Review of A Light in the Window by Julie Lessman

A Light in the Window by Julie Lessman

A Light in the Window

by Julie Lessman 

 Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels   

                          

                                My Daughter's and My Names are in HERE!!!!

Bibliotherapy galore! We have alcohol abuse, child abuse, faithfulness in marriage, emotional abuse, single child homes, sibling rivalry, death of a parent, competition and jealousy, etc., etc.  We have Patrick's full background finally revealed to us.  And somehow I never picked up on Marcie's history although I feel sure Julie dropped her backstory into her two series The Daughters of Boston and The Winds of Change. 

We have two womanizing carousers (despite it being 1895!) who spend more time at the bars than in church. Marceline Murphy daydreamed most of her life about her friend, Julie O'Rourke, and her family--especially about her older brother, Sam. 

Patrick O'Connor has his own daydreams, and they don't include a wife--that is until he fall for the new "angel of mercy" in town--Miss Murphy. Sam succumbs, too, but more so to his own inner demons and what had been a seed grows into a full blown tangled vine of competition and deceit.

The story revolves around a drama that Marcy directs for the parish. Julie Lessman gently shows us Marcy's grit and determination as well as her blind spots. This book does not follow a typical romance's story arcs, so romance readers might be a tad thrown off, but I believe the twists and turns were needed to contrast the differences between the two men in love with Marcy and what might have happened to her if she had made the wrong choice.  

The children in the story are adorable (especially the cameo spot by Carrie Pagels and her baby sister Cassandra Rose!!!)  The Christmas custom of placing a light in the window, is also the name of the play and of this book.  Marcy had to learn that what she thought she was looking for was right there in her own home--I loved that little nugget in the story because so often in life we don't learn those lessons until much much later. 

I initially thought this might be the first book to read if someone hadn't read any of Julie Lessman's novels, but when I finished, I wasn't sure.  It is quite different (except all the kissing, lol!) from the other stories.  So I am 50-50 on that. This is a story that needed to be told and I am very glad to have read it.  Somehow, I lean just a tad toward reading it afterwards. Somehow, it is though a big Christmas bow has been tied around the book.  Maybe because this final story in the series DOES feel like a fabulous Christmas present! THANK you Julie for including our names, too--very cute and touching!!!

A Light in the Window can be purchased in e-book format through Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

Giveaway:  This ebook will be given away to three commenters. You must be one of Julie's Facebook author page followers to win.  Simply go to her FB author page and click "Like" (Here is the link to her page.) Just put JL in your comment so we know! Thanks!

Question: Have you ever read a book (other than the Bible!) that felt like the best Christmas present?  Do tell!