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This Shore of Light
American Fiction Awards Finalist—Women's FictionA Small Town. A Big Secret. One Chance to Heal.
In the small Pacific Northwest town of Port Lawrence, five people search for a way forward in the wake of broken trust and lost hope.
Molly McIntyre spends her days teaching fourth grade and her evenings and weekends caring for her grandmother Eleanor, a woman of deep faith who lives with chronic pain. The rest of Molly's time is spent volunteering at the community theater. Though she loves the magic of a good play, she doesn't trust actors—they're too good at what they do.Tristan Stuart always wanted to be a movie star. But he put that dream aside when he decided to leave Hollywood to care for his sick mother, Diana. She longs for her other son, whom she hasn’t seen in years, to come home, too. But Tristan’s father wants no such thing; he hopes his second son will stay gone forever.After nine months away from the hustle of Hollywood, Tristan's lifelong dream has turned to dust and ashes, and he has no idea what to do—until he meets Molly.As Tristan presses forward into a new life, Molly retreats in fear. But in slow fits and starts, their relationship begins to blossom—until Tristan's past collides with his present and shatters Molly's fragile faith in him, forcing them and their families to confront a heartbreaking truth.A Journey of Love, Grace, and Following the Light With This Shore of Light, immerse yourself in a story where the tides of life reveal beauty in the midst of trials—where love, family, and faith guide each step toward a brighter shore.
352 pages, Paperback
Published October 13, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Port Lawrence, USA. Molly McIntyre is a teacher, she lives with and takes care of her elderly grandmother Eleanor. Molly also volunteers at the Green Street Theatre, here she cleans up after each show and keeps to herself. Due having her heart broken by an actor, she doesn't trust them, and thinks they have the skills and tactics to deceive her.
Tristan Stuart wanted to make it big in Hollywood, just when he was offered his first role, his mum Diana was diagnosed with cancer and he came home to help his dad Hal. Diana has two sons, while she misses Percy, her husband Hal doesn’t trust him has far as he can throw him and I don’t blame him. Tristan is involved with the Green Street Theatre, and he’s a huge Shakespeare fan.
Tristan and Molly meet, he can’t understand why she’s not keen to get to know him and he’s a good guy. Eleanor finds him handsome and charming and she wants Molly to give him a chance. Just as Tristan makes headway with Molly, a person from his past throws a spanner in the works and he has to set about proving his innocence.
I received a copy of This Shore of Light by K. C. Ireton from NetGalley and InterVarsity Press in exchange for an unbiased review. This is a Christian and faith based story, and does include passages of scripture. I’m not overly religious person, I enjoy the narrative due to it having great characters, like Molly, Tristan, Eleanor, Rosemary, Diana, Hal, Luke and Kate, and it highlighted themes such as betrayal, being hurt, trust, family, friendship, types of loss and forgiveness.
Four stars from me and I recommend this clean read.
Tristan Stuart wanted to make it big in Hollywood, just when he was offered his first role, his mum Diana was diagnosed with cancer and he came home to help his dad Hal. Diana has two sons, while she misses Percy, her husband Hal doesn’t trust him has far as he can throw him and I don’t blame him. Tristan is involved with the Green Street Theatre, and he’s a huge Shakespeare fan.
Tristan and Molly meet, he can’t understand why she’s not keen to get to know him and he’s a good guy. Eleanor finds him handsome and charming and she wants Molly to give him a chance. Just as Tristan makes headway with Molly, a person from his past throws a spanner in the works and he has to set about proving his innocence.
I received a copy of This Shore of Light by K. C. Ireton from NetGalley and InterVarsity Press in exchange for an unbiased review. This is a Christian and faith based story, and does include passages of scripture. I’m not overly religious person, I enjoy the narrative due to it having great characters, like Molly, Tristan, Eleanor, Rosemary, Diana, Hal, Luke and Kate, and it highlighted themes such as betrayal, being hurt, trust, family, friendship, types of loss and forgiveness.
Four stars from me and I recommend this clean read.
October 17, 2026
Gol, I loved this read. I'd beta-read a very early iteration of it, and it was a joy to revisit at publication!
Ireton writes beautifully and thoughtfully. I've read several of her nonfiction books and was so excited to pick this up, her first foray into fiction; it absolutely exceeded my expectations both in its beta and final iterations. The story is a bit of a slow burn (in the best way), seamlessly weaves in liturgy and the Book of Common Prayer (something near and dear to the author's heart, and mine), and makes me as a reader sit with so many wonderful one-liners and powerful lessons in trust and forgiveness.
Can't wait for more books from Ireton!
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Ireton writes beautifully and thoughtfully. I've read several of her nonfiction books and was so excited to pick this up, her first foray into fiction; it absolutely exceeded my expectations both in its beta and final iterations. The story is a bit of a slow burn (in the best way), seamlessly weaves in liturgy and the Book of Common Prayer (something near and dear to the author's heart, and mine), and makes me as a reader sit with so many wonderful one-liners and powerful lessons in trust and forgiveness.
Can't wait for more books from Ireton!
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.
Scripture Connection
"God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us."
Acts 17:27
Spiritual Themes
The author is writing into a slightly different faith tradition than I’m accustomed to encountering in works of fiction, with characters practicing “high church” traditions like praying from the Book of Common Prayer (or praying repeatedly through a Scripture passage) and I loved it. It took me back to my favorite college chapel service, “Fives” at Biola University, which was a time for prayer and reflection. We would go through the same prayers each week, which was a new experience for me — and one that my soul thirsted for. What a beautiful element (Anglican liturgy) to encounter in This Shore of Light!
Alongside these details, there were some beautiful scenes about encountering the presence of God — again, through a slightly different lens than I’m used to reading — with a bit more of a reverential, sacramental quality. This is why I chose the Acts verse. Through the Anglican lens, the book portrays God breaking into our circumstances in beautiful, unexpected, and gentle ways.
As far as the plot-based spiritual themes… I’ll let the book do the speaking.
What I Liked
Amidst some very challenging times and spiritual warfare, This Shore of Light proved a sweet and delightful refreshment.
As I reflect, something that strikes me about this book is the fact that the pacing was fantastic — and it was not action-packed. I find that an impressive combination because I was having trouble finding stopping points to put the book down, and can also recall marvelling at how little seemed to have “happened” in the story. I say this by way of praise: How did the author manage to craft a story that was simultaneously “light” in the way of action and super hard to stop reading? I think books of this variety would probably be categorized as “character-driven,” where the emphasis is more on what is happening with the leads and on their character growth than it is on the plot. I think that these books will often read a bit “slower,” and I’ll acknowledge that the book had a slightly slower “hook” for me — but once I was hooked, I was hooked!
I also really like the treatment of the theme of sacrifice and choices, especially in terms of the intersection between sacrifice and the dreams we have for our own lives. So well done!
Characters
The narrative follows five different, 3rd person character perspectives. While there’s a sweet romance throughout the story, and I would say that was my favorite part, the other three characters bring a roundedness that basic romances don’t often achieve. This Shore of Light isn’t just a romance. It’s about family and faith, decisions and sacrifice, and the sweet, clear, wholesome presence of God.
As I introduce the characters, I also have to pause to applaud the multi-generational element of the story. I really appreciate the author’s intentionality in bringing together two families. We’re not just hearing from a young woman and the young man she’s seeing, or even young man, young woman, and grandma. No. We get to follow his mom and his dad, too. Plus, at the start of the book, both young leads are living at home (although he chooses to move out once he decides to settle in town).
That prefaced, the narrators are Molly and her grandmother Eleanor (or, one could say, Eleanor and her granddaughter Molly, since Eleanor is the opening narrator). Tristan, the romantic lead, is the son of Diana and Hal, who also have narration segments.
After Molly’s mother died when Molly was very young, Molly’s father took her to live with his mother. The story starts about five years after the death of Molly’s father. Molly is still living with Eleanor, and she is very careful of her grandmother’s health. Tristan, likewise, has been watching out for his family’s health, as his mother is recently in remission from cancer — which brought him home from chasing a career in the film industry. Tristan’s father is gruff and somber, crusty from the betrayals of Tristan’s twin brother, Percy.
And Percy gets a whole paragraph. Here’s why: I think it’s fascinating that a character who has had such a significant effect on his family is the one family member whose perspective we don’t get. Granted, he no longer lives in the same household / community with his family. But I think there’s more going on here. I think the reason we don’t hear from Percy is because the story is emphasizing how we respond to people and how we allow their actions to change our own trajectories. This is especially clear through Hal’s character arc.
Since I’m back on the topic of Hal, I also have to appreciate the fact that the character who seems the most straightforward and just kind of “there” turns out to be the one with the most clear development. Well done!
Content Notes
Happily, I don’t have much to say in the way of Content Notes. Maybe 1 or 2 uses of the Lord’s name / God that felt potentially colloquially. The romance element was very sweet, with a few kisses but not a lot of detail.
Recommendation Status
Well-paced and powerful, This Shore of Light is a beautiful story of decisions and sacrifice, family and forgiveness. I especially appreciated the treatment of relationships in general — with emphasis on choosing the people God has placed in our lives, rather than the “opportunities” that we dream about. Highly recommended!
Scripture Connection
"God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us."
Acts 17:27
Spiritual Themes
The author is writing into a slightly different faith tradition than I’m accustomed to encountering in works of fiction, with characters practicing “high church” traditions like praying from the Book of Common Prayer (or praying repeatedly through a Scripture passage) and I loved it. It took me back to my favorite college chapel service, “Fives” at Biola University, which was a time for prayer and reflection. We would go through the same prayers each week, which was a new experience for me — and one that my soul thirsted for. What a beautiful element (Anglican liturgy) to encounter in This Shore of Light!
Alongside these details, there were some beautiful scenes about encountering the presence of God — again, through a slightly different lens than I’m used to reading — with a bit more of a reverential, sacramental quality. This is why I chose the Acts verse. Through the Anglican lens, the book portrays God breaking into our circumstances in beautiful, unexpected, and gentle ways.
As far as the plot-based spiritual themes… I’ll let the book do the speaking.
What I Liked
Amidst some very challenging times and spiritual warfare, This Shore of Light proved a sweet and delightful refreshment.
As I reflect, something that strikes me about this book is the fact that the pacing was fantastic — and it was not action-packed. I find that an impressive combination because I was having trouble finding stopping points to put the book down, and can also recall marvelling at how little seemed to have “happened” in the story. I say this by way of praise: How did the author manage to craft a story that was simultaneously “light” in the way of action and super hard to stop reading? I think books of this variety would probably be categorized as “character-driven,” where the emphasis is more on what is happening with the leads and on their character growth than it is on the plot. I think that these books will often read a bit “slower,” and I’ll acknowledge that the book had a slightly slower “hook” for me — but once I was hooked, I was hooked!
I also really like the treatment of the theme of sacrifice and choices, especially in terms of the intersection between sacrifice and the dreams we have for our own lives. So well done!
Characters
The narrative follows five different, 3rd person character perspectives. While there’s a sweet romance throughout the story, and I would say that was my favorite part, the other three characters bring a roundedness that basic romances don’t often achieve. This Shore of Light isn’t just a romance. It’s about family and faith, decisions and sacrifice, and the sweet, clear, wholesome presence of God.
As I introduce the characters, I also have to pause to applaud the multi-generational element of the story. I really appreciate the author’s intentionality in bringing together two families. We’re not just hearing from a young woman and the young man she’s seeing, or even young man, young woman, and grandma. No. We get to follow his mom and his dad, too. Plus, at the start of the book, both young leads are living at home (although he chooses to move out once he decides to settle in town).
That prefaced, the narrators are Molly and her grandmother Eleanor (or, one could say, Eleanor and her granddaughter Molly, since Eleanor is the opening narrator). Tristan, the romantic lead, is the son of Diana and Hal, who also have narration segments.
After Molly’s mother died when Molly was very young, Molly’s father took her to live with his mother. The story starts about five years after the death of Molly’s father. Molly is still living with Eleanor, and she is very careful of her grandmother’s health. Tristan, likewise, has been watching out for his family’s health, as his mother is recently in remission from cancer — which brought him home from chasing a career in the film industry. Tristan’s father is gruff and somber, crusty from the betrayals of Tristan’s twin brother, Percy.
And Percy gets a whole paragraph. Here’s why: I think it’s fascinating that a character who has had such a significant effect on his family is the one family member whose perspective we don’t get. Granted, he no longer lives in the same household / community with his family. But I think there’s more going on here. I think the reason we don’t hear from Percy is because the story is emphasizing how we respond to people and how we allow their actions to change our own trajectories. This is especially clear through Hal’s character arc.
Since I’m back on the topic of Hal, I also have to appreciate the fact that the character who seems the most straightforward and just kind of “there” turns out to be the one with the most clear development. Well done!
Content Notes
Happily, I don’t have much to say in the way of Content Notes. Maybe 1 or 2 uses of the Lord’s name / God that felt potentially colloquially. The romance element was very sweet, with a few kisses but not a lot of detail.
Recommendation Status
Well-paced and powerful, This Shore of Light is a beautiful story of decisions and sacrifice, family and forgiveness. I especially appreciated the treatment of relationships in general — with emphasis on choosing the people God has placed in our lives, rather than the “opportunities” that we dream about. Highly recommended!
September 27, 2026
I had no idea what this book was about when I picked it up. The title drew me in. I cannot even say how lovely it was to read an uplifting book that also carried depth. This is definitely wholesome and spiritually encouraging. It is a multigenerational story of forgiveness and making space to heal. There’s romance that isn’t cheesy or awkward sex focused. I thought it was darling.
October 21, 2026
This Shore of Light
by K. C. Ireton, author
Rated: 5 star rating
I just finished reading This Shore of Light by K.C. Ireton, and it is honestly a wonderful Christian romance. It takes place in a small town called Port Lawrence right on the water in the 1990s. The author does a great job making you feel that nineties vibe, even down to a funny little car named Nancy Drew.
The story is about Molly, a fourth grade teacher who helps out at a community theater but really doesn't trust actors because she feels like they are too good at faking things. She is super stressed out trying to take care of her grandmother, Eleanor, who deals with a lot of pain.
Then you have Tristan, a guy who wanted to make it big in Hollywood but had to give up his acting dreams to take care of his sick mom, Diana. When Tristan comes back home, he and Molly cross paths, and they start up a really nice, slow moving romance.
The best part about this book is that you get to see inside the heads of five different characters, including Tristan’s parents. It gives the whole book a true family feel and shows how love and sacrifice look for both young and older couples.
I also liked how the faith was written. It felt natural and included details about their church traditions that you don't always see in regular romance books.
It really talks about how fear can take over your life and how tough it is to just let go and trust God when things get messy.
If you want a clean story that keeps you reading, you should definitely check out This Shore of Light. This book was a great read.
Thank you, NetGalley, InterVarsity Press, and author, K. C. Ireton, for providing me with a copy of this ebook for review consideration. All review opinions are my own.
#NetGalley
#InterVarsityPress
#KCIreton
#ThisShoreofLight
http://goodreads.com/patriciasreading...
http://www.patriciasreadingroom.blogs...
by K. C. Ireton, author
Rated: 5 star rating
I just finished reading This Shore of Light by K.C. Ireton, and it is honestly a wonderful Christian romance. It takes place in a small town called Port Lawrence right on the water in the 1990s. The author does a great job making you feel that nineties vibe, even down to a funny little car named Nancy Drew.
The story is about Molly, a fourth grade teacher who helps out at a community theater but really doesn't trust actors because she feels like they are too good at faking things. She is super stressed out trying to take care of her grandmother, Eleanor, who deals with a lot of pain.
Then you have Tristan, a guy who wanted to make it big in Hollywood but had to give up his acting dreams to take care of his sick mom, Diana. When Tristan comes back home, he and Molly cross paths, and they start up a really nice, slow moving romance.
The best part about this book is that you get to see inside the heads of five different characters, including Tristan’s parents. It gives the whole book a true family feel and shows how love and sacrifice look for both young and older couples.
I also liked how the faith was written. It felt natural and included details about their church traditions that you don't always see in regular romance books.
It really talks about how fear can take over your life and how tough it is to just let go and trust God when things get messy.
If you want a clean story that keeps you reading, you should definitely check out This Shore of Light. This book was a great read.
Thank you, NetGalley, InterVarsity Press, and author, K. C. Ireton, for providing me with a copy of this ebook for review consideration. All review opinions are my own.
#NetGalley
#InterVarsityPress
#KCIreton
#ThisShoreofLight
http://goodreads.com/patriciasreading...
http://www.patriciasreadingroom.blogs...
October 27, 2026
Completed: October 2026
Format: e-arc and audiobook
Narrator: Sybil Johnson - NTM - nice voice but I had to listen at 1.2 speed because it was read too slowly
Challenge Prompt: EOW’s “SPICY FOOD or a hot location” — IN MONTH option
Book #99 of 2026: new author and new narrator for me
Things I liked:
- The prologue has such a beautiful description of an autumn day.
- Eleanor, the grandmother of the lead female, Molly. She is the absolute highlight of this book — her faith, attitude, love, spirit/spunk, and sheer obedience to the Lord’s promptings. I honestly she was an even more prominent part of the novel.
- Tristan - the lead male that has strong feelings for Molly. I love his cheerful attitude, dedication to family, and his growth ARC.
- The spirit of friendship within the novel is heartwarming.
- A good portrayal of how much harm and stress a willfully estranged adult child can put on their parents. The two very different perspectives between Tristan’s parents in regard to his troubled brother are well done. There is a great growth arc for both.
- Including the Magnificat (by Mary)
Things that I felt were weaker:
- Molly, the main female character. Sometimes she comes across whiny and a little immature. She has a big heart but has been hurt. Out of the 5 voices (along with Eleanor, Tristan, and both of Tristan’s parents), I feel that Molly’s is the weakest. She also has the least growth.
- The church element is unfamiliar to me (Anglican, I believe?) so I had some confusion in areas. A couple of scenes left me wondering. Some interpretation differences I suppose.
- The ending between Molly and Tristan fell a little flat.
- Since I was able to listen to some of an audiobook as well, I will comment with my opinion on the narration. She has a nice voice but reads too slowly. I had to increase to 1.2 speed. She also contributed to Molly coming across as whiny and immature in places.
It’s a nice story with some wonderful growth arcs. I always appreciate a wise and faithful elder in a book.
*** My thanks to IVP Formatio and Net Galley for an advanced e-copy of this novel. I was able to listen to some of the audio as well through an audiobook borrow. My rating is 3.75 stars and my review is voluntary and completely my own.
Format: e-arc and audiobook
Narrator: Sybil Johnson - NTM - nice voice but I had to listen at 1.2 speed because it was read too slowly
Challenge Prompt: EOW’s “SPICY FOOD or a hot location” — IN MONTH option
Book #99 of 2026: new author and new narrator for me
Things I liked:
- The prologue has such a beautiful description of an autumn day.
- Eleanor, the grandmother of the lead female, Molly. She is the absolute highlight of this book — her faith, attitude, love, spirit/spunk, and sheer obedience to the Lord’s promptings. I honestly she was an even more prominent part of the novel.
- Tristan - the lead male that has strong feelings for Molly. I love his cheerful attitude, dedication to family, and his growth ARC.
- The spirit of friendship within the novel is heartwarming.
- A good portrayal of how much harm and stress a willfully estranged adult child can put on their parents. The two very different perspectives between Tristan’s parents in regard to his troubled brother are well done. There is a great growth arc for both.
- Including the Magnificat (by Mary)
Things that I felt were weaker:
- Molly, the main female character. Sometimes she comes across whiny and a little immature. She has a big heart but has been hurt. Out of the 5 voices (along with Eleanor, Tristan, and both of Tristan’s parents), I feel that Molly’s is the weakest. She also has the least growth.
- The church element is unfamiliar to me (Anglican, I believe?) so I had some confusion in areas. A couple of scenes left me wondering. Some interpretation differences I suppose.
- The ending between Molly and Tristan fell a little flat.
- Since I was able to listen to some of an audiobook as well, I will comment with my opinion on the narration. She has a nice voice but reads too slowly. I had to increase to 1.2 speed. She also contributed to Molly coming across as whiny and immature in places.
It’s a nice story with some wonderful growth arcs. I always appreciate a wise and faithful elder in a book.
*** My thanks to IVP Formatio and Net Galley for an advanced e-copy of this novel. I was able to listen to some of the audio as well through an audiobook borrow. My rating is 3.75 stars and my review is voluntary and completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This Shore of Light honestly ended up being such an emotional and unexpectedly beautiful read for me. I went into it expecting a romance, but it felt like so much more than that. At its core, it’s really about healing, forgiveness, trust, and learning how to move forward after life completely changes you.
One thing I really appreciated was how human the characters felt. Molly and Tristan both carried so much emotional weight, and none of it felt exaggerated or overly dramatic. Their struggles, fears, and vulnerabilities felt real, which made their connection feel even more meaningful. I liked that the relationship developed with emotional depth instead of just relying on romantic moments alone. You could genuinely feel the hurt, hesitation, and gradual healing throughout the story.
The setting also added so much to the atmosphere. The small coastal-town feeling gave the story this quiet, reflective tone that matched the emotional journey perfectly. It almost felt comforting at times, even during the heavier moments. The author’s writing style flowed really well too — emotional and descriptive without feeling too overdone. There were several passages that genuinely stuck with me after I finished reading.
What stood out to me most was how hopeful the story felt underneath all the heartbreak. It explored difficult emotions like grief, disappointment, broken trust, and family tension, but it never felt hopeless. The themes of grace, second chances, and emotional healing were woven into the story in such a natural way.
Overall, this felt like the kind of book that slowly settles into your heart the more you read it. If you enjoy emotional romances with strong character development, meaningful relationships, and a story that focuses just as much on personal healing as romance, I’d definitely recommend it.
One thing I really appreciated was how human the characters felt. Molly and Tristan both carried so much emotional weight, and none of it felt exaggerated or overly dramatic. Their struggles, fears, and vulnerabilities felt real, which made their connection feel even more meaningful. I liked that the relationship developed with emotional depth instead of just relying on romantic moments alone. You could genuinely feel the hurt, hesitation, and gradual healing throughout the story.
The setting also added so much to the atmosphere. The small coastal-town feeling gave the story this quiet, reflective tone that matched the emotional journey perfectly. It almost felt comforting at times, even during the heavier moments. The author’s writing style flowed really well too — emotional and descriptive without feeling too overdone. There were several passages that genuinely stuck with me after I finished reading.
What stood out to me most was how hopeful the story felt underneath all the heartbreak. It explored difficult emotions like grief, disappointment, broken trust, and family tension, but it never felt hopeless. The themes of grace, second chances, and emotional healing were woven into the story in such a natural way.
Overall, this felt like the kind of book that slowly settles into your heart the more you read it. If you enjoy emotional romances with strong character development, meaningful relationships, and a story that focuses just as much on personal healing as romance, I’d definitely recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
K.C. Ireton’s rich and moving novel This Shore of Light is a wonder to read and behold. A ribbon of light weaves its way through the images in this story, from the opening bouquet of a bright bunch of daffodils to the final sunset of a rosy sky. This Shore of Light is anchored by three characters, chiefly by the cornerstone of a devoutly attuned grandmother named Eleanor. Said grandmother shares a home with her bright and hopeful yet scared-of-life granddaughter Molly whose life is interrupted by the person of Tristan, an actor who leaves his L.A. dreams to come home to a surprising and life-changing encounter with the past and an upending of the present.
Ireton manages to paint the background of Puget Sound, Pacific Northwest weather and the seasons of Fall into Winter as characters all their own. These seasonal changes weave their way through an extended cast of characters including neighbors, family and newfound friends orbiting around Molly and Tristan. Drawn together by a common love of theater as actor and audience, Molly and Tristan approach each other with tentative steps, moving towards friendship while healing from old wounds.
Eleanor’s touchstone of the Book of Common Prayer is a bright thread throughout this story of spiritual and emotional healing as Molly and Tristan learn to trust again–in love and in life. This Shore of Light’s denouement is complete with healing, redemption and a whole hearted return to love as walls come down and are repaired with a surprising twist.
Readers will be greatly rewarded.
Ireton manages to paint the background of Puget Sound, Pacific Northwest weather and the seasons of Fall into Winter as characters all their own. These seasonal changes weave their way through an extended cast of characters including neighbors, family and newfound friends orbiting around Molly and Tristan. Drawn together by a common love of theater as actor and audience, Molly and Tristan approach each other with tentative steps, moving towards friendship while healing from old wounds.
Eleanor’s touchstone of the Book of Common Prayer is a bright thread throughout this story of spiritual and emotional healing as Molly and Tristan learn to trust again–in love and in life. This Shore of Light’s denouement is complete with healing, redemption and a whole hearted return to love as walls come down and are repaired with a surprising twist.
Readers will be greatly rewarded.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A sweet, no-spice, romantic story about two adults - Molly and Tristan, coming home to care for family members. I liked seeing the characters live out their Christian faith and model charity toward their family and community, and when Molly and Tristan were not walking through the difficult moments of their relationship - I really liked the chemistry that seemed to come easily and naturally. The story had a slower pace and ended in the Fall/Winter seasons - so perfect for someone looking for a fall-cozy, slow build story. With all that said, giving this three stars as I had a hard time connecting with the main character. Distrust in relationships is very real, but I had a tough time relating to and being empathetic with Molly's lack of trust in the story. Everyone processes things at different paces, but it seemed like Molly's struggle was too drawn out and slow.
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publishers for an opportunity to review an ARC. All views expressed are my own.
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publishers for an opportunity to review an ARC. All views expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a good book!! Fantastic writing! I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and following the characters as they found love, forgiveness, and hope. I am not usually a fan of books with many points of view (in this case, 5), but it works well here and lends different perspectives to create a finished story.
I am not a huge fan of Anglican doctrine, but I did find biblical truth throughout the book and was encouraged. I do wish the Gospel had been presented, but a great read overall! I found myself unable to put it down towards the end.
Thanks to Netgalley and Intervarsity Press for an ARC of this book.
I am not a huge fan of Anglican doctrine, but I did find biblical truth throughout the book and was encouraged. I do wish the Gospel had been presented, but a great read overall! I found myself unable to put it down towards the end.
Thanks to Netgalley and Intervarsity Press for an ARC of this book.
October 27, 2026
This not a story in a hurry to be told. So much in life is fast- paced and hard-hitting. But this is the perfect book to curl up with and savor the unfolding story. Ireton is a master storyteller. I appreciated the depth of the characters. Watching them grow, face their fears, and heal. Even where they live, the world around them is woven beautifully into the story. This book is a gift and should be shared.
November 4, 2026
This Shore of Light delivers everything I hoped for in a good novel—believable well-developed characters that you care about from the very beginning, unfolding layers of story that keep you engaged to the very end, and satisfying places of redemption and restoration along the way. This is one of those books you’ll want to give to your friends, so they too experience the deep satisfaction of a well told story.
October 27, 2026
I was immediately transported to a time and place I knew and recognized, with characters in whom I felt the same. The depth of character development, the rich descriptions of the landscape, and beauty of it all had me hooked right away.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. This was about a sweet romance and about learning how to trust.
October 20, 2026
A sweet, clean romance set in the 1990s. The antique beetle bug totally stole the show!
October 23, 2026
A sweet Hallmark type book
November 2, 2026
It was ok. Theme elements felt beaten to death. Characters felt shallow. Dialogue felt unnatural at times.
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