I am so overjoyed that I was able to read The Light of Stars by Jenelle Hovde as it was everything I hoped it would be, plus even more. I knew going into it that there would be suspense, intrigue, romance, crossing cultures, and science, but the way that everything came together was utter perfection. This is a title I will keep recommending this year as this book is a brilliant exposition into biblical justice without sacrificing any elements of the plot.
Many thanks to Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Book Synopsis
An arranged marriage. A powerful company tainted with corruption. Two souls caught between obligation and a longing to find their true calling in this Regency romance set in glittering London ballrooms and Calcutta street markets.
When Kitty Grenville’s grandfather announces her engagement to Sebastian Sinclair, she’s appalled. She barely remembers the boy she met once as a child―and now he’s a man tied to the East India Company, the very organization that tore Kitty and her brother from their mother and home in Hyderabad years ago. Unwilling to relinquish her dream of a love match or her passion for astronomy, Kitty is determined to refuse the marriage and find freedom in her own way.
Sebastian Sinclair carries the weight of duty and regret. To atone for past sins, he complies with his grandfather’s orders to return to England, fulfill a long-standing betrothal, and defend the maligned East India Company before Parliament. Though Kitty makes her disinterest clear, Sebastian is drawn to her intellect and spirit.
As Kitty navigates her first London season, her opinion of Sebastian begins to shift, especially when he shields her from scandal. When he’s abruptly called back to India, Kitty stuns everyone by marrying him and going with him, hoping to escape her grandfather’s control―and to find her mother.
But the challenges that await in India are greater than imagined. Together, Kitty and Sebastian must confront the legacy of family and empire―and discover if a marriage born of obligation can grow into a love strong enough to endure.
Source: Amazon
Book Thoughts
This is a book that you will want to begin early in the day as it will likely keep you up while the stars are out in order to reach its conclusion. Right from the start, Kitty Grenville's shocking abduction and subsequent move halfway around the world sets the stage for what's to come as she becomes a pawn in her grandfather's schemes. Exploring contrasting cultures and the concept of not belonging to either England or India, Kitty is trapped by societal expectations and family dictates that impede on her love of the sciences—namely astronomy—and the freedom she has sought her whole life. Similarly, Sebastian Sinclair is also bound by his grandfather's demands after he seeks redemption from his past.
In colliding like stars, Kitty and Sebastian generate something even more marvelous than they could have imagined as a cold formality turns into the makings of sacrificial love. Their story sparkles with faith when circumstances are bleak, along with hope as truths are unearthed about the depths of corruption surrounding the company that Sebastian works for. This book is a dream to read as William Carey and William Wilberforce make appearances, exhorting Christians to both make the Gospel available to others and to apply the Gospel to social reforms. Readers who enjoy an unvarnished view of history that does not turn from the social ills of the time will find the discussions on systemic exploitation to be a gripping reminder of what it means to stand up for what is right in the name of Christ.
Book Summary
- Format of book: 📱
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Recommendation: 👍
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