FROM SECRETS TO A SENSE OF BELONGING!

Author Christine Nolfi has a way of getting to the heart of the matter with her writing. Her latest release, A Brighter Flame, is an excellent example of this! She has written this moving plot that tells of a family that finds a way to move from being full of secrets into a sense of belonging. Each member of the family has their secrets; none are exempt. The problem is they are finally reaching a crisis point for all of them. There is a chance for a reunion but it will require a lot of truth, a lot of “little deaths” from past behaviors from each of them to bring about healing and the hope of belonging. Nolfi knows how to write about a family coming back together!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

Vale is devastated when the bar she owns with her father, Bo burns to the ground. Little did she know that Bo had skipped the insurance payments. In an instant, her bar and livelihood burns to the ground. Devastated and disappointed, Vale must return to her grandmother’s house to regroup. Unbeknownst to Vale, her half-sister Blythe, is already currently living with their grandmother as she is trying to resolve issues in her marriage. Vale and Blythe have always had a difficult relationship as Blythe was always the favored child. Difficult events and emotions related to family relationships are ever present in this novel. This family drama is fraught with secrets and bad memories. Can Vale and Blythe come to an understanding and an improved relationship? Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher (Lake Union Publisher) for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be looking for more to read by this author.

A Brighter Flame is is one of those books that you find yourself sinking into as the characters become your friends and their stories pull you into their lives. Christine Nolfi has a knack for bringing the characters to life with real-life drama and humor where the reader can relate to their lives with compassion and understanding. Vale is a young woman who was raised in a broken family and has been running away from that situation since childhood - landing in Pittsburgh with her birth-father and becoming partners with him in a bar. Following a catastrophe at the bar and with urging to come home by Grandmother Iris, Vale returns to Philadelphia. Her estranged step-sister, Blythe, along with her mother and step-father once again bring the family drama at Vale. As Vale becomes entwined in their lives again, she finds understanding that not everyone has the same memories and that the truth behind her feelings of abandonment lie deeper than she realizes. Following along with Vale, Blythe, Iris and Vale's new love interest, Emmett, brings the reader through the discovery of family ties, heartache, unconditional love, and discovery. This book was such an enjoyable read that I can wholeheartedly recommend to lovers of women's or adult general fiction. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #ABrighterFlame #NetGalley.

A BRIGHTER FLAME by Christine Nolfi is a touching and heart-wrenching story of family, love and second chances. Vale Lightner’s life goes up in flames, literally, when the bar she co-owns with her father, Bo, burns down. To make matters even worse, Bo let their insurance policy lapse, so the bar is a total loss. With no other choice, Vale reluctantly returns home to Philadelphia to stay with her Nana Iris until she can figure everything out. The last thing she wants to do is to face her estranged mother, stepfather and half-sister Blythe who have always treated her as if she didn’t belong. When she arrives at Nana’s, she is shocked to find Blythe staying there, too. Perfect Blythe is having a crisis in her marriage that may lead to divorce and the last thing she needs is to have Vale witness her turmoil. As the two sisters are forced together, they both examine their painful memories from the past and the long-buried secrets they’ve kept. As Vale and Blythe try to figure out their futures, can they possibly overcome their differences and find strength in a relationship that was once so close? I was drawn into this story completely. I loved Nana and how she brought the family together. A BRIGHTER FLAME is a compelling book that I know I will be recommending to all of my reader friends. This is another winner for Christine Nolfi. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

I loved A Brighter Flame. This is a book that made me cry a lot and gave me all the feels. Vale is a great character. She’s not perfect but she’s strong-willed, tough, and very relatable. I cried a few times reading this. I loved the way the author explores family relationships in the book especially Vale and her sister Blythe. This is a powerful novel. I’d highly recommend it.

A story of two sisters who are bought back together after years of family conflict. Vale has returned home to Philadelphia after the bar that she owned with her father has burned down. Her sister, Blythe, is facing her own problems with her marriage to a famous ball player. With the help of their grandmother and friends, the two sisters reunite and plan for their future. I wasn't into this book that much, I guessed the ending of the book before finishing it.

I’ve read several books by Christine Nolfi and with each new book I feel that they keep getting better and better! The Brighter Flame is a wonderful story about family, finding forgiveness and sacrificing or giving of oneself in a time of need all in the name of love. Vale, the main character, has always felt like the odd one out. She never felt like she fit in or was loved or wanted in her family. Her mother and stepfather always seemed to favor her half sister Blythe and because of that, Vale tended to act out. It was Vale’s grandmother Iris that always made Vale feel loved and worthy. After a fire, Iris entices Vale to return home under false pretenses in hopes that she will mend her relationship with her sister Blythe. From there, as the story plays out, what ensues is the most wonderful and loving gesture a person can give of oneself. It’s an inspiring story that left me feeling both happy and content. It’s very uplifting! I’d like to thank Christine Nolfi for writing such a great story. It makes you realize you should never give up on your dreams, that anything is possible, sometimes you just need a little help. I loved this story and can’t recommend it enough. I think all women who read this will agree. I’m giving this book a 5 star rating and look forward to reading more from this author in the near future!

In A Brighter Flame, tragedy opens the door to a bigger possibility for healing and for love! So beautifully written and filled with all the big emotions filling my heart leaving me with a big book hangover!

A positively wonderful novel with characters written descriptively and consistently. The story of warring sisters always at odds with each other is tastefully done bringing the “Whys” of their estrangement to the forefront. Well worth your reading time and pleasure.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A love story but not necessarily the traditional story you would expect. I adored the story of Vale and thought it was a beautifully written book, full of heart. I am really grateful to Lake Union for providing an ARC.

Vale learns you can go home again and that reconciliation is possible in this novel of a fractured family. When her bar burns down, Vale retreats to her grandmother who has her own plans in mind- namely forcing Vale and her sister Blythe back together. In many ways this is trope-y but it's got some really nice spots that kept me reading. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

The book starts with Vale waking the to the scream of sirens. She dresses in a hurry and rushes down the street and spots a crowd on the street across from the bar she owns with her father. They lost everything in that fire. Vale knew they could start again with the insurance money. She needed to find her father and let him know what happened. When Bo (her father) and Vale opened the bar it was Vale's wish to become closer to her father who she did not spend much time with growing up. Vale's mom (Audrey) and Bo divorced when Vale was little. Audrey remarried immediately to Grant and had a daughter named Blythe. The sisters were close until Vale thought Audrey had more time and affection for Blythe so Audrey became the sister that made life impossible for Blythe. Now to the present and Nana (grandmother) is needing Audrey to come stay as she needs to have tests done. When Audrey gets to Nana's Blythe is there and is not happy to see Audrey. Now starts the story of Nana hoping to get the sisters back together. I felt the writing was smooth and not to many characters to account for. I had a good feeling reading this story and it kept me interested. It was a good storyline and I enjoyed reading it. There was a satisfying ending as well..

A Brighter Flame by Christine Nolfi is a particularly delightful book. Vale is owning a bar with her father in Philadelphia which burns down. With nothing left she goes home to stay with her beloved grandmother. She has a broken relationship with her sister Blythe and her mother. Ms. Nolfi explores the relationships and shows that family is there for you and family secrets become known. The story was not light but was told in effective way. I enjoyed the book and all the characters especially the little girl next door.
I have read books by this author and this one is just as good or better.

This was a beautifully written book with everything a reader could want, including an interesting story line (along with some subplots that kept the book even more interesting!) and compelling characters. Nolfi does an especially impressive job with her characters, writing in such a way that I felt like I was reading about people I actually knew. I particularly enjoyed the cunning Nana/Iris in her endeavor to act as the family peacekeeper, which was not an easy task when dealing with feuding granddaughters, Vale and Blythe.

This book hooked me from the first chapter and continued to keep my attention until the very end. I was truly disappointed when it ended! Nolfi did a fantastic job laying out the story and slowly filling in key details as the story progressed. I love books written in this way as it keeps me reading to learn more. This was easily my favorite book of the summer.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley, and Christine Nolfi for providing a copy for review.

When Vale returns to her hometown after another of life's disappointments, she wonders if she will be able to face the family she has not seen for years.
Christine Nolfi gets to the heart of family in a story that is packed with the heartache and anger that is a result of secrets that divided Vale's family her whole life. The past has shaped the family dynamics for years, but when sisters are pushed together they find that the bonds of family may prove unbreakable. Ms. Nolfi pens realistic characters and writes with insights to the various relationships we share in a family, those as a spouse, sibling, parent or child. While this is a story of brokenness, it is also a story of forgiveness, love and hope.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Christine's books are always heartfelt, touching family oriented stories.
A Brighter Flame is no exception, it is a beautiful, touching, heartfelt story. Family dynamics with relatable characters. Hopefully in the future there will be a sequel. One of my favorites of Christine's books.
Thank you for this ARC from Net Galley , the Publishers and the Author, Christine Nolfi for choosing me as one of her advanced readers, In exchange for my honest review.

What a wonderful portrayal of the complexities of family life! An intriguing read about two daughters of a divorced family and the way remarriage and parental loyalties influence the direction one’s life takes. Two daughters--Blythe and Vale, two lovers—Emmet and Booker, and an inspiring grandmother caught in the cycle of life and love. Torn apart by divorce and different alliances, the reader finds redemption and rescue. As a daughter of divorced, remarried parents, I related easily to the tensions between siblings and the redeeming power of love. In a few places the story line was a bit predictable but that doesn’t diminish the authenticity of the character development and the role of caring and giving. Even the minor characters such as Natty the girl next door will find a place in your heart and you will find yourself which one is most like me? Would I be able to step in this characters shoes and make the same decision? A readable story, true to life, and an uplifting read. As a grandmother, I hope I can inspire my grandchildren to hold fast to the truth and to love regardless.

This was a story of sisters with a fractured relationship, and the struggles they each were dealing with in their lives. I enjoyed all the characters and the romance that developed for one sister. This was a good read!

A Brighter Flame was a sweet and heartwarming character driven story. I loved that it explored many different types of relationships - grandmother/granddaughter, parents/children, neighbor/neighbor, single parent/child,sister/sister, friends, coworkers, and romantic relationships, It was well rounded and all of the characters played important roles. I enjoyed watching this family tale unfold. And the end....my heart melted!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

Being a longtime fan of Christine Nolfi's women's fiction, I was so excited to get my hands on this book, and it did not disappoint! She has a way of drawing the reader into the world her characters inhabit so quickly, and makes it seem quite effortless when, in fact, I know that takes immense skill. I found the various storylines to all be very compelling- the wounded relationship Vale and her parents, especially her relentless disappointment with her Dad rang so true to me. The sisterly resentment and jealousy between Vale and Blythe, Blythe and Booker's troubled marriage, and the budding romance Vale finds all held my interest as the characters wound their way into my heart. This isn't exactly a light read, but it's not so heavy as to become overwhelming, and I personally found the ending to be very satisfying and believable. Nofli doesn't shy away from family secrets or family drama, and complicated issues abound for these characters. Still, when the truth finally comes to light, this broken family forges a new path forward through the hurt and that will have you turning the pages until the very end.