Widow's Walk Reviews

Rating

4 stars

Release Date

2006.01.1

Sensuality Rating

sweet

Lizbeth Sullivan is busy preparing for her wedding to the man of her dreams, William Kinsey. A violent storm blows up and her father is lost. It was a loss that could have been prevented if the lighthouse keeper had been doing his job properly. With the tragedy occurring a few days before her wedding, Lizbeth and William know they must postpone it. It is their love for each other that helps them get through the weeks that follow. William Kinsey and Lizbeth love each other as no one else can. It will be this love that will get them through the death of her father and all the other problems that follow.

Widow's Walk is a testimony to what we can endure and conquer if we had the right person next to us. Lizbeth was an independent woman indulged by her father. There were many people in the town who resented this and let her know. William was her perfect match. Very strong, he would not tolerate any one hurting her. Together they can handle and conquer everything life throws at them. Truly an inspiration to those of us who have handled tragedies, Widow's Walk is a must read novel. Kudos to Nikki Leigh for penning such a wonderful tale.

Reviewer

Elise Lyn

Posted

2006.06.18

Childhood sweethearts Lizbeth and William are preparing for their forthcoming marriage when a storm hits Misty Cove. Lizbeth's father is a ship's captain, and his boat is out at sea that night. When William realises that the lighthouse is not lit, he realises that the ship is in danger. Tragically, Lizbeth's father is killed when the ship founders...

The couple begin to rebuild their lives, forced by social convention to postpone their marriage until after a period of mourning. The tragedy has struck deep into the town of Misty Cove, and Lizbeth wants to uncover who was responsible for the death of her father. As the days progress, she uncovers hidden secrets and encounters both betrayal and support from unexpected places.

This is the first of a trilogy set in Ms Leigh's wonderful imaginary town of Misty Cove. Readers of 'Stormy View' will recognize the landscape, but the story takes place over a century before the events of that book. Told in the first person from the perspectives of Lizbeth and William, 'Widow's Walk' plunges us straight into the hearts and minds of the characters. The plot unfolds over a decade in the young couple's life together, and there is intrigue and suspense a-plenty as well as time for tears and laughter. Lizbeth is a strong, independent woman and readers will really engage with her. A well-recommended read.

*******

This review is from one of the women in the study group where Widow's Walk was expanded and refined :) Thanks Patty.

Hi Nikki – Loved your book! Congratulations again.

Nikki Leigh cleverly blends appealing characters with life in a 19^th century American fishing village to bring us this tale of one woman’s courageous struggle to give meaning to her father’s death and marry the man she loves. -- Patricia Evans

************

It is 1841 in the small town of Misty Cove, Massachusetts. Lizbeth Sullivan is young and in love and due to marry her childhood sweetheart William Kinsey. Life seems perfect to the young, naïve Lizbeth. However tragedy strikes and lives are lost through fate and ineptitude. The couples’ wedding is postponed due to the mourning conventions of the time.

Because of the tragedy, Lizbeth inherits part of a shipping business, and she and William begin planning for the future. When they eventually marry, they begin to build the foundations of what they want their life to be. But life does not always go as they plan and they learn to survive the disappointments and tragedies that they face on the way.

Initially, I found the character of Lizabeth a little mealy mouthed. However as I read on I realized that I had to look at her as a character that was growing and evolving like any one does, and that only through life experience that people real or fictional actually develop depth to their characters. As for William, I found him incredibly nice, staunchly protective and possibly a little too good to be true. I want to believe men like William existed in 1841 or exist in 2006. The other characters were interesting. There were malicious gossipers, ‘fallen’ women, loyal towns people and plain weird folk. Just like anyone group of people you would find in your own town or work place.

The patronizing way Lizabeth got dismissed by the men in the novel again reinforced in my mind how hard it was for women in that era. And the medicinal procedures or lack there of made me grateful I live in 2006. All in all, I was impressed by the historical accuracy of Widow’s Walk.

Widow’s Walk is a story about life, love, death and the endless circle they spin in. It’s also about the social standing and stringent class structure of the time. In many ways, there are many parallels between the characters lives in the book and the lives we live today. Life changes, thing happen and we all go on in one way or another. I’ll admit it I’m jaded to the extreme and it took me a while to get into this book, but once I did I was glad I read it. I believe it is an enjoyable and inspirational book and well worth the read.

Janet

http://www.onceuponaromance.net/Widow'sWalkReview.htm

It’s 1841, and Lizbeth Sullivan is putting together the finishing touches for her wedding to her beloved William, which is only a few days away. Lizbeth’s father, Captain Sullivan, is at sea on the last fishing trip of the season. A violent storm comes up, but Lizbeth is sure that the Captain will get his crew safely home; he’s the most experienced and most careful ship’s captain in the area.

She’s sure he’ll be home soon—until she goes up to the widow’s walk to watch for him and discovers there is no light in the lighthouse. The Captain’s ship runs aground and he is killed. Just a few days before her wedding, Lizbeth’s life is turned upside down. Her father is gone, and she is an orphan.

Fortunately, Lizbeth is a strong woman. She needs all of her strength plus William’s love and support to get through what’s ahead. Her wedding must be postponed until after her season of mourning is over. Instead of finalizing wedding plans, she’s arranging her father’s funeral.

Over the next few years, Lizbeth endures a nasty investigation into the shipwreck, and learns that the lightkeeper allowed the light in the lighthouse to go out because he was drunk. She eventually marries William, and they have a baby, who dies before William can hold him. Various friends and neighbors move through their lives, weaving a pattern of 19^th century life that feels authentic. This is a story involving real people, who have faults and hurts, who pout and cut off friends, and who love and care for each other.

Nikki Leigh’s characters are solid, three-dimensional and dynamic and the book is well-paced. There are some loose ends, but this is the first book in a series, and they will, hopefully, come together in a later book.

http://www.bookpleasures.com/Lore2/idx/0/2558/article/Widows_Walk.html

Widow's Walk
by Nikki Leigh

*******

Last modified: 07/21/08

Widow's Walk by Nikki Leigh

*******

Last modified: 07/21/08

Widow's Walk
by Nikki Leigh