When Light Breaks

I fell in love with Patti Callahan Henry earlier this summer and I am slowly making my way through her wonderful books. This one did not disappoint and I think this might be my favorite so far.

The story of young love interrupted and the sudden re-appearance was not an original storyline, but Henry definitively made it her own and added some unique aspects to the story. While this book was not set in the low-country as many of her books are ( and one of my favorite parts) she still uses the imagery of the low-country.
Overall a wonderful story- highly recommended.

I'm sorry to say that I did not love "When Light Breaks." I thought I would, since "The Art of Keeping Secrets" by Patti Callahan Henry hit my list of favorites when I read it a few years ago. This book front-loaded the back story (which I know is tough to avoid in a book about regrets and coming to grips with the past, granted) and even though I usually love contemporaries with historical threads, this one left me cold. I think it was the way the elderly character Maeve Mahoney told her story as if it was happening in the moment. The first-person present tense dialogue felt unnatural to me. Oh well. I wanted to like this. Maybe next time.

Alright, it's taking me forever to get around to writing my review of this book. I guess that tell you how much I liked it, eh? Not much. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't my type of book. Too much description for me. However, the pros disagree with me here:

From Booklist: "Known for her lyrical writing in Losing the Moon (2004) and Where the River Runs (2005), Henry doesn't disappoint in this beautiful novel of discovery and self-acceptance, a romance with universal appeal."

From Publisher's Weekly: "Fans of earnest Southern women's fiction will appreciate the lessons here."

The story is romance, with a lost love being found again. Kara is about to marry Peyton, when she follows her heart and decides to seek out her first love Jack. Kara show more volunteers at a local nursing home and is encouraged in her quest by an elderly woman named Maeve who spins tales of her own lost love. Maeve's story's are great. I truly enjoyed the flashbacks about Ireland that Maeve shared. Kara's love story? Well, it was a bit predictable.

Overall, the novel isn't bad, but my book group and I agreed it was rather boring. We tend to be more of a shoot-em-up-action-packed-adventure kind of gang. (Oh, and did I mention that my book group mainly consists of elderly women with vision impairments. Best. Book. Club. Ever. Unfortunately, we usually have about 20 people at meetings, which means the library's meeting room is overflowing. Otherwise, I'd extend an invitation to everyone to join our discussions. But I'm off on a tangent, so back to When Light Breaks...) show less

A love story focusing on an Irish legend set in the SC. The mother dies young and the rest of the family struggles. There is an engagement, an old love who becomes a new love and a wonderful older lady.

When light breaks by Patti Callahan Henry
Have enjoyed the author's other works and know I will enjoy this one.
Story starts out with Kara and her teen years when she first touches his face. Years later she is still grieving for the death of her mother and meets Payton the local golf PGA player.
They date a few times til he asks her to marry him. She's now volunteering at the nursing home where an Irish woman quotes her phrases that make her think of her first love, Jack.
She is also the tour manager that handles every tiny detail of making sure things go smoothly for the golf tournaments.
Like this book because it's two stories in one book. Kara's life and Mae's life/Irish legend.
I received this book from National Library Service for my show more BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device). show less

"Powerful stories between women of different generations - inspiring - as our hearts communicate thru stories...first love, romance, Irish angels - great author and storyteller - making the characters come alive! "

good beach read