The Lightkeeper's Ball By Colleen Coble

Imagine investigating your sister’s murder . . . under a fake name.

Yep, that’s exactly what Olivia Stewart is doing. She suspects her sister’s fiancé killed her, so she can’t exactly go barging in, announce her last name is Stewart, and demand to know what happened. No, she has to be more . . . stealthy.

Because being thrown off the boat to Mercy Falls by a mysterious assailant is stealthy. Because being saved by her sister’s fiancé, Harrison, is stealthy. Because falling in love with him is stealthy.

Naturally.

First off, may I just say that cover is GORGEOUS.

This is actually the third installment in Colleen Coble’s Mercy Falls series. The library didn't have the second installment, so I will have to track it down elsewhere. (I reviewed the first installment here:https://racheljleitch.weebly.com/rachels-reads/the-lightkeepers-daughter-by-colleen-coble) Of the two, I enjoyed the first installment more—perhaps it was the utter lack of drama. Still, Olivia’s greater inclination towards drama did keep it interesting.

As did her grief for her sister. It was brilliantly portrayed and an element that not only drew me into the story, but that I believe would touch many readers going through their own grief.

I did have to question Harrison a little bit . . . I mean, he suspected his fiancé was murdered and he didn’t ask the girl he fell in love with her first name? He just rolled with it? On the other hand, it kept things so humorous and intriguing, though . . .

It was Eugene’s character that got me, though. I thought he was a very well-developed side character anyways, but the developments in the climax left me reeling and desperately hoping he wasn’t evil. I was very pleased with his ending, and would love to see a future book involving him.

The Lightkeeper’s Ball might just be one you want to attend.