This book was entrancing in its writing and setting, but I don’t usually go in for horror, and that held true for me with this book. I will say that the author is incredibly kind in real life, and I appreciate the literary quality of the book.

I adored this novel and the magical realism element used through out, Smucker had me guessing until near the end as to the relationships between the characters (don’t want to give anything away). He is masterful with pulling you in through deep literary descriptions and pondering about the world, I can’t wait for his next novel!

Intriguing and thrilling! It was my first novel by Shawn Smucker and it definitely will not be my last! I loved all the conflict with twists and turns!

Light From Distant Stars by Shawn Smucker is a profound and unique novel. This book really explores father-son relationships, the nature of reality, and has an interesting perspective on Scriptures. I think this book is best read when you have a lot of time to process and enjoy it. It is quite a masterpiece. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

I had no idea this was more of a fantasy book when I began to read it. So, unfortunately, that genre does not appeal to me AT ALL! While discovering how grief affects individuals is something I can appreciate, this did not work for me. However, I was moved at how this broken family sought healing and forgiveness.

Thank you to NetGalley and Fleming H. Revell for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Classic Shawn Smucker. Well written. Believable characters. Thought provoking story line. Mysterious. Suspenseful. Highly recommended. Five stars.

“Light From Distant Stars” is the first novel of Shawn Smucker’s that I have read. Having heard him speak about this novel before it came out, I was already intrigued when I picked it up. From the first page I was hooked. This novel is part reality and part not so much. The current reality is interspersed with flashbacks of memory, perhaps fantasy, as we see a battle between good and evil. We learn the power of words, memory and forgiveness. While I finished this book a bit ago, bits of it are still lingering in my head. It was a different sort of read for me, but an author I will read again and again.

Light From Distant Stars has a surprise, yet not a surprise, ending. It's a well-written book that is captivating and hard to put down. Thank you, Shawn Smucker!

I was very taken in by this novel when I started reading, for the writing is strong - compelling, vivid, evocative. And then something happens in the plot which signaled to me that this was magical realism. Which is not really my cup of tea. I did finish the book, and appreciated how the protagonist grew through the main action, but it's not a novel I'll rave about.

Light From Distant Stars by Shawn Smucker is a beautiful Christian novel that looks at life and where love lives.
It is a novel surrounding a middle aged man who contemplates defining moments in his childhood whilst sitting by the hospital bed of his father. The reader sees how fathers appear to let us down but when we really need them, some are there. Whereas others do damage with their tongues and actions. Fathers shape the men their sons become. In contrast God is our faithful Father. Whether we can feel or hear His presence or not, God faithfully walks alongside us every step of our lives.
The past may rise up to haunt us. We can all learn lessons from our pasts but we must not live in them or we will miss out on the present and the future God has in mind for us.
We all have regrets, regrets over things we have done or things we should have done. Regrets will imprison us if we continually focus on them. Regrets only have the power we give them.
Within our memories are defining moments in our lives. We are meant to learn from these and move on, not continually rehash them or they will trap us at a moment in time.
Within the novel there are searches, some are literal, one is spiritual. A character ‘lost’ the God of their childhood. “He [God] seems silent to me… I used to believe God heard us.” God is not ‘lost.’ It is us who wander off from Him and lose our way. The character searches for his way back to God. When we earnestly seek God, we will find Him waiting for us.
Confession is good for the soul. It cleanses and brings healing.
Life is a spiritual battle. “There is evil in the world… most people live their lives content to ignore it. But someone has to do something. Someone has to stop it.” There is darkness in this world. We must defeat the darkness with the light of God.
The whole novel is a journey of discovery, an awakening from despair to hope. From death to life. From lost to found. It is beautifully written and will leave you feeling serene.
I would like to leave you with this most powerful quote:
“We are all broken. Hope remains. There is a Mender.”
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Wow…
As usual, Mr. Smucker’s writing pulled me in from the start. Light from Distant Stars is definitely a fascinating story, for fans and non-fans of suspense alike. Technically, I’m a non-fan of the mystery genre. Not that I dislike it, but I don’t find many interesting ones.
This one was interesting.
I liked the back-and-forth between Cohen’s past and his present, told in past tense and present tense, respectively. The story unfolded from both ends of the timeline, which is not unheard of but is still unique. The words just flow so seamlessly from one page to another– this author knows how to write. The plot, too, it was good. I’m not sure how good it would be on a scale of the suspense genre, but as a reader in general it was gripping, though I did find some parts less fascinating than others.
Cohen was an intriguing character, for sure. Clearly not perfect, and there was more than one decision he made that did not ring true, but intriguing to read about, especially on how his past connected to the present. I enjoyed the other characters as well, though I didn’t connect with them as much.
The author did a nice job showing instead of telling. I don’t recall many times, if any, that Cohen’s emotions were outright stated instead of shown by his thoughts, actions, etc. Also, the descriptions were very well-written if sometimes a little long… and I might have skimmed over some. Ahem.
All in all, it was a great book. I enjoyed it. 🙂 Four stars.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Reads, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for an honest review. A positive review was not required. All opinions and views expressed are my own.*

A man who hates his father discovers his father’s dead body on the floor, covered in blood, assumed murdered. He should call the police, but doesn’t. Is he somehow responsible for his father’s death, or is there another reason for his guilt?

This is a superb story, with elements that feel like magical realism. Smucker writes the kind of stories that leave you exhaling after them, not realising you’ve been holding your breath throughout. The characters feel utterly real and the whole story is beautifully cinematic. As we uncover the secrets of his past, we also get a beautiful portrayal of what guilt does and how we hanker to be absolved. Extra points for complex characters who are church ministers – so many authors resort to two-dimensional portrayals, but Smucker’s thoughtfulness is consistent throughout. As with everything else he’s written, this novel is excellent. One that gets under your skin – highly recommended.

Shawn Smucker is a wonderful storyteller. He had me hooked after the very first sentence when he introduces a scene in which our lead character, Cohen, steps over his father's dead body and walks out into the world as if nothing happened. We spend what feels like the rest of the book inside Cohen's mind, replaying old events, only we don't really know what is true and what isn't. It's this unreliable narration that made it hard for me to connect with the character, or any of the characters for that matter. This was an entertaining story and makes me want to read more from this author because I so enjoyed his writing style. *Advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Light From Distant Stars was a bit of a disappointment for me. The cover is beautiful and the blurb sounded intriguing, but the story wasn't for me. When I opened the book I was so excited and the first chapter was amazing...but as I continued to read it because more and more confusing.

The story switched from current events to his memories of the past and, I've just got to say, I did not understand some of the things that happened. What was that beast? Was it real? I also didn't like the supernatural elements.

All in all, there really wasn't anything I loved about this book and that makes me sad. I've read other reviews and it seems like most people love this story, so please give it a shot if it sounds like something for you.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

When Cohen Marah steps over his father's body in the basement embalming room of the family's funeral home, he has no idea that he is stepping into a labyrinth of memory.

Over the next week, Cohen's childhood comes back in living color. The dramatic events that led to his parents' separation. The accident Cohen witnessed and the traumatic images he couldn't unsee. And the two children in the forest who became his friends--and enlisted him in a dark and dangerous undertaking. As the lines blur between what was real and what was imaginary, Cohen is faced with the question he's been avoiding: Is he responsible for his father's death?



In Shawn Smucker captivating style, he weaves together a fascinating tale of forgiveness, reconciliation and hope even in the darkest time. I really enjoyed this story of real and broken people. It was a book that I quite enjoyed this book. I love how he weaves in some mystical and super natural elements with some of the very real and timely events. If you are a fan of authors like Billy Coffey and Ted Dekker, you will likely enjoy this book too.



Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

The story opens up with Cohen looking over his father’s body on the floor in a huge puddle of blood. Cohen and his sister Kaye worked with his father. Cohen’s sister Kaye was having twins – due any time. The father was a fallen preacher who ended up running a funeral home. The story starts out in current time and then switches to when he was a child and his father was a preacher.

Cohen remembers fond memories with his father and him playing baseball. Then there were other disturbing memories of him finding his father in a compromising situation. Then his experiences with the unhealthy relationship his mother and father had which spilled over to an abusive relationship with their kids. This was a dark story with a religious angle to it that was strange (almost Stephen Kings “Carrie” strange).

I didn’t connect with any of the characters nor their situations. I wasn’t fond of the father/mother and what kind of church they lead either. I was confused as to the story line and where it was going as the author switched from present to past and back again. I often wasn’t sure right away what timeline I was in which made for a choppy reading experience. I did read this book until the end to see how it ended. Things went from bad to worse at the end. It was an unimaginable ending I didn’t see coming. It was good writing; this author has a vivid imagination which made it harder to read because parts were pretty spooky. I don’t normally read this type of book. Its a different kind of reading experience, one I did not enjoy. This story is dark, eerie, sad, heart wrenching and gritty. The events mentioned in this story are of an affair, murder, confessions with a priest, descriptions of a beast, unhealthy church situations and an active shooter. If you are into dark stories you will enjoy this tale.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Catalogue front page www.bookfun.org

This book encouraged me to seek God’s purposes for my life to go anow find what I'm called to do. It was a distinct reminder of family and what that actually means to me. I was reminded that this looks different for different people.

I know that many readers will love this book, as I I think the author is extremely talented. But quite honestly, this book was not for me. I should have read a little bit more about the book before I requested it. This is not the author’s fault. So please, give it a try yourself—you may love it.
I’m giving it a four star rating for the author’s obvious talent.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Light from the Distant Stars is a roller coaster that you cannot even fathom where the next turn will take you. You think the book will go one direction, because its first pages start out like the beginning of a crime scene detective television show. Instead you find yourself on a journey through the course of a man’s memories as he battles against his pain, his questions, and the dark. It is a reminder that though the Light is complicated, it cannot be outshone by the darkness.

Light from Distant Stars by Shawn Smucker

Cohen is trying to figure out why his dad is lying in a puddle of blood in the basement of the family funeral home. Did he kill his father? While he tries to answer that question, the reader goes on flashbacks of Cohen’s early family life to determine how they arrived at this point.

This book probes the father-son relationship that seems to be prevalent in our culture. “Maybe that’s the problem with fathers and sons—they lose each other. . . Everyone loses their dad. It doesn’t matter if you want to or not. It’s finding him again that’s the hard part. I don’t know if that happens very much.” Cohen counsels Thatcher, a troubled teen he meets in the hospital.

This book is part fiction, part philosophy, part supernatural-thriller and part coming of age novel. The Aauthor was new to me, but this book made me curious to try his other books.

It was well-written and the plot moved along at a decent pace, but I didn’t find a character that resonated with me. I definitely felt like I was an outsider looking in, trying to figure out what was happening.

I was happy with the resolution of the book. It does offer hope and doesn’t strand readers in a dark place.
Readers who enjoy Billy Coffey, or Ted Dekker, may find much to like in this book. I am grateful to the publisher for the free copy I received for this, my honest review.