Nancy Naigle delivers another heartwarming story with To Light the Way Forward, a beautifully crafted tale of resilience, love, and the unshakable power of community. Naigle’s signature style of small-town charm paired with heartfelt storytelling makes this novel an instant favorite for fans of contemporary romance and uplifting fiction.

The story follows a protagonist whose journey of self-discovery and healing is both relatable and inspiring. Naigle excels in creating characters you root for, each bringing depth and authenticity to the story. The romantic subplot is tender and understated, allowing the emotional growth of the protagonist to shine at the forefront.

The small-town setting is vividly drawn, capturing the essence of a tight-knit community with its quirks and unwavering support. As always, Naigle’s writing is cozy and comforting, offering moments of quiet reflection alongside the lighthearted charm.

While some parts of the story unfold predictably, the emotional resonance and the satisfying conclusion more than make up for it. This book is a gentle reminder that even in the darkest times, kindness and connection can light the way forward.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“Our tomorrows may look nothing like our yesterdays, but God has a plan, and if we embrace each day for what it offers, we find that both are equally beautiful.”

Author Nancy Naigle’s focus on characters in their golden years and the struggles they face resonated with me this week as (1) my husband and I pivoted to increase care for his elderly mom in her late 80s and (2) my parents reminded me that “they’re not old, they’re only in their early eighties.”

It was good for me to arrive in Welk’s Island, a small town in North Carolina, this week and read about characters in their seventies and eighties who chose daily to see life as an adventure.

“It’s different when our life is upended at this age. When we are in our forties, even our sixties, it’s like, whatever - we’ll just pull ourselves up by our bootstraps … again. But now we’re older, smarter, wiser about how fragile our lives are. I think it’s important we really consider what’s important to us and let that lead the way.”

I’ve also never experienced a hurricane, so reading about how fictional Hurricane Edwina affected this fictional town and how the community pulled together to navigate the tragedy with grace really held my interest as it pulled on my heartstrings. Naigle’s revelation that sometimes it takes a storm to clear the way for new beginnings has me viewing ‘challenges’ in a different way.

Things I won’t forget in a hurry:
💜Tug Basnight and The Wife
💜The reminder to treasure every day and moment
💜The value of trusting the light we cannot see
💜The reminder that life doesn’t always go according to plan, but it’s how we pivot that matters
💜Helping and uplifting others in their time of need
💜The reminder that moments are comprised of either actions, thoughts, dreams, memories, or choices and that it’s up to us what we focus on.
💜“All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.”

After reading the first two books in the Chestnut Ridge series (both 5 stars) and this Shell Collector novel (also 5 stars), Nancy Naigle is now an auto-read author for me. I need to source The Shell Collector next.

I was gifted this novel by WaterBrook & Multnomah and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I simply couldn't put this book down. It was wonderful!
I loved the characters especially Rosemmary and Tug. More so Tug. His plight broke my heart. I found myself wanting to reach through the book to give him a great big hug.
I felt that Ms. Naigle has outdone herself on this one. It will be my favorite read by her.
This novel touched my heart in more ways than one.
It gives hope to the lost, grieving souls of this story.
It was so good that I didn't want it to end.
I love the question of where is home supposed to be? I guess you can give it anything and anywheres you want it to be. I kept hoping that Rosemary would discover where that might be for her. I wasn't disappointed by her decision at all.
Hurricanes can definitely do a lot of damage. Especially to one's soul. Tug is proof of that. I kept wanting to holler at him to wake up and see what's in front of him. At times, it was frustrating because he wouldn't.
Readers, whether you realize it or not there is a light at the end of a long dark tunnel. You need only to want to find it.
I don't normally put quotes in reviews but I will this one.
I like how Tug tells Rosemmary that Nothing's ever an accident and that we're all a bigger piece of the puzzle. He's got it right. Everything's all in God's timing not ours. Everything happens for a reason.
5 stars from me for this beautiful story about finding one's way back from grief and devastation and to find your way home again. I highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.