From the Bookshelf of Tyler Public Library…

[close] The Lighthouse stands on the small island of Janus Rock, off the coast of Western Australia and it is this site that becomes the solitary refuge Tom Sherbourne seeks upon his return from WWI. The quiet and routine of lighthouse keeper slowly heals Tom’s soul. During a trip to the mainland, Tom falls in love with wild & spirited Isabel. They marry and return to island where they live a contented life together for a brief time. However, their happiness is marred by Isabel’s miscarriages. Isabel tries to cope with her depression after her stillborn son is buried, but one morning she hears a baby’s cry coming up from the beach. Upon investigation they discover a boat washed up on the island, with a deceased man and a healthy infant. Isabel believes the baby is a gift from God and convinces Tom, against his better judgment, not to include the boat and occupants in his daily record.

Two years later, when the little family visits the mainland for Lucy’s baptism, it becomes clear that their decision to raise Lucy as their child is not without consequences. The moral dilemma at the center of this novel will appeal to fans of Jodi Picoult, Chris Bohjalian, and Jacquelyn Mitchard and will stay with the reader for a long time after the last page is read.