The Maidenstone Lighthouse

O'Rourke, Sally Smith

ISBN 10: 1602851115 ISBN 13: 9781602851115

Publisher: Center Point Pub, 2008

Synopsis

Nestled in a coastal inlet a few miles north of Newport, Rhode Island, Freedman's Cove is known for its superb seafood, its postcard-pretty waterfront, and its exquisite Victorian homes - a legacy of the town's past as a summer resort for wealthy families. Manhattan antiques appraiser Susan Marks inherited one of these ornate mansions from her great aunt. After suffering a devastating loss, she retreats to Freedman's Cove to nurse her grief.Three months have passed since the corporate plane piloted by Susan's lover, Bobby Hayward, disappeared at sea, but still Susan dreams nightly of his safe return. Her days are filled with memories of Bobby's mischievous blue eyes, his sensual touch, and the sheer zest for living that he imparted to every moment of their time together.Amid the bracing sea air and familiar surroundings of the town where she spent happy childhood summers, Susan starts to recover her peace of mind - until she awakens one night to see an ethereal figure standing at her window. More curious than afraid, Susan is immediately intrigued by the ghost of this sad and beautiful young girl who gazes out at "The Maidenstone Lighthouse". Delving into the story of her ancestor's tragic death brings Susan into contact with Dan Freedman, a local historian and famed artist who was once the town's teenage rebel. But even as the hours spent with Dan awaken Susan's hope that she could someday find love again, the startling truth behind a century-old mystery emerges to shed a beacon of light on dangerous shadows in Susan's own past...and in her present.

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

Grief stricken by the tragic death of her fiancé Bobby in a plane crash, Susan Mark retreats to Freedman's Cove, Rhode Island, a place that carries only good memories for her. There, she nurses her grief and eventually begins to heal -- until the night she sees an ethereal figure standing at her window looking out at the Maidenstone Lighthouse.

Delving into the story she unearths about her ancestor's tragic death brings her in contact with childhood friend, Dan Freedman, a local historian and famed artist who was once the town's teenage rebel. But even as the hours spent with Dan awaken Susan's hope that she might someday find love again, the startling truth behind a century-old mystery emerges to shed light on dangerous shadows in Susan's own past -- and in her present.

From Publishers Weekly:

A lovely ghost helps a grieving young widow expose some shocking truths in O'Rourke's (The Man Who Loved Jane Austen) quaint romantic suspense tale. Three months have passed since Susan Mark's husband, Bobby, vanished while piloting a flight over the Indian Ocean, and Damon St. Clair, her colorful (and funny) partner at St. Claire & Marks, the official consultants and appraisers to Christie's, urges her to take some time off to heal. Susan heads for her late great aunt's house in Freedman's Cove, R.I., that's haunted by the spirit of a distant relative, Aimee Marks. Making a love connection with local artist Dan Freedman frees Susan from her grief, and Dan also helps her learn about Aimee, who may have committed suicide by leaping off a lighthouse in 1910. The blossoming romance is interrupted by another plane crash, this time involving Damon, who miraculously survives, though his recovery delays the delivery of an important message that will change Susan's suddenly endangered life. Sweet, light and as comforting as a mug of peppermint tea, O'Rourke's latest will please her fans. (Sept.)
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About this edition

• Publisher: Center Point Pub
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1602851115
• ISBN 13: 9781602851115
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 319