I have been a fan of Elizabeth Musser for a very long time. Her books are thought-provoking and include complex and relatable characters. The latest of her novels, By Way of The Moonlight, is no exception. I loved the story of two women connected by family, faith, and passions. Nana Dale’s story begins in the early 1930s in Atlanta. Dale experiences both privilege and sacrifice. The modern day story featuring Dale’s granddaughter Allie is a journey of uncovering family secrets and a search for treasure. Both women are strong characters, but I think I loved Dale the best. The historical backdrop of her story is also fascinating. I learned so many things about Georgia (my home state) that I didn’t know before. The role of the Golden Isles during WWII is a story worth telling. There are lots of twists and turns in this family drama, and themes of family, home and legacy are strong. As always, Musser weaves a multi-strand story that leads to a very satisfying ending. Beautifully-written, By Way of The Moonlight is a highly recommended read!

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

I do not have enough incredible things to say about By Way of the Moonlight. This book was absolutely phenomenal with the most wonderful writing and storytelling and all I can do is rave about it. Elizabeth Musser wove together an unforgettable masterpiece in this novel!

This story is told in dual timelines telling the stories of both Allie and Dale. What unfolds from it all is a tragic and beautiful story of heartbreak, hope, loss, and love. I equally wanted to devour this book in one sitting and slow down to savor every page. It was so moving and touching and full of emotion that it had me laughing and crying throughout. I'd say that's a telltale sign of an amazing read! There was so much this story had to offer. I truly appreciated the elements of faith that were a thread through the story as well as what might sound silly but was so enjoyable, that being the love of horses throughout.

I will not forget this heartwarming read any time soon and it is one I will sing praises of from the rooftops! I cannot recommend this book more highly.

Many thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for the gifted e-copy!

I took a bit to become invested in By Way of the Moonlight by Elizabeth Musser. I would start and set it aside several times. I finally picked it up with the intention of reading it. I'm so glad I did. I enjoyed this novel.

It is told in two timelines. Allie Massey is mourning her grandmother, Nana Dale. Nana Dale left clues for Allie to follow. The clues will lead her to a fortune that will save her dream of helping children with Horse therapy. It also unravels the mystery revolving around a time period of Nana Dale's life. The parts that she kept hidden, the parts that were personal and tragic.

Interspersed with Allie's story the story of Dale is told. The reader is told Nana's story in the first person. It was perfectly told. The reader discovered the truth along with Allie.

The story is poignant and beautiful. The ending is happy, the family comes together in unexpected ways.

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

What a story! It's written in a dual timeline, so you find out about Dale's life both through her living it and also through Allie finding out about it through journals and newspaper articles.

So much heartbreak, so much hope, so much restoration all wrapped up in Allie's obsession to find a way to keep the Hickory Hills home. Allie must come to terms with the fact that her obsession over a place is causing her to lose the people she loves or the person she loves.

"It will never be enough, Dale, until you decide that you already have it all. You settle in your mind a grateful heart, a content spirit, and everything else will be gravy, girl." This was Husy's reminder to Dale, but it's a reminder Allie needed and one I need to remember as well.

"Be careful what you wish for, Allie. You've got the horse sense and the determination and the heart. But you can lose the ones you love. You can end up getting what you want and being all alone."

Dale suffered heartbreak, loss, grief and deception she likely never knew about, but she stood gritty and determined through it all and began her days on her knees.

Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed another Elizabeth Musser book and want to keep reading everything she writes.

I received this book from Bethany House through Net Galley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What An Amazing, Moving, Heartwrenching, Story About Love and Family!

I was so moved by this book. I had so many feelings from laughter to tears! This book brought so many emotions. I just wanted to sit in it all and soak it up. It is one book where you want to hurry to find out more but you also want to just let it happen and embrace it.

All the women from Nana Dale to Allie were strong characters and the storyline itself was woven together carefully and when that realization occurs and things fall in place the puzzle pieces will fit.

Do not miss out on this book. You will wish you had picked it up sooner!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

Oh wow, what a beautiful book! It’s a really rich story pulling together love of horses, our faith, hardship and struggle, WWII, a little romance, and human connection. This one took my breath away and I felt emotionally hungover by the end, in the best way.

When was the last time you read a book that you instantly wanted to reread?

By the Way of the Moonlight is my answer. It was such an emotional, heartwarming, all the feels book and I did not want to leave the characters. Musser pulled me into both time periods so effortlessly. Honestly, I was so captivated by each one that I cannot even choose a favorite. Her characters are engaging, well developed, and relatable. The secondary characters don't even feel like secondary characters - they are just part of the story, part of the family.

Musser provides so much history in these pages, and I found those extra tidbits so fascinating! History buffs will likely devour the pages of this story. I strongly encourage you to add this to your TBR if you haven't already. You'll find strong heroines, a beautifully written faith thread, and two stories that will take your breath away. See why I didn't want to leave?

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

This is one of the first books I've read to unfold in the early days of the pandemic. It felt interesting to revisit those days and it rang true for me. I liked the dual timeline of this book, and would definitely recommend it for horse lovers & history buffs. The pacing felt a little off to me, but I otherwise enjoyed this book and was invested in the emotional journey it took me on.

By Way of the Moonlight
by Elizabeth Musser
Pub Date 02 Aug 2022r
Bethany House, Bethany House Publishers
Christian


I am reviewing a copy of By the Way of Moonlight through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:


Allie Massey, a gifted physical therapist, has dreamed of making her grandparents' ten-acre estate into a trauma recovery center using equine therapy--a dream her grandmother, for as long as she can remember. Nana Dale, embraced wholeheartedly. But when her grandmother's will is read, Allie is shocked to learn the property has been sold to a developer.



Decades earlier, headstrong Dale Butler's driving passion is to bring home the prized filly her family lost to the Great Depression, but with World War II looming, she's called upon in ways she never could have imagined. And while her world expands to include new friends and new love, tragedy strikes close to home one fateful night during the Battle of the Atlantic, changing her life forever.



When Nana Dale's Past comes to light in Allie's search for answers, Dale's courage and persistence may be just what Allie needs to carry on her grandmother's legacy and keep her own dreams alive.




I give By the Way of Moonlight five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

By Way of the Moonlight is a beautiful dual-time story with characters that will stay in the reader's heart and mind for a long time. Lots of interesting information re WWII and the East coast of the US with German ships and our brave men and women patrolling the beaches. I enjoyed how the author reveals the past and its ultimate effect on the years ahead. Readers who love dual-time stories and stories about horses and WWII all threaded together will not want to miss this one. I was given a complimentary copy of the book through LibraryThing.com and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.

The idea of an alternating timeline can add interest to a story, but in this case it was a constant game of burying the lede. We hear what happened in the past when we read Dale’s story. Then we jump to the future granddaughter who is trying to solve this mystery or another. But there’s no intrigue when we’re just waiting for her to catch up with us.
The timeline also jumps around a lot, both in the past and present, which makes it harder to follow as well.
The quality is there, it just needs reorganization.

I love books set in my home state of Georgia, and this book taught me about a part of history that I wasn't aware of. I enjoyed both the contemporary and historical storylines. This is one of the best books I have read this year!

I tried reading this four different times and just couldn't get into it. I'm sure it's a lovely story for someone, but it's just not for me. DNF at 15%

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-arc of this book. All opinions here are my own.

Absolutely fantastic book! I loved learning about this little known piece of history, and I have been to many of the beaches where this history took place, so it was very delightful to learn all about this! Musser is a beautiful writer, and I loved every second of this book!

This story is one of those that will be a bit difficult to write an adequate review.
Thought provoking and much more
Written in two different time lines, this is the story of Allie, and also her grandmother, Barbara Dale.
Two lovely young women, tied together by family, and also their deep love of horses.
Allie just knows that her grandma intended for her to keep the family home and farm. And she's just a bit obsessed with making this happen. Somehow, before her grandma died, she managed to sign the deed over to another, a hungry land developer/schemer. But, she also said enough that Allie is convinced there is money (or something!) hidden somewhere in the old home that will enable her to keep that property.
And then there's Dale's story. It happens just as WWII is beginning. But she manages to get involved in the war.
There is so much about Dale's life that her family doesn't know about. And she left a book for Allie to read, to learn about that time period, and Dale's involvement in history.
This is a fascinating novel. Delightful characters. Gripping story.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

I didn't know much about this one when I got it but had heard a few good things about it and so I was excited to read it and see what happened. What happened was what I expected more or less, but a bit different from other books I usually read.
The issue I had with this book is that it started slow, kept going slow for a while, then picked up, then slowed down, then picked up, and then ended. It was more on the slow-moving side of things than I'm used to reading and for a while there I wasn't sure if I was going to finish reading it.
It had dual timelines, one in the past with Dale and one in the present with Allie, and they tied together/complemented each other. It was also interesting how they tied the pandemic into this story as well. I was very intrigued and engrossed in Dale's storyline and wanted to know more about her story in the end. Allie's storyline was good and all, but Dale's story was what kept my interest. This also has a lot about horses so if you're a horse lover, historical lover, a fan of those kinds of things then you'll enjoy this story.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Bethany House/Bethany House publishers for letting me read and review this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The cover art of By Way of the Moonlight is what initially pulled me in. And once I started reading, I didn't want to put it down. I love dual time period stories, I am drawn to wartime settings, and I enjoy sifting through the past in a compelling, well-written historical.

The book was a little more lengthy than my usual reads, but I enjoyed dwelling with these characters a bit longer.

Thank you to NetGalley for my complimentary copy.

I'm not big on dual time-lines, as I nearly always prefer one over the other, and wish the story would just focus on that one... But this one was well researched and well written! I did find myself liking things about both parts of the story, and the characters were quite enjoyable in this one! Well done! Definitely one for the historical fiction readers to check out!

Thank you Elizabeth Musser and UpLitReads for the #gifted copy of this novel. This novel is simply stunning.

By the Way of the Moonlight alternates between present day, the Great Depression and WWII. It provides a new perspective to the US entry into the war from the shores of Hilton Head Island. It also follows two love stories from each timeline.

This novel exudes bravery, love and sacrifice. Historical Fiction is my favorite to read, and this novel did not disappoint. My heart was broken and restored in its satisfying ending.

Book Review…By Way of the Moonlight by Elizabeth Musser

This is a story about two women that will risk everything to save what they love most. Nana Dale whos life was forever changed when a tragedy strikes home during the the Battle of the Atlantic and Allie who has always dreamed of making her grandparents estate into a trauma recovery center but she is shocked when her grandmother’s will is read the property is sold. As Nana Dale’s past comes to light in Allie’s search for answers, Dale’s courage and persistence may be just what Allie needs to carry on her grandmother’s legacy and keep her own dreams alive.

It's a beautiful historical fiction story with wonderful characters! The story has two timelines and it was done perfectly! The characters are the type you want and need to know more about. Nana Dale and Tommy’s story is an emotional one they faced so many hardships and Allie’s determination to keep her dream alive and to figure out her grandmother’s past was wonderful! Overall it's a wonderful story about family, love, loss and faith! Thank you Uplit Reads and Elizabeth Musser for sharing this book with me!