjustments seemed glossed over, detracting from the depth that his character and relationship with Vincent could have provided. His journey could have been a monumental one considering his upbringing, but the narrative doesn't give it the weight it perhaps deserved.

Despite some missed opportunities in character development, "The Lighthouse Keeper" is still an intriguing read with its mix of magic and romance. A promising premise that leaves you hoping for more exploration and depth in the characters' relationships in future works by Rancourt.

If you're a fan of fantasy with a side of romance, then "The Lighthouse Keeper" may be worth a read. Just remember to keep your expectations in check when it comes to the emotional depth of the characters.

Remember, representation matters and books like these help diversify the literary landscape. Happy #PrideMonth 🌈

this was a sweet read, and there was nothing fundamentally wrong with it, but i do wish it had grabbed me a little more. vincent was a nice main character and i liked the idea of him having to work his way through romancing rafe, with his looks out of the equation. i think it’s a matter of meat – i would have loved a slightly lengthier story, because i feel as though it would have made me feel a deeper connection with some of the less fleshed out characters. it was still a nice read, though!

After a night out that went a bit crazier than usual, Vincent Fairchild not only has his friend Rutger gone missing but he has a massive hangover AND he's been summoned to the Witches' Council for an assignment. Along with a weatherwitch named Margaret, he will be traveling to the West Point lighthouse. Vincent is tasked with retrieving the stolen Ferox Cor (a mysterious and extremely powerful magical amulet) and Margaret will be taking over as weatherwitch, replacing Martin Gallagher (the thief of the Ferox Cor).
When the pair arrive on the tiny rock that houses the lighthouse, they are met with the grouchy (and blind) Rafe and his mother. Obviously Rafe is handsome and romance ensues.

Enough of the summary. You get the gist. This book was interesting. I loved the setting; I'm a sucker for historicals and the Pacific northwest. The blind representation as really nice and unexpected. Margaret and Vince's relationship is adorable and I love their quick sibling bond. Rafe is hot because we're told he's hot (honestly he's too grumpy and Vince isn't enough sunshine to offset it).

Where the book loses points is that it felt like there was too many conflicts? We've got the twats in the new Seattle Witches' Counsil (SWC) who are...threatening...to kill? Rafe if he and his mother don't join? I don't..okay.
There's the mystery of the Ferox Cor itself. Which the SWC also wants? Maybe? And then there is Martin who is...I guess coming back from the dead to steal the Cor also. And ALSO Vince needs to get the Cor for the San Francisco Witches' Council who knew where the damn thing was for the past twenty years but never did anything about it.

This book was enjoyable but it felt convoluted. I think snipping a few of the conflicts out and then better forming the remainders would've made this a better book. I WILL read a sequel to this which is why I've rated it so highly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 rounded up. This was a really fun read! It captured my attention from the start and I loved following Vincent as the main character. I loved how he believed there was nothing he could charm his way out of and that he never got discouraged. His relationship with Rafe was so sweet and I loved the sibling dynamic he had with Margaret.

I will say that this book could use a bit more editing. There were a few typos and a few sentences that were maybe missing a word because they didn't fully make sense. I also wish there was a bit more explanation of the magic system. I didn't need super intense detail, but there were a few words and phrases that left me a bit lost. My last con was that the ending felt a tiny bit rushed for my liking. I would have liked it to have been more fleshed out.

I loved the atmosphere though! I love lighthouses and the moodiness of the stormy weather really set the tone. Liv Rancourt hinted at there being a sequel, so I hope that happens because I would love to see this world and these characters some more.

Thank you Netgalley and Liv Rancourt for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really wanted to love this book. In general, I find that first-person fantasy is a bad time because first-person writing instantly becomes a mess, taking away from the story.

This hit all the boxes for me thematically and plot-wise and I really wanted to love it but I couldn't get into it and it all ended up....not working? I cannot tell if it was just the POV or maybe the actual characters but the writing took me immediately away from the story. It definitely would have benefited from a different POV and maybe a bit less on-the-nose "brooding" hero nonsense. We get it, I promise.

I'd really love to love this story but I couldn't , maybe next time.

Okay, let me tell you something. This one started real good and it went... well, not down exactly, but how can I tell you? The pacing was off, and so as the relationships with characters.
I still enjoyed the humor in this and for me it´s not a total dislike: I could picture myself finishing this one, it just lacks of that ellement to maintain me focused on the chapters (as happens with other people, as I´ve seen). So, what was my problem exactly?
To put it bluntly, the characters. I felt they weren´t very well developed... and that later became a problem for the fantasy setting as well. Let me give an example: we begin this story with Vincent and Margaret, two people who don´t know each other previously, going on this mission. They´re weary of each other, the normal thing.
But then, after two days in each others company, they suddenly behave as if they were best friends for absolutely no reason, going to the point Vincent estates in more than one ocassion he sees her as a big sister (again out of nowhere).
I also don´t get what was the point of having these two witches to help: Vincent is not very powerful and Margaret... same (well, I actually got an issue with this author and how she portrayed women at this particular work: in the novel it says their powerful, but once you´re reading the action you discover the women usually stay at the kitchen, scream helplessly or let men deal with stuff). During the story it states that Rafe is a very powerful witch and that Martin, his father, must have been just as strong. And then when it gets revealed that Martin wanted to get back from the dead for a great villanious reason I was like, come on, why are we even here.
Yeah, I basically think the task gave to Vincent was too much, too absurd. They should have sent someone else sooner (wasn´t the Cor stealed 20 years ago? Why are they only acting now?).
Maybe it was explained in the end, I don´t know. I´m doing this review after reading approximately 60% of the story and deciding to take a break and go read something else (I might get back and change or add a few things later, but this is my overall review for now).

A totally enjoyable read! The author has a great sense of place and I wouldn’t mind if this became a series and we got to see more of these characters and this reality.

This book ticked a lot of boxes for me. I was sure this was going to be a book I loved. It very well sounded like my type of book.
So I'm not sure what went wrong. This book just didn't grip me. Didn't leave me wanting more. To be honest o had a hard time sitting there reading it. The world building felt like it was lacking something and it really affected the characters for me. I wish I had liked this book.

I love speculative historical romances and I'm always looking for more, so the premise of this book ticked a lot of boxes for me. There are many things to like about it: the setting, a remote lighthouse off the coast of Seattle, the fast-paced plot, and Vincent and Rafe. The writing was atmospheric and for the most part, I enjoyed the romance aspect.

However, while this novel has a lot of potential, I feel like it needed another round of editing. A few phrases were overused enough to be noticeable. But the biggest issues for me were the development of the relationships, especially that of Vincent and Margaret, and the lack of worldbuilding, as the magic system is barely explained.

That said, I would read a sequel, as I'm intrigued enough and enjoyed the main characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Liv Rancourt for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The idea of this book was what initially got my attention. The setting, the lighthouse with a hint of magic, a mysterious artifact, and some romance ticked a lot of five-star boxes for me. Sadly, this reads more like a draft than an unfinished novel.

Positives first - as I said, this book has a great setting and the idea for the plot. The storyline itself is most of the time well-executed and while I think some things came out of the blue or some unnecessary things, I knew what was going on and it had a lot of tropes I enjoy. The two main characters were interesting and together made for an interesting dynamic. I liked that Rafe was mostly blind and how it made the relationship different for Vincent, who mostly relied on his good looks to seduce men. Moreover, the writing was easy to read and despite my issues with the book, it didn't take long for me to finish it. There are also some spooky bits, that I really appreciated.

However, in the end, there were some things that really interfered with my enjoyment of the story. There is a lot of telling and not enough showing and while I think this phrase can be often overused, this time I mean it. A lot of times we were told what the characters' relationship is before it managed to organically develop. The pacing of the relationship development felt very off and in some cases, the characters went from not wanting to share their secret to trusting each other really randomly. It really took me out of the book. Some characters say and do stuff that doesn't match the way their personality was written until that point. Significant reveals don't get the reaction they deserve, especially in the first half of the book. It makes the book feel unpolished.
There is also a lot of repetition in the way Vincent, who is our narrator, talks about things. He tends to say something over and over again for no particular reason. For example, the amount of times he said Margaret treats him as a younger brother felt very forced and abrupt based on how they had only recently met.
Next is worldbuilding, or the lack of it. We get some bits and pieces scattered around the story and while I don't really need extensive worldbuilding in my romance novels, this one is quite plot-driven. Yet we don't get much information about the magic system or how the Ferox Cor works. Because of that, it's hard to form opinions of who is in the right and how should the characters handle certain situations.

All in all, there is a lot of potential in The Lighthouse Keeper, but sadly I don't think it got fully utilized. It could definitely use another round of editing and polishing to get rid of some repetition and flesh out the characters better.

Rating: 2,75

I was very intrigued by the premise of this book and I was not disappointed! The characters were fun and relatable; they were fleshed out and human. The setting was also fun, early America San Francisco and Seattle! The plot was engaging, it kept me guessing and wondering and reading to find out what was going to happen. The magic system was new and interesting. I really enjoyed this and I hope there are more books to come!

Thank you to NetGalley and Liv Rancourt for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

There were a lot of good things about The Lighthouse Keeper. Unfortunately there was just as much if not more that didn‘t work for me, but I‘ll start with the good.

The setting of west coast America in the late 19th century was lovely, and the writing style was also great.
Liv Rancourt‘s writing is witty, engaging and easy to follow, which made the book very readable till the end.
I also enjoyed the cast of characters. Vincent was a fun protagonist (I do love a pretty man obsessed with the sea), and so was Margaret, despite her character depth coming a little too short in comparison to Vincent and Rafe.

However, as much as I liked the characters on their own, the pacing of their relationship developments felt off at times. Margaret and Vincent‘s friendship evolved very quickly without many actual moments between them to establish their bond. There was also a lot of telling rather than showing, leading to some of the relationships feeling inorganic.
Vincent‘s frequent mention of his attraction to Rafe got incredibly repetitive after a while, the same applies to him talking about how he‘s sure there‘s a gentler side to Rafe.
Don‘t get me wrong, I like the ‚hard on the outside, soft on the inside’ and pining tropes as much as the next guy, but there‘s only so many times you can hear it without it getting old.

This also wasn‘t the only instance where repetition became apparent. Both moments in the story as well as certain expressions were noticeably frequent. As an example, „Upsetting the power balance in China“ was mentioned multiple times when characters were doing magic, and don‘t even get me started on how uncomfortably often the word prick was used. There was no need to describe how Vincent‘s „prick swelled“ just because he was watching Rafe eat, in public mind you.

Furthermore, I felt the book was lacking some
exposition when it came to the magic system. It felt like there was supposed to be a more established system to the magic, judging by the fact characters were talking about their gifts being a particular type of magic. That was never expanded upon or concretely explained during the novel, but rather dealt with in an „explain as you go“ manner. Whenever a new character was introduced that had a gift we hadn‘t encountered yet there was a quick mention of what it was, but the lack of pre-existing set up sometimes led to it seeming like there was little rhyme or reason to it, and had moreso been come up with on the spot in accordance with what the plot needed at that moment.
The villain at the end was also revealed to be a thaumaturge, which is never defined in the book, at least I couldn‘t find anything except for it being used as an insult during dialogue when I searched for the term in the eARC.

Like I said in the beginning, the book isn‘t all bad. The writing is great and the premise and characters themselves have a ton of potential. The book just lacks a lot of polish when it comes to exposition, repetition, as well as the occasional typo and continuity issue, and could‘ve overall benefited from more editing.

2.75⭐️

I really enjoyed this one. This book is a very atmospheric paranormal historical - and I was totally on board with it. Set in early 20th century San Francisco and Seattle, the story has the right blend of mystery, suspense, and romance. Vincent wakes up not knowing where he is or what happened to him the night before. He and a friend were out on the town - and everything got a little blurry and his friend is missing. Before he can even fully process what happens - he's on a train headed to investigate a situation in Seattle and find a dangerous magical item.

When Vincent and his new partner Margaret get to Seattle they quickly determine that everything is definitely not as they thought it would be and things are infinitely more dangerous than they initially seemed. Rafe is, for one thing, not a child and also extremely powerful. He is also gruff and standoffish and a little bit scary.

I'd give this a solid 3.5 stars. Overall - I loved the story and the overall atmosphere of the book. You could feel the damp and and gloom of Seattle. You also really get to know Vincent - and love him. A few things held me back from a solid four - there were several unexplained and unresolved threads that probably should have been resolved in this book. Particularly the voice Vincent kept hearingin his mind - whether it was his own self-doubt or something more sinister remains to be seen. We also still don't really know what happened to Vincent that first night - it seems like there might be more to come on that in future books - but it was a little frustrating to be left hanging. I also - at times - really just wanted the story to move forward a little faster. I got that Rafe is very much a brooding hero - but it was a little much at times.

Overall, I'd highly recommend and am looking forward to more!

I received this via NetGalley as an ARC but these opinions are all my own.