I only ever wanted to stay in control. Run my security firm. Find the truth about the past I can’t forget. I told myself feelings don’t belong in this job— until she hired me.
I only ever wanted to help people. Start over. Prove I could stand on my own again. I was in my brave-face, teach-myself-to-knit, can-do-anything season— until he walked back into my life.
The shadows are closing in, dragging the past with them. But the truth we uncover might be the one thing that finally brings us into the light— or tears us apart.
Shadow Light is the first book in The Light Rising Series—a sweet Christian romance with a thread of suspense, blending a heartfelt love story with themes of resilience, forgiveness, and healing. Each book follows a new couple and a fresh mystery, making it perfect as a standalone or part of the series.
Written from a distinctly Christian worldview, this story combines emotional clean romance, subtle suspense, and faith-filled hope. It celebrates redemption, second chances, and the gentle way God rebuilds what once seemed broken beyond repair.
Perfect for fans Becky Wade • Pepper Basham • Nicole Deese • Courtney Walsh
You’ll enjoy this book if you • Christian romantic suspense with themes of forgiveness and redemption • Clean, emotional love stories about second chances • Inspirational fiction filled with hope and depth • Contemporary romance where light conquers darkness Expect to laugh, swoon, reflect on your faith, and believe again in a love that redeems even the darkest past.
Content No bad language. No explicit scenes (just kisses). No sexual assault or graphic violence. No terminal illness. The story includes real emotions and mild danger, always through a lens of hope and healing.
I’ve loved every book by Ivy Emerson that I’ve read, and this is no exception!
Usually I have a hard time reading Christian fiction because the way faith is written into the story seems so cheesy, but I loved how faith was incorporated in this novel. This was a great read, and I would definitely recommend it to others!
This book by Ivy Emerson is amazing and the perfect mixture of faith, romance, and suspense! Keep an eye out for February 1st and be ready to grab your copy! I wish I could read it again for the first time
I was swept up by this cozy yet thrilling novel. The characters are well written, and the pacing of the story was perfection. Declan and Tessa are both wonderful to follow. They each have a uniqueness that is relatable and loveable. The beauty that truly shines in this book is the amazing way Ivy has woven faith and grace so naturally into the story.
For a truly inspirational read full of sweet romance a dash of thrill Grumpy/Sunshine Beautiful Gospel message I highly recommend this be your next read
ARC READER REVIEW!! 🥳📚✨ I LOVED this! From the very start, I was completely captured by this story. Like, truly captivated! And I don’t think my heart has ached quite so much just within the first 10 chapters with any other book I’ve read 🥹 (I may have had to put my phone down for a moment just to let everything sink in…)
Our girl, Tessa, was so great! Her ADHD made things interesting in the best of ways! Seeing her quiet strength and both her character and spiritual growth in the story was so beautiful… Declan was amazing! His artistic side showed so much depth and I loved that he was completely captivated by Tessa… (though he definitely tried to fight it 😂) I loved getting to see the Spirit move in him, nudging him to ask questions and seeking out the Truth. The story had a great representation of the Gospel as well that was so refreshing to see! I think my ONLY complaint would be the lack of British-ness to it (which Ms. Ivy said she did on purpose due to most of her readers being American. You know how they have weird names for everyday items and such…) But when I read the story, I didn’t feel like I was in England. Would’ve liked a smidgen more on that aspect. HOWEVER! It didn’t bother me enough to take a star off 😉 As the plot carried itself through and more… All in all, I’m VERY happy with this read! It kept me up until 3:30 AM, made me want to drag her parents behind my car and not look back (🙄😅), and now has me looking forward to the next addition to the series! ☺️❤️
📍Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 📍Romance: Kisses only (not described in detail and only a couple of them.) 📍Christianity: Strong themes that truly lay out the Gospel message (accompanied by Scripture) 📍Language: No cursing or swearing. 📍Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance (with an awesome dash of Suspense) 📍Tropes 📚Grumpy/Sunshine 📚Second Chance Romance 📚ADHD FMC 📚Ex-Military MMC 📚Bodyguard Romance 📚Strong Finding/Building Faith 📚Yearning 📚Slow-burn Romance
Ivy did a great job of giving us captivating characters with an equally interesting plot. Her writing is very easy to digest and I was easily immersed in the story in both perspectives.
I loved that there was a bit of a mystery element to the story! This made it really fun and raised the stakes a bit.
The faith elements didn't feel forced to me. The thoughts of the characters were very relatable and I enjoyed the way that faith themes were explored. I got to learn great examples of interacting with people that have questions about Jesus from these characters.
It was a great read and would definitely recommend!
I was able to read this as an ARC, I absolutely loved it. It kept me captivated the entire time and I was able to not worry about any spicy scenes, I’m personally getting away from books with them so this book was a welcome reprieve.
I loved the dual timeline at the beginning to then the present at the end do the first part. Learning about Declan and Tessa before they had a chance to be together was really nice. I never would’ve expected things to go the way they did. It kept me on my toes the entire time.
And then adding the Faith aspect of the story, the way that I’ve seen myself in Declan’s and Tessa’s questions about God and how they believed He is at times and sometimes having questions on “am I doing this right? Do I deserve to pray?” The answer is always extremely simple with God, it’s sometimes just harder. This book honestly has helped me push myself to want to be closer to God and I can’t wait to see others reactions to this book 🩵🩵
I LOVED this book!!❤️❤️❤️❤️ Tessa and Declan’s story is anchored in second chances, growth, faith, and redemption. There was a perfect balance between banter, tenderness, sass, tension, broodiness, and warmth. I’m so impressed by the way the author used the narrative to spread the Gospel while maintaining fidelity to the plot of the story. Perfection! I cannot wait to dive into Ben’s story.
I was privileged to get a copy of Ivy’s sweet contemporary bodyguard romance as an eARC and enjoyed it so much I raced through in one day! Also I absolutely LOVE the cover.
I absolutely adore this story. Declan and Tessa were so great together. I loved the beautiful imagery and themes woven through out the story. I was completely hooked, wanting to know what happened next and loving how Declan and Tessa grew together. The side characters were so much fun aswell. I am so excited to read their stories. This is a great read if you love swoony, Christian romantic suspense.
Some quotes I liked: She’s not trembling anymore. She’s ready to fight. And God help the people who thought they could silence her.
“Tessa,” I say. “That’s not self-defense. That’s an interpretive dance.”
Or maybe it’s the reminder that light always pushes back darkness, no matter how overwhelming the shadows may seem.
Title: Shadow Light Author: Ivy Emerson Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense Star Rating: 5⭐️
Thank you to Ivy Emerson for providing me with an ARC of Shadow Light. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I just finished Shadow Light, and I’m left with the most overwhelming sense of joy. This story truly stayed with me, and I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to be part of this ARC team.
What first drew me to this book was Ivy Emerson’s writing—and it’s honestly hard to fully put into words why. Her storytelling goes far beyond the surface; it gently but powerfully pulls you deep into the heart of the story until you feel as though you’re standing right beside the characters, experiencing everything with them. The way faith and Scripture are woven throughout the story is beautiful, intentional, and filled with hope, adding so much depth without ever feeling forced.
This book kept me completely intrigued and was incredibly hard to put down—be prepared to binge-read, especially if you’re a nighttime reader like me (sometimes far too late!). Declan and Tessa are written in such a believable, thoughtful way. Their dual POV allows you to truly see their hearts, and with each chapter, their chemistry, faith in God, and genuine care for one another grow so naturally and meaningfully.
Shadow Light is a two-part story, and without giving anything away, I’ll just tease that part two includes a scene that had me sitting on the edge of my bed, wide awake and completely invested. Ivy Emerson knows exactly how to build emotion, tension, and connection in a way that keeps you wanting more.
Whether you already have an overflowing TBR for 2026, consider yourself “not much of a reader,” or are simply looking for something fresh, faith-filled, and deeply engaging—Shadow Light is not a book to merely consider. It’s a book you need to get.
A heartfelt thank you again to Ivy Emerson for this opportunity and for sharing such a meaningful, hope-filled story. 🤍📚
This book was my first read from this author and the first time I ever received an advanced copy to review.
All that being said, I LOVED this book. Recently, I have grown tired of the Christian Fiction/Historical Christian Fiction genre and wondered if this book would fall flat like others. As I have gotten older, I have found this genre to have shallow plots and the character development to have minimal to no reference to Christ or growth in there relationship with the Lord during the story.
Shadow Light was different from others in its genre in so many ways.
The plot is awesome. I love that the story is focused on more than the attraction the two characters have for one another. I couldn't stop turning the pages, needing to know what was going to happen next.
The chemistry between Tessa and Declan is undeniable. Tessa is the type of person you would want to be friends with. She made me literally laugh out loud several times. Declan is a strong character that desires to love and protect Tessa honorably. He is the type of guy every girl dreams of having as a husband.
I also appreciated that Christ was also a focal point in the story. Both characters have their own difficulties they are working to overcome and both, separately, come to realize they need Christ to meet their needs. Many books in this genre only mention Christ as a passing comment, Someone they can pull out of their pocket when they are in trouble. The author clearly paints a message of salvation and grace in a refreshing way in the pages of this story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and cannot wait to read more from this author.
Each time I read a new book by Ivy Emerson, I am blown away. In fact, I'm already smitten with The Light Rising series, making it one of my new favourite series after being thoroughly dazzled by the series opener and wanting to read more. I love that Ivy tackles difficult topics without weighing readers down with despair. It's not to say that her books aren't gritty because they can be, but that her style of writing effuses such hope and joy even during the bleakest moments. It's this juxtaposition that sets us up for Shadow Light, where Declan Cole and Tessa Lockwood are both grappling with the shadows and lights they face in their own lives when they meet as youth at the local art centre.
Containing just the right amount of suspense, romance, and spiritual transformation, Declan and Tessa's story is riveting and will leave a lasting impression on your heart. The Gospel is faithfully presented as it is intentionally woven into the plot, providing solid truth and deep insights into what God's grace looks like as Declan and Tessa uncover layers of deceit and unsolved mysteries on two continents. If you're looking for a Christian romance that points to so much more than a relationship, this astounding book offers the hope of a new life in Christ and an unforgettable adventure involving a pharmaceutical web.
Oh, where do I even begin with describing this beautiful story? Simply put, I absolutely loved it! From the very start, I couldn't help but be drawn into Declan and Tessa's story. They had such a sweet dynamic between them, and the chemistry was undeniable. I'm always a sucker for a good protective MMC, and bodyguard romances always deliver so well on that front. I loved every moment with them. What really set this story apart though is how perfectly it blended that swoon-worthy romance with not just the mystery/suspense, but also the elements of faith as well. The romance was perfection. The suspense elements weren't that high paced action that I tend to see in romantic suspense but still kept a sense of danger lurking throughout and keeping me intrigued to find out what secrets were being hidden. (And boy, are there a lot of secrets!) And finally, the faith... oh, I think this was truly my favorite part! It felt like such a natural part of their story, and I loved seeing both of these characters learn and grow in faith throughout. Truly, this was such a beautifully written story. This was the first book that I have read by Ivy Emerson, but it has me looking forward to more from her and more in this series... I cannot wait to see what happens next!
Shadow Light is a Christian romance with kisses only and no language.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Ivy Emerson on Instagram for giving me an Advanced Readers Copy. All thoughts expressed are my own and I was not required to leave a positive review.
I’m the kind of girl that’s into the cheesy romcom hallmark movies, but there was no cheese in this! Ivy Emerson is an incredible writer. She’s able to describe feelings in the most realistic way. Her attention to detail is incredible- she puts words to moments that’s hard to put words to. And don’t get me started on Declan and Tessa. Their story is one of a kind, you’ll have to read it to see why!
This novel tugged at every heart string of mine. It is pure and clean. I think everyone can relate to this book in some parts of their lives. God was in the detail. I felt encouraged and I want to encourage each and everyone to read this series.
Shadow Light had me giggling, kicking my feet, and reevaluating how I think about prayer. Having grown up hearing the basic truths talked about in this book it’s easy to forget just how simple it all is. With a main character learning the basics, I was reminded just how simple it all is.
Can’t express how much I LOVED this book! Loved the characters, their development, and being able to see how God worked in their lives…even when they didn’t know Him.
This is achingly beautiful Christian fiction. I love the way that God’s grace is described. I love how Tessa learns that a God’s love isn’t conditional. Well done Ivy, your words have me in a chokehold about God’s love for me.
Seriously this book has so many things to love. Not only is the love story tender and absolutely lovely but I enjoyed the depth that the love of Jesus was described. We can be broken but forgiven. What a phenomenal message. The suspense element and slow burn love story was just a cherry on top.
Oh man, you can’t help but adore Tess. She is rainbows and sunshine and all things wonderful. Her personality was so much fun.
Declan, be still my heart. From the broken boy to the man he becomes. I loved his growth journey so much.
Also all these side characters! Maverick and Ben. And when Sawyer grows up I want his story too!
CW: closed door (kisses only), lots of family dynamics, foster care, tiny bit of violence.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.