At a glance
Love Unexpected
Christian Historical Romance
Love Unexpected
Book 1 of the Beacons of Hope series
348 pages · First published 2014
When a pirate attack leaves Emma Chambers and her brother shipwrecked near Presque Isle, Michigan, Emma finds herself without money, shelter, or the home she has always longed for. An unexpected solution comes in the form of Patrick Garraty, a recently widowed lighthouse keeper struggling to raise his young son alone. Encouraged by a traveling preacher, the two strangers enter a marriage of convenience, but Emma soon discovers that caring for a lively toddler and managing an isolated lighthouse household are more difficult than she imagined. As affection grows between them, troubling rumors about Patrick's first wife's death threaten the fragile trust they are building. With dangerous secrets from the past threatening their future, Emma must decide whether the man who offered her a home can also be trusted with her heart. Perfect for readers who enjoy marriage-of-convenience romances, atmospheric lighthouse settings, and mysteries woven into heartfelt stories of forgiveness and hope.
Paired for this story
Jump to the pours ↓Wild Blueberry Cedar Tea + Maple & Orange Old Fashioned
Choose your bookseller
Find the Book
Print retailers offer a search when an exact edition is unavailable. Kindle links open a specific edition. Audiobook links may open an edition or a search.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Book Bartender earns from qualifying purchases. Bookshop.org links also earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. Your price is not affected. Read the full affiliate disclosure.
No surprises at chapter twelve
Content notes
Shipwreck and danger of drowning; pirate attacks, threats with weapons, and fistfights; death of family members and grief; rumors and suspicion surrounding a woman's death; references to past alcohol abuse, gambling, prostitution, and sexual misconduct; references to sexual assault and physical abuse in a character's past; marital intimacy discussed; passionate kissing and romantic desire.
Alcohol-Free Pour
Wild Blueberry Cedar Tea
Wild blueberries, cedar tea, and maple sweetness evoke the wooded shores of Lake Huron, where Emma's search for a home leads her to an isolated lighthouse, an unexpected family, and a love she never anticipated.
What you'll need
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.How to mix it
- Steep the tea. Muddle blueberries with maple syrup in the mug, pour the hot tea over them, and stir; strain if a smoother drink is preferred.
- Garnish: A few blueberries.
- Glassware: Mug.
Cocktail Pour · 21+
Maple & Orange Old Fashioned
For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
Maple sweetness and aromatic bitters reflect the promise and uncertainty of Emma's sudden marriage, while a warming bourbon base suits the rugged Lake Huron lighthouse where she hopes at last to find a home.
What you'll need
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1/4 oz pure maple syrup ↗
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- 1 wide strip orange peel ↗
- Ice
Shop the spirits 21+Search Total Wine for Bourbon · 21+ ↗
How to mix it
- Add the bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters to a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir until well chilled.
- Strain over one large ice cube in a rocks glass.
- Express the orange peel over the drink, rub it around the rim, and add it as the garnish.
Shop glassware & tools
We earn a commission from qualifying purchases through these Amazon links, at no extra cost to you.
Rocks glass ↗Mixing glass ↗Set up the bar cart
Shop the Barware
Find the glasses and tools for your next pour.