Hold the Light Review

This book really got to me. I’m not sure I can totally explain it, but it just cut right into my heart. Sure, it made me appreciate life and the blessings that I have. But above that, I think it just really just got me thinking about life, compassion, and helping others. Thank you April for writing such a powerful book!

About the Book

To an artist, the light is everything. So what is Amber supposed to do when facing blindness?

Amber spent her life adapting first to being abandoned by her birth mother as a toddler, and then to the death of her adoptive father in her teen years. Now she s moved past all that, loving life as an independent woman: she has a job as an art instructor and the perfect apartment.

But when a routine eye appointment reveals she s losing her sight, life comes to a halt. Pressures come at her from all sides. Her mother, her boss, her boyfriend and her closest friend, Shannon, all have ideas about what s best for her.

Even after her blindness counselor, Ethan, befriends her and opens her eyes to new opportunities and the possibility of a deeper relationship, one haunting question remains: How could the God she loved all her life turn everything upside down again?

My Perspective

Wow. I couldn’t pick up another book for a couple of days after reading this book. I just had to soak it all in and give myself a breather before starting again. There was so much emotion, and I was so invested in the characters that the story felt real to me. My heart ached for them, and there were definitely some times where tissues were a must!

I was captivated by the end of the first chapter. First of all, the writing was great. And although the author wouldn’t know this, my husband’s grandmother suffers from the same disease that Amber does, which allowed me to instantaneously connect with her. I did not realize it could happen to someone so young, which made me want to read even more! And here’s the thing. When Amber found out her diagnosis, I fell she acted in a realistic manner. There was no fluff, like with some authors. It was just true, raw and realistic emotions. It made me like her character even more, as I felt like I may have reacted in the same manner.

Enter Mr. Ethan. This guy is just wow. Sure, he was just helping Amber out in the beginning. And yes, he did keep a secret from her – you’ll have to read to find out what! But he was able to look past a disability and into the heart. That sealed the deal for me. I knew from that moment on I was going to like him. I only hoped that Amber would too!

I will admit, there was a character who was pretty creepy (not naming names, but if you read it, you’ll figure it out pretty quickly). This was a great example of how we need to be careful of how others present themselves and what they are telling us. There was a character here who sounded like a solid Christian. Said all the right things at the right time. But then, well this character changed, or at least our perception of him/her did. They started using God as a clutch, not as someone they truly had a relationship with. And it just reminded me that we need to be careful of that in our everyday lives.

Overall, this book was wonderful. It was emotional, heartwarming, and really gets you thinking about your life and what you have the ability to see and not see. Above all, it provides hope. Hope that God will take care of you. Hope in knowing that He has a plan for us all. And Hope that even when something difficult comes out way, we will make it through. I cannot wait to see what future releases come from this author!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Author

April McGowan loves to write inspirational fiction. She, her husband, and two teens live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. April is an award-winning author and member of Oregon Christian Writers and American Christian Fiction Writers. When she’s not writing, reading down her book list, homeschooling her son, chasing her kitten, Saoirse, or playing board games, you might find her at her drum kit, imagining she’s on a world tour. Hey, it could happen.