Friday, February 28, 2014

Review of A Shining Light by Judith Miller

Synopsis of A Shining Light by Judith Miller:

Andrea Wilson is a young wife and mother living in Baltimore.  She lives in a small apartment with her young son and husband, when he's not at sea.  The book begins with Andrea receiving the news that her husband has been lost at sea, although no body has been found.  With the little "pension" she receives she decides to move with her son to her father's farm in Iowa.

Once there she discovers that he perished in a fire that also burned the house down.  To make matters even more desperate she learns that her father had sold his farm to the Amana Colonies before his death but she is unable to locate the money he received from the sale.  Because her father didn't believe in banks she believes the money perished in the fire with him. 

With no money and no place to go, the people at the Amana Colonies invite her to live with them until she is able to make a decision about her future.  She is put to work in one of the kitchens and lives above it with the kitchen boss.  Her son makes friends with the tinsmith, Dirk Knefler, and soon a romance develops between Andrea and Dirk.

Then the unthinkable happens that turns Andrea's world upside down. 

Review:  I loved this book.  I am a fan of books about the Amana Colonies and books by Judith Miller.  The characters are well-developed and the plot is full of twists and turns.  I like that the two main characters acknowledge their interest in each other early on and don't have miscommunications about it. 

One thing I didn't care for was it was written in first person and broken up into different characters' viewpoints.  I got confused a few times about who was writing even though the sections are labeled.  I just get into a book and it's hard to reframe my thinking when somethings different.

I received a complimentary copy of A Shining Light by Judith Miller from Bethany House.  All opinions are my own.