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A Bend of Light
A quiet coastal village in post–World War II America is shaken when the secrets of the past and present collide in a riveting novel by the bestselling author of Under a Gilded Moon.
Five years after the war, Amie Stilwell, a photo interpreter for an Allied unit in England, returns to her hometown in Maine. Jobless and discouraged but stubbornly resourceful, she’s starting over in the same coastal village where her life once went so wrong. Waiting for her is Shibby Travis, the surrogate mother with whom Amie never lost touch. But the unexpected also awaits…
A silent, abandoned boy is found with a note from a stranger pleading that he be watched over. Amie and Shibby take him in, but the mysteries multiply when a Boston socialite is found dead in Amie’s barn and an old friend, believed to be a casualty of war, suddenly reappears.
Trained to see what others cannot, to scan for clues, and to expose enemies, Amie uses her skills to protect a child, solve a crime, and find the motive behind a veteran’s masquerade. But through the hazy filter of a town’s secrets, Amie must also confront her own painful past.
Five years after the war, Amie Stilwell, a photo interpreter for an Allied unit in England, returns to her hometown in Maine. Jobless and discouraged but stubbornly resourceful, she’s starting over in the same coastal village where her life once went so wrong. Waiting for her is Shibby Travis, the surrogate mother with whom Amie never lost touch. But the unexpected also awaits…
A silent, abandoned boy is found with a note from a stranger pleading that he be watched over. Amie and Shibby take him in, but the mysteries multiply when a Boston socialite is found dead in Amie’s barn and an old friend, believed to be a casualty of war, suddenly reappears.
Trained to see what others cannot, to scan for clues, and to expose enemies, Amie uses her skills to protect a child, solve a crime, and find the motive behind a veteran’s masquerade. But through the hazy filter of a town’s secrets, Amie must also confront her own painful past.
395 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2022
353 people are currently reading
2849 people want to read
About the author
Joy Jordan-Lake
16 books508 followersJoy Jordan-Lake's varied--and admittedly odd--professional experience has included working as a college professor, author, journalist, waitress, director of a program for homeless families, university chaplain, horseback riding instructor, free lance photographer, and --the job title that remains her personal favorite--head sailing instructor.
Born in Washington, D.C., Joy Jordan-Lake's first vivid childhood memory was watching her mother weep in front of the television, where newscasters were just reporting the shooting of Martin Luther King, Jr. Later moving south with her family, she grew up on Signal Mountain, Tennessee, just outside Chattanooga, where she learned to observe the ways in which communities respond with courage to bigotry and violence--or fail to do so.
After earning a bachelors degree from Furman University and a masters from a theological seminary, Joy re-located to the Boston, Massachusetts, area where she earned a masters and a Ph.D. in English Literature from Tufts University, and specialized in the role of race in 19-century American fiction.
While in New England, she founded a food pantry targeting low-income and homeless families, served on the staff of a multi-ethnic church in Cambridge, worked as a free-lance journalist, and became a Baptist chaplain at Harvard. Her first book, Grit and Grace: Portraits of a Woman's Life (Harold Shaw Publishers, 1997), was a collection of stories, poems and essays which The Chicago Tribune described this way: "Written with much heart and wit, this little gem of a book touches on the ordinary and profound experiences that make up a woman's life . . . a poignant and satisfying collection . . . funny and sad, inspiring and awfully surprising."
Joy's second book, Whitewashing Uncle Tom's Cabin: Nineteenth-Century Women Novelists Respond to Stowe (Vanderbilt University Press, 2005) continued her doctoral dissertation work, exploring the inter-weavings of literature, theology, and race in American culture.
During this period, life for Joy and her husband, Todd Lake, was becoming increasingly chaotic with two careers, numerous re-locations for Todd's work, two young biological children and the adoption of a baby girl from China. Joy's nearly-manic need to ask everyone around her about how they managed--or not--to balance kids and career led to her third book, Working Families: Navigating the Demands and Delights of Marriage, Parenting and Career (WaterBrook/ Random House, 2007). Publishers Weekly called the book, "refreshing for its social conscience," and written with "sharp humor and snappy prose."
In its review of Joy's fourth book, Why Jesus Makes Me Nervous: Ten Alarming Words of Faith (Paraclete Press, 2007), Publishers Weekly again praised the author: "A professor at Belmont University and a former Baptist chaplain at Harvard University , the author mines her personal history...to illumine and interpret ideas such as...hope. Sometimes wry, occasionally stern, Jordan-Lake, with a touch of Southern gothic sensibility...has a gift for welcoming, lucid and insightful prose...."
Joy's first novel, Blue Hole Back Home, published in 2008 and inspired by actual events from her own teenage years, explores the tensions and eventual violence that erupt in a small, all-white Appalachian town when a Sri Lankan family moves in. Ultimately, Blue Hole Back Home, which bestselling author Leif Enger called "beautifully crafted," is a story not only of the devastating effects of racial hatred and cowardice, but more centrally, a celebration of courage, confrontation and healing. Used in a variety of classroom and book club settings, Blue Hole Back Home was chosen in 2009 as Baylor University's Common Book, and as the Common Book at Amarillo College in 2014.
Joy's latest novel, to be released in fall of 2017, is A Tangled Mercy. Told in alternating tales at once haunting and redemptive, A Tangled Mercy is a quintessentially American epic rooted in heartbr
Born in Washington, D.C., Joy Jordan-Lake's first vivid childhood memory was watching her mother weep in front of the television, where newscasters were just reporting the shooting of Martin Luther King, Jr. Later moving south with her family, she grew up on Signal Mountain, Tennessee, just outside Chattanooga, where she learned to observe the ways in which communities respond with courage to bigotry and violence--or fail to do so.
After earning a bachelors degree from Furman University and a masters from a theological seminary, Joy re-located to the Boston, Massachusetts, area where she earned a masters and a Ph.D. in English Literature from Tufts University, and specialized in the role of race in 19-century American fiction.
While in New England, she founded a food pantry targeting low-income and homeless families, served on the staff of a multi-ethnic church in Cambridge, worked as a free-lance journalist, and became a Baptist chaplain at Harvard. Her first book, Grit and Grace: Portraits of a Woman's Life (Harold Shaw Publishers, 1997), was a collection of stories, poems and essays which The Chicago Tribune described this way: "Written with much heart and wit, this little gem of a book touches on the ordinary and profound experiences that make up a woman's life . . . a poignant and satisfying collection . . . funny and sad, inspiring and awfully surprising."
Joy's second book, Whitewashing Uncle Tom's Cabin: Nineteenth-Century Women Novelists Respond to Stowe (Vanderbilt University Press, 2005) continued her doctoral dissertation work, exploring the inter-weavings of literature, theology, and race in American culture.
During this period, life for Joy and her husband, Todd Lake, was becoming increasingly chaotic with two careers, numerous re-locations for Todd's work, two young biological children and the adoption of a baby girl from China. Joy's nearly-manic need to ask everyone around her about how they managed--or not--to balance kids and career led to her third book, Working Families: Navigating the Demands and Delights of Marriage, Parenting and Career (WaterBrook/ Random House, 2007). Publishers Weekly called the book, "refreshing for its social conscience," and written with "sharp humor and snappy prose."
In its review of Joy's fourth book, Why Jesus Makes Me Nervous: Ten Alarming Words of Faith (Paraclete Press, 2007), Publishers Weekly again praised the author: "A professor at Belmont University and a former Baptist chaplain at Harvard University , the author mines her personal history...to illumine and interpret ideas such as...hope. Sometimes wry, occasionally stern, Jordan-Lake, with a touch of Southern gothic sensibility...has a gift for welcoming, lucid and insightful prose...."
Joy's first novel, Blue Hole Back Home, published in 2008 and inspired by actual events from her own teenage years, explores the tensions and eventual violence that erupt in a small, all-white Appalachian town when a Sri Lankan family moves in. Ultimately, Blue Hole Back Home, which bestselling author Leif Enger called "beautifully crafted," is a story not only of the devastating effects of racial hatred and cowardice, but more centrally, a celebration of courage, confrontation and healing. Used in a variety of classroom and book club settings, Blue Hole Back Home was chosen in 2009 as Baylor University's Common Book, and as the Common Book at Amarillo College in 2014.
Joy's latest novel, to be released in fall of 2017, is A Tangled Mercy. Told in alternating tales at once haunting and redemptive, A Tangled Mercy is a quintessentially American epic rooted in heartbr
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
October 15, 2022
About the book: “A quiet coastal village in post–World War II America is shaken when the secrets of the past and present collide in a riveting novel by the bestselling author of Under a Gilded Moon.”
Amie previously worked as a photo interpreter, and she’s just returned home to Maine after the war. Shibby, a mother figure in her life, waits for her return. A young boy is abandoned on her doorstep, and after that, things become even more mysterious for Amie and Shibby.
I loved the post war 1950s atmosphere of the story, especially with the small town Maine setting. This hist fic title is heavy on the mystery that will keep the reader guessing with each turn of the page. It’s a thoughtful portrayal of this time in history as the world began to rebuild and attempt to heal in the aftermath of a war that changed everyone.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Amie previously worked as a photo interpreter, and she’s just returned home to Maine after the war. Shibby, a mother figure in her life, waits for her return. A young boy is abandoned on her doorstep, and after that, things become even more mysterious for Amie and Shibby.
I loved the post war 1950s atmosphere of the story, especially with the small town Maine setting. This hist fic title is heavy on the mystery that will keep the reader guessing with each turn of the page. It’s a thoughtful portrayal of this time in history as the world began to rebuild and attempt to heal in the aftermath of a war that changed everyone.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
August 27, 2022
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: September 6, 2022
After serving in the war as a photographic interpreter, Amie Stillwell returns to her home town in Maine, in hopes of finding her feet again. Once there, she reconnects with Shibby, her foster mother, and begins to find a passion in photography once more. However, mysterious things have started to happen and Amie feels obliged to put her interpreting skills to use; first, an abandoned boy is left on Shibby’s doorstep with a simple note pinned to his jacket, and then a visiting horse owner is found dead in a barn and everyone Amie knows is an instant suspect. When a man from Amie’s past returns to Maine, it complicates things even more as he is no longer the person Amie knew, and she can’t forgive him for what he did.
Joy Jordan-Lake’s new novel, “A Bend of Light” provides some interesting insight on yet another important role, mostly played by women, in World War Two. A photographic interpreter would take pictures of landscapes around enemy lines, and would then analyze each photo carefully to determine where hidden weapons would be, or where soldiers could collect unnoticed. This is a job I have never heard of before, and I am thrilled Jordan-Lake decided to introduce me to yet another form of female war hero.
The story is told by Amie, as she tries to establish herself once again in her hometown, and also from an individual who is identified as “Tom”. Now it is very obvious who Tom is right from the beginning, mostly because in a few situations, he identifies himself by his previous name. I do not know if this was a typo (as it seemed like it could’ve been and I did have an unedited ARC) or if this was simply something Jordan-Lake intended, but it took out any suspicion or potential plot twist.
The story is told well, and one chapter easily flows into another. It is clear Jordan-Lake did her research, and I loved the characters she brought to the pages. “Light” provided a hint of romance, but was not the focus, and it was so refreshing to provide Amie with suitable potential relationship partners, yet have her be too focused on re-establishing her life to care.
“Light” is a wonderfully engaging World War II historical fiction novel that is informational and entertaining. Abandoned children, war trauma, murder and a police investigation all in one plot will make it impossible to stop reading until the very last page. An absolute gem and I can’t wait to see what Jordan-Lake delivers next.
Expected publication date: September 6, 2022
After serving in the war as a photographic interpreter, Amie Stillwell returns to her home town in Maine, in hopes of finding her feet again. Once there, she reconnects with Shibby, her foster mother, and begins to find a passion in photography once more. However, mysterious things have started to happen and Amie feels obliged to put her interpreting skills to use; first, an abandoned boy is left on Shibby’s doorstep with a simple note pinned to his jacket, and then a visiting horse owner is found dead in a barn and everyone Amie knows is an instant suspect. When a man from Amie’s past returns to Maine, it complicates things even more as he is no longer the person Amie knew, and she can’t forgive him for what he did.
Joy Jordan-Lake’s new novel, “A Bend of Light” provides some interesting insight on yet another important role, mostly played by women, in World War Two. A photographic interpreter would take pictures of landscapes around enemy lines, and would then analyze each photo carefully to determine where hidden weapons would be, or where soldiers could collect unnoticed. This is a job I have never heard of before, and I am thrilled Jordan-Lake decided to introduce me to yet another form of female war hero.
The story is told by Amie, as she tries to establish herself once again in her hometown, and also from an individual who is identified as “Tom”. Now it is very obvious who Tom is right from the beginning, mostly because in a few situations, he identifies himself by his previous name. I do not know if this was a typo (as it seemed like it could’ve been and I did have an unedited ARC) or if this was simply something Jordan-Lake intended, but it took out any suspicion or potential plot twist.
The story is told well, and one chapter easily flows into another. It is clear Jordan-Lake did her research, and I loved the characters she brought to the pages. “Light” provided a hint of romance, but was not the focus, and it was so refreshing to provide Amie with suitable potential relationship partners, yet have her be too focused on re-establishing her life to care.
“Light” is a wonderfully engaging World War II historical fiction novel that is informational and entertaining. Abandoned children, war trauma, murder and a police investigation all in one plot will make it impossible to stop reading until the very last page. An absolute gem and I can’t wait to see what Jordan-Lake delivers next.
May 1, 2022
This book started off well -- interesting characters, a lovely setting (small town in Maine), and some non-fatal but intriguing mysteries -- who left a small child alone in the town center with a note pinned to his coat? Who drove their car onto the tracks just before the local arrived, forcing our heroine (Amie) to bump her off the tracks at the expense of her own auto, and what happened to Amie's childhood friend, the orphan Jake who disappeared at the start of the war (WWII)? However, the characters are stereotypes -- especially the ever so evil megarich guy (Fossick) who manages to get people to do despicable things for him in a completely (to me) unrealistic way. Add to this the fact that the prose is somewhat stilted and I can't say I enjoyed reading this book. At first the story made the other flaws overlookable, but when the story descended into ridiculous unpleasantness, I lost interest.
August 26, 2022
Joy Jordan-Lake returns following Under a Gilded Moon with A BEND OF LIGHT —set in a quaint coastal Maine fishing village in the 1950s, post–World War II America, a blending of historical fiction and tantalizing mystery as the dark secrets of the past and present are unraveled.
Amie is a photo interpreter, having served as a WAC in England during WWII and is returning to her hometown in Maine five years after the war.
Shibby Travis, the surrogate mother (who raised her) with whom Amie never lost touch is there, and she looks forward to reconnecting. On her way to meet her, she spots a car (Bentley) parked on railroad tracks in the path of an approaching train. She manages to push him off the tracks, but he disappears without a word which haunts her.
As she begins her life in Pelican Cove, several disturbing events will lead to an ongoing mystery to be solved.
A six-year-old boy named Chester
abandoned with a note outside of a cafe
A dead body in a barn
A Vet with PTSD suddenly reappears
A maroon Bentley and mysterious driver
Attempted murder of a beautiful young stranger.
Aime uses her trained skills to see what others cannot as she unravels the mystery, searching for clues to expose the dark secrets. She wants to protect this child while helping to solve a crime and the motives behind the crime. While doing so, she must confront her painful secret past.
From loss, war, and despair to joy, love, and redemption.
As always, Joy is a pro with her meticulous research, historical facts, and lyrical prose. Her characters are well developed and highly relatable, and her settings are vivid and descriptive, drawing you into the world of the 1950s, which is one I grew up in and find fascinating.
I enjoyed learning more about the intriguing photo interpreters, and the author includes further reading. It is interesting to see how those skills relate to her investigative ones.
If you enjoy mysteries and historical fiction, this is for you!
"What we remember, she thought, looking out to where the lights of the shops played over the harbor, is so much like that, bouncing and refracting, leaving some things bright and glittering, some things shadowed and blurred. Even that, though, could be healing and good."
A special thank you to Lake Union and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Sept 6, 2022
My Rating: 4 Stars
Sep 2022 Must-Read Books
Amie is a photo interpreter, having served as a WAC in England during WWII and is returning to her hometown in Maine five years after the war.
Shibby Travis, the surrogate mother (who raised her) with whom Amie never lost touch is there, and she looks forward to reconnecting. On her way to meet her, she spots a car (Bentley) parked on railroad tracks in the path of an approaching train. She manages to push him off the tracks, but he disappears without a word which haunts her.
As she begins her life in Pelican Cove, several disturbing events will lead to an ongoing mystery to be solved.
A six-year-old boy named Chester
abandoned with a note outside of a cafe
A dead body in a barn
A Vet with PTSD suddenly reappears
A maroon Bentley and mysterious driver
Attempted murder of a beautiful young stranger.
Aime uses her trained skills to see what others cannot as she unravels the mystery, searching for clues to expose the dark secrets. She wants to protect this child while helping to solve a crime and the motives behind the crime. While doing so, she must confront her painful secret past.
From loss, war, and despair to joy, love, and redemption.
As always, Joy is a pro with her meticulous research, historical facts, and lyrical prose. Her characters are well developed and highly relatable, and her settings are vivid and descriptive, drawing you into the world of the 1950s, which is one I grew up in and find fascinating.
I enjoyed learning more about the intriguing photo interpreters, and the author includes further reading. It is interesting to see how those skills relate to her investigative ones.
If you enjoy mysteries and historical fiction, this is for you!
"What we remember, she thought, looking out to where the lights of the shops played over the harbor, is so much like that, bouncing and refracting, leaving some things bright and glittering, some things shadowed and blurred. Even that, though, could be healing and good."
A special thank you to Lake Union and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Sept 6, 2022
My Rating: 4 Stars
Sep 2022 Must-Read Books
September 6, 2022
I love books set in Maine. There’s just something about the rugged coastline and the small, cozy towns that make a perfect atmosphere for a mystery. And that is precisely what you find in 𝐀 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭.
When Amie returns to her childhood home in Maine after serving as a WAC in WWII, she hopes to reconnect with her surrogate mother, Shibby. But suddenly, odd things start happening: a young abandoned boy arrives, a stranger’s death, and a long-lost friend’s return.
As I was transported to Maine in the 1950s, I couldn’t help but get some Agatha Christie vibes. I loved learning about what a photo interpreter did during the war, as Amie used some of her skills to help solve the mysteries. Memorable characters, plenty of atmosphere, and impressive twists make this a must-read.
Thank you @getredprbooks and @joyjordanlake_books for a gifted copy. A special thanks to the author for this delicious blueberry jam!
When Amie returns to her childhood home in Maine after serving as a WAC in WWII, she hopes to reconnect with her surrogate mother, Shibby. But suddenly, odd things start happening: a young abandoned boy arrives, a stranger’s death, and a long-lost friend’s return.
As I was transported to Maine in the 1950s, I couldn’t help but get some Agatha Christie vibes. I loved learning about what a photo interpreter did during the war, as Amie used some of her skills to help solve the mysteries. Memorable characters, plenty of atmosphere, and impressive twists make this a must-read.
Thank you @getredprbooks and @joyjordanlake_books for a gifted copy. A special thanks to the author for this delicious blueberry jam!
January 7, 2023
I'm definitely going against the majority on this one. I'd give this book 2.5 stars but it's not worth rounding up to 3.
For starters, there's a reason Amazon Unlimited offers books like this for free. I've now read a number of them, and they generally have one thing in common: They're decent story ideas that could become really enjoyable books if the author had a good editor to work with. The idea for A Bend of Light is just fine. Amie heads back to her hometown in a coastal Maine community after personal and professional heartbreak. This is the place where she was ignored by a wealthy, widowed father and pretty much raised by a woman named Shibby who runs a foster home for children with nowhere else to go. On her first night back in town, she comes across a Bentley sitting on the railroad tracks and uses her own car (yikes) to ram it off the tracks seconds before it would be hit by a train. The Bentley then drives off. Over the course of the next few days, Amie asks around about the Bentley, but everyone is tightlipped (a point actually never explained). And then a little boy is found with a note essentially putting him in the care of Shibby. A woman is found dead in a horsebarn. And in a side story, we meet Tom Darney, a WWII vet suffering from PTSD who's now working in Boston for a shady multimillionaire who also just happens to own a lot of property back in the coastal town.
These all eventually come together - or at least parts of them do, for example, the PTSD storyline goes nowhere. The problem is that almost all the characters are so one-dimensional. Fossick, the millionaire bad guy, is such a caricature that I found it difficult not to see him drawn as an actual cartoon. For everything we learn about Tom Darney, there's no explanation for how he could end up working for this guy. Other characters also just seem to "do" things without it making a lot of sense. We also have the requisite black woman working as a waitress (in 1950s Maine) and not taking no guff and the gay baker whom everyone is protecting from those who would out him. I'm not saying these characters shouldn't be included, but make them real, give them a third dimension.
Then there's the writing, which is clunky at best. "If only she could read a face as well as she'd learned to find arsenals and V-2 rocket launchers in a grainy black-and-white-landscape." And Shibby's constant down-home Texasisms "That man was more hat than cattle" eventually just become iritating. Also, if you're going to write about places, get your facts straight. People from the South End are not from "Southie"—Southie means South Boston, not the same thing. Something that a lot of people in other parts of the country actually know.
And finally - these books get the lesser narrators. Not only is her attempt at a Boston accent rarely successful, the narrator refers to the local "congregational" church - not once but twice - as the "congressional" church.
For starters, there's a reason Amazon Unlimited offers books like this for free. I've now read a number of them, and they generally have one thing in common: They're decent story ideas that could become really enjoyable books if the author had a good editor to work with. The idea for A Bend of Light is just fine. Amie heads back to her hometown in a coastal Maine community after personal and professional heartbreak. This is the place where she was ignored by a wealthy, widowed father and pretty much raised by a woman named Shibby who runs a foster home for children with nowhere else to go. On her first night back in town, she comes across a Bentley sitting on the railroad tracks and uses her own car (yikes) to ram it off the tracks seconds before it would be hit by a train. The Bentley then drives off. Over the course of the next few days, Amie asks around about the Bentley, but everyone is tightlipped (a point actually never explained). And then a little boy is found with a note essentially putting him in the care of Shibby. A woman is found dead in a horsebarn. And in a side story, we meet Tom Darney, a WWII vet suffering from PTSD who's now working in Boston for a shady multimillionaire who also just happens to own a lot of property back in the coastal town.
These all eventually come together - or at least parts of them do, for example, the PTSD storyline goes nowhere. The problem is that almost all the characters are so one-dimensional. Fossick, the millionaire bad guy, is such a caricature that I found it difficult not to see him drawn as an actual cartoon. For everything we learn about Tom Darney, there's no explanation for how he could end up working for this guy. Other characters also just seem to "do" things without it making a lot of sense. We also have the requisite black woman working as a waitress (in 1950s Maine) and not taking no guff and the gay baker whom everyone is protecting from those who would out him. I'm not saying these characters shouldn't be included, but make them real, give them a third dimension.
Then there's the writing, which is clunky at best. "If only she could read a face as well as she'd learned to find arsenals and V-2 rocket launchers in a grainy black-and-white-landscape." And Shibby's constant down-home Texasisms "That man was more hat than cattle" eventually just become iritating. Also, if you're going to write about places, get your facts straight. People from the South End are not from "Southie"—Southie means South Boston, not the same thing. Something that a lot of people in other parts of the country actually know.
And finally - these books get the lesser narrators. Not only is her attempt at a Boston accent rarely successful, the narrator refers to the local "congregational" church - not once but twice - as the "congressional" church.
September 6, 2022
For me this book started out like a jumbled up mess.
I was about 40% into the book when it finally started to make sense. It really took off there and becomes quite the page turner.
I liked Ami, she was smart and observant. She should have been the police chief. It’s a good mystery and keeps you guessing
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
I was about 40% into the book when it finally started to make sense. It really took off there and becomes quite the page turner.
I liked Ami, she was smart and observant. She should have been the police chief. It’s a good mystery and keeps you guessing
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
July 30, 2022
Amie, a photo interpreter for the Allied unit, has returned to her hometown in Maine after World War II has ended. Soon after, Amie finds a silent, abandoned boy with a note, begging for someone to care for him. Amie takes him in but then the strange events continue. Next, a Boston socialite is found dead in Amie’s barn. And then an old friend, believed to have died in the war, reappears out of nowhere. Are these events somehow connected?
I am a fan of historical fiction and the 1950’s are one of my favorite time periods. So I was very excited to read A BEND OF LIGHT, and I was not disappointed. It was a great story that puts you in a beautiful costal town in Maine. I really enjoyed this twisty story that kept me guessing. The big reveal was great and I would definitely recommend this one to historical fiction fans!
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and getreadprbooks for including me on this book tour.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
I am a fan of historical fiction and the 1950’s are one of my favorite time periods. So I was very excited to read A BEND OF LIGHT, and I was not disappointed. It was a great story that puts you in a beautiful costal town in Maine. I really enjoyed this twisty story that kept me guessing. The big reveal was great and I would definitely recommend this one to historical fiction fans!
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and getreadprbooks for including me on this book tour.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
April 7, 2022
A Bend of Light offers a moving look into 1950s America. One which we often sentimentalize. But Jordan-Lake reveals that it was full of the same love, same dreams - and same schemes that permeate throughout time. Centered around a port town in Maine, past and present come together with a cast of characters that, layer by layer, discover the truth about old hurts and past loves, and why a murder has drawn them all back together. Illuminated through compelling, realistic dialogue, readers will enjoy the escape provided by A Bend of Light.
February 2, 2023
A Bend of Light
By: Joy Jordan- Lake
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A beautiful story set in Maine. I love Maine and the descriptions in this book have me ready to go back.
After loosing a promotion Aime heads back to her hometown in Maine to be surrounded by the comforts of home. Shibby is her surrogate mother and took her in when she was little.
A little boy is found with a note asking Shibby to take care of him. Where did this little boy come from? The past and present collide in this touching story. Family is not always blood. The characters in this town all had a story to tell. Loved this book and cannot wait for what’s next by this author.
By: Joy Jordan- Lake
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A beautiful story set in Maine. I love Maine and the descriptions in this book have me ready to go back.
After loosing a promotion Aime heads back to her hometown in Maine to be surrounded by the comforts of home. Shibby is her surrogate mother and took her in when she was little.
A little boy is found with a note asking Shibby to take care of him. Where did this little boy come from? The past and present collide in this touching story. Family is not always blood. The characters in this town all had a story to tell. Loved this book and cannot wait for what’s next by this author.
September 15, 2022
Well written, But
This was an unusual and beautifully crafted book in terms of its depth and description. But, there always seemed to be a misstep in the plot like you're walking a path and not quite sure where to place your next step. This feeling was especially true about the ending like there
was another ending or sequel just around the corner.
This was an unusual and beautifully crafted book in terms of its depth and description. But, there always seemed to be a misstep in the plot like you're walking a path and not quite sure where to place your next step. This feeling was especially true about the ending like there
was another ending or sequel just around the corner.
October 19, 2022
With World War II a not so distant memory, a photographic interpreter named Amie Stilwell reluctantly returns to her hometown in Maine. In between jobs, Amie is floundering in more ways than one. Adding to her distress is being back home, the last place she expected to go to for a fresh start.
Luckily Amie has Shibby, a woman whose been like a mother to her. Together the two women find a boy who needs shelter. They take him in, but as more mysteries (and people) resurface, a return to a simpler life ends up growing more complicated than Amie ever expected.
There’s a lot to unpack in this novel as it has many angles and layers. While loosely connected, all roads come back to life in the aftermath of war. For Amie, she’s tackling both the professional and personal fallout. But the characters she comes in contact with are casualties, too.
Having never lived through a major war myself I’ve always been fascinated by the romanticism that often comes along with the subject matter. A Bend of Light, however, takes a different approach to the genre. Fans of historical fiction mixed with mystery will enjoy this unique take on an otherwise prominent backdrop for historical novels
Luckily Amie has Shibby, a woman whose been like a mother to her. Together the two women find a boy who needs shelter. They take him in, but as more mysteries (and people) resurface, a return to a simpler life ends up growing more complicated than Amie ever expected.
There’s a lot to unpack in this novel as it has many angles and layers. While loosely connected, all roads come back to life in the aftermath of war. For Amie, she’s tackling both the professional and personal fallout. But the characters she comes in contact with are casualties, too.
Having never lived through a major war myself I’ve always been fascinated by the romanticism that often comes along with the subject matter. A Bend of Light, however, takes a different approach to the genre. Fans of historical fiction mixed with mystery will enjoy this unique take on an otherwise prominent backdrop for historical novels
September 27, 2023
With moving prose and memorable characters, A Bend of Light sets in motion a compelling mystery set in a 1950s coastal town in Maine that will stay with readers long after the last page is turned. A fascinating, engrossing story.
January 9, 2023
Really wanted to like this book but the stereotype characters and the typical romantic plot got in the way. The other annoying piece is that so many writers throw historical people Into their novels with dialogue and actions which are not real, hence I call them fictional history rather than historical fiction. Why Jordan-Lake felt it necessary to include Eunice Kennedy in a small walk-on part didn’t make sense and actually seemed very contrived. The other tiresome part is writers throwing every historical detail into the book, when if the book were actually being written in the time period they would not note the name brand of lipstick or EVERY single song title. In addition she has one character adjust her silk stockings which women were probably not wearing in 1950 unless she had stashed away a batch from before the war. If this doesn’t get on your TBR list, don’t worry, you haven’t missed much.
October 9, 2022
I was looking forward to this great mystery as I began page 1.
I loved Amie, Shibby and Chester’s story and actually would have been elated had the story stayed on them full time. The characters jumped off the pages for me and even now I’m still wondering what will be next for them.
The story of Tom felt a little disjointed to me for a long time. I think that was on purpose based on the story overall but I didn’t enjoy how it separated me from the story and the happiness I felt with the characters in Pelican Cove.
The ending made me feel like this may be a continued story with a Book 2 coming. I didn’t find that information anywhere so I’m not sure.
Thank you to #getredpr for this interesting read. All opinions expressed are my own.
I loved Amie, Shibby and Chester’s story and actually would have been elated had the story stayed on them full time. The characters jumped off the pages for me and even now I’m still wondering what will be next for them.
The story of Tom felt a little disjointed to me for a long time. I think that was on purpose based on the story overall but I didn’t enjoy how it separated me from the story and the happiness I felt with the characters in Pelican Cove.
The ending made me feel like this may be a continued story with a Book 2 coming. I didn’t find that information anywhere so I’m not sure.
Thank you to #getredpr for this interesting read. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 24, 2023
A great setting, a coastal village in Maine, after WWII. With a mystery at it's heart and a slow romance, this story will pull you in, slap you around a bit before offer a satisfying ending.
February 23, 2024
3.25 stars (Audible). Good whodunit (I certainly didn't figure it out), but also overly complicated. Just ok.
August 15, 2022
A Bend of Light was a lovely escape to 1950s New England. The main characters, historical context and vivid scenery were carefully drawn, and I quickly came to love the powerhouse women driving the plot. The story unfolded in a suspenseful and surprising way making for a very satisfying mystery. I loved getting lost in this book and would highly recommend it! (I received a complimentary ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
June 18, 2022
I finished reading my ARC last night. Today I’m sad because I miss Amie, Shibby, Chester, Jake, etc. That’s the mark of a good story for me - it’s like missing a friend. And what’s not to love about the location? Of course, Joy Jordan-Lake beautifully describes the coastal Maine village. To me the focus of the story is more of a mystery than an historical novel. I did love the time period though and learning about photo interpreters during WWII. Joy deftly weaves a tale of suspense filled with drama sprinkled with bits of wisdom and humor. Well written, well plotted, well drawn characters. I loved Shibby’s “blessed are……” sayings (there were several……..“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. And fresh lemonade” / “Blessed are the quiet, for they shall hear God—and also when they’re called for dessert.”) Also, I am usually pretty good with figuring out mysteries. I thought I had solved this one but NO. I was totally sucker punched when the big reveal came. Did not see that coming. This would make a good movie. I appreciate receiving a free ARC.
April 7, 2022
In Joy Jordan-Lake's latest novel, we follow Amie Stilwell, courageous and strong-willed, as she tackles a series of mysteries while confronting her past.
As Amie returns home to her quiet coastal town in post WWII America, she's met by a young boy carrying a note asking to be cared for, a dead socialite, and a friend from the past, assumed dead, who suddenly reappears. Amie doesn't waste any time using her skills as a photo interpreter to uncover the truth.
Deftly written and meticulously researched, Joy Jordan-Lake delivers a masterful novel of secrets and time and place. With pitch-perfect prose and flawless details, A Bend Of Light is a thoughtful read, solidifying Jordan-Lake's status as a standout voice in historical fiction.
As Amie returns home to her quiet coastal town in post WWII America, she's met by a young boy carrying a note asking to be cared for, a dead socialite, and a friend from the past, assumed dead, who suddenly reappears. Amie doesn't waste any time using her skills as a photo interpreter to uncover the truth.
Deftly written and meticulously researched, Joy Jordan-Lake delivers a masterful novel of secrets and time and place. With pitch-perfect prose and flawless details, A Bend Of Light is a thoughtful read, solidifying Jordan-Lake's status as a standout voice in historical fiction.
January 24, 2023
(2.5⭐️) Many thanks to @tlcbooktours for including me on this tour.
There were many things to love about this story:
📷Bold female characters
📷Small town setting
📷1950’s vibe
📷Look into photo interpreters
📷Theme of found family
📷Slow burn mystery
And yet, I found myself wanting. With disjointed writing and a muddled plot, I quickly found myself waning of interest. Perhaps if I had felt connected to the characters or setting, the missteps in storyline could’ve been overlooked. Unfortunately, the things I usually love within this book were overrun by the parts that didn’t work.
There were many things to love about this story:
📷Bold female characters
📷Small town setting
📷1950’s vibe
📷Look into photo interpreters
📷Theme of found family
📷Slow burn mystery
And yet, I found myself wanting. With disjointed writing and a muddled plot, I quickly found myself waning of interest. Perhaps if I had felt connected to the characters or setting, the missteps in storyline could’ve been overlooked. Unfortunately, the things I usually love within this book were overrun by the parts that didn’t work.
November 8, 2022
This is an atmospheric historical mystery set in the fictional town of Pelican Cove, Maine but has many similarities to the real Kennebunkport. The time is 1950 which seems like it would be a time of prosperity after WWII, but this book has characters that come back from the war broken and changed who are just trying to get some semblance of their pre-war life back.
The mystery itself is intricately woven as Amie Stilwell, one of our primary characters has returned back to Pelican Cove after being passed over for a promotion in Washington, DC for a male with less experience.
As soon as she drives into Pelican Cove, she saves an unidentified person from purposefully getting their car hit by an oncoming train.
There is also a child named Chester who won’t speak that has been abandoned, a mysterious death, a suspicious fall, a best friend back from the dead, and a man of means that could be a catalyst for all of these events.
The book gives very Americanized Agatha Christie vibes with its interwoven relationships set in a small village.
The character of Amie is excellent and I found it fascinating that her job during the war was to spot details in aerial photographs. This skill helps her in her quest to find the bad guy.
I really hope that Amie and Pelican Cove will not be a one and done book as I found the mystery elements interesting and the town with its characters worth coming back to in a future read.
The mystery itself is intricately woven as Amie Stilwell, one of our primary characters has returned back to Pelican Cove after being passed over for a promotion in Washington, DC for a male with less experience.
As soon as she drives into Pelican Cove, she saves an unidentified person from purposefully getting their car hit by an oncoming train.
There is also a child named Chester who won’t speak that has been abandoned, a mysterious death, a suspicious fall, a best friend back from the dead, and a man of means that could be a catalyst for all of these events.
The book gives very Americanized Agatha Christie vibes with its interwoven relationships set in a small village.
The character of Amie is excellent and I found it fascinating that her job during the war was to spot details in aerial photographs. This skill helps her in her quest to find the bad guy.
I really hope that Amie and Pelican Cove will not be a one and done book as I found the mystery elements interesting and the town with its characters worth coming back to in a future read.
November 12, 2022
Joy Jordan-Lake, the author of “A Bend of Light” has written an intriguing and captivating mystery. The genres for this novel are Mystery, Thriller, History Fiction, and Cozy Mystery. The timeline for this story is 1950 in a small coastal town in Maine. The author describes her dramatic characters as complex, complicated, quirky, and suspect. One important question that does arise in this novel, is what exactly is a family? Another clue that the author mentions are that some of the characters must deal with the secrets of their past before they can move to the present and future. In this novel, there are betrayals, secrets, dangers, attempted suicide, threats, and murders.
The female protagonist, Amie Stilwell, was a brilliant photographer who interpreted all pictures for important information to give to the Allied forces in England during the war. Now unemployed, Amie and her dog return to her home in Maine, and seek out her surrogate mother, Shibby. A young mute child is found with a note in his pocket that requests that Shibby take care of him. No one knows who the mother is.
Amie is looking to open a storefront for her photographs and other art and greets people that she knows and meets some new people. She wonders if Jake, a special friend is alive after the war. There are strange occurrences, and a dead body of a socialite is found in a barn where Amy had been taking pictures.
Amie can give a different perspective on what is happening because of her military training. She is looking to solve the mystery and crime and protect the child. I would highly recommend this intense novel to others.
The female protagonist, Amie Stilwell, was a brilliant photographer who interpreted all pictures for important information to give to the Allied forces in England during the war. Now unemployed, Amie and her dog return to her home in Maine, and seek out her surrogate mother, Shibby. A young mute child is found with a note in his pocket that requests that Shibby take care of him. No one knows who the mother is.
Amie is looking to open a storefront for her photographs and other art and greets people that she knows and meets some new people. She wonders if Jake, a special friend is alive after the war. There are strange occurrences, and a dead body of a socialite is found in a barn where Amy had been taking pictures.
Amie can give a different perspective on what is happening because of her military training. She is looking to solve the mystery and crime and protect the child. I would highly recommend this intense novel to others.
September 15, 2022
A Bend of Light
Why did I enjoy this book? I enjoyed the character development of each person in the story, especially Amie, Chester and Jake. We knew Amie and Shibbie were the solid light of the story and we knew without a doubt that Fossick was a very selfish man who enjoyed taking advantage of others through intimidation. But so many of the other characters dwelled in that gray area and made me want to know what had brought them to that gray area of what is right and what is wrong.
I also appreciated that the author gave us a glimpse of the mores of the 1950’s. The men were very sexist and disrespectful towards women. It was a bit of a nice surprise for a member of an American dynasty to have a minor roll in the story as well. As a fan of historical fiction, I felt this novel was very representative of the time setting.
Why did I enjoy this book? I enjoyed the character development of each person in the story, especially Amie, Chester and Jake. We knew Amie and Shibbie were the solid light of the story and we knew without a doubt that Fossick was a very selfish man who enjoyed taking advantage of others through intimidation. But so many of the other characters dwelled in that gray area and made me want to know what had brought them to that gray area of what is right and what is wrong.
I also appreciated that the author gave us a glimpse of the mores of the 1950’s. The men were very sexist and disrespectful towards women. It was a bit of a nice surprise for a member of an American dynasty to have a minor roll in the story as well. As a fan of historical fiction, I felt this novel was very representative of the time setting.
September 17, 2022
Amie has returned to her hometown in Maine after working as a photo interpreter in WWII to start a new life. She reconnects with Shibby who played a big part in her upbringing despite not being a relative. Suddenly things take a turn - an child is abandoned and left in Shibby's care and one of Amie's oldest friends returns after being believed to be dead. When someone is murdered in the town, Amie begins investigating the mysterious goings on in the hope of uncovering the truth.
This is a brilliant story that felt really unique. I have never read anything set in Maine before and I loved that the location was such a big part of the book. There was a very cosy feeling to the coastal, close-knit community that created a great contrast with the wintery scenes. The fact that it was set in a time with no phones or technology made it seem like I had been transported to a whole new place. The characters were so varied and well-written, and it was immediately clear that many of them had secrets that added to the mystery.
This was a really absorbing story from start to end.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
This is a brilliant story that felt really unique. I have never read anything set in Maine before and I loved that the location was such a big part of the book. There was a very cosy feeling to the coastal, close-knit community that created a great contrast with the wintery scenes. The fact that it was set in a time with no phones or technology made it seem like I had been transported to a whole new place. The characters were so varied and well-written, and it was immediately clear that many of them had secrets that added to the mystery.
This was a really absorbing story from start to end.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
May 1, 2024
3.5
A light historical mystery set in 1950s post-war in a *fictitious* coastal Maine town that to my pleasure (and as it turns out per the author’s notes, purposefully) bore a striking resemblance to Dock Square and Kennebunkport. As a frequenter of KBPT I loved this and enjoyed being transported to 1950s Dock Circle.
The story unfolds in relatively short chapters that bounce between view points and keep the reader engaged. Part historical fiction, part mystery and a bit of romance all rolled into one. I enjoyed the ride and especially the setting and appreciate the obvious research of the author and the character development but did feel occasionally the plot was a bit choppy especially toward the end.
A light historical mystery set in 1950s post-war in a *fictitious* coastal Maine town that to my pleasure (and as it turns out per the author’s notes, purposefully) bore a striking resemblance to Dock Square and Kennebunkport. As a frequenter of KBPT I loved this and enjoyed being transported to 1950s Dock Circle.
The story unfolds in relatively short chapters that bounce between view points and keep the reader engaged. Part historical fiction, part mystery and a bit of romance all rolled into one. I enjoyed the ride and especially the setting and appreciate the obvious research of the author and the character development but did feel occasionally the plot was a bit choppy especially toward the end.
January 24, 2023
This is an excellent yet complex novel with an appealing main character and setting. It's more like a novel with a mystery embedded in it, rather than solely a mystery. Although a murder and an attempted murder do occur, the main character is not the perpetrator. She is simply an excellent observer because she spent World War II as a photographic interpreter for the Allied army. After losing her defense job to a man, she came home to a small town on the coast of Maine to start an art gallery with her photographs and commissioned works from other artists. There are many threads to this story, enough that I may need to read it again to sort it all out. But that makes it worth reading.
September 18, 2022
I just loved Jordan’s previous publication, Under a Gilded Moon. She just has a way of writing historical fiction that draws you right in. Here’s what I’m loving in her latest book:
📸Mystery
🫐Multiple POVs
📸Found family
🫐Atmosphere
📸Real life issues
🫐Small town
📸Relatable characters
📸Mystery
🫐Multiple POVs
📸Found family
🫐Atmosphere
📸Real life issues
🫐Small town
📸Relatable characters
May 22, 2024
I won this book in a giveaway. I'd be interested in other books by this author.
October 10, 2022
A Bend of Light by Joy Jordan-Lake. Pub Date: September 6, 2022. Rating: 3.5 stars. Set in post WWII times along the coast of Maine, this novel brings the mystery, intrigue and cozy vibes. Amie returns to Maine after spending time working as a photo interpreter during the war. Upon returning, odd things start to happen to her. A young boy who appears abandoned arrives into her life, a death, a veteran with PTSD suddenly returns and an attempted murder takes place. This ongoing mystery requires solving and Amie is set on unraveling the mystery. This novel was a perfect blend of mystery and historical fiction. The lyrical writing with mysterious vibes allow the reader to strap in for a wild ride of a story. If you enjoy historical fiction with a little bit of intrigue and mystery, then this book is for you. Thanks to #netgalley and #lakeunionpublishing for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
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