Torchlight

Full Circle #2

by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Book 2 of the Best-Selling Full Circle Series
Can the handsome handyman enlisted to renovate Julia’s estate also fix her mixed-up heart?

After inheriting her family’s lighthouse and mansion, heiress Julia Rierdon--sister of Jake Rierdon ( Refuge )--travels to the coast of Maine to restore the estate and turn it into a lavish inn. Temporarily separated from her wealthy fiancé, Julia turns to a mysterious stranger for assistance. Motorcycle-riding handyman Trevor Kenbridge is gorgeous, infuriating…and just the man she needs to help her prepare her inn. Could he also be the right man to claim her heart?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Christian, Audiobook, Contemporary, Christian Romance

249 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1994

About the author

About

Lisa Tawn Bergren is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 60 books, with more than 4.5 million copies sold. She recently released The Sugar Baron's Daughters Series (KETURAH, VERITY and SELAH), and recently finished a teen series called Remnants (SEASON OF WONDER, SEASON OF FIRE, and SEASON OF GLORY). She's also written the River of Time Series (WATERFALL, CASCADE, TORRENT, BOURNE & TRIBUTARY, DELUGE) and The Grand Tour Series (GLAMOROUS ILLUSIONS, GRAVE CONSEQUENCES, GLITTERING PROMISES), time-slip romance duology called River of Time: California (THREE WISHES and FOUR WINDS), and some contemporary romances (ONCE UPON A MONTANA SUMMER and ONCE UPON AN IRISH SUMMER are the newest releases).

Lisa’s time is split between managing home base, writing, consulting and helping Tim with his business. Her husband Tim is a sculptor of ducks-out-of-fenceposts (RMRustic.com), graphic designer and musician. They have three big kids–Olivia (who just got married), Emma (who is about to get married) and Jack (who is a junior in high school).

The Bergrens make their home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Reviews

[Wendy Sparkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this 2nd book in the "Full Circle" Series. Julia renovating her great-grandparents home to make it into an inn with a very handsome handyman! A lovely lighthouse story, with excerpts of Anna's journal to bring Julia's ancestor's love story to light as well.

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[Jenelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh, no friggin, flippin way!

I was so pumped from book 1 that I jumped right into book 2, but what a huge let-down!

I don't get how this one has higher ratings, too, because it's the epitome of mediocre. The characters are boring, the romance is lifeless, and the "Christian" element is like a slap-dash afterthought.

So basically, it's just some trashy (yet puritanically clean) contemporary romance and you know how I feel about those.

Booo!

[Rachael · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the history aspect, with both the renovations and the journals.

However, I was so very frustrated with the concept that she had to choose between the men. Realistically, if the choice isn’t steady or consistent (or doubtful to begin with) then why make a choice at all?? Why not stay single and wait for God’s best that He has promised us rather than “settle.” I just feel that Julia is a shadow of the strong character that she could have been. She is portrayed in a shallow way, instead of a strong woman of faith. The other books in this series truly touched my heart and made me stop and consider the truths across the pages. I did not feel that connection with this story and it was disappointing.

Even though this book wasn’t my favorite, the rest of the series is great! I would still recommend reading this one so you can get a grasp of time consistency and other characters introduced in latter books.

[Simcyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mistakes are human and I don't mind reading about characters making them.... but the whole book was about mistakes and miscommunications. Even the side romance was based on miscommunications dragging the relationship along at the same stall pace as the main characters. There was no build up of feelings. I got extremely tired of all their prayers of guidance and then what.... nothing. The Christian slant sounded like dogma more than anything. Something to be done when stressed and need answers... but worthless, since if God was actually trying to direct them.. they weren't listening.

I came to the point where I was going to stop listening (I do audiobooks), but I only had 30 minutes left so I continued... but regretted because the ending was the worse. I actually ended up not wanting them to marry.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of the lighthouse restoration and looking back at the ancestors story were quite interesting. However, the love story (a lot of the overall story) was dull and stretched on too long. Julia wavered for way too long as well as all of the other characters in sharing their feelings. The inclusion of Tara’s love story was pointless as it didn’t really go much of anywhere.
I read this because I loved Bergren’s Northern Lights trilogy, but the writing in this does not seem like it’s by the same author. Some grammar is poor and the changing perspectives constantly makes it seem more like a book for youth. It was a disappointment due to the high standards the other books gave me.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

5Sep2017 - Unknown to me I read the series out of order, I listened to this in 2016 on a road trip.
Julie Rierden goes to Maine to bring an old family home back to life. Her mother doesn't approve. She has a boyfriend or fiancé that doesn't approve. And she finds an handsome, flirtatious handy man to help with the repairs.
It takes a lot for both Julie and her man to acccept the other and that love might work for them.

[TheModestMillennial · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story.

I enjoyed the plot and characters, but it felt a little shallow... Maybe kind of juvenile or just underdeveloped. Both books so far in this series have 2 couples on a tumultuous romantic journey. Either couple would have made for a good book, but the balancing and intertwining of dual stories left both sets of characters feeling flat. I'll probably finish the series because I simply hate not completing series, but I'm hoping for more of I continue to read these.

[Carolyn Lockwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mindless fun. Easy read.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Tayler Sant · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why do I like these? I hate to admit it, but I do.
They are so cheesy, and so… so “chick flick”, so hallmark it’s painful. Yet I freaking love them. Why?!

This book was better than refuge in my opinion. There was no evil antagonist giving me anxiety, which was nice. However; Julia herself drove me nuts. I wish she would have come to her senses long before she did, and that we could have had more of Trevor and Julia’s love story. What happens after? We should have gotten more of the torchlight Inn, more of Tara’s cookbook success.
The ending felt rushed.
We also needed more Mike, Ben and Tara.

But with that said; i really liked it. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad little read, though I was somewhat disappointed with the ending because it seemed so rushed with no epilogue or extra chapter. Julia is a new Christian engaged to Miles, who I do not believe is and Christian. She inherits family money at age thirty and goes to restore her family's long-neglected estate in Maine, which happens to house a lighthouse. While there, she meets Trevor, a Christian and all-around handyman, who helps her restore her new home. Miles and Trevor are at odds with each other over her. There is obvious attraction to one another between Julia and Trevor, but they are both too fearful of rejection and too stubborn to admit it. Julia chooses the "safe" option and decides to marry Miles, even though he has been sleeping around behind her back, pressuring her to sleep with him, and will not share in her dream of restoring the family home and making it an inn. Finally, on her wedding day and just about she is to say "I do", Trevor bursts into the sanctuary and proposes to her. Meanwhile, there is a parallel story line with Tara, Julia's friend, and Ben and Mike, a father and son respectively, who have lost their wife and mother ten years earlier. Ben loves Tara but is fearful of having to grieve another wife, while Mike and Tara both know that it would be better if they were a family. There is a third story line, told through newly-discovered journals, about Julia's great-great-grandmother and great-great-greandfather, Anna and Shane, who built the estate. This story line was disappointing to me because it ends so sadly. This book is a crossover with the first book in the series, Refuge, which is about Jake, Julia's brother, and Emily his now-wife.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I probably need to start out by saying that how I enjoy a book definitely depends on my mood. And I guess I just was in too much of a YA mood to like this one. I'll at least give it the benefit of doubt :)
Likes: their first meeting--and Trevor's demeanor. He knew she was interested and it was funny to see him make her squirm. I also liked the journals of Anna/Shane they found in Torchlight's attic.
Dislikes: the dialogue seemed cheesy/forced. Also, the POV would switch mid-chapter, sometimes back and forth between paragraphs and it made it choppy and confusing at times. And MILES. Ugh. But worse than Miles? The fact that Julia made it all the way to the wedding day even though she knew and admitted she had feelings for Trevor. She was just concerned he wouldn't stick around. Umm--red flag much? I just have a hard time sympathizing for a heroine in a book when she stays with the super-obviously-wrong-for-her guy for over four years just because.
So, basically, this one just didn't grab me. Which I guess is evidenced by the fact that it took me almost a week to finish it (and it was only 232 pages). But I need to stop because I don't like to "trash" an author's work, just because it wasn't my favorite.
I do have to say that I didn't realize before I read it that it was written in 1994. The kindle cover wasn't as obviously 90's as the Goodreads one. :) I've heard really good things about this author's more recent books, so while I won't read any others in this particular series, I'm still willing to give her newer ones a shot.
Content: completely clean

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one more than the first book in this series. I was so enthralled with it that I read it in one day flat (was up until 3am to do so, if that says anything about how hooked I was). I felt much more pulled into Torchlight than I was with Refuge (which I also enjoyed), and it might be because this was a whole book about two couples instead of Refuge being more of two novellas intertwined back-to-back. I always feel guilty rooting against a standing relationship/engagement, but I couldn't help but instantly fall in love with Trevor and how he tried to ask for God's guidance in how to proceed with Julia. Looking forward to reading book 3 in the series. I appreciate how these first two books have some cross-over characters, but could still stand alone without the prior book. Not my usual stance for series' because I like them evolving, but in this case it works really well and I loved Torchlight!

Romance: clean

[Denise Kettering · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second book in the Full Circle series moves the reader across the country from the Montana setting to a restoration project in Maine. Julia Rierdon, sister of Jake Rierdon from the first book in the series Refuge, is renovating an old home and lighthouse into a bed and breakfast. She hires Trevor Kenbridge to help with the restoration and the two begin to have feelings for each other. Julia has a boyfriend, however, and the two can never quite get it together. While the story is interesting and the characters are generally likable, I did dislike how the ending occurred and thought that it seemed overly dramatic and perhaps went against the general characterizations that had occurred earlier in the book. However, the book will provide an interesting read for those looking for a fun Christian romance.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Torchlight is awesome! Once again, Bergren draws you in - not wanting to put the book down. I love how she continuously shares character's thoughts; as they're praying to our gracious Father.

Torchlight is a wonderful Christian romance story... of a women caught up in not knowing which man to choose; trying to find herself & where God wants her to be; the main character of this story almost dies not once - but ---- (read the story to find out how many times & how). [I don't want to give too much away.:]

Would have loved for more of the character's from the first book to have been brought into this story; but its still great!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

After inheriting her family’s lighthouse and mansion, heiress Julia Rierdon--sister of Jake Rierdon (Refuge)--travels to the coast of Maine to restore the estate and turn it into a lavish inn. Temporarily separated from her wealthy fiancé, Julia turns to a mysterious stranger for assistance. Motorcycle-riding handyman Trevor Kenbridge is gorgeous, infuriating…and just the man she needs to help her prepare her inn. Could he also be the right man to claim her heart?

Okay, I think Julia is expecting everything from Trevor and not communicating well to him, and who can't admit her feelings to herself, and won't listen to the advice of others.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, or most of it. The personalities and the theme of restoring an old family mansion kept my attention throughout the book. The only thing that I did not like was the ending, not the ending result as it was somewhat predictable but the way the author caused the ending to occur. I didn't think it kept with the rest of the book as well as it could have.

I also really enjoyed the fact that it had an underlying Christian theme (I didn't know this when I started reading it) although it was done in a very quiet manner.

[ChrisGA · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet romance about remodeling a family lighthouse. It had the usual conflict of a girl choosing between a rich fiance and maverick contractor. Good example of the genre of Christian fiction--I am too old to get totally involved in the romantic struggle without a mystery to carry me along-but that is just me.

[Rhonda Buedefeldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First read of this author. Great development of character. She had me from the start when a fellow on a motorcycle pulled aside the main character to demonstrate his admiration. The author weaves ancestry, several characters' love conflicts and faith into a "can't wait to see what's next" storyline. Given my enjoyment of this one...I will check out another of her books.

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good clean love story (the cover looks different then the one I read but the same story I bet!) A contemporary story about a young woman who spends her family fortune refurbishing an old country estate in Maine--and remodels her life in the process.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasant love story in an interesting environment. Nice historical background story.
Didn't like the way some of the relationships were handled. Not Christlike.
Little too much drama.
All in all a good read.

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Refuge the first book in this series and Bergren once again continued her excellence in modern christian romantic fiction. Loved the way she intertwined the journals of Julie's great great grandmother Anna throughout the story.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and would give it 3.5/5 stars. The setting at a lighthouse in Maine and intertwining multiple love stories is what I enjoyed most about the book. As a main character, Julia wasn't as likeable as she should have been, but the secondary love stories made up for it.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. I LOVED it...and just about everything written by Lisa Tawn Bergren. Realistic and intense relationships without bedroom scenes. I also loved the audiobooks narrated by Kris Faulkner.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, only wish the end was differen. Seems like there is more to come.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

Torchlight was a fun book to read. Meeting Jake (from Refuge) Rierdon's sister was a nice addition to the Full Circle series. Loved Trevor Kenbridge.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light read. A light romance.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book, but I live the whole series!!!

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

It ended too soon and was kinda slow with the romance

[Jodi Deters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced and entertaining. Moral and light. Some history.