Lights Of Liverpool

Lanterns Along the Mersey

When aspiring photographer Lina Bennett returns to her childhood home in Liverpool to care for her ailing grandmother, she never expects the city’s annual Lights of Liverpool festival to reignite memories she’s tried hard to forget. Against a tapestry of emerald lanterns dancing across the Mersey River and Victorian lampposts glowing with nostalgic warmth, Lina rediscovers the city that shaped her dreams—and the people she left behind. Hamilton’s evocative prose captures every glint of festive sparkle, from the golden reflections on cobblestone streets to the shimmering beams illuminating historic docklands, drawing readers into a Liverpool alive with magic and possibility.

Shadows in the Docks

As Lina navigates family tensions and the quiet hum of reunion, she encounters Tom Carlisle, a childhood friend turned local historian whose passion for Liverpool’s maritime past matches her own creative spirit. Together, they wander through restored warehouses, their footsteps echoing beneath spellbinding light installations, unraveling hidden stories buried beneath layers of paint and time. But when Lina unearths a mysterious collection of wartime letters tucked inside her grandmother’s antique camera, she and Tom embark on a hunt for the truth—one that leads them from hushed archives to moonlit waterfronts, and forces them to confront long-buried regrets.

A Glow of Second Chances

Between bustling market stalls festooned with fairy lights and impromptu chorus performances beneath grand civic buildings, Hamilton weaves a tale of rediscovery and renewal. Lina’s lens captures not only the city’s luminous spectacles, but also the subtle transformations unfolding within her own heart. As the final night of the festival approaches, she must choose whether to chase a lucrative assignment abroad or embrace the luminous possibilities of home—and the warmth of a love rekindled.

. “An enchanting celebration of heritage, hope, and the unbreakable bonds that light our way home,” writes Ruth Hamilton’s description.