Love Lights the Way

Yesterday's Love #3

by Michele Ashman Bell

For Ashlyn Kensington, the happiest day of her life the day she would marry the man who had swept her off of her feet was a disaster. Left at the altar, Ashlyn is heartbroken and is transformed from a bright, confident young woman, to a fearful, insecure recluse. When her best friend, Cami, offers Ashlyn the chance to spend the summer on the Oregon coast, it seems like the perfect escape. Soon Ashlyn is able to forget about her worries as she finds herself surrounded by new friends. The attention of an attractive stranger, Sebastian Jamison, also helps Ashlyn feel like her old self. Intrigued by a large, abandoned Victorian home overlooking the ocean, Ashlyn and Cami decide to restore it and turn it into a charming bed and breakfast. But it seems that everything that can go wrong . . . does. First their loan is denied, then there is a devastating fire, and then Sebastian, the one person she thought she could count on, begins acting strangely and disappears. In Love Lights the Way , Michele Ashman Bell has written an unforgettable novel about a young woman s journey through friendship, mystery, and romance.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Romance, Lds, Fiction, Clean Romance

344 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2001

About the author

I grew up in St. George, Utah, where a lot of my family still lives, but now reside with my husband and family in the Salt Lake City area. My favorite thing to do is support my kids in their many interests. Between basketball, ballet and piano lessons we squeeze a lot into a week, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Reviews

[Linnae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ashley worst nightmare has come true--she has been stood up at the altar by her fiance. As she struggles to put her life back together, her friend Cami comes up with the first plan that has sounded enticing in a long time: she invites Ashley to spend the summer with her at her grandfather's house on the coast of Oregon.

Slowly but surely, small-town living, new friends, and an exciting new project to work on, turns Ashley's blues into a reason for moving on with her life--and motivates her to rekindle her faith. If only that annoying show-off Mitch would stop hanging around getting into everybody's business, it would all be good.

...I'm pretty sure you can predict how this one's going to end. In any case, it wasn't as mushy as some that I've read. It was satisfying to see Ashley take charge of her life and change for the better. A pleasant read.

Incidentally, I don't think the blurb writer actually read this one through--the summary is a bit misleading.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

For over a year after she is left waiting at the alter, Ashlyn struggles with her belief in God and distrust in men. When her best friend also graduates from college and decides to return to a small Oregon town, Ashlyn decides to spend the summer with her and her Grandpa Willy. She comes to realized that like the lighthouse, the light of God will guide her if she watches for it.
One of the things I liked about this predictable romance is the realization that friendship can (and should) preceed love.

[Alaska Hults · Rating 2 out of 5]

So much text missing in the kindle version

There are big chunks of text missing, including external and internal dialogue. The end is rushed. It's not convincing that either romantic leads had any more than a crush. Also, given what we know from book one in this series, I would expect that Ashlyn and her final choice would explicitly reference/discuss/make a choice to marry in the temple. I read this on an HD Kindle Fire 8, so I would expect it's not the reader that is responsible for the issues with the text.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the typical Mormon love story. Girl gets dumped at the alter. Girl tries to start a new life in a new city. Girl falls in love with the man of her dreams...that she didn't like at first, but falls deeply in love with at last...and is an answer to her prayers. After saying all that I did like it (as I do with most Mormon fiction). It is well written with a few added surprises to the plot line. It was a fast, easy read. The kind you want when you want a no brainer.

[Shae Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its tough for me to be anything but bias where Michele is concerned. A great friend and a great author and a great mentor, I find it hard to complain about anything in any category. Her books are such a delight to read and she shares such warmth, humor and character insight that you can't help but fall in love with her through her books. Not to mention her books. This is just another in a long line of wonderful reads! So - read it!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I would have loved this book when I was a teenager, but it was kind of blah now. Just a predictable love story about a girl who is jilted at the alter and then finds herself and a new love in Oregon. I kind of wondered, though, why most of the main characters didn't have a job. They spent their time jogging, playing baseball, sightseeing, and doing other fun things. It was a light, clean read.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trying to see if I can read anything else but Twilight!! Probably not, I'm too excited for Breaking dawn!! I will try though!! How do you compare any guy to Edward??

[Emmeli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best books i've read. I learned that a light house is like Christ. When someone is lost in the ocean and struggling to get back, they depend on that light to get them safe back to shore, just like how Christ who wants us to retern back to Him and we can if we depend on Him. I really enjoyed this book and I learn new lessons is each one and i think you could too.

[Jessica Liza]

My FAVORITE book of this series. Usually this is the book that I just go back and read. I LOVE this book!!!!!!! I love how she gets over her broken heart. I love the story of the bed and breakfast coming together. I LOVE lighthouses - so that made this book cool. Mitch is not real :) but I love to read about it. A little bit of mystery mixed in with romance and adventure. Love it!

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't really like Michele Ashman Bell's other books but I love this one and have read it many times. I like that Ashlyn struggles so much to overcome her problems because then you are even more happy for her when she finally lets go. I also like how she falls in love with Mitch. This book makes me want to live on the Oregon coast and find a town just like this!

[Kalee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A typical LDS romantic fiction. You will know right away who the love interests are...as per usual. The only thing that kept me wondering was the mention of a character on the back cover that didn't show up until near the very end. I was expecting a big twist, but I'll let you read it and see if there was one. :)

[Dorry Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Michele A. Bells books. I have not read one of hers for a long time. This book was written in 2001 so I am surprised I had not read it.
Ashlyn Kensington had been left at the altar. She goes to Oregon for the summer with a friend. Its a story of friendship, mystery and of course some romance. I really enjoyed it.

[Judie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love stories taking place at the coast. This one is mainly a romance and is about getting over rejection, learning to move forward and let go, and finding true love. It's also got having faith and trusting God in it as well.

[heyshelbyhi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have loved this book when I was a teenager, but it was a little too sappy and predictable. The girl, Ashlyn, gets left at the temple on her wedding day. She moves to Oregon with her friend Cami and falls for a guy that lives there.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story about friendship and love, forgiveness and faith, and trusting yourself again. I loved the way the Atonement was discussed and the power of it realized. Love the Oregon setting and have visited most of the places in the book!

[MJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is your typical LDS romance fiction and I think this author does it better than most. She does not make it complicated, deep or overbearing in the religion department. At times I wish they were a little more realistic, but then that means that I reading the wrong type of book...

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light, fluffy, predictable read. Still, I enjoyed it, I liked seeing Ashlyn pick up the pieces of her life, and find love again. I liked the setting on the OR coast. It got a little preachy at times, and the way Pearl was suddenly reactivated was a little too much.

[Jenny Camac · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book. Very enjoyable and just a good read. I am really becoming a big fan of Michele Ashman Bell. Everything I've read of hers has been great!

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gerat book. I loved the story.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I read the book that is after this first so it kind of ruined the book for me.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character is cute and there is a good mystery thrown in. Very lds written.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. This story leads you into the book "Pathway Home."

[Liesl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in a series. I really enjoyed all of them.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

1of2
Own: Book

[Chelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved all of her books! I am a sucker for a good love story :) These are the kind of books that when you finish it, you just feel good!

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a fun LDS romance. It was a bit predictable, but I enjoyed it.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good story. Not really any conflict, but still an enjoyable read.

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. Typical mormon romance. I like this author, Bell a lot more then Stansfield - she makes me want to gag.

[Cheryal · Rating 4 out of 5]

LDS book. I liked it a lot. Was a good testimony helper. A really good book for an older teenager.....I am an older teenager. A big smile ending.

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I may have liked this when I was 14. I found it very cliche mormon literature. blah.