Lighthouses are endlessly suggestive signifiers of both human isolation and our ultimate connectedness to each other. ~ Virginia Woolf

Perhaps that’s what fuels our modern-day fascination with these stalwart structures and makes them an ideal backdrop for stories of love and loss.

The following books will give you the perfect opportunity to step back in time and connect with the lives, loves, and legacies of the individuals who kept the lights burning.

The Beacons of Hope series by Jody Hedlund is the perfect way to round out your summertime reading list. This set of books honors the lighthouse keepers, both men and women, of the Great Lakes lighthouses of Michigan during the 1800s. Hedlund’s stories capture the beautiful and harsh reality of lighthouse work while paying homage to the keepers’ sacrifice, resilience, and faith. I have read four of the six installments of this series and can’t wait to pick up the last two.

Guardian of the Flame, a 2009 release from T.L. Higley’s Seven Wonders series, takes readers back to Alexandria, Egypt. This Beauty and the Beast-like tale of a guarded woman with loyalties to Cleopatra and a Roman soldier under orders from Julius Caesar has just the right mix of romance and political intrigue to keep you turning pages late into the night. Higley is a master of historical fiction, intertwining intricate detail, historical accuracy, and compelling characters.

New York Times Bestselling author Susan Wiggs paints a picture of the stoic isolation of lighthouse keeper Jesse Morgan in her 1997 release, The Lightkeeper. Jesse’s only goal is to be left alone to hide from his past and avoid any thoughts of the future, but fate and a terrible storm deliver Mary Dare to his doorstep. A shipwreck survivor, Mary is running from her own secrets, but she’ll do what she must to secure a safe future for her unborn child. The two must find a way to deal with their sudden change in circumstances and the growing attraction between them, all while preparing to face the threatening storm from their pasts that could destroy everything they’ve begun to hold dear. This story carries the reader along on the currents of loss, hope, and second chances. A good read for any season.

–Vickie Price Taylor