Sally Rose McFarlane follows her dream of being a teacher when she accepts a position as governess in post-Reconstruction, Florida. A misunderstanding of her previous experience in Ohio forces her to keep a secret to retain her job. When she learns about the recent Jim Crow laws, she realizes she also has to hide her bi-racial ancestry.When Bryce Hernandez, former Pinkerton agent, becomes a law … becomes a law partner to Sally Rose’s employer, he and Sally Rose become involved with each other to stop a smuggling operation involving their employer’s dishonest business partner.
What will happen when the family Sally Rose works for learns the truth of her work experience and her parents? How will Bryce react when he finds out? And will anyone find her when she’s captured by smugglers, or will it be too late?
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Revealing Light by Marilyn Turk is a delightful historical Christian novel. It is the second book in the Coastal Lights Legacy series but can be read as a stand-alone. I enjoyed catching up with familiar faces. This book is set in 1883, twenty two years after book one and follows Sally Rose who was just a baby in the previous book.
There is the theme of identity. Jim Crow laws forbids mixed race marriages in the South. This forces a character to hide who she truly is. It is also an alien concept to her as she was brought up in the North. “Colour didn’t matter where she grew up.” It is also plain wrong and was one of the issues the Civil War was fought over.
Life has been hard and a character has drifted from God. “I thought God had forsaken me… so I decided I wouldn’t bother Him anymore.” God never leaves us but walks with us through all the seasons of life. In times of desperation, a character decides calling out to God really is the only option.
We are called to live out God’s Word. “Both men knew the Word. And lived it.” To truly walk in the way of Jesus is very beautiful to witness.
There are some very dear and loving characters in the novel. Their hearts shine from within as their warmth radiates outwards. Some of my favourite scenes were set in the kitchen.
When we don’t know what to do – pray. “You gotta pray. God will tell you what’s right.” God’s plans and God’s timing are perfect. He has a solution for every problem we will ever face if only we will trust Him.
There are some delightful children in the novel whose mannerisms were perfectly captured by Marilyn Turk.
An air of suspense hangs over the story as a sinister character prowls around. We need the light to illuminate dark deeds.
There is the theme of rescue from a dark place. We see this figuratively as well as literally. We need God to rescue us from our dark lives. He needs to illuminate the sin in us as He lovingly bends down to rescue us.
I loved Revealing Light. It was another charming read from Marilyn Turk. I am loving this Coastal Lights Legacy series.
I received a free copy from the author. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
I could not put my Kindle down!!! I LOVE the Love Story of Sally Rose & Bryce! The Power of Prayer really comes through when Sally Rose is in trouble. The connection between Sally Rose & Bryce is a shock for them. The way Marilyn Turk writes,I can see every detail of the Island & birds as tho I were there, too! Can’t wait for the next book!
This is the first book by Marilyn Turk I’ve read, and it won’t be the last. I love historical novels that do more than entertain, and Revealing Light is a well-written exploration of the issues bi-racial individuals had to deal with after the Civil War combined with elements of romance and mystery. Sally Rose is a realistic mixture of strength and insecurity. I’ve been researching the Pinkerton detectives and enjoyed meeting Bryce who is heroic and manly, yet sensitive. The villain is wonderfully creepy. Dialogue and description immersed me into the era. The action and suspense kept me turning pages. Themes of acceptance, God’s love, and forgiveness are woven through the story without being preachy.
This book was a powerful story of strength, faith, tenderness and suspense tossed in to ad to the story. God’s abundant faithfulness to His children is a theme throughout the story. I was given a copy of the book for my honest review. The story compelled me to keep reading and I found it difficult to put it down. I was anxious to continue reading and when the last page came, it was disappointing to leave the characters I had come to “know” in the story. Each character became quite real to me and I cared about the details of their story. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading a very well written story filled with characters you will enjoy deeply. (less)
I have enjoyed Marilyn Turk’s writing in the past and was looking forward to reading a sequel of another of her stories. As that one was not yet available, I selected this one instead, the second in the Coastal Lights Legacy series. This particular book reads well as a standalone, however, so I never felt lost, even though it has made me curious about the earlier novel.
I enjoyed the setting of this book; I know relatively little about Florida’s history and even less about the Florida Keys, but I could imagine myself there through the vivid descriptions. And the historical details about teaching during this time were fascinating and well rounded, including details about things I take for granted today, like crayons.
This book has a strong theme of integrity—how to live our lives according to the truth, even when it is not the easiest path. The consequences the characters experience as a result of lying, either their own action or someone else lying to them, are realistic and often thought-provoking without becoming preachy to the reader.
I liked the suspense element, too; we aren’t really left in doubt about who the smugglers are, but if they will be caught. The tension ratchets up steadily and the climax was interesting and believable with what we already knew and how it played out on the page, and I appreciated that nothing became too gory or graphic.
I recommend this book for fans of historical romance or suspense, especially those with an interest in the Florida Keys or the post-Reconstruction South. It is a fascinating story with lots of interesting details about teaching, travel, and smuggling in the 1880s.
I received a review copy of this book from the author but was not required to write a positive review. The thoughts expressed are both honest and my own.
Wow, where do I start after just closing the last page of this gripping complex historical fiction story by Marilyn Turk? Revealing Light reel me in from the beginning and the further I read I couldn’t stop. This Costal Lights Legacy story is well written, appealing and thundering with emotion. The vivid descriptive writing of Turk had me visualizing all that the characters were experiencing. The author definitely did the research of Cedar Key history and the lighthouse.
Sally Rose McFarlane and Bryce Hernandez were flawed characters but complex having met briefly while traveling to Cedar Key, not knowing they were both going to be working for the Powell family. The Powell children added so much to the story with Sally Rose McFarlane teaching them and the adventures they experience. There were multiple twists and turns with an underlying mystery and romance in the story along with the history, dialect of the various characters and a faith message. The intensity of uncovering a suspicion of Frank Powell by Bryce was rich with particulars that shone with the author’s research. My mind saw all the action coming together with men hiding, the ships, boats, landscape, and hearing the cry of one needing rescue. I appreciate the interwoven message of seeking forgiveness, leaning on God during difficult times, second chances and the connection of characters from Rebel Light, book one in the Costal Lights Legacy series. Fan of historical fiction set during the post-civil war era will want to read this series by Turk. I’ll be abiding my time till her next book is released.
I received a complimentary copy of Revealing Light from the author. A favorable review was not required and this review is my sincere view of this action packed superb historical story.