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The Magic of Light: A Small Town Romance
How do you build a life when yours has been shattered to dust?
Sawyer spent her childhood bouncing from one foster home to the next. As an adult, she spends her days advocating for those in the same broken system. When a child in her care runs away on a rural road in Kansas, it starts a chain reaction that unravels memories from her past. At the center is a grumpy rancher she can’t seem to stay away from. Sawyer wasn’t built for love and relationships. In the end, everyone always leaves.
Soren is no stranger to tragedy. Over the last eight years, he has rebuilt his life from the ruins of his greatest regret. When he returns from feeding cattle to find a beautiful woman sitting on his porch, he can’t shake a sense of déjà vu. Soren feels desperate to know her—especially when he finds out how closely connected she is to his past.
Is it possible for a relationship to last when love may not be enough to hold you together?
The Magic of Light is a contemporary romance novel about love, loss, and the power of hope against all odds.
Sawyer spent her childhood bouncing from one foster home to the next. As an adult, she spends her days advocating for those in the same broken system. When a child in her care runs away on a rural road in Kansas, it starts a chain reaction that unravels memories from her past. At the center is a grumpy rancher she can’t seem to stay away from. Sawyer wasn’t built for love and relationships. In the end, everyone always leaves.
Soren is no stranger to tragedy. Over the last eight years, he has rebuilt his life from the ruins of his greatest regret. When he returns from feeding cattle to find a beautiful woman sitting on his porch, he can’t shake a sense of déjà vu. Soren feels desperate to know her—especially when he finds out how closely connected she is to his past.
Is it possible for a relationship to last when love may not be enough to hold you together?
The Magic of Light is a contemporary romance novel about love, loss, and the power of hope against all odds.
359 pages, Paperback
Published March 3, 2025
60 people are currently reading
991 people want to read
About the author
Jordan Abitz
1 book73 followersBorn and raised in Mississippi, Jordan is an Amazon Bestselling author of her heartfelt small-town debut, The Magic of Light. Now living with her husband and three children on their third-generation family farm in the Flint Hills, she draws inspiration from rural life. A true believer in the power of hope and healing, Jordan crafts heartfelt stories that celebrate the magic of love and promise happily ever afters always.
When she’s not writing, Jordan loves antiquing with her husband, getting lost in library stacks, advocating for children in foster care, and raising awareness on the impact of childhood trauma. A lifelong learner and small-town soul, she shares her home with her cats named after country music legends—especially her favorite, Dolly Parton.
Connect with her on Instagram @authorjordanabitz and subscribe to her newsletter at www.authorjordanabitz.com.
When she’s not writing, Jordan loves antiquing with her husband, getting lost in library stacks, advocating for children in foster care, and raising awareness on the impact of childhood trauma. A lifelong learner and small-town soul, she shares her home with her cats named after country music legends—especially her favorite, Dolly Parton.
Connect with her on Instagram @authorjordanabitz and subscribe to her newsletter at www.authorjordanabitz.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews
February 28, 2025
3.75 stars
before diving into this book, I had no idea it was a debut novel; and to say I was impressed would be an euphemism! this certainly won’t be my last read by this author.
Sawyer, the female lead, is a dedicated social worker who pours her heart into helping foster kids. having grown up in the system herself, she understands how a single moment can shape a child’s entire future. Soren, the male lead, has endured more than his fair share of tragedy, yet he’s managed to rise above it. when an impromptu incident lands Sawyer on Soren’s doorstep, they discover an unexpected connection and choose to build a friendship.
I absolutely loved the softness of their love story; how their friendship slowly morphed into something more, how they took the time to truly see and understand each other, and, most importantly, how they refused to let the ghosts of their pasts dictate their future or their chance at happiness.
all in all, this was a beautiful story, blending heartfelt romance with heavier themes and attaching characters.
many thanks to Love Notes PR from providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“you are worthy of my love by simply being you.” my breath shuddered and tears threatened.
before diving into this book, I had no idea it was a debut novel; and to say I was impressed would be an euphemism! this certainly won’t be my last read by this author.
Sawyer, the female lead, is a dedicated social worker who pours her heart into helping foster kids. having grown up in the system herself, she understands how a single moment can shape a child’s entire future. Soren, the male lead, has endured more than his fair share of tragedy, yet he’s managed to rise above it. when an impromptu incident lands Sawyer on Soren’s doorstep, they discover an unexpected connection and choose to build a friendship.
I absolutely loved the softness of their love story; how their friendship slowly morphed into something more, how they took the time to truly see and understand each other, and, most importantly, how they refused to let the ghosts of their pasts dictate their future or their chance at happiness.
all in all, this was a beautiful story, blending heartfelt romance with heavier themes and attaching characters.
many thanks to Love Notes PR from providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 14, 2025
4.5, rounded up for Goodreads
My Quick Takes
- 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
- Language 🤐 moderate
- Spice ❤️🔥 heated kisses, closed-door
- Content 🤔 traumatic childhood, past off page references to child abuse/implied sexual abuse, foster care, C-PTSD, recovering alcoholic, past death of family member
WOW! What a debut! 👏🏼 Jordan Abitz packs a punch with deeply developed character backgrounds and openly honest pining.
I love going into books blind and I had no clue what I was walking into with this one. Don’t be fooled by the cute characters and soft pastel colors of the book cover, this book gets deep quickly and discusses some heavy topics. While it does end in the happily ever after that we all know and love from romance books, the content is heavy.
I appreciated the equal back and forth between the male and female points of view, it was a nice change of pace as more of the character backgrounds were brought to light. She had me tearing up in the first chapter and then on and off all throughout the book. The Magic of Light tugged at my heartstrings and had me hugging my children extra tight.
My Quick Takes
- 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
- Language 🤐 moderate
- Spice ❤️🔥 heated kisses, closed-door
- Content 🤔 traumatic childhood, past off page references to child abuse/implied sexual abuse, foster care, C-PTSD, recovering alcoholic, past death of family member
WOW! What a debut! 👏🏼 Jordan Abitz packs a punch with deeply developed character backgrounds and openly honest pining.
I love going into books blind and I had no clue what I was walking into with this one. Don’t be fooled by the cute characters and soft pastel colors of the book cover, this book gets deep quickly and discusses some heavy topics. While it does end in the happily ever after that we all know and love from romance books, the content is heavy.
I appreciated the equal back and forth between the male and female points of view, it was a nice change of pace as more of the character backgrounds were brought to light. She had me tearing up in the first chapter and then on and off all throughout the book. The Magic of Light tugged at my heartstrings and had me hugging my children extra tight.
March 6, 2025
Thank you Love Notes PR for the eARC.
4.5 stars
BEAUTIFUL DEBUT.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
Oh I enjoyed this so much. It’s such a beautiful romance that makes you FEEL. I loved the impact and themes and I am so excited for future books. There was clear intention and a lot of love that went into writing this story.
The main characters were great (yay for dual POV). Soren and Sawyer bond together through a soft and tender story. I loved how they showed up for each other and the inevitable draw that pulled them together over and over. The slow burn buuuurns in all the best ways.
I had a few minor quips about some repetitive thoughts and too many uses of the nickname, but honestly, that’s it. I was drawn into this book and had a hard time putting it down. The found family and small town made me NEEEED the next books in this series. I already love these characters very much.
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary romance
- Language: low
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: moderate
- Content warnings: foster care (theme throughout), injury from an animal, mentions of child abuse (recounted), C-PTSD episodes, loss of a sibling (recounted, car accident), grief depiction
4.5 stars
BEAUTIFUL DEBUT.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
Oh I enjoyed this so much. It’s such a beautiful romance that makes you FEEL. I loved the impact and themes and I am so excited for future books. There was clear intention and a lot of love that went into writing this story.
The main characters were great (yay for dual POV). Soren and Sawyer bond together through a soft and tender story. I loved how they showed up for each other and the inevitable draw that pulled them together over and over. The slow burn buuuurns in all the best ways.
I had a few minor quips about some repetitive thoughts and too many uses of the nickname, but honestly, that’s it. I was drawn into this book and had a hard time putting it down. The found family and small town made me NEEEED the next books in this series. I already love these characters very much.
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary romance
- Language: low
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: moderate
- Content warnings: foster care (theme throughout), injury from an animal, mentions of child abuse (recounted), C-PTSD episodes, loss of a sibling (recounted, car accident), grief depiction
March 4, 2025
3⭐
Before I begin I want to thank the author, Jordan Abitz, for giving me this ARC.
I'm going to be completely honest here and say it was okay. It entertained me, but that's all it did. It just didn't move forward. There was basically no character development or any sort of plot. There was, of course, the sort of romantic plot, but that was very flat. It had its cute and thoughtful moments but that was the only thing that kept me reading and I don't think you should only read a book because it has a few cute moments.
Before I begin I want to thank the author, Jordan Abitz, for giving me this ARC.
I'm going to be completely honest here and say it was okay. It entertained me, but that's all it did. It just didn't move forward. There was basically no character development or any sort of plot. There was, of course, the sort of romantic plot, but that was very flat. It had its cute and thoughtful moments but that was the only thing that kept me reading and I don't think you should only read a book because it has a few cute moments.
January 26, 2025
This is such a beautiful debut novel that will pull at every single one of your emotions in the best way possible! The personal experience Jordan has with foster care really shines through in this book and it's an incredible story of hope, healing, found family and a love story you can't help but cheer for! There are some heavy topics that are woven throughout, but they are handled with so much care and thoughtfulness. Easy 5 stars from me!
March 7, 2025
this is such an impressive debut novel. I was really impressed by the depth of the characters, their growth and just the overall tenderness of the story.
Sawyer is a beautiful character that comes from such a powerfully tough background that can be so relatable to so many readers. I felt seen in parts of her that i’ve never felt seen before and she was beautifully written. Her growth and depth was astounding.
Soren comes from so much tragedy and trauma and still remained calm, respectful and a stronghold for Sawyer.
Their love story was truly beautifully written and lovely to read.
The writing was done so well. It was bingable, quick and easy to read but never lost my attention from start to finish. The pacing was extremely well done and I honestly could have even read more.
You’ll find:
-Small Town Romance
-Found Family
-He falls first & hard
There is a third act conflict but it felt so necessary to the growth of the FMC that it didn’t bother me.
Overall, i will absolutely be reading more by this author & would recommend this to my peers.
Sawyer is a beautiful character that comes from such a powerfully tough background that can be so relatable to so many readers. I felt seen in parts of her that i’ve never felt seen before and she was beautifully written. Her growth and depth was astounding.
Soren comes from so much tragedy and trauma and still remained calm, respectful and a stronghold for Sawyer.
Their love story was truly beautifully written and lovely to read.
The writing was done so well. It was bingable, quick and easy to read but never lost my attention from start to finish. The pacing was extremely well done and I honestly could have even read more.
You’ll find:
-Small Town Romance
-Found Family
-He falls first & hard
There is a third act conflict but it felt so necessary to the growth of the FMC that it didn’t bother me.
Overall, i will absolutely be reading more by this author & would recommend this to my peers.
March 5, 2025
Absolutely in love with this book, I mean it has been added to my favorite. Oh, believe me when I tell you, you will be blushing reading every time Soren comes out (that was sure me today). Sawyer, I wanna have her in front of me. Ask her if I can hug her and do so and be her friend. She was so amazing after all she went through. I am so glad she met Soren! This book is all the beautiful things you can find in a swooning romance plus healing from the past and finding happiness..♡
March 1, 2025
ARC review thank you Jordan Abitz and Love Notes OR for the opportunity to get an ARC of this book. This was my first book by this author and I liked it. Please check your trigger warnings before picking up this book there are mentions of child abuse off page (physical and sexual), neglect off page, panic attacks, attachment disorders, food insecurity, addiction, bullying and grief.
Tropes:
- Small town
- He falls first and harder
- Rancher and Social Worker
- Date Bucket List
- Age Gap
This book had sweet moments between Sawyer and Soren. They discussed a lot of hard topics and it was very emotional. I found the book sad and hard to read at some moments because of the topics. I found myself skimming some of the chapters and getting a bit bored at moments
Tropes:
- Small town
- He falls first and harder
- Rancher and Social Worker
- Date Bucket List
- Age Gap
This book had sweet moments between Sawyer and Soren. They discussed a lot of hard topics and it was very emotional. I found the book sad and hard to read at some moments because of the topics. I found myself skimming some of the chapters and getting a bit bored at moments
March 14, 2025
Just finished The Magic of Light by Jordan Abitz and I'm OBSESSED! This contemporary romance hits all the feels—a wounded heroine navigating trauma from the foster care system meets a grumpy small-town cowboy who calls her "pretty girl" (I melted!) 🥹
Jordan writes characters so real you'll forget they're fictional. The way love is shown in this book shows what true partnership looks like when someone sees your scars and loves you anyway.
If you need me, I'll be recovering from this book hangover and waiting for whatever Jordan writes next!
Thank you Love Notes PR and Jordan Abitz for the eARC copy of this amazing debut novel!
Available March 5th 👏🎉🫶 go preorder NOW! 📚
Jordan writes characters so real you'll forget they're fictional. The way love is shown in this book shows what true partnership looks like when someone sees your scars and loves you anyway.
If you need me, I'll be recovering from this book hangover and waiting for whatever Jordan writes next!
Thank you Love Notes PR and Jordan Abitz for the eARC copy of this amazing debut novel!
Available March 5th 👏🎉🫶 go preorder NOW! 📚
March 3, 2025
OVERALL: 3 ⭐️
This book was really out of my comfort zone, I feel as though I wasn’t able to enjoy it as much as I thought I would, because it’s really different from my go-to genres. This doesn’t necessarily mean the book is bad in anyway, if you’re interested in contemporary/small town romances, by all means go for it! But it’s just not for me.
The main issue for me was definitely the enlightenment of Sawyers childhood trauma, majority of the time it felt like at every inconvenience we’re hearing about it. Don’t get me wrong it’s sad, but can we at least get some character development, not just trauma dumping.
Besides that let’s focus on the things I absolutely LOVED about this book, Soren! I love that man, Soren was so gentle, such a genuine sweetheart, and considerate. He always respected her boundaries, never intentionally kissed/touched her without her permission. Overall, Soren’s and Sawyer’s relationship was so stinking cute!
Don’t get me started on Soren’s nickname for Sawyer, Pretty Girl! That name literally has me giggling and kicking my feet. Since I’m so used to reading Dark Romance books, with pet names/nicknames that start with “Little,” it starts to get kind of old. So this was like a breath of fresh air for me!
Last but not least, would I recommend this book, of course I would! Everyone should experience reading about Sawyer’s and Soren’s relationship at least one day of their lives.
Thank you so much, Jordan Abliz/LoversNotes PR for the opportunity to read this ARC!
This book was really out of my comfort zone, I feel as though I wasn’t able to enjoy it as much as I thought I would, because it’s really different from my go-to genres. This doesn’t necessarily mean the book is bad in anyway, if you’re interested in contemporary/small town romances, by all means go for it! But it’s just not for me.
The main issue for me was definitely the enlightenment of Sawyers childhood trauma, majority of the time it felt like at every inconvenience we’re hearing about it. Don’t get me wrong it’s sad, but can we at least get some character development, not just trauma dumping.
Besides that let’s focus on the things I absolutely LOVED about this book, Soren! I love that man, Soren was so gentle, such a genuine sweetheart, and considerate. He always respected her boundaries, never intentionally kissed/touched her without her permission. Overall, Soren’s and Sawyer’s relationship was so stinking cute!
Don’t get me started on Soren’s nickname for Sawyer, Pretty Girl! That name literally has me giggling and kicking my feet. Since I’m so used to reading Dark Romance books, with pet names/nicknames that start with “Little,” it starts to get kind of old. So this was like a breath of fresh air for me!
Last but not least, would I recommend this book, of course I would! Everyone should experience reading about Sawyer’s and Soren’s relationship at least one day of their lives.
Thank you so much, Jordan Abliz/LoversNotes PR for the opportunity to read this ARC!
February 25, 2025
This book is an absolute stunner. The kind of debut that can only come from a Bookstagram queen.
Sawyer broke my heart. But I saw in her the soul of someone I dearly love and cherish and with her the reality of the world we live in. Soren is a MMC that I relate to myself. Somehow this story dives into particular difficult elements that are woven into my own heart. So does it deal with heavy themes? Yes it absolutely does. But it does that in the most gentle and effervescent way possible. I’m not sure how to articulate it. It won’t traumatize you, but you will know that you are among the traumatic. Does that make sense? You just need to read it.
Beautifully done. Characters that I DEEEEEPLY care about. I want to immediately know the stories of every single character. Except for Mr. Whatever his name was. I hope he fell off the abyss.
Anyway, 10/10. Highly recommend.
FOTMS: 🫑🫑🫑 (closed-door, one fade to black in epilogue)
Sawyer broke my heart. But I saw in her the soul of someone I dearly love and cherish and with her the reality of the world we live in. Soren is a MMC that I relate to myself. Somehow this story dives into particular difficult elements that are woven into my own heart. So does it deal with heavy themes? Yes it absolutely does. But it does that in the most gentle and effervescent way possible. I’m not sure how to articulate it. It won’t traumatize you, but you will know that you are among the traumatic. Does that make sense? You just need to read it.
Beautifully done. Characters that I DEEEEEPLY care about. I want to immediately know the stories of every single character. Except for Mr. Whatever his name was. I hope he fell off the abyss.
Anyway, 10/10. Highly recommend.
FOTMS: 🫑🫑🫑 (closed-door, one fade to black in epilogue)
March 8, 2025
I received this book as an ARC, and I am so eternally grateful for the opportunity. With that being said, WOW. I knew 20% into this book that it was going to be a five star read for me. The overall story line, the romance, the emotion, the mental health aspect and learning to love someone through it and how to support them. Just wow. So beautifully written. I loved it so much.
February 20, 2025
Blown away does not even begin to describe my feelings towards this debut novel. What an absolutely beautiful story! From the previews I had seen prior to reading, I knew this was going to be an emotional read, but I absolutely did not expect just how impactful it would be. First and foremost, the author's heart for the foster care system was so abundantly clear in the story. This is not something that I have any experience with and really very little knowledge of at all, but it touched my heart just the same. I can only imagine how much more meaningful that aspect of the story will be for those who do have some sort of connection. While I may not have experience with foster care or the life that Sawyer has lived, I do know something about living with trauma and there were several moments throughout this story where saw little glimpses of myself... glimpses that made me feel seen and understood. Beyond that though, this truly was such a beautiful love story. Soren and Sawyer both have difficulties in their past that they have to work through, and it was so beautiful to see them do so together. I adored the way that Soren loved Sawyer enough to learn how she needed to be loved. These two had a beautiful connection and chemistry, with a perfectly slow burn that was 100% worth the wait to get to that first kiss. (And wow, what a kiss!) I also found myself really loving the relationship between Soren and his friends as well... I can't help but hope that perhaps they will get their own stories someday as well. I have absolutely no doubts that Sawyer and Soren's story will touch so many hearts--- it certainly did mine. If you love a tender romance with a hard-fought happily ever after, this is absolutely one not to be missed.
The Magic of Light is a closed-door romance with a subtle fade to black scene. There is minor language throughout the story as well. Please note that this story does deal with some difficult topics to include mentions of PTSD, foster care, child abuse, childhood sexual abuse (no details given), and alcohol abuse. While these topics are handled with grace and is overall a story of hope, it could be triggering for some readers.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
The Magic of Light is a closed-door romance with a subtle fade to black scene. There is minor language throughout the story as well. Please note that this story does deal with some difficult topics to include mentions of PTSD, foster care, child abuse, childhood sexual abuse (no details given), and alcohol abuse. While these topics are handled with grace and is overall a story of hope, it could be triggering for some readers.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
March 11, 2025
When I tell you that Jordan hooks you in from the start, I mean it! The dedication page might be one of the most beautiful dedications I've ever read! And, as a former (but hopefully again) foster parent, it hit me right in the heart!
The Magic of Light truly caught me up from the beginning of the book. I found myself asking, "if it's this captivating from the beginning, will it fall off and bore me as we go along?" The answer is a strong NO!
Both Sawyer and Soren have heartwrenching journeys that put them on a path of healing that led straight to each other. Their story feels real and raw, but nestled in the middle of a fairy tale. Sawyer takes the job of guarding her heart seriously, but Soren takes the job of loving her anyway even more seriously.
This is a beautiful story of self-discovery, and it blows me away that this is a debut novel. I absolutely cannot wait to read what's next from Jordan Abitz. Please don't keep us waiting too long!
Thank you to LoveNotes PR and Jordan Abitz for the eARC! I am so grateful for the opportunity! I couldn't think of a better book to kick off my ARC journey!
The Magic of Light truly caught me up from the beginning of the book. I found myself asking, "if it's this captivating from the beginning, will it fall off and bore me as we go along?" The answer is a strong NO!
Both Sawyer and Soren have heartwrenching journeys that put them on a path of healing that led straight to each other. Their story feels real and raw, but nestled in the middle of a fairy tale. Sawyer takes the job of guarding her heart seriously, but Soren takes the job of loving her anyway even more seriously.
This is a beautiful story of self-discovery, and it blows me away that this is a debut novel. I absolutely cannot wait to read what's next from Jordan Abitz. Please don't keep us waiting too long!
Thank you to LoveNotes PR and Jordan Abitz for the eARC! I am so grateful for the opportunity! I couldn't think of a better book to kick off my ARC journey!
March 21, 2025
This is an absolutely perfect debut novel! I LOVED every single detail in this book. Soren and Sawyer brought so much light to darkness. They both had difficult pasts, but their love for one another really guiding them to finding light despite the darkness. I 1000% recommend this book for anyone looking for an emotional romance with lots of healing, finding yourself, and sacrifice. Soren is amazing at loving Sawyer through her pain and allowing his needs to always come behind Sawyer’s safety and needs.
Main Tropes:
☀️ small town Kansas
❤️🩹 age gap (7 years)
☀️ slow burn
❤️🩹 found family
☀️ dual POV
❤️🩹 foster care representation
☀️ touch her & die vibes
❤️🩹 epilogue (5 years later)
☀️ fade to black, but very minor and included in the epilogue
‼️ minor use of foul language (as* and sh*t mostly, but about 13 times throughout the entire book. Definitely not an issue for me who typically prefers all clean books.
⚠️childhood abuse (briefly mentioned, but a main healing topic in the book)
⚠️ alcoholism (bad decisions and promiscuity)
For more bookish content be sure to follow me on bookstagram @brisbooksandbackpacks 💛🙂
Main Tropes:
☀️ small town Kansas
❤️🩹 age gap (7 years)
☀️ slow burn
❤️🩹 found family
☀️ dual POV
❤️🩹 foster care representation
☀️ touch her & die vibes
❤️🩹 epilogue (5 years later)
☀️ fade to black, but very minor and included in the epilogue
‼️ minor use of foul language (as* and sh*t mostly, but about 13 times throughout the entire book. Definitely not an issue for me who typically prefers all clean books.
⚠️childhood abuse (briefly mentioned, but a main healing topic in the book)
⚠️ alcoholism (bad decisions and promiscuity)
For more bookish content be sure to follow me on bookstagram @brisbooksandbackpacks 💛🙂
March 6, 2025
The Magic of Light
by: Jordan Abitz
@authorjordanabitz
-ARC Review: 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~How do you build a life when yours has been shattered to dust?…
“The magic of light, is the ability to go the distance for the ones that we love.“
-The Magic of Light is a contemporary romance novel about great love, deep loss, and the beautiful and transformative power of hope against all the odds. This my friends, is a beautiful and tender debut novel with such depth that is beautifully written, and will pull at every single one of your emotions in all of the best ways. I greatly suggest keeping a tissue nearby! I found that the personal experience Jordan has had with foster care that she weaved so well into this dear story, makes this story shine brightly. I will also say that there are some heavy topics in this story but they are handled so gracefully with such care and thoughtfulness. I loved that this story did not magnify trauma! Instead, this story was and is a such a dear story of hope and a journey of and towards healing.
"You are worthes of my love by simply being you.”
-The emphasis on the fact that you can’t love trauma away is real. Watching dear characters see this and love the other for who they really are was so beautiful. The support of loved ones brought belonging as well. Simply put, this tender romance with a hard-fought happily ever after, is definitely worth the read!🙌🏻📚🩷
“You should have a place to be authentically you and I want to be that place.”
-Content: Childhood Sexual Abuse (Off
page),Childhood Physical Abuse and Neglect (Off page),Panic Attacks, Attachment Disorders (RAD), Food Insecurity, Addiction, Bullying, Grief, a good amount of mild language, and kisses only.
“Let me love you exactly as you are.”
#authorjordanabitz
#themagicoflight
“Regardless of the hurdles of our
pasts or our fears of the future, we were determined that light would always lead the
way.”
#worththeread
#allaboutthebestreads
“Being loved by you feels like home.”
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
“If you want something different, you have to do something different.”
by: Jordan Abitz
@authorjordanabitz
-ARC Review: 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~How do you build a life when yours has been shattered to dust?…
“The magic of light, is the ability to go the distance for the ones that we love.“
-The Magic of Light is a contemporary romance novel about great love, deep loss, and the beautiful and transformative power of hope against all the odds. This my friends, is a beautiful and tender debut novel with such depth that is beautifully written, and will pull at every single one of your emotions in all of the best ways. I greatly suggest keeping a tissue nearby! I found that the personal experience Jordan has had with foster care that she weaved so well into this dear story, makes this story shine brightly. I will also say that there are some heavy topics in this story but they are handled so gracefully with such care and thoughtfulness. I loved that this story did not magnify trauma! Instead, this story was and is a such a dear story of hope and a journey of and towards healing.
"You are worthes of my love by simply being you.”
-The emphasis on the fact that you can’t love trauma away is real. Watching dear characters see this and love the other for who they really are was so beautiful. The support of loved ones brought belonging as well. Simply put, this tender romance with a hard-fought happily ever after, is definitely worth the read!🙌🏻📚🩷
“You should have a place to be authentically you and I want to be that place.”
-Content: Childhood Sexual Abuse (Off
page),Childhood Physical Abuse and Neglect (Off page),Panic Attacks, Attachment Disorders (RAD), Food Insecurity, Addiction, Bullying, Grief, a good amount of mild language, and kisses only.
“Let me love you exactly as you are.”
#authorjordanabitz
#themagicoflight
“Regardless of the hurdles of our
pasts or our fears of the future, we were determined that light would always lead the
way.”
#worththeread
#allaboutthebestreads
“Being loved by you feels like home.”
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
“If you want something different, you have to do something different.”
March 7, 2025
✨ Magic of light arc review ✨
This sweet read was just released YESTERDAY and I’m so excited for the world to experience this beautiful beautiful story 💌🫶🏻💕
I was so very hopeful to receive a copy of this arc because I kept seeing the synopsis of such, and it gave me a good feeling about this novel. I am so SO lucky to have been granted this arc, and my gut feeling was DEFINITELY correct for wanting this one so badly! This book was an ode to love, to romance, to pain and suffering in which love perseveres and heals!
I dont have enough words to say how much I loved this book! I have only good things to say and overall, it made me remember why I started reading romance! The sweetness, the raw emotions, the vulnerability and characters were all perfect and all helped build an absolute perfect, warm fuzzy feeling romance book! Of course, it wasn’t all perfect, especially the heartbreak that was currently brought up in regard to Sawyer’s past and tragic upbringing, but it felt as if the love story between Soren and Sawyer was cozy in the sense that it felt safe knowing there was probably a happily ever after. This is a perfect ode to the love and emotions and slow burn that is the genre of romance and as someone who loves a good book with some smut, this was a perfect break from such to remind myself of the original warm fuzzies that romance books and movies always gave me!
This is a beautiful story filled with so much heartbreak, loss, love, and learning to heal. It is filled with so much love, patience, and vulnerability that made my heart so so happy to experience through the story! This novel was beautifully crafted and continuously broke my heart and sewed it back together again. @authorjordanabitz is my new auto-buy and must- read author because was an immediate 5+ ⭐️ read!
Grumpy sunshine, found family, tragedy and heartbreak and so many things in between brought both Sawyer and Soren together and continue to do so amidst them both trying to heal from their tragic pasts of growing up in foster care and learning to grieve a loved one, respectfully. This wonderful story kept me coming back for more because of the beautiful characters and story 💛
This sweet read was just released YESTERDAY and I’m so excited for the world to experience this beautiful beautiful story 💌🫶🏻💕
I was so very hopeful to receive a copy of this arc because I kept seeing the synopsis of such, and it gave me a good feeling about this novel. I am so SO lucky to have been granted this arc, and my gut feeling was DEFINITELY correct for wanting this one so badly! This book was an ode to love, to romance, to pain and suffering in which love perseveres and heals!
I dont have enough words to say how much I loved this book! I have only good things to say and overall, it made me remember why I started reading romance! The sweetness, the raw emotions, the vulnerability and characters were all perfect and all helped build an absolute perfect, warm fuzzy feeling romance book! Of course, it wasn’t all perfect, especially the heartbreak that was currently brought up in regard to Sawyer’s past and tragic upbringing, but it felt as if the love story between Soren and Sawyer was cozy in the sense that it felt safe knowing there was probably a happily ever after. This is a perfect ode to the love and emotions and slow burn that is the genre of romance and as someone who loves a good book with some smut, this was a perfect break from such to remind myself of the original warm fuzzies that romance books and movies always gave me!
This is a beautiful story filled with so much heartbreak, loss, love, and learning to heal. It is filled with so much love, patience, and vulnerability that made my heart so so happy to experience through the story! This novel was beautifully crafted and continuously broke my heart and sewed it back together again. @authorjordanabitz is my new auto-buy and must- read author because was an immediate 5+ ⭐️ read!
Grumpy sunshine, found family, tragedy and heartbreak and so many things in between brought both Sawyer and Soren together and continue to do so amidst them both trying to heal from their tragic pasts of growing up in foster care and learning to grieve a loved one, respectfully. This wonderful story kept me coming back for more because of the beautiful characters and story 💛
March 6, 2025
This book was a five star read for me starting at the dedication. I fell in love with Jordan’s open, and honest way of writing right off the bat. As someone who works in the social work field myself, I found a strong soul connection with this book. It is so beautifully written and so emotionally complex. I am not someone who cries often, but this book made me sob, happy tears, of course.
The characters are so incredibly detailed with relatable and comforting personalities that made this read stand out just that much more for me. There are some themes in the story of more difficult topics like mental health and trauma, but they are not done in a distasteful way or disrespectfully. Like Jordan herself said it’s not about magnifying trauma. It’s about showing how to move on from it and how to heal.
I just felt so deeply connected to these characters and their storylines that I can’t help but comment on the ability that this author has to make her characters so personal to herself. It’s almost like I can see a bit of the author in every character that she writes. They might be fictional, but it is so raw, real, and connected to the world around us that it truly felt like these were people I knew.
The romance in this story is so beautifully tender and passionate in a way that most romance books aren’t able to fully capture. It was moving and heartwarming and just such an incredible read.
Lastly I want to thank Jordan not only for trusting me with her book baby early to ARC read it but for also giving the world these amazing characters. I fell in love with this story and I think everyone else will too.
The characters are so incredibly detailed with relatable and comforting personalities that made this read stand out just that much more for me. There are some themes in the story of more difficult topics like mental health and trauma, but they are not done in a distasteful way or disrespectfully. Like Jordan herself said it’s not about magnifying trauma. It’s about showing how to move on from it and how to heal.
I just felt so deeply connected to these characters and their storylines that I can’t help but comment on the ability that this author has to make her characters so personal to herself. It’s almost like I can see a bit of the author in every character that she writes. They might be fictional, but it is so raw, real, and connected to the world around us that it truly felt like these were people I knew.
The romance in this story is so beautifully tender and passionate in a way that most romance books aren’t able to fully capture. It was moving and heartwarming and just such an incredible read.
Lastly I want to thank Jordan not only for trusting me with her book baby early to ARC read it but for also giving the world these amazing characters. I fell in love with this story and I think everyone else will too.
March 4, 2025
Soren & Sawyer’s story is so gentle and tender-hearted, and I can’t recommend it enough. If I didn’t already know this was a debut novel, I never would’ve guessed it. My thoughts are all over the place, in the best way, thinking about everything I loved about their story. All the feels. And all. the. ever-loving. stars!!
Stars: 5/5
Spice: 0/5 (Fade to Black)
Soren & Sawyer meet by chance when she needs help with a situation, and it brings her to his doorstep – reminding him of something he was faced with eight years before.
There were so many layers to this story I loved, I hardly know where to begin. Both Soren & Sawyer have tragedies in their past that just broke my heart for them. But seeing how they both work so hard to heal – chef’s kiss!! Soren is the greenest of green flag MMCs if I ever did see one. He is the epitome of patient, gentle, quiet love being the loudest. I loved every one of the found family characters. Sometimes you pick up a book at the perfect time for it to hit your heart exactly the way you need it to, or it feels like such an important story to tell. This was one of those books for me. The author’s heart for these characters and what they go through and the real stories they represent – it just radiated off the pages in the best way. I cannot recommend this book enough!
CW: Childhood abuse & neglect (off page), mental health rep, food insecurity, addiction, bullying, grief
I received an ARC copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.
Stars: 5/5
Spice: 0/5 (Fade to Black)
Soren & Sawyer meet by chance when she needs help with a situation, and it brings her to his doorstep – reminding him of something he was faced with eight years before.
There were so many layers to this story I loved, I hardly know where to begin. Both Soren & Sawyer have tragedies in their past that just broke my heart for them. But seeing how they both work so hard to heal – chef’s kiss!! Soren is the greenest of green flag MMCs if I ever did see one. He is the epitome of patient, gentle, quiet love being the loudest. I loved every one of the found family characters. Sometimes you pick up a book at the perfect time for it to hit your heart exactly the way you need it to, or it feels like such an important story to tell. This was one of those books for me. The author’s heart for these characters and what they go through and the real stories they represent – it just radiated off the pages in the best way. I cannot recommend this book enough!
CW: Childhood abuse & neglect (off page), mental health rep, food insecurity, addiction, bullying, grief
I received an ARC copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.
March 7, 2025
I was so excited when I learned that this was a book about the foster care system written by someone who had fostered many children. The story felt authentic. It did allude to the difficulties foster children face without being descriptive which I really appreciated. I found myself rooting for the romance and understanding why the events of the story happened.
One of my favorite parts of this story is that love didn’t magically make all the problems go away. Both main characters had issues to work through. I was especially impressed by the use of therapy and the normalization of needing professional help.
If you’re looking for a cowboy story, this is it. Not only is there a cowboy, but there are also cows! This isn’t a fake country story. I love the friendships in this book and hope that we’ll see more stories with this group.
Now for those of you that don’t love nicknames, read this book but brace yourself. There are nicknames. I’ll let you decide if you like them or not.
This book contains scattered moderate profanity and has kissing and some make out scenes that aren’t overly descriptive l
One of my favorite parts of this story is that love didn’t magically make all the problems go away. Both main characters had issues to work through. I was especially impressed by the use of therapy and the normalization of needing professional help.
If you’re looking for a cowboy story, this is it. Not only is there a cowboy, but there are also cows! This isn’t a fake country story. I love the friendships in this book and hope that we’ll see more stories with this group.
Now for those of you that don’t love nicknames, read this book but brace yourself. There are nicknames. I’ll let you decide if you like them or not.
This book contains scattered moderate profanity and has kissing and some make out scenes that aren’t overly descriptive l
April 25, 2025
There are literally no words to describe how much I loved this story! This debut novel was so much more than I ever expected! Soren and Sawyer had so much depth, individual heartbreak they overcame, emotional connection, and genuine romance. Soren was the best! He gave Sawyer the space she needed, while simultaneously doing everything he could to be there to support her, no matter what. I felt like I experienced all the highs and lows, small and big moments with them. The heavy topics and multiple layers of this story were so beautifully written.
•Favorites•
🌻 friendships
🌻 Talia!!
🌻 nicknames, especially “pretty girl”
🌻 Soren always asking for consent
🌻 the friendships
🌻 their slow burn but not because of the lack of chemistry
🌻 heavy topics written in such a gentle way
🌻 the theme of light that was so beautifully woven throughout the story.
My rating: 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: low (heated kisses)
CW ⚠️: moderate language (but made sense for the rancher life for Soren’s character), foster system, traumatic childhood, complex PTSD, child abuse, sexual abuse (implied), death of family member (past), recovering alcoholic
•Favorites•
🌻 friendships
🌻 Talia!!
🌻 nicknames, especially “pretty girl”
🌻 Soren always asking for consent
🌻 the friendships
🌻 their slow burn but not because of the lack of chemistry
🌻 heavy topics written in such a gentle way
🌻 the theme of light that was so beautifully woven throughout the story.
My rating: 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: low (heated kisses)
CW ⚠️: moderate language (but made sense for the rancher life for Soren’s character), foster system, traumatic childhood, complex PTSD, child abuse, sexual abuse (implied), death of family member (past), recovering alcoholic
March 12, 2025
I have to start this review by saying i cried like… 5 times reading this book. It really got me good.
contemporary, small town romance with barely any spice is the TOTAL OPPOSITE of what I usually go for (i.e., i regularly do DARK ROMANCE & SM^T 😂).
I’m so glad i didn’t skip this book because it’s outside of my preferred genre.
This story deals with really intense BIG T Trauma (e.g., child ab^se, loss/grief) in a way that is so hopeful and full of light. Experiencing Soren and Sawyer’s relationship develop is really joyous, and despite this being a SLOW BURN (that leads to a kiss)… the tension and buildup to the firework show of a kiss is GORGEOUS. Plus Soren is just INCREDIBLE and everyone needs to take notes on how he treats Sawyer with love and respect 🙌🏽
If you’ve been stuck in a rut i definitely recommend this story as a palette cleansing romance to lift your spirits - if you’re into small town cowboy romances to begin with- DEFINITELY read this one
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice: 🫑
Read: 📱 KU
Tropes:
• Small town
• Dual POV
• He falls first
• Found family
• Rancher / social worker
• Foster Care Rep
• Mental Health Rep
(received an copy of this book in advance to review from LOVE NOTES PR 🙏🏽)
contemporary, small town romance with barely any spice is the TOTAL OPPOSITE of what I usually go for (i.e., i regularly do DARK ROMANCE & SM^T 😂).
I’m so glad i didn’t skip this book because it’s outside of my preferred genre.
This story deals with really intense BIG T Trauma (e.g., child ab^se, loss/grief) in a way that is so hopeful and full of light. Experiencing Soren and Sawyer’s relationship develop is really joyous, and despite this being a SLOW BURN (that leads to a kiss)… the tension and buildup to the firework show of a kiss is GORGEOUS. Plus Soren is just INCREDIBLE and everyone needs to take notes on how he treats Sawyer with love and respect 🙌🏽
If you’ve been stuck in a rut i definitely recommend this story as a palette cleansing romance to lift your spirits - if you’re into small town cowboy romances to begin with- DEFINITELY read this one
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice: 🫑
Read: 📱 KU
Tropes:
• Small town
• Dual POV
• He falls first
• Found family
• Rancher / social worker
• Foster Care Rep
• Mental Health Rep
(received an copy of this book in advance to review from LOVE NOTES PR 🙏🏽)
March 3, 2025
After finishing this book, I couldn’t believe this is a debut novel!! This book is so well written!!
Sawyer, a former foster kid, now social worker, does her absolute best to help the kids that are in the situation she was. A runaway foster kid aids in the meeting of Soren.
Soren Robert, a man who lost his brother and fought to become sober, helps look for the runaway foster kid.
Soren and Sawyer are put together in situations almost like fate.. or almost as if someone had a hand in it. Sawyer has C-PTSD and Soren is nothing but patient and willing to learn how to love and care for Sawyer! He reminds her in every way that he can that she is deserving of love.
This book is SO informative on C-PTSD and how someone can help someone with that disorder feel safe and feel seen. I loved it.
Sawyer, a former foster kid, now social worker, does her absolute best to help the kids that are in the situation she was. A runaway foster kid aids in the meeting of Soren.
Soren Robert, a man who lost his brother and fought to become sober, helps look for the runaway foster kid.
Soren and Sawyer are put together in situations almost like fate.. or almost as if someone had a hand in it. Sawyer has C-PTSD and Soren is nothing but patient and willing to learn how to love and care for Sawyer! He reminds her in every way that he can that she is deserving of love.
This book is SO informative on C-PTSD and how someone can help someone with that disorder feel safe and feel seen. I loved it.
March 14, 2025
“…there was always a way to be a light and light always mattered, regardless of how dark it was.”
This book was so cute!!! It’s the perfect mix between a cozy and emotional read. The way that Soren loved Sawyer with her flaws for everything that she was, was so heartwarming. This is a man who really put in the work to change himself to be the best that he could be for his family and friends and eventually Sawyer. Sawyer also put in the work to make herself feel like she was worthy and deserving of love which can be very difficult. I really enjoyed how Talia, her best friend, called her out where it was needed while also being supportive of her and understanding of her feelings. I felt all the feels throughout this book! Soren is now added to the best book boyfriends list!!
Special thanks to Lovenotes PR for an e-ARC!
This book was so cute!!! It’s the perfect mix between a cozy and emotional read. The way that Soren loved Sawyer with her flaws for everything that she was, was so heartwarming. This is a man who really put in the work to change himself to be the best that he could be for his family and friends and eventually Sawyer. Sawyer also put in the work to make herself feel like she was worthy and deserving of love which can be very difficult. I really enjoyed how Talia, her best friend, called her out where it was needed while also being supportive of her and understanding of her feelings. I felt all the feels throughout this book! Soren is now added to the best book boyfriends list!!
Special thanks to Lovenotes PR for an e-ARC!
March 10, 2025
✨ BOOK REVIEW: The Magic of Light by Jordan Abitz ✨
📖 “A heartwarming small-town romance that hits you right in the feels!”
💡 What it’s about:
Sawyer, a woman who grew up in the foster system, now fights for kids in similar situations. Soren, a rancher with a tragic past, is just trying to keep moving forward. Their paths cross, and what starts as an unlikely friendship slowly turns into something more.
❤️ What I loved:
✔️ Deep, emotional storytelling
✔️ A slow-burn romance with real depth
✔️ Themes of healing, hope & found family
⚡ What some didn’t love:
◾ A bit slow in parts
◾ More character-driven than plot-heavy
🌟 Final Thoughts: If you love heartfelt, emotional romances with strong character growth, this one’s for you! Fans of slow-burn love stories will adore it.
March 1, 2025
Thank you to love notes pr for the gifted e-arc!
The magic of light touches on childhood trauma and how growing up doesn’t magically erase your past and that certain experiences can bring up memories that your mind was protecting you from. One of my favorite quotes that I really resonated with from the book was “when you lived with grief daily, you learned that it resembled tides in the ocean. There were times where it was a flood, and then there were other times where it was less, but it was always still there.” I loved the message of the story that no matter what past you come from everyone deserves to be loved and feel safe. Definitely recommend reading ❤️
The magic of light touches on childhood trauma and how growing up doesn’t magically erase your past and that certain experiences can bring up memories that your mind was protecting you from. One of my favorite quotes that I really resonated with from the book was “when you lived with grief daily, you learned that it resembled tides in the ocean. There were times where it was a flood, and then there were other times where it was less, but it was always still there.” I loved the message of the story that no matter what past you come from everyone deserves to be loved and feel safe. Definitely recommend reading ❤️
March 5, 2025
This was the absolute sweetest story with so much depth. I am SCREAMING for everyone to read this book. And btw— I am SAT for future books in this series. Jordan Abitz has incredible writing talent that makes her characters feel so believable. I was emotional in so many ways while reading this.
Also as a former social worker and Kansan— everything was so accurate and I felt truly seen in Sawyer’s struggle to set boundaries with her job. The setting was 110% small town Kansas and I loved it.
Thank you so much Jordan for the ARC of this book. 💖💖💖
Also as a former social worker and Kansan— everything was so accurate and I felt truly seen in Sawyer’s struggle to set boundaries with her job. The setting was 110% small town Kansas and I loved it.
Thank you so much Jordan for the ARC of this book. 💖💖💖
February 25, 2025
4.5
This book is the perfect blend of sad and sweet, hard and hopeful. There are a lot of challenging topics in this story that are handled with such care and not rushed through for the sake of the plot. I’m absolutely in LOVE with Soren, and the therapist in me wants to spend hours telling sweet Sawyer how strong she is.
What a wonderful read.
This book is the perfect blend of sad and sweet, hard and hopeful. There are a lot of challenging topics in this story that are handled with such care and not rushed through for the sake of the plot. I’m absolutely in LOVE with Soren, and the therapist in me wants to spend hours telling sweet Sawyer how strong she is.
What a wonderful read.
March 11, 2025
‼️ARC REVIEW‼️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Whew - this book was heavy and so beautiful. Sawyer and Soren both have experienced so much trauma in their lives. This book shows such beautiful ways of living with and through your trauma. It teaches the worth of each person while also allowing people in to love you when you feel unworthy of love.
Trigger warnings: Childhood Abuse and Neglect, Panic Attacks, Food Insecurity, Addiction, Bullying, Grief
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Whew - this book was heavy and so beautiful. Sawyer and Soren both have experienced so much trauma in their lives. This book shows such beautiful ways of living with and through your trauma. It teaches the worth of each person while also allowing people in to love you when you feel unworthy of love.
Trigger warnings: Childhood Abuse and Neglect, Panic Attacks, Food Insecurity, Addiction, Bullying, Grief
March 5, 2025
I have been following the author on instagram or a while, and I am so glad I was given the opportunity to read this for you. This was such an eye-opening novel to read. You hear the horrible horror stories of the foster care system, but you just have no idea. Thank you for writing a beautiful story to show the struggles and trauma of living in foster care and post foster care.
This novel follows Sawyer’s story post foster care and how she navigates the world as an adult. I could feel her trauma and heartbreak. I love the fact that she was still a beautiful soul even after everything she went through. She had a much deserved HEA.
Thank you for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This novel follows Sawyer’s story post foster care and how she navigates the world as an adult. I could feel her trauma and heartbreak. I love the fact that she was still a beautiful soul even after everything she went through. She had a much deserved HEA.
Thank you for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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