Beacon of Light

The Long Road Home #2

by Linda Byler

The second book in The Long Road Home series, a unique and gripping Amish romance trilogy set in the South at the turn of the century.

At the end of Banished, Clinton has died and May is left to fend for herself in a city where she knows almost no one and has no way of earning a living. Not knowing where Oba had wound up and realizing she can't return to her uncle's home after all he'd put her through, she decides to journey to the Amish community where she spent her first years, before her parents' died. Perhaps the relatives who once turned her away had had a change of heart and would be willing to take her in or help her get settled on her own.

After being shuffled from home to home, May finds a welcoming friend in Clara. Clara is single, having long since sworn off romantic relationships. She doesn't trust men, and it doesn't take her long to realize May had her own painful past, though for some time she doesn't know the full extent of what May suffered. Clara helps May to reintegrate into the Amish community, but May sinks deeper and deeper into depression as she tries to keep her dark past concealed.

What will it take for May to finally face her past and begin to heal? Will she and her brother Oba ever see each other again? And could May ever open her heart to another man? In the midst of great darkness, May discovers a beacon of light.

This unique Amish romance tackles heavy issues of abuse, racism, and the damage done when a community puts reputation over faith, but ultimately there is also hope, love, and the unflinching faithfulness of a good God. 

Genres: Amish, Amish Fiction, Christian, Romance

353 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2022

About the author

Linda Byler grew up Amish and is an active member of the Amish church today. Growing up, Linda Byler loved to read and write. In fact, she still does. She is well known within the Amish community as a columnist for a weekly Amish newspaper. Linda and her husband, their children and grandchildren live in central Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Dale Harcombe]

Left to fend for herself , May elects to return to the Amish community where she lived her first years before the death of her parents. She has no idea where her brother Oba is since he left their uncles place. Both he and May were abused by their uncle. After being shuffled from house to house May finds a friend in Clara who helps May integrate back into the Amish community and lifestyle. But there is a complication that neither of them foresaw and that gets some people more offside. And when the past haunts May it brings added stress to the situation.
Meanwhile her brother Oba has met up with the elderly Jonas who introduces him to another way of life, but it is a hard life. Will Oba be able to withstand the harsh wilderness lifestyle or will he buckle under the strain? And will he ever meet up with his sister when he has no idea where to start looking for her?
I thought it was a bit misleading to label this an Amish romance as it is more than that. It is a story of hardship, and survival despite abusive situations that affect May and her brother Oba. Whereas May continues to trust in Jesus and draw strength from Him, Oba turns away from God.
I found May’s story really easy to read though it deals with some hard topics. Oba’s story I found hard to read. Maybe part of it was to do with the Alaska winter and the severe cold. Since it was cold here at the time, the story only served to make me feel colder. Plus Oba is not as easy a character to relate to in many ways.
This is book 2 in a series and I had not read book 1 but the author fills in the background enough. I did not like the way the book ended, although it is no doubt leaving the door open for book 3. Would have been 3 and a half stars if not for the end.

[Staci]

Late 1940s Apple Creek, Ohio & Dawson Creek, British Columbia

In this second of the series, Oba and May begin to recover from their years of abuse by their uncle. I enjoyed switching back and forth each chapter between their two stories. Look forward to what will happen in the conclusion of the series.

[Jennie]

This book is the second in a series and I read the first book a while back. May has been thrown out of the house that she was living in because she is with child. She starts to walk and Clara picks her up and gives her a home for as long as she wants it. Clara figures out that May is pregnant and had no idea that this was what was wrong with her. May is pregnant with Clinton‘s child that so the little boy will be mixed. Clara makes May feel welcome and soon the community is concerned about this young unmarried woman. Every other chapter is about May’s brother Oba. They have been separated and no way of finding each other. I did not enjoy the chapters of Oba as much as the ones about May.

[Carol Slater]

Well written story. The story switches between the life that May has found back in the Amish community that her and her brother knew well before their parents' death and the life that Oba is struggling with in thinking he is not good enough to be loved and longs to know what happened to May.

After being sent to live with their aunt and uncle following their parents' death, this brother and sister have lived through things that no one understands and truly wants to believe. May finds herself shuffled around until she meets Clara, an Amish woman that truly does not care if the community agrees with her or not. Clara helps May and her child, whom May is certain will never be accepted, and expects nothing in return.

When May meets Andy, she does not think that she could ever love anyone like she did Clinton. Will she discover another love can happen and can lead her to the life of happiness and a family that she longs for? Will Andy not be able to get beyond her past? May soon discovers a side to Clara that she never expected, jealousy.

Oba discovers a life with a drifter and finds that he allows himself to follow the older man to the untamed wilderness of Canada, but life changes again when he is suddenly in a plane that is going down. Will he survive the crash, and will he ever see May again?

Linda Byler has written several books about the Amish and this book is a standalone read in a trilogy, although, I feel that a reader should read the first book before reading this one to learn the history or May and Oba. I will be looking for the third book of this series and hope that it finalizes the story and allows May and Oba the endings that they deserve.

[Marilyn]

This is the continuation of Oba and May’s life in different parts of the world. May suffers because of her past but Clara provided a loving home for her and wanted the community to welcome her back despite the unexpected. The community definitely showed their prejudice and some not truly accepting someone back into the fold even after confessing their sins.

Oba is off wandering in the wilderness but discovering surviving skills. He still worries about May but his bitterness was ever present. Will May and Oba ever find each other?

I am glad I have book three from a friend to discover answers for these two characters that suffered so much with great losses.

[Laurel]

Beacon of Light is the second book in Byler's The Long Road Home series. It's really a dual story--that of May and Oba--brother and sister who live in diverse parts of North America, both sorely missing the other. This is a very atypical Amish story in that it deals with both racism and abuse--both sexual and physical. It will take you on a wild "ride" and make you want to find out how everything shakes out in the series by reading the third and final book.

If you've read the first book, you'll definitely want to continue on with this one!

[Beth Withers]

This is the second book in this series by Linda Byler, a member of an Old Amish church who writes her novels by hand. As with the first one, I appreciate knowing that what I'm reading as authentic. I also like how she deals with some issues such as racial issues and prejudice. I like that Byler doesn't paint the Amish as perfect and peaceful, as these books often do. They are much more realistic in their portrayal of her characters.

[Leonard]

This is volume 2 on "The Long Road Home" Amish Romance series, and it is a long road home for May and Oba, the Amish siblings, who are the main characters of this series by Linda Byler. In fact, I think this is more of an adventure series than romance, but some would probably disagree. I enjoyed this series and recommend it for you.

[Pamela]

Beacon of light

Very good book, at first I was a little bored with this book. It went back and forth from May's life to Oba's. Overall it was interesting and good once I got into it. I wish it had ended differently though.

[Rina]

I've been reading stories of the Amish for decades, all by Beverly Lewis. This is a new author for me. I'm amazed at the differences in their stories.
This is actually the second in a trilogy. I can't wait to read #3. If it doesn't end well, that will end it for me with this author.

[Jane Homan]

review

I liked the book a lot except the ending. Felt like somehow it would turn out differently. It just didn’t come to a conclusion as far as I was concerned.

[Rhonda McCoy]

2nd book in the series. I am anxiously waiting for the 3rd book to be released next month. Really enjoying this Amish series.

[Carole Marsden]

wanted more

I kept reading the end of the book about Fronie. I wanted to know about Oba and if he survived.

[PottWab Regional Library]

E

[Amy Spriggs]

I was skeptical of this one… but it was a really sweet story of hardship, perseverance, and love. For its genre, I could give it 4 stars… but I’m not rushing out to get the next book, so it’s really a 3… maybe a 3.5.