The Light Between Oceans

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

Tom Sherbourne has survived the war on the Western Front but still struggles with the tragedies that take place in a war zone. He has learned to thrive in the isolated occupation of a lighthouse keeper and has taken the position on the remote island in Australia known as Janus Rock. Just as he secures this new position, he meets and falls in love with the outgoing Isabel, they marry and move out to the isolated island to begin their new life together. Isabel's one dream is to start a family, but over the next few years she is devastated by two miscarriages and a stillbirth. Shortly after the stillbirth, Isabel hears the cries of a baby and they find that a small boat has washed ashore that is carrying and dead man and a small but living baby.

Tom is torn over the choices before them, he wants to do the right thing and report the missing baby, but his heartbroken wife wants to claim the baby as their own. Choices are made and then they have to learn to live with the consequences. On the isolated island they live in their own world and they can almost forget the outside world, but after two years, they return to the main island and the choice they made two years ago comes back to haunt them.

This is a heartbreaking story, where there cannot be a happy ending for everyone. It is a well written story that captures your heart and makes you wish for happiness for everyone knowing that it is impossible to achieve.