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Aveline #2
A Jar Full of Light
Theresa Grant fled Aveline ten years ago, certain that she would never return. She was wrong.
When Theresa's teenage daughter, Maddie, pleads with her to come back to Aveline, Theresa can't say no. She finds herself packing up and driving back to the lake town of her childhood--back to the lake, the trees, and to an old friend who wants to rekindle their spark.
Will a new house, new friends, and her work as a potter be enough to keep her in Aveline? Or will old secrets drive her away?
A Jar Full of Light is the second book in the Aveline Series, a collection of inspirational romantic stories with quirky, lovable characters, set in a fictional lake town in California. Perfect for fans of Jan Karon, Katherine Center, or Elizabeth Berg.
When Theresa's teenage daughter, Maddie, pleads with her to come back to Aveline, Theresa can't say no. She finds herself packing up and driving back to the lake town of her childhood--back to the lake, the trees, and to an old friend who wants to rekindle their spark.
Will a new house, new friends, and her work as a potter be enough to keep her in Aveline? Or will old secrets drive her away?
A Jar Full of Light is the second book in the Aveline Series, a collection of inspirational romantic stories with quirky, lovable characters, set in a fictional lake town in California. Perfect for fans of Jan Karon, Katherine Center, or Elizabeth Berg.
- GenresFiction
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 18, 2019
85 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 10, 2024
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
Read: June 2024
Format: Kindle e-Book
Challenge Prompt: CNL’s #49 of 50 - “a book with a second chance romance”
Book #57 of 2024: How can a book can bring such familiarity, comfort, ease, and peace while being so different from book 1 in various ways? Book 1 (also 5 stars) is about false accusations, the need for grounding and simplicity, cooking/baking, resistance to marriage, and renovations. This novel is about trauma, secrets, various forms of art, poetry, protection, friendship, and a main character with Asperger’s. Yet both stories had the common bonds of friendship, community, and family—both blood and not.
While I understood the meaning of the beautiful title in book 1 early on, I didn’t put all the pieces together for this title until nearly the end. I love a meaningful and creative title that makes sense and does the novel justice.
I highlighted some especially meaningful passages. I think I teared up 3-4 times for various reasons. I love the Aveline community and the people. They have their issues and problems, as we all do, but they unite and love each other with all their imperfections.
Rae Walsh (Rachel Ford Cavendish) has Women’s Fiction down to a fine art. (Pardon the pun!). This series needs to be talked about more and read by more people. She always brings everything back around to God’s love, mercy, and wisdom to make beauty out of the broken and transform that which is dark and ugly into light and goodness.
Read: June 2024
Format: Kindle e-Book
Challenge Prompt: CNL’s #49 of 50 - “a book with a second chance romance”
Book #57 of 2024: How can a book can bring such familiarity, comfort, ease, and peace while being so different from book 1 in various ways? Book 1 (also 5 stars) is about false accusations, the need for grounding and simplicity, cooking/baking, resistance to marriage, and renovations. This novel is about trauma, secrets, various forms of art, poetry, protection, friendship, and a main character with Asperger’s. Yet both stories had the common bonds of friendship, community, and family—both blood and not.
While I understood the meaning of the beautiful title in book 1 early on, I didn’t put all the pieces together for this title until nearly the end. I love a meaningful and creative title that makes sense and does the novel justice.
I highlighted some especially meaningful passages. I think I teared up 3-4 times for various reasons. I love the Aveline community and the people. They have their issues and problems, as we all do, but they unite and love each other with all their imperfections.
Rae Walsh (Rachel Ford Cavendish) has Women’s Fiction down to a fine art. (Pardon the pun!). This series needs to be talked about more and read by more people. She always brings everything back around to God’s love, mercy, and wisdom to make beauty out of the broken and transform that which is dark and ugly into light and goodness.
March 18, 2022
"He'd had eight beautiful years with her. And then she was taken from him by an illness that most people didn't want to say aloud. Words that were whispered in alleys. When he had first come to church with Sam, Francisco had taught on Mary Magdalene. What kind eyes Jesus had. Frankie had said. "Eyes that saw past the whispers around her, into the truth of who she was beyond her sickness."
This is the first book that I have read featuring a main character that has Asperger's Syndrome. We were introduced to Theresa in book 1 in this series, The Art of Reverie. The reader did not get a very flattering picture of her since she sent her daughter to live with her mom/brother without any notice. But in this book, we understand why she struggled.
Mental illness is definitely an important topic in this book. Sheldon was impacted in his growing up years by a family member who struggled. Theresa did not understand why she could not cope for a long time. There also was another layer of trauma that has to be solved.
Sheldon and Theresa's relationship is complicated. He continues to show her unconditional love. She gradually is able to respond.
This book is also about art. Theresa is a potter. I enjoyed reading about how she went about her creations.
I definitely recommend reading book one in the series first. The same strong community continues in this book. I also feel like this book contains details about how to heal from hard circumstances. The advice given is practical and timely. Faith is a part of the story, but there is not any preaching. I really enjoyed this book and plan on reading book three sometime in the coming months.
This is the first book that I have read featuring a main character that has Asperger's Syndrome. We were introduced to Theresa in book 1 in this series, The Art of Reverie. The reader did not get a very flattering picture of her since she sent her daughter to live with her mom/brother without any notice. But in this book, we understand why she struggled.
Mental illness is definitely an important topic in this book. Sheldon was impacted in his growing up years by a family member who struggled. Theresa did not understand why she could not cope for a long time. There also was another layer of trauma that has to be solved.
Sheldon and Theresa's relationship is complicated. He continues to show her unconditional love. She gradually is able to respond.
This book is also about art. Theresa is a potter. I enjoyed reading about how she went about her creations.
I definitely recommend reading book one in the series first. The same strong community continues in this book. I also feel like this book contains details about how to heal from hard circumstances. The advice given is practical and timely. Faith is a part of the story, but there is not any preaching. I really enjoyed this book and plan on reading book three sometime in the coming months.
June 30, 2020
Tackles the tough issues
Rae Walsh does such a great job of tackling the taboo issues in real life that are happening even today. She deals wonderfully and makes you think on the issues of racism, asperbergers and even rape and abuse. She takes some of those and really makes you think about your way of thinking. The romance in this book is not lost! I love her quirky characters. She ties the people from the 1st book so seamlessly into this book. I'm so glad she did. I really hope that she writes a third book and finds love for Fransico.
Rae Walsh does such a great job of tackling the taboo issues in real life that are happening even today. She deals wonderfully and makes you think on the issues of racism, asperbergers and even rape and abuse. She takes some of those and really makes you think about your way of thinking. The romance in this book is not lost! I love her quirky characters. She ties the people from the 1st book so seamlessly into this book. I'm so glad she did. I really hope that she writes a third book and finds love for Fransico.
April 29, 2020
This book is a masterpiece. It is filled with beauty and poetry and wisdom. It also offers profound insights into the mind and heart of one woman who has ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) in all her brilliance and struggle and resilience. It's hard to put this book down. It's full of all the things that make a story riveting and healing. I hope that the author never ever stops writing.
July 6, 2020
Another quick read by Rae Walsh. This book focuses on Teresa and Sheldon's story, while continuing to give glimpses of Sam and Katie's story. It's great to finally see what made Teresa run away and what gives her the motivation to face her fear. It is something we all struggle with and can relate to.
May 22, 2021
Absolutely inspired, a must-read.
I suggest reading the first book in the Aveline series before reading A Jar Full of Light because being filled in on the back story makes reading this book a richer experience. However, if you miss reading this book you will have missed something wonderful in your life.
I suggest reading the first book in the Aveline series before reading A Jar Full of Light because being filled in on the back story makes reading this book a richer experience. However, if you miss reading this book you will have missed something wonderful in your life.
June 6, 2021
One of those books you can’t put down
The first book in this series was so good, I had to buy the second. This is rare, but I think the second was even better than the first. Once I started reading I could barely put it down. It has everything you want in a story. I highly recommend it!
The first book in this series was so good, I had to buy the second. This is rare, but I think the second was even better than the first. Once I started reading I could barely put it down. It has everything you want in a story. I highly recommend it!
June 2, 2020
Skimmed/DNF. Included important topics, but I felt like this story was all over the place and I had trouble following along. Nothing really hooked me into the story and I couldn't connect to the characters.
February 17, 2021
Heart wrenching but beautiful!
This book in the Aveline series took me through so many emotions. I was happy, then angry, then sad, then happy all over again. I am truly enjoying this series!
This book in the Aveline series took me through so many emotions. I was happy, then angry, then sad, then happy all over again. I am truly enjoying this series!
August 25, 2023
worth reading
Real people, realistic faith. Human strength and frailty. We all like good endings too, with good winning over evil. A book of hope and understanding that addresses many levels.
Real people, realistic faith. Human strength and frailty. We all like good endings too, with good winning over evil. A book of hope and understanding that addresses many levels.
March 17, 2020
I love Rachel Devenish Ford (aka Rae Walsh)’s writing and this was no exception. Perfect juxtaposition of fun and funky characters and deep, tough issues of race, community and mental health.
May 11, 2023
Review for A Jar of Light.
I was confused at first. I almost stopped reading, but I seldom do that. The buildup to the answer takes too long. And then it is over.
I was confused at first. I almost stopped reading, but I seldom do that. The buildup to the answer takes too long. And then it is over.
September 16, 2023
God is our potter
God makes all things beautiful if we let him in. Characters overcame many obstacles and learned to love again beautifully.
God makes all things beautiful if we let him in. Characters overcame many obstacles and learned to love again beautifully.
June 19, 2022
Still an amazing book, although I was disappointed by not following Sam and Katie more. It proofs how one can only overcome one's past if facing and coming back to where it all started. It also proofs that there is safety in numbers.
December 30, 2023
Wow! This book was so good. I enjoyed the first book, but this one was so much deeper and layered. There was suspense, romance, and drama and such great character evolution. We were indirectly introduced to Theresa in the first book and she seemed pretty unstable. I’m so grateful that Rae Walsh gave us a second book that dug into her backstory more as well as Sheldon’s. Rae dealt masterfully with mental health, neurodiversity, and major trauma in this book and I love how faith was woven throughout this story. I can’t say much more without risking spoilers, but man is Theresa a resilient character! Such a great read!
October 26, 2019
I was so glad this book was available on Kindle Unlimited as soon as I finished book 1, The Lost Art of Reverie. The same quirky, loveable characters are here to learn more about. Walsh does an excellent job of portraying characters who live with disabilities and learn to cope with life. There's more tension in this book than book 1, but it's very well done. I look forward to more books!
November 16, 2019
This is a wonderful follow up to “The Lost Art of Reverie.” The characters Rae has created are a delight. I think we all have a longing for the kind of community found in Aveline, as well as for the quaint, picturesque town. Yes, the book is an escape, but a beautiful, enriching one. Highly recommended.
January 22, 2020
A very sweet love story.
Theresa, Sheldon, Maddie and all the other characters are lovely. The suspense about who did what horrible thing where seemed to go on a little too long, but on the whole I liked it. Aveline seems like a perfect little town. I appreciate happy endings.
Theresa, Sheldon, Maddie and all the other characters are lovely. The suspense about who did what horrible thing where seemed to go on a little too long, but on the whole I liked it. Aveline seems like a perfect little town. I appreciate happy endings.
November 2, 2019
This book/series is so good!
This series flows so easily. Full of warmth, beauty and a mixture of all things human, I love it! A must read!
This series flows so easily. Full of warmth, beauty and a mixture of all things human, I love it! A must read!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews