Gideon Bolt lives a quiet life on Rook Island, a mile and a half off of the coast of San Francisco. His life’s mission is to build a lighthouse on its rocky shore, saving passing ships from jagged edges that stole nearly everything from him—juts of rock that gut ships and leave their contents washed up on his shore. When Gideon discovers a young woman, nearly strangled and left for dead in a pile of debris, he becomes the unwilling care giver of a terror-filled Jillian Pip. When the fingers of guilt begin to point toward him he must keep her on the island at all costs, not only to avoid prison, but for her safety as well.

After the death of her father, Jillian is totally alone in the world, on the streets and penniless. After collapsing from hunger in the streets of San Francisco, she awakens in the care of a woman she doesn’t know—a woman who goes out of her way to see to Jillian’s needs. When Jillian discovers she is indebted and expected to pay in the most unsavory manner, she escapes at the first chance she can find. On the night that she breaks free, she becomes the victim of a heinous crime and then the unwilling prisoner of a man she isn’t certain didn’t try to kill her.

Gideon’s Angel by Linda Lea Castle is a satisfying, emotional read. The story hooked me on page one and I read the book in one sitting, deeply disappointed when the last page was turned. Ms. Castle is a gifted writer, delivering a compelling story with perfect pacing. As the relationship develops between Gideon and Jillian, the reader can feel the attraction beginning to simmer until it reaches its emotional boiling point. Ms. Castle builds the suspense aspect of the story with escalating tension and curiosity until the reader is fearful of what lies on the next page. This is the first book by Linda Lea Castle that I have read, but it will not be the last.

Reviewed by: Devon