Stephanie Grace Whitson

Title: Love at First Light
Author: Stephanie Grace Whitson
Pages: e-book
Year: 2023
Publisher: Independently published
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Gideon Long served honorably in the Union Army during the Civil War, but some in his small hometown think he was a deserter after one man claims to have seen him run from battle. Gideon lives in the shadows as a hermit now due to a battle wound. Most of the townsfolk think he is buried in the town cemetery, but there are a few who know the truth. At first he relished his isolation, but now he is beginning to wonder why God gave him the gift of preaching and then made it so he couldn’t preach. Then, he encounters Miss Isobel Manning. He is reluctantly tugged into meeting her at dusk for conversation. He realizes how lonely he is but knows there is no hope that she would ever want to be with him, so he will settle for faceless meetings.
Isobel Manning arrives in Nebraska City, Nebraska, to find her brother, Charlie, a drunken mess. She has been stood up at the altar and can’t face her hometown’s gossip, as well as her step-mother’s controlling ways so she takes off for Nebraska City. She takes on a project to beautify and clean up the cemetery. She decides to write a book about those buried there, so sets about to get information them. What little she discovers about Gideon Long intrigues her, especially when she catches a glimpse of the local hermit and wonders about his story, too.
This was a wonderful story! There were no edge-of-your-seat moments in this story but my goodness my heart was involved. This was a beautiful, gentle, sweet love story between God and two of his children, as well as between a godly man and woman. Isobel and Gideon both had struggles with rejection. Isobel’s realization that her faith wasn’t what it ought to be and the journey to discover a relationship with God was moving. It has been a long time since I have read any of this author’s novels but after this one, I plan to begin reading the ones I have missed. Get your copy today for a wonderful trip to the past for love and redemption!
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.… (más)

Sometimes I wonder if I am wired to stick with something to the end because I hope there will be a surprise twist, a bright change, a course correction. I persevered with this book in vain. The predictable tale unwound with steady and cloying sentimentality and nary hint of a saving change.

Did it help to have someone read it to me? Meh. The reader completely slaughtered the voice of the French physician. However, in spite of this, I drove many miles without mishap as the story marched on and on. And so, two stars. Just.

… (más)