Title: Widow’s Walk: Misty Cove Chronicles, Book 1
Author: Nikki Leigh
Published in January 2006 by Write Words, Inc.(ebookonthe.net)
Genre: Historical
ISBN: 978-1-59431-342-4
Related Books: Lady Lightkeeper: Misty Cove, Book 2
Other books: Lilah and the Locket: The Outer Bank Chronicles, Book 1
In two days Lizbeth will marry William, the man she has known since they were children. However, at the insistence of his employer, Mr. Lockwood, her father is at sea as a horrendous storm approaches. From the widow’s walk, Lizbeth monitors the storm and is comforted by Stormy View’s guiding light; making certain the lighthouse shines brightly to bring her father safely home. Awakened by the rising storm, Lizbeth answers a knock at her door only to find William, who has come to check on her well-being. As her habit, Lizbeth checks Stormy View lighthouse, again…this time the light is out.
Panicking, William goes after Mayor Nolan Westley to get the lighthouse working as Lizbeth waits anxiously. William and Nolan arrive at the lighthouse and find the keeper, Grimes drunk on the floor. Attempting to relight the lamp, Nolan and William work against the build-up of old soot but get it lit. Now able to see through the storm, they observe the Misty Pride struggling on the shoals; the boat Lizbeth’ father captains. William and Nolan run to the ship’s aid and when reaching the shore men are in the water. Going onboard the Misty Pride, William finds the ship’s lookout man dead, but Lizbeth’s father alive. By the time they get her father to the dock he passes away. William has the grueling task of telling his fiancée. When Abigail Westley appears William hands Lizbeth over; he has to go back to help the others. Walking with Abigail to her carriage, Lizbeth bumps into Mrs. Lockwood, the shipping owner’s wife, who offers her condolences. Mr. Lockwood inquires about the condition of his boat and who was at fault. Nolan, angered by the man’s callousness, tells him the boat was not his concern as much as the men still in the water, and to find fault he recommends starting with the lighthouse keeper, Mr. Grimes
With the funeral arrangements completed, Abigail stays with Lizbeth until Sara, her friend and housemaid, returns from visiting her ill sister. The two women chat about Lizbeth’s parents while making three mourning dresses; propriety during the period of 1841 that requires women to wear black for one year. Abigail was friends with Lizbeth’s mother and spoke kindly about her parents’ engagement and wedding. Then Lizbeth asks about the time before her brother was born; wondering why Ida Garner blames her for her mother’s death. Abigail comforts her with the knowledge that Ida likes to lash out at people, and that Lizbeth had nothing to do with her mother’s passing. The next day a teary Sara arrives and with Abigail staying too, Lizbeth manages the final preparations for her father’s funeral. Many people arrive to pay their respects to her father, even the tyrannical Ida Gardner. As people depart Abigail tells Lizbeth that a government representative in charge of the lighthouses will be arriving soon to investigate the accident. Lizbeth is excited that now her probing questions will get answers. However, her meeting with the Fifth Auditor was short, to the point of rude, and no answers were forthcoming; leaving Lizbeth frustrated.
As the investigation gets underway, William is closed mouth as is everyone else who testifies, at least until the final hearing. Lizbeth is beside herself wanting information as to what happened that night. Even Sara is more patient than Lizbeth, as she awaits the final hearing to satisfy her questions. Lizbeth is aware that William wants to protect her from the realities of her father’s death, but his assurances that the final hearing will help her form a more independent sound conclusion is irritating. Three weeks later the hearings commence, with Lizbeth and Sara in attendance. William gives gory details of her father’s condition as he lays dying on the Misty Pride that makes her feel guilty for being insensitive to his silence. Testimony continues until Mr. Jarvis, the government’s investigator announces that Mr. Grimes will be tried for the death of three men.
Seven months later and a year since her father’s death, Lizbeth begins to plan her wedding again; for the middle of November. Also she addresses Mr. Lockwood about her one half share of the Lockwood Shipping company. He is not pleased at her interference and advises her harshly to just take the money he allocates and let him handle the business. William gets Lizbeth out of the man’s office before she becomes too angry with his condescending manner. For the time being Lizbeth’s life moves forward as she and William make their home in her father’s house, and prepare for the birth of their first child. Lizbeth’s happiness is tested, like life has a way of doing, handing over more heart-ache that lends for fortuitous growth while maintaining a compassionate faith in one’s self and those around you.
A delightful historical, Widow’s Walk: Misty Cove Chronicles, Book 1 is set in 1841 Massachusetts and delves into the lives of those who work the ocean as their sole means of income. First in the Misty Cove series Ms. Leigh writes a tender love story that possesses a compelling although suspenseful plot. Her cast is charming as they motivated me to continue reading. Lizbeth’s resilience is tangible as she deals with the death of her father so close to her wedding. Her gentleness shines when she includes her housemaid as part of the family. William is self-assured and very protective of Lizbeth. Taking to task Ida Gardner’s cruelty towards Lizbeth in front of the community was quite amusing. As secondary characters, Sara and Mayor Nolan and Abigail Westley round out a strong supporting cast. Published by Write Words, Inc. Widow’s Walk is a pleasing dramatic tale that continues with “Lady Lightkeeper: Misty Cove, Book 2”.
A dedicated reader,
Pamela Jenewein
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