First Light

Out of Darkness #.5

by Erynn Newman

Drew and Elisabeth meet as teenagers, and they fall in love. Sounds like a perfect recipe for happily ever after. But when Drew’s father is killed at the Pentagon on September 11th, he finds himself spiraling into an abyss of rage. To avoid dragging the woman he loves down with him, he has to walk away, even if it means losing her forever. He joins the CIA and eventually makes things right with God, but is it too late to make things right with Elisabeth?

First Light is a series of vignettes set over the course of fifteen years, leading up to the culmination of their story in the full-length romantic suspense novel Out of Darkness.

It is a fifty page novellette (no cliffhanger).

Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian Romance, Novella, Short Stories

50 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 30, 2017

About the author

Erynn Newman is a pastor’s kid, raised in churches all over the Eastern Seaboard. As a little girl, she created rich fantasy worlds and imaginary friends that followed her into adulthood, when she realized that meant she was either a crazy person or a writer—or maybe both.
Though she has never worked with the CIA, her DVR contains a veritable Who’s Who of international spies.
She lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with her best friend (who is also her husband), a very busy little boy who calls her Mommy, two cats, and a ceaseless parade of characters who are all waiting for their turn to have their stories told.

Reviews

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an overview of the relationship between Drew and Elisabeth, two people who became best friends as children and grew to be more. Tragedy struck when Drew's father, a fireman, was killed at the Pentagon on 9/11. He left in pain and came to come to grips with his life and rekindled their friendship/relationship after a while away and a new career. First Light is a great way to see small snippets of events that shape and form their lives and relationship. This is a prequel to Out of Darkness, a full length novel following First Light.

[Fiction Aficionado · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quick read, but oh-so engaging. The writing is crisp and dynamic, and captures scenes from the story of Drew and Elisabeth from the day they meet as thirteen-year-olds right up until... well, let's just say they're 25 and leave it at that! This snap-shot approach to their story may sound like it would feel fragmented, but it actually felt surprisingly complete and was the perfect way to whet my appetite for the full length novel Out of Darkness, set to release in May 2017. Bring it on!

[Abigail Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely little story that made me want more of the characters!

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Light by Erynn Newman is an enchanting Christian romance spanning fifteen years from the early 1990's. It is a little book that sets the scene for future books.
First Light is about young love. It is about unfailing love - unfailing love from a person and unfailing love from God. "He (God) was there all along, calling me home... I tried to drown Him out with drinking and partying... but all the time He was there... waiting." Sooner or later we all have to answer the call and come home to God. God, who will never let us down and never let us go.
The novel has love emanating from its pages. It sinks into the reader's soul. The words were beautifully written. The novel was heartfelt. There are no words to adequately express just how far the novel penetrated into my very being. You need to experience First Light for yourself.
A beautiful tale of God's grace and His faithfulness.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a rewarding short novella and is a good combination of young love and tragedy. Drew and Elizabeth meet when, as a young teen, she takes a pie to his house to welcome them to church. It is love at first sight. Short snippets of their lives in the ensuing years see their romance develop. Drew has graduated from college and is ready to spring the question when tragedy strikes his family. His faith and future is in doubt, as is his relationship with Elizabeth.

This is a short story but it was well crafted. We get a sense of the main characters even in only a few scenes. And it is a good prequel for the full length novel to come.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novella through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Beth | Faithfully Bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story of young friends who grow to love one another. This prequel feels a bit like a supercharged prologue because readers will definitely want to read the rest of the story in Out of Darkness. I highly recommend both!

I requested a copy of this story from the author. Readers can currently obtain this prequel free for subscribing to the author's newsletter. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Karen Hadley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story, very short but it does bring out that running away from problems never works. And that forgiveness is necessary to get past anger, abandonment and loss.

Blessings,
Karen

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful series of vignettes centred on the love story of Elisabeth and Drew from the first time they met as teenagers through to their twenties. It was lovely reading the innocence of first love of these childhood sweethearts; Newman drew me in on the first page.

Each vignette is only a few pages and we meet two others whom I presume will play important roles in the full length novel: Drew's sister Melissa and his best buddy from the CIA, Gabe.

I'm looking forward to reading the novel.

[Raelee Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet introduction to the suspense series.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad I read the synopsis of this novella before digging right in to read it. The writing itself doesn't overly lend itself to jumping right in without the synopsis to set the stage. Set over a period of 13 years from the day that Drew and Elisabeth meet until their wedding all those years later. There's so much more than that stuffed into these mere pages but it's enough. From meeting, to falling in love and promising forever after, to Drew's dad losing his life in 9-11 and him running away to join the CIA, to there rekindling and eventual marriage. Like I said a lot. But you don't miss the pages that aren't there. You don't miss the years that aren't there, it's perfectly just enough.

This novella sets the stage for the full length novel 'Out of Darkness' that follows and it sets the need for me to jump in and start reading. But first of course, the pile. I don't have to wait long, there's only a few books between now and there but it's enough to cause me the need to read faster. Read more. This book promises so much just from this prequel. I've not read Erynn Newman before but I'm starting to feel like, hopefully, this is just the beginning of a long term readership.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the author. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

Originally published at https://fizzypopcollection.blogspot.c....

[Debora Wilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet romance is a short novelette!

I love this charming story. Both Drew and Elizabeth are presented in clear detail. It made it extremely easy to connect with them and quickly become involved with their lives. When each of them faced heart breaking circumstances my heart broke for them. I also rejoiced when good things happened.

One of the things that I really enjoyed in this story is the faith in God that is very clearly shown by a number of the characters.

There is a lot of life packed into this very short story. It leads up to Out of the Darkness. It is a wonderful introduction to the characters for that full-length book. I’m really looking forward to reading this longer book.

I received a free copy of this novelette from the author. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

"First Light" (novelette leading into "Out of Darkness") by Erynn Newman

Absolutely amazing. For such a short story it covers the 15 years in which Andrew and Elisabeth have known each other. They are a couple that seem to have it all from day one until 9/11 takes Andrew's father and he is so angry he leaves. Her and God. Better to leave than to take her with him, or so he believes. In time, he slowly finds his way back to God, as he realizes God never left him...but it is finding his way back to the woman he had loved since he was 13. Eventually he finds his way back to her and the two of them back as one.

Character development was magnificent as was the story line. I look forward to the upcoming novel and their story in "Out of Darkness."

Rating: 5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

** I was provided with an advanced reader copy of this novelette via Celebrate Lit. I neither read I reviewed it. I deleted it as I purchased a copy of my own.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Light provides an intriguing glimpse into the two main characters' early relationship leading up to their wedding day (where Out of Darkness, the sequel, continues the story). The novella begins when Drew and Elisabeth meet as children and continues up through high school, college, and into Drew's early CIA days. Each chapter is a snapshot of a period of their lives spanning months and even years in between chapters (I would compare it as being similar to acts in a play). Major characters that appear in Out of Darkness are also introduced in First Light. A sweet love story befitting of Cinderella meeting her prince charming!

This review contains my own thoughts and opinions regarding this literary work. I have not been compensated by the publisher or author in any way.​

[Nadine Keels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drew and Elisabeth have loved each other since their teenaged years. But the personal tragedy that hits their lives on September 11th shakes the foundation of their relationship in First Light by author Erynn Newman.

Well! This novelette pulled me right in. The moments I liked best said just enough, as leaving out elaborations of implied information can be smart and compelling, especially in short reads.

The ending became oversweet for me, maybe because a more minimal approach was working well earlier in the story. But even so, I'd say these romantic vignettes with a dash of danger are an effective setup for a romantic suspense novel to follow.

[Joanreconnu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was good quick read that gave a wonderful background on the "Out of Darkness" characters and how they met and fell in love as they matured. Sweet characters and a sweeter love story set in a Christian background. Don't miss it!

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sweet Tale of Childhood Sweethearts

First Light is a sweet story of childhood sweethearts. The 1990s-2000s timeline is fresh and the backdrop of the 9/11 Pentagon bombing is poignant. Tightly written with likable characters. I'm looking forward to reading Out of Darkness

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is super quick to read and gives an excellent background/ prequel for the main novel to follow.

[Kay Defreese · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very short book that should be read before Out of Darkness. You get introduced to most of the characters and get background information on the character in Out of Darkness.