Cynthia Ellingsen Books

An Amazon Charts bestseller. Dawn Conners's parents are famous for finding historic treasures, but she has a knack for losing things--her job, her boyfriend, and now, her reputation. Thanks to a mud-slinging exposé, Dawn's late great-grandfather is assumed guilty of stealing silver from a century-old shipwreck. Hoping to clear his name, Dawn returns to Starlight Cove, her idyllic hometown on Lake Michigan, where the doomed vessel sleeps beneath the beam of a ramshackle lighthouse. Her plan: remodel and sell the lighthouse while untangling the perplexing family mystery. Neither task is easy, especially once her well-meaning parents and the quirky locals--including nautical researcher and Starlight Cove's most eligible bachelor, Kip Whittaker--get involved. Despite their attraction, Dawn is reluctant to trust Kip, or any of the close-knit townsfolk. But as she pieces together the truth, Dawn's once-shuttered heart opens up. And if she's willing, the lighthouse might guide her to a place she never expected to find, where the past entwines with a bright new beginning.

Lauren, Isla, Jade, and Archer are friends from their first day at summer camp, but rival cabins, distracting crushes, and the girls' own secrets get in the way of their winning the big contest to be the face of the camp's web site.

Exploring the complexities of love and the choices it demands, the narrative delves into the fragility of the heart and the surprising decisions we make for those we cherish. The protagonist reflects on the profound pain of saying goodbye to a loved one, highlighting the emotional turmoil and longing for understanding that accompanies such choices. This poignant journey captures the essence of love's sacrifices and the heart's resilience amid heart-wrenching farewells.

In this emotional story from Starlight Cove, a single mother must solve the mystery of the town theater to learn why it was shut down and stop the unknown forces trying to keep it closed. Newly divorced Lily Kimura returns to her hometown to start fresh with her daughter and her recently retired parents. She's committed to rebuilding her life, starting with a new job at the town theater. The Starlight Cove Playhouse has been closed for years, ever since a tragic fire took the life of the lead actress. Now, thanks to an anonymous donor, the town is finally ready for a revival. So is Lily, who wholeheartedly dives into her new duties as theater manager, including an unexpected connection with the visiting movie star playing the lead. But strange noises, sinister messages, and a mysterious play hidden in the rafters soon make it clear that not everyone is keen to move on. Someone wants the playhouse closed for good. With the help of an old friend turned local police officer, Dean Harrington, Lily digs into the truth behind every question, threat, and possibility presented to her. She's just not sure if Starlight Cove will be ready for the answers, or if, as they say, the show will go on.

A woman faces the past she fled in a heart-stirring novel about unforgettable love and indomitable courage by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Lighthouse Keeper.Rainey’s grandmother makes a startling Take me home. To Ireland, the country she fled post–World War II. Though they’re inseparably close, Rainey knows few of her grandmother’s secrets. Until they arrive at Aisling—the majestic estate on the southern coast of Ireland where her grandmother was raised—and Rainey discovers a collection of seventy-year-old letters in a trunk.Dublin, 1945. The Germans surrender, celebrants crowd the streets, and fourteen-year-old Evie meets her best friend, the spirited Harding McGovern. Years on, they are more like sisters when rumors begin that Harding works in the black market trade—a source of wealth that could give her a dream life in America but could also cause great danger. Evie is uncertain of the truth but will stand by Harding, whatever the cost.As Rainey uses the letters to reunite her grandmother with the past, what unfolds is a never-forgotten story of family, friendship, and love, and the healing that comes from letting go of secrets.

A mysterious, heartwarming tale of small-town intrigue, family secrets, and the possibility of new love from the Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Lighthouse Keeper. Emma Laurent has always preferred helping others to asking for help. But now, she's the one in need. Her stepmother is selling her late father's candy shop, her grandmother's assisted-living facility has become a financial burden, and the anniversary of her fiancé's death is quickly approaching. Rather than face her problems, Emma does what she does best--finds someone else to help by offering a mother and son with nowhere to go somewhere to stay. So when a couple visiting Starlight Cove suddenly offers to pay $20,000 for the old painting that has hung on the candy shop's wall since Emma was a child, it seems like fate has stepped in to help Emma in return--but the more she thinks about it, the more suspicious the offer seems. Determined to uncover why the couple is so interested in the painting, Emma begins to investigate, unknowingly wading into a sea of old family secrets. At the same time, a new flirtation has her feeling guilty and confused. As Emma uncovers more about the past, can she find the courage she needs to save the candy shop and give herself permission to open her heart to love again?

Amidst wedding preparations and professional challenges, a bride-to-be grapples with doubts about her upcoming nuptials. This novel blends humor, emotion, and romance, capturing the complexities of love and commitment. It resonates with readers who appreciate relatable characters and the intricacies of modern relationships, making it a delightful choice for fans of Emily Giffin and Julie James.