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Review: Shadow Light - The Light Rising #1

Shadow Light book cover on blue background

This is the book that I was eager to reread as soon as I received the ARC. Shadow Light by Ivy Emerson is worth dropping everything for in order to meet Declan Cole and Tessa Lockwood in London, England. Honestly, this is Christian fiction that you'll want to have waiting for you as I cannot say enough good things about it (I mean, look at that cover!). Make sure you catch it as it releases on February 1, 2026!

Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Book Synopsis

I only ever wanted to stay in control.
Run my security firm.
Find the truth about the past I can’t forget.
I told myself feelings don’t belong in this job—
until she hired me.

I only ever wanted to help people.
Start over.
Prove I could stand on my own again.
I was in my brave-face, teach-myself-to-knit, can-do-anything season—
until he walked back into my life.

The shadows are closing in, dragging the past with them.
But the truth we uncover might be the one thing
that finally brings us into the light—
or tears us apart.

Shadow Light is the first book in The Light Rising Series—a sweet Christian romance with a thread of suspense, blending a heartfelt love story with themes of resilience, forgiveness, and healing.

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

Each time I read a new book by Ivy Emerson, I am blown away. In fact, I'm already smitten with The Light Rising series, making it one of my new favourite series after being thoroughly dazzled by the series opener and wanting to read more. I love that Ivy tackles difficult topics without weighing readers down with despair. It's not to say that her books aren't gritty because they can be, but that her style of writing effuses such hope and joy even during the bleakest moments. It's this juxtaposition that sets us up for Shadow Light, where Declan Cole and Tessa Lockwood are both grappling with the shadows and lights they face in their own lives when they meet as youth at the local art centre. 

Containing just the right amount of suspense, romance, and spiritual transformation, Declan and Tessa's story is riveting and will leave a lasting impression on your heart. The Gospel is faithfully presented as it is intentionally woven into the plot, providing solid truth and deep insights into what God's grace looks like as Declan and Tessa uncover layers of deceit and unsolved mysteries on two continents. If you're looking for a Christian romance that points to so much more than a relationship, this astounding book offers the hope of a new life in Christ and an unforgettable adventure involving a pharmaceutical web.

Book Summary

  • Format of book: 📱
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Recommendation: 👍

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