MoonglotexasI love Colleen Coble’s novels and have read several, usually fast-paced, modern-day, psychological thrillers, so I was intrigued by the change of pace with Freedom’s Light. Set in the American civil war, the story draws the reader near to Hannah, who is walking the fine line of duty and passion. Her husband murdered in the war, her sister running amok and a loyalist living under her roof, she definitely faces challenges! The overall arch, of the freedom of forgiveness through Christ, is beautiful. However, Colleen paints a visual so graphically, I found several of the war scenes and interactions with Galen difficult to read particularly those including the death penalty.
Galen is one of many villains in the novel but definitely the most chilling! His complete lack of empathy or compassion plays a elegant contrast of a darkness to the lightness of Hannah and Birch. Lydia reminded me so of a different Lydia, the one from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, frivolous and willfully naïve to the point of dangerous!
Whilst I, overall, enjoyed the book, it’s a four out of five on en-JOY-ment because of the moments I tried reading with my eyes closed to avoid the pain described!
From the back cover
A young lighthouse keeper must navigate the dangerous waters of revolution and one man’s obsession with her to find safe harbor with the sea captain she loves.
Hannah Thomas believes she’s escaped Galen Wright’s evil intentions by marrying an older lighthouse keeper. Seemingly safe in faraway Massachusetts, her world is upended when John is killed in one of the first battles of the Revolutionary War. Hannah is allowed to continue the difficult task of tending the twin lighthouses in John’s place, though she faces daily disapproval from John’s family. She thinks her loneliness will subside when her younger sister arrives, but she finds Lydia’s obsession with Galen only escalates the dangerous tides swirling around her.
A stormy night brings a shipwrecked sea captain to Hannah’s door, and though he is a Tory, her heart is as traitorous as the dark-eyed captain. Even though she discovers Birch Meredith isn’t the enemy he seemed at first, Hannah isn’t sure their love will ever see the light of freedom.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Thomas Nelson – Fiction through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
