The Brighter the Light by Mary Ellen Taylor | 4.5 Star Book Review | #FamilySecrets #DualTimeLine
Book Details
The Brighter the Light by Mary Ellen Taylor
Published by Montlake on 06/07/2022
Genres: Fiction, Family Life, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Saga, Multi-Generational
Format: Audio CD, Audiobook, eBook, Paperback
Pages: 360
From the bestselling author of Honeysuckle Season comes an evocative dual-timeline novel detailing one woman’s journey to discover the hidden stories of her family’s seaside resort.
When a shipwreck surfaces, old secrets are sure to follow.
Or so goes the lore in Ivy Neale’s hometown of Nags Head, North Carolina. When Ivy inherits her family’s beachfront cottage upon her grandmother’s death, she knows returning to Nags Head means facing the best friend and the boyfriend who betrayed her years ago.
But then a winter gale uncovers the shipwreck of local legend—and Ivy soon begins to stumble across more skeletons in the closet than just her own. Amid the cottage’s clutter are clues from her grandmother’s past at the enchanting seaside resort her family once owned. One fateful summer in 1950, the arrival of a dazzling singer shook the staff and guests alike—and not everyone made it to fall.
As Ivy contends with broken relationships and a burgeoning romance in the present, the past threatens to sweep her away. But as she uncovers the strength of her grandmother and the women who came before her, she realizes she is like the legendary shipwreck: the sands may shift around her, but she has found her home here by the sea.
Source: Personal Copy
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Purchase Links for The Brighter the Light
Amazon – OneLink for all countries.
Waterstones The Book Depository
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My thoughts on The Brighter the Light
The Brighter the Light by Mary Ellen Taylor is my review for the 2022 Reading Ladies Summer Blog Collaboration.
I immensely enjoyed this story. Set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the story revolves around The Seaside Resort on Nags Head. It’s told in a dual timeline with narratives from Ruth in the 1950s and her granddaughter Ivy in 2022.
When Ivy inherits her Grandmother’s cottage, she returns home after a stint as a New York City chef to sort the remains of the family resort before selling the home. Just like the local shipwreck that occasionally appears offshore after a storm, family secrets arise that stir Ivy’s curiosity. She is determined to solve the many past mysteries before she again abandons her life on the Outer Banks.
Ivy must confront her past mistakes and memories. Can she forgive her best friend for marrying her ex-boyfriend after she left them for a different future than the one they planned? Will she find a way to forgive herself for abandoning her best friends and Grandma Ruth? Is love lurking on the coast for Ivy?
While sorting her feelings and the remnants of Ruth’s life at the Seaside Resort, Ivy finds clues to the many mysteries lingering from the past. Will she be able to piece together the bits of detritus to finally understand what made her grandmother into the woman, innkeeper, and surrogate mother Ivy loved so much?
The author’s writing style is well-suited to the tale. It’s descriptive without becoming overly flowery. The pace reminds me of time spent on the coast. Slow and steady, yet as riveting as the crashing waves, the story unfolded until I couldn’t stop reading. I was so captured by the tale that I purchased the audiobook, allowing me to switch between the Kindle and my headset, ensuring I still finished my chores when I couldn’t bear to put the book down.
The characters open up to reveal their thoughts, feelings, and flaws. I understood their motivation, and the story prompted a few nostalgic memories of my own summer vacations as a youngster. There is something quite magical about looking at our youthful past from the advantage of age.
Mysteries provide the main focus in this delightful family saga. The storyline is strong enough to support the many characters and their secrets, creating a story that will surely be one of my top reads of the year. I hope my review entices you to learn more about The Brighter the Light.
*There is a family tree at the end of the book, which will help you put the ending in perspective, but I highly suggest you wait until you have finished the book to check it out. It contains crucial info that will spoil the great ending the author has written for you.*
Once you have read it, please come back and join the comment chat about this book.
This is a book from my personal library. The review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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About Mary Ellen Taylor
A southerner by birth, Mary Ellen Taylor’s love of her home state, Virginia, and its past is evident in her contemporary women's fiction, from her first The Union Street Bakery, set in Alexandria, to her latest, Spring House, which takes place on the state’s Eastern Shore. In Spring Cottage and prior novels, Mary Ellen’s protagonists search for their place in the world. They explore issues of family, home and belonging, and their stories entwine with those of the locales in which they unfold, encompassing mysteries past and present.
Richmond born, Mary Ellen has lived there most of her life. She grew up in a family that appreciates stories of all kinds, from a well-told anecdote to a good yarn or a tall tale. Perhaps it was inevitable that she would embrace her storytelling heritage, walk away from her marketing job and challenge herself to become a published author.
"I realized early on the tremendous power stories have to inspire laughter, love, sorrow and even fear. It didn't matter if they were found in the pages of a book, spoken in hushed tones around a campfire, or shared at an old-fashioned family reunion. Stories create connections, and I knew that was what I wanted to do," says Mary Ellen.
Alongside writing, cooking and baking are important creative outlets for Mary Ellen, who's been known to name recipes in honor of her characters. Just a few years ago, she earned her Baking and Pastry Arts Certificate at the University of Richmond's Culinary Arts Program. "In some ways, I liken baking to my efforts as a writer. You need to learn the basic tools of the trade before you can push the limits and create a distinctive sweet dessert or savory novel.”
Her two passions —writing and baking—merged for the first time in The Union Street Bakery. Since then, she's shared favorite recipes, connected to her books Sweet Expectations, At the Corner of King Street, The View from Prince Street, Winter Cottage and Spring House.
Mary Ellen is also known nationally as New York Times and USA Today bestselling suspense novelist Mary Burton. Together, they have published thirty-eight novels, with Mary Burton’s latest, I See You, debuting October 2019.
When not traveling or holed up writing, Mary Ellen spends time with her husband enjoying their empty nest and spoiling their miniature dachshunds, Buddy, Bella and Tiki.
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Purchase The Brighter the Light online from a local Bookshop!
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Amazon Easy Info Links
The Brighter the LightShop on Amazon
The Brighter the LightShop on Amazon
The Brighter the LightShop on Amazon 
The Brighter the LightShop on Amazon
Amazon – OneLink for all countries.
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My review from The Reading Ladies 2021 summer blog tour.
Our Italian Summer by Jennifer Probst
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[…] Find Gina’s blog review of The Brighter the Light here. […]
My Mom is reading this right now. I’m anxious to hear a few more opinions before I decide to try it. It’s good to see it recommended here.
I really enjoyed it. It was a relaxing read.
[…] The Brighter the Light by Mary Ellen Taylor | 4.5 Star Book Review | #FamilySecrets #DualTimeLine […]
I read this over the weekend and loved it! How does the title fit in though? I’m a fast reader so I guess I missed the reference?
I wondered the same thing!
I’m glad it wasn’t just me! 😂😂😂
I hope it’s okay that I borrowed a bit of your logo for the graphics to tie my review into our collaboration.