In this new coastal series, Lin Stepp transports her readers into the rich, colorful lives of Burke and her sisters, Lila, Gwen, and Celeste, who grew up at the Deveaux Inn and Lighthouse on a windswept island, accessible only by boat. Get ready to be introduced to the ups and downs, joys and sorrows, challenges and adventures of a Lighthouse Keeper.
Life had grown hard for Burke Deveaux at the family inn and lighthouse since her father died. She missed his warmth and still expected to see him walking into a room, his big laugh booming. Burke and her mother were gradually adjusting to the change, and Lila had come home this winter to help, but the workload was heavy. With spring coming and tourism picking up in the South Carolina Lowcountry, Burke welcomed Hal Jenkins’ request for his son Waylon to work for them. Waylon, retiring early from the Navy, knew the island and the lighthouse, having grown up nearby. Burke also knew Waylon well since they’d grown up together. He’d always been older, and she wondered how he’d see her now.
Waylon had been away from Edisto Island for over twelve years now, traveling around the world in the military, but it felt good to be home. He’d hated learning Lloyd Deveaux was gone, the warm-hearted Lighthouse Keeper he’d followed around as a boy. But he liked the idea of coming to stay at the lodge at Watch Island to help the Deveaux family with the inn, lighthouse, and nearly five-hundred acres of land the Lighthouse Station occupied. He knew Burke had picked up many of her father’s old tasks and he looked forward to seeing her again. He’d kept feelings for her clamped down for years but one look at her brought them surging back. How would he handle that with them working together?
PRAISE FOR LIN STEPP AND HER RICH SOUTHERN NOVELS:
“This book feels just as tranquil as Edisto and has a wonderful, laid back flow, like beautiful ocean waves lapping up on the shore … you can’t help but fall in love with every facet of this novel.” – Christ F. JUST READS Review
“From the stunning backdrop of the South Carolina Lowcountry … this book was like going home.” – Kim Standridge Boykin, Bestselling Author of Palmetto Moon
“Each book showcases Lin Stepp’s natural gift as a novelist for originality and narrative driven storytelling.” – MIDWEST REVIEW
Excerpt
Lila smiled. “Perhaps the sea will draw Edward back like it did Waylon and me.”
“Not everyone is suited to live the life we do. It’s different living a remote life. Even the plantation where Edward grew up was away from most of the life and activity on Edisto. And the job opportunities are limited here.”
Lila ran a hand over her long, wavy dark hair, caught up in a big clip today to keep the sea breeze from blowing it. “It was different, the way we grew up here on the island, even with the tourists coming and going. We were always different at school, too. Everyone called us the Lighthouse Sisters, and it wasn’t always said kindly.”
Burke shrugged. “Well, children are seldom kind.”
“I think we were kind though,” Lila argued, gathering up her art supplies to stuff them into a tote bag.
“It’s true you were always kind and you always saw life in that sweet good way, but Celeste and Gwen were a different story, both strong-willed and outspoken. Don’t pretend you don’t remember. They still are.”
Excerpted from Light the Way by Lin Stepp, Copyright © 2022 by Lin Stepp. Published by Mountain Hill Press.
About the Author
Lin Stepp is a native Tennessean, businesswoman and educator. A New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon best-selling international author, Lin has twenty published novels out now, including her twelve beloved Smoky Mountain novels, all set in different Tennessee and North Carolina locations, three Mountain Home books, a novella in one of Kensington’s Christmas anthologies, and four South Carolina coastal novels, including her three Edisto Trilogy books and her first release in the new Lighthouse Sisters series. Lin and her husband J.L. also write regional guidebooks, including a published Smoky Mountain hiking guide and a TN and a SC state parks guidebook, all filled with hundreds of color photos. Stepp’s latest 2022 releases are Eight at the Lake, set in Dandridge near the Smoky Mountains, and Light the Way, set at the SC coast. Writing and adventuring are her joys and more novels set in the Smokies and at the beach are on the way, as well as more colorful regional guidebooks. Lin’s title Claire At Edisto was the 2019 Best Book Award Winner in Fiction: Romance, sponsored by American Book Fest and her novel Welcome Back a finalist in the 2017 Selah Awards. Lin enjoys speaking for events, festivals, libraries, and book clubs. And she loves reading, hiking, exploring out of doors, and keeping up with her readers. Look for her pages on Facebook and Twitter and follow her monthly blog and newsletter, too, that you will find on her website at: www.linstepp.com
Tour Giveaway
One winner will receive print copies of Light the Way, Claire at Edisto, Return to Edisto, and Edisto Song by Lin Stepp, and bookmarks (US only)
Ends April 6, 2022
Doris H Lankford
I like to sit on the beach and read and watch the waves. I also like to walk on the beach and look for seashells.
Peggy Clayton
I went to school about 3 blocks from the beach and it was awesome I lived in a rural part of Kings Mountain. Ca and went to school in Half Moon Bay I lived in a foster home and was bused all those miles after riding and reading for a couple of hours. There was nothing more refreshing then getting off the bus and breathing in the fog or the ocean it was wonderful. When I could spend the night at other peoples houses I loved it as we walked down to the beach and chased the waves and looked for shells. I always wanted to live somewhere else as the foster home was abusive and also we were just their maids it was terrible but you forgot all about that when you walked on the beach. 20 years ago met an Iowan and moved to eastern Iowa and miss it so much that when we do go to Ca and visit my kids and grandkids one of the first things my grandgirls ask if we can go to the beach it is a long ride as they live in Silicon Valley but they love it there also.
Lin Stepp
Jennifer … thank you for featuring my book LIGHT THE WAY on your blog post, along with the book excerpt. I hope readers will love all the books in the the Lighthouse Sisters series … and visiting the South Carolina coast in each one.
Jennifer Faye
You’re welcome! 🙂 Wishing you the very best.
Lori Byrd
Just sit and read and enjoy the beauty.