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143rd out of 418 books
—
348 voters
Keeper of the Light (Kiss River #1)
by
Diane Chamberlain (Goodreads Author)
Dr. Olivia Simon is on duty in the emergency room of North Carolina's Outer Banks Hospital when a gunshot victim is brought in. Midway through the desperate effort to save the young woman's life, Olivia realizes who she is—Annie O'Neill. The woman Olivia's husband, Paul, is in love with.When Annie dies on the operating table, she leaves behind three other victims. Alec O'N...more
Paperback, 512 pages
Published
March 29th 2011
by Mira
(first published January 1st 1992)
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After reading 160 pages about a ridiculous love triangle that didn't ring the least bit true for me, I am abandoning this novel. It was the first of a trilogy that I have on my bookshelf but I won't be reading them either. I am very disappointed because the books got really good reviews. I just didn't get it!
In addition, I didn't like any of the characters, especially the main character. Annie, who has died as the book opened.
In addition, I didn't like any of the characters, especially the main character. Annie, who has died as the book opened.
3 likes · like · see review
view all 7 comments
Aug 25, 2008
Denise
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Jodi Picoult fans
Recommended to Denise by:
Readers at Diane's blog: www.dianechamberlain.com
Shelves:
female-author,
fiction
This is the first book in a trilogy (other novels are Kiss River and Her Mother's Shadow).
Diane's books are always full of complex interesting characters, good plots, family relationships and drama, suspense and many secrets to be revealed in the end.
Diane's books are always full of complex interesting characters, good plots, family relationships and drama, suspense and many secrets to be revealed in the end.
4 likes · like · see review
This book was a waste of my time and money, which is too bad because I had gotten into it for the first quarter or so. The story line about Annie could have been all it was-- and it would have been a great book. The extra drama, such as the promotion storyline, was pointless and obvious to the reader and as I later was, the 'skimmer'. It didn't make me think the characters related to one another any better or more convincingly because of the story line as it was such a cookie cutter idea. As to...more
Diane Chamberlain is a gifted storyteller in the first of this 3 book series. The characters were very real and the setting came alive in a novel with many twists and turns. The story revealed some messed up characters but the reader is still left with a sad and aching heart for each when we should have been angry at their behavior. The reader could feel Annie and Lacey's struggles looking for love and being wanted, Alec's blindness to his actions, Paul being the character you want to hate, Oliv...more
Time Taken To Read - 1 day
Blurb From Amazon
As your husband grieves his mistress, You find yourself falling for the family she left behind. But she hid secrets that will destroy him...or you. Do you tell? I m going to die as punishment for all the bad things I ve done... You are on duty in the emergency room when, despite your desperate effort, the victim of a gunshot wound loses her life. She is Annie O Neill. The same woman your husband is in love with... Olivia can't watch any longer as her hu...more
Blurb From Amazon
As your husband grieves his mistress, You find yourself falling for the family she left behind. But she hid secrets that will destroy him...or you. Do you tell? I m going to die as punishment for all the bad things I ve done... You are on duty in the emergency room when, despite your desperate effort, the victim of a gunshot wound loses her life. She is Annie O Neill. The same woman your husband is in love with... Olivia can't watch any longer as her hu...more
Chamberlain spins an absorbing tale of romantic obsession and betrayal. Beautiful artist Annie O'Neill is known as St. Anne on North Carolina's Outer Banks for her selfless devotion to any cause that comes down the pike--she's even donated bone marrow to a stranger in need. Her murder leaves her husband, Alec, shattered. Also broken are Olivia Simon, the emergency room physician who tried to save her, and the good doctor's husband, Paul, who idolized the victim. To recapture Paul's love, Olivia...more
This book was a very easy read. I really enjoyed the story and how it unfolded. I thought the characters were developed well. And the story had a really good pace. It was a page turn as I wanted to know more about the characters and the story that was unfolding. It is the first book of 3 books. I have the next two ready to read. I am sure I will enjoy them just as much as the first book and am sure I will enjoy other books by this author.
KEEPER OF THE LIGHT may be my third or fourth book I've read of Diane Chamberlain--and she is definitely ranking up there as one of my favorite authors!
This book was originally published in 1992 and re-released in 2011 (perhaps by a different publisher, but I couldn't be certain). Don't let the first pub date steer you away. It does not come across as dated. Okay, two exceptions that come to mind: 1) At one point, a male character is wearing "stone-washed" jeans. 2) Lack of cell phones (the doc...more
This book was originally published in 1992 and re-released in 2011 (perhaps by a different publisher, but I couldn't be certain). Don't let the first pub date steer you away. It does not come across as dated. Okay, two exceptions that come to mind: 1) At one point, a male character is wearing "stone-washed" jeans. 2) Lack of cell phones (the doc...more
I just recently finished this book and really enjoyed it.
The characters in this book really draw you in. Annie O'Neill was a local stained-glass artist, married to Alec with two children, Lacey and Clay. She is highly respected and loved in her community due to her compassionate nature.
Olivia, an ER physician, comes home from work one night and tells her husband, Paul, of Annie's death. Paul becomes anxious and upset. He eventually leaves Olivia. He has been in love with Annie and infatuated w...more
The characters in this book really draw you in. Annie O'Neill was a local stained-glass artist, married to Alec with two children, Lacey and Clay. She is highly respected and loved in her community due to her compassionate nature.
Olivia, an ER physician, comes home from work one night and tells her husband, Paul, of Annie's death. Paul becomes anxious and upset. He eventually leaves Olivia. He has been in love with Annie and infatuated w...more
I'm looking forward to reading this. I have read Kiss River before, and had picked up Her Mother's Shadow at the library not realising that they were part of the same trilogy, so I put Her Mother's Shadow aside, and ordered Keeper of the Light and Kiss River from the library so I could read them all together. Something tells me I'm going to be doing a lot of reading in the coming week or so :D
I finished this book within 2 days, as it was so good. I can't wait to read Kiss River again next, as it...more
I finished this book within 2 days, as it was so good. I can't wait to read Kiss River again next, as it...more
What an amazing story! For the most part, the characters are well aware of how amazingly intertwined their stories are. It turns out that even they are not completely aware of the cause or the implications. It's so easy to feel compassion for the main character Olivia. I couldn't put the book down - I just had to find out if everything would turn out for her!
Emergency room physician, Olivia Simon puts her reputation on the line when she attempts to save the life of gunshot victim, Annie O'Neill - little does she know that this very action to save a life may well cause her own downfall.
Diane Chamberlain has created story of love , lies and deceit, which threaten the very fabric of lives and which will tear away all hope of redemption, leaving behind shattered lives, broken dreams and broken promises.
Beautifully, and emotionally written from the very...more
Diane Chamberlain has created story of love , lies and deceit, which threaten the very fabric of lives and which will tear away all hope of redemption, leaving behind shattered lives, broken dreams and broken promises.
Beautifully, and emotionally written from the very...more
I loved Keeper of the Light. It is a stpory about love, loss, betrayal, forgiveness and starting over. There are 4 main charachters: Annie, Alec, Paul and Olivia. These characters lives are deeply weaved.
Annie caused so much pain to everyone even though she is dead. Lacey is Annie and Alec daughter who is doing anything and everything to get attention, Clay who is Annie and Alec's son and ignores everything that is going on. Alec, a father and husband who completely shuts down. Paul who is in l...more
Annie caused so much pain to everyone even though she is dead. Lacey is Annie and Alec daughter who is doing anything and everything to get attention, Clay who is Annie and Alec's son and ignores everything that is going on. Alec, a father and husband who completely shuts down. Paul who is in l...more
I was excited when I won this book on goodreads; the synopsis sounded awesome, then the book arrived and I noticed the Harlequin symbol on the back cover and wondered how I would ever manage to read the book. The old cliche ' don't judge a book by its cover' is totally appropriate with 'Keeper of the Light.'
My mother would have loved this book; it definatly proved her saying: 'a single lie can create an avalanche.' Unlike the mysteries which I adore; this book keeps you wondering not who did it,...more
My mother would have loved this book; it definatly proved her saying: 'a single lie can create an avalanche.' Unlike the mysteries which I adore; this book keeps you wondering not who did it,...more
I cannot even attempt to properly describe this book to you, because it is way better than even the description on the back cover of the book! Really, the description of this book is the bare minimum of what it is really about. Yes that is the main idea, but there is so much more to it! Slowly throughout the novel, connections between people, events, and places are being made. As I read on, I was realizing more and more the weaving of the characters and their lives. The only way I can describe t...more
A typical, good book from Chamberlain. From what I understand, this is an older novel that has been re-released since the third book in the trilogy is now out. It reads like it's an earlier work of hers. I think her stories and writing have gotten better since this. I found the obsession the characters had with Annie a little far-fetched which, to me, made this seem more like a romance novel than just regular fiction. I have the second book in the series, Kiss River, and will read that next. I w...more
Chamberlain has an amazing gift in her ability to script believable characters, all whom have flaws, all of whom are sympathetic. This is the story of a love triangle (actually, more of a rectangle). Olivia is married to Paul, who still carries a torch for Annie, who is married to Alec. Annie dies and Paul leaves Olivia, who then begins a friendship with Alec.
Still keeping up? It's somewhat convoluted, but Chamberlain manages to keep it all in check, and honestly I wasn't sure what was going to...more
Still keeping up? It's somewhat convoluted, but Chamberlain manages to keep it all in check, and honestly I wasn't sure what was going to...more
This was a quick and easy read and kept my interest throughout due to the slow unraveling of background information that the author sprinkled throughout the story. I thought Ms. Chamberlain was very skilled and artful in the way she slowly released details throughout the whole book - it's an art that seems to be lost in most of the books I read these days! Anyway, I enjoyed how the characters lives were tangled into a soap opera tale of sorts with lots of sex mingled between different people. It...more
I absolutely loved these characters, as well as the secrets revealed in the end. Highly recommended!
Only Diane Chamberlain can weave a dramatic tale with such incredible characters and page turning excellence. From the very opening pages, the death of Annie O’Neill sets the pace and storyline of this wonderful read. As we devour each page, the connections between not only the characters, but events from the past weave together as only Diane Chamberlain can do so well. Keeper of the Light is the first in the Kiss River Trilogy and as the other two are on my ‘to be read’ pile I will be devouring...more
Completely in love with this 'new to me' author. I started with the Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes, and this was next up. I found the characters very well written-I felt like I "got" each of them, even when I didn't want to. Annie is especially difficult to read. You want to understand her, but I ended up feeling baffled and sad for her. It was interesting how much her character influences the lives of everyone, far after the tragic accident (mentioned on the back-not a spoiler!). You come to real...more
Excellent holiday read, finished in two sittings. Mostly believable characters, although I struggled with what Annie and Mary colluded to do at the keeper's house, and why Olivia put up with Paul for so long. There was obviously more history to the relationships than you are first told about, and I liked the way bits of the past were gradually revealed. Glad to find this is the first of a trilogy and I shall search out the rest. I hope the next two are based in the same location as I now have a...more
I finally found an author to fill my Picoult void. I was getting burnt out of Picoult, but liked the types of books she writes. Chamberlain fills the need. And like Picoult, she has hits and misses. This isn't as good as Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes or The Midwife's Confession. But it was engaging, I liked most of the characters, and it was a fast read for me. However, I didn't understand the obsession with Annie--everyone was enthralled by her and I just wasn't. And it was a little convoluted....more
Annie was a welknown person in the place where she lived ..But she died in the hand of Olivia at the ER of the outer bank hospital .
Annie was loved but lots of people and by her family and husband Alec .
Olivia lived with Paul until she left her because he was truly in Love of Annie and couldn’t stand that she was taken care by Olivia at the end ..
How would their life move on after such a loss
Will Olivia be able to understand why Annie was so loved ..
This story also talk of the light house who i...more
Annie was loved but lots of people and by her family and husband Alec .
Olivia lived with Paul until she left her because he was truly in Love of Annie and couldn’t stand that she was taken care by Olivia at the end ..
How would their life move on after such a loss
Will Olivia be able to understand why Annie was so loved ..
This story also talk of the light house who i...more
A lighter read from Diane Chamberlain than her other books - and as usual with all of her books I was pulled deeply into the lives of her characters. I tire easily of books about love triangles and cheaters....and yet Diane puts a naive and thoughtful angle on it that made me enjoy it, and want to peek around corners to see what was going to happen next. I couldn't imagine feeling the way I did about characters who made the choices they did - and that's why I love Diane's characters - she makes...more
3.0 out of 5 stars -- Soap opera at the Outer Banks!
The one thing that can ruin an otherwise good book for me is the ending of it. I don't know why I am so picky, but that is the big thing for me. I want the characters to be people I can admire and whose actions follow that quality. I was really looking forward to this book as I have come to expect great stories and in-depth relationship development with a Diane Chamberlain book. As this was one of her earlier novels (1992), I can see how she ha...more
The one thing that can ruin an otherwise good book for me is the ending of it. I don't know why I am so picky, but that is the big thing for me. I want the characters to be people I can admire and whose actions follow that quality. I was really looking forward to this book as I have come to expect great stories and in-depth relationship development with a Diane Chamberlain book. As this was one of her earlier novels (1992), I can see how she ha...more
I actually liked this book a lot more than I thought I would. Most of the characters were easy to like, or at the very least, had personalities that were tolerable because of what they went through.
I liked Olivia and Alec the most, despite Olivia's initial weakness and Alec's outwardly brusque behavior. Paul was a little too scatterbrained and puny for me, but the fact that he was a little ninny helped the story in the end.
There were a few times where I found myself a little exasperated by Olivi...more
I liked Olivia and Alec the most, despite Olivia's initial weakness and Alec's outwardly brusque behavior. Paul was a little too scatterbrained and puny for me, but the fact that he was a little ninny helped the story in the end.
There were a few times where I found myself a little exasperated by Olivi...more
Amazing!!! I do not believe Diane Chamberlain could write a bad book – everything she writes is extraordinary! I loved the book and looking forward to reading the other two in the Kiss River series, as just purchased the next two Nook books.
My favorite characters were Olivia and Alec!!. Wow, did Annie have everyone fooled along with Mary, the old lady! Loved the setting¸ the lighthouse, and the twists and turns which were page turners! Highly creative writer and each of her books are different...more
My favorite characters were Olivia and Alec!!. Wow, did Annie have everyone fooled along with Mary, the old lady! Loved the setting¸ the lighthouse, and the twists and turns which were page turners! Highly creative writer and each of her books are different...more
Although I wish more had been written at the end to answer my questions and clarify where the characters had gone, the book was fantastic. It was very fast-paced and there were plenty of plot twists to keep my attention. I never knew what I would find around the next corner. I can't wait to finish the trilogy, and I can see why Chamberlain's readers begged her to write a sequel. I hope that even though it was written almost ten years later, the book is going to be just as good.
I just finished the book and I really am at a loss. I almost stopped reading it several times. Olivia's clinging to Paul really got on my nerves & then trying to be like Annie was over the top. My most favorite thing was the location. I love the Outer Banks and felt like I was there with the storm raging and the fire blazing in the Lighthouse during one of the storms. Liked the horses also. We took a trip from Savannah up the coast to Virginia and I love the Lighthouses.
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I'm the author of 22 novels published in more than eleven languages. I like to write complex stories about relationships between men and women, parents and children, brothers and sisters, and friends. Although the thematic focus of my books often revolves around family, love, compassion and forgiveness, my stories usually feature a combination of suspense, mystery and intrigue.
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6 trivia questions
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“Olivia: "Were you aiming at someone?"
Alec: "...God, I think...”
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Alec: "...God, I think...”
