What do readers think of The Woman at the Light by Joanna Brady? Write your own review.

Emily Lowry's life changed forever on Wrecker's Cay when her husband failed to return to the lighthouse. Emily took over the lighthouse duties, tended to the 3 children and, one day, when a runaway slave washed up on the beach, everything changed yet again. This is almost a historical novel, but it's truly about Emily, her courage and strengths. Joanna Brady, the author won the Key West Writers Award in 2009 for this book. It is well deserved. I hope she is writing another book. I can hardly wait to read it!

This book will be one of my favorites for this year! Historically, it is around the mid-1800s and the U.S. has acquired Florida as a new territory. The Keys are being settled and New Orleans is at its social peak. Emily and Martin, recently married, move to Key West and then are assigned to man the lighthouse at the tip of the Keys on Wreckers' Cay. When Martin suddenly disappears, Emily and her children take on this difficult job of lighthouse keeper. The story is both intriguing and suspenseful when Andrew, an escaped slave, washes up on the island. Having to keep Andrew a secret since he is a runaway, becomes even harder when a romance develops with Emily. This story revolves around how women are looked upon during this period, racial tensions, and hurricane disasters. This memoir of Emily's life is one that will definitely leave an impression on the reader both because of the story and the research Brady completed.

This book drew me into the drama, intrigue and ambiance of ante-bellam New Orleans, Key West, the lighthouses that gave safety to mariners off the Florida coast, Havana, and the Seminole wars. I love historical fiction that encompasses this time period which predates the American Civil War. I liked the protagonist, Emily Lowry, who married after a whirlwind courtship a man who was not ideal by her family’s standards – and moved her from sophisticated New Orleans to a rough and tumble Key West long before it grew into the gentile artists colony that it became. She followed her new husband, whom she barely knew, to Key West and ultimately to a small island where they tended a lighthouse that was integral to keeping shipping vessels from crashing onto a coral reef.

This is the story of a feisty woman who bucked convention, learned to be her own person, embraced forbidden love, made some pragmatic decisions for survival, and ultimately lived the life she wanted to live – albeit partially in the shadows. I liked Emily. Her only true ally was her sister Dorothy, who loved and supported Emily but also made decisions against Emily that made sense for the time and place. While some may have anger at decisions Dorothy made, I fully understand why she did what she did. And so did Emily.

The book was beautifully written. The story was so engrossing I didn’t want to put it down. That signifies a good book for me. I would recommend The Woman at the Light for anybody who loves historical fiction involving intriguing women during the early days of America.

This is a refreshingly different work of historical fiction about the pre-Civil War era in the south. The lighthouses and the shipwrecks, the power of the rich and the vulnerability of the poor, combined in a believable and educational story. A good and worthwhile read.

What a great story! Joanna Brady put everything a reader of historical fiction could ask for into this novel - romance, adventure mystery and family with all its joys and trials. The book not only offers an interesting history of Key West (all I knew about Key West was it was located in Florida and Ernest Hemingway lived there and loved it). The book is also an education. Who knew women like Brady's heroine were keepers of these buildings and how important they are to the Florida ocean. The prose is wonderful as it flows along just like a the story does. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

I absolutely loved this page-turner and have already recommended it to friends. The author did an admirable job of integrating an intricate plot with the history of Key West; lighthouse keepers in the Keys; and, to a lesser, but interesting extent, Havana in the mid-19th century. Her main characters were well-fleshed out. I finished the book in two days and am still thinking about it, which is one of my criteria in giving the highest recommendation for a novel (e.g., The Kitchen House). Brady’s thorough research was obviously an integral part in providing a realistic setting. If you want a mesmerizing love story, you’ll find it here! I look forward to what I hope is a long career for Joanna Brady.

This books effortlessly pulls one into the ocean breezes of Key West, you can almost feel the ocean mist at times, and smell the salty air. The main character, Emily, feels like a close personal friend who guides you along her life's path. Emily's story unfolds gradually, giving you time to appreciate her choices and meet other characters along the way. Emily's love of family and her undying love for her true-love will remain with me for a very long time. Great book for book clubs, would make an excellent discussion! Would highly recommend this novel to a wide range of people.

The Woman at the Light had a great mix of US history and mystery. I was absorbed into the book from the prologue. I love stories that are told from present to past. House at Riverton and Water For Elephants come to mind. It gives the story immediately a certian mystic right off the bat.

I had great admiration for Emily as she moved from situation to situation with ease and grace. In Key West she found herself in abhorrent situation and yet she hung in there till things improved. When her life again changed, she made the best of the situation. She did she time after time throughout her interesting life.

This book is a great read for anyone that enjoys history, mystery and an outstanding heroine!