A Flicker of Light

A FLICKER OF LIGHT by KATIE POWNER is a really lovely novel with a true to life story and very real characters. This author has an amazing understanding of human nature and I like the way her faith in God shines through the story.
Bea and Jeremy Michaels are an idealistic young couple who want their marriage to be centred around their faith. Their marriage is tested when they have to move to Moose Creek to live with Bea’s father Mitch Jenkins due to Jeremy being retrenched and an unexpected pregnancy. Bea and Mitch have been estranged since Mitch’s wife Caroline died of cancer and he was too wrapped up in his own feelings of loss to understand how his daughter was feeling. He is critical of Bea for giving up on college and getting married so young and irritatingly critical of Jeremy. There is a clash between the two men who each want to be the most important man in Bea’s life, making things very hard for her.
Juniper Jenkins, Bea’s grandmother, tells the story of Miner McGee who is always searching for treasure, and the flicker of light on the mountain at a certain time in the evening. This story and the shiny penny she keeps in her pocket point to a secret part of her life.
I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling the read for you.
The book is based largely on the Lord “working all things together for good to those who love God” and the importance of being grateful for what one has rather than looking back to what might have been.
I cannot recommend this inspirational romance novel highly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Once upon a time, there was a man named Miner McGee who sought after the greatest treasure and riches. He heard that there was a great diamond in the Montana mountains. He hiked up the mountain and got caught in a blizzard. When the authorities were about to go up the mountain to find him, they saw the light of his headlamp flicker on.
This was a story Juniper Jones often told her granddaughter, Bea, and it was Bea's favorite story. Bea is at a cross-roads in life--her husband has lost his job, they have moved in with her father who doesn't seem to like her husband, and she just found out she's pregnant. Other kinks in the works are that Bea's mother passed away a couple of years ago and neither Bea nor her father have fully grieved her passing. While the turmoil of moving in with her father and all that entails is going on, Juniper, her father's mother is sliding into Alzheimer's dementia, and her father's next door neighbor has the hots for him and he's just not ready for that kind of relationship.

This book is about grief, about secrets, about standing on your own two feet, and about grace. I am not sure what I expected for the end of the book to be, but I felt it was rather abrupt and wished the book had been longer even though Katie Powner tied up the loose ends rather nicely. I was just left wanting something more, I'm not sure what, but just more. For that reason alone I give it four stars. I loved the setting--my daughter once lived in a small Western Montana town and was actually an EMT/first responder for her county there. Imagining the places, fictitious as they were, was not a difficult thing to do, and there is no better place to set a story like this one.

Bethany House and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Katie Powner is a new-to-me author, and I loved diving into her work with this rich and moving read. It hit even closer to home as some family members are walking a similar road; I appreciated the multiple narrators/points of view even more, especially Grandma June’s. (Frankly, I wasn’t sure how well #allthenarrators would work out–but I was pleasantly surprised at just how well it went!)

There’s nothing like the power of story to illustrate the importance of communication, familial love that crosses many a barrier, and just what can happen when a community rises to the occasion.

My Kindle tells me I highlighted 15 items in the book; perhaps my favorite (though it’s a hard choice!) came near the end: “Nothing could stay the same forever. She was learning that was okay. Sometimes it was even good, because it forced people to consider things they never would’ve otherwise” (eARC location 4533).

Highly recommended. 5/5.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Three generations of emotions give readers insight into a Montana family struggling with loss and the unknown. Each of the characters were battling with personal issues; some very personal. Love the small town atmosphere with everyone taking care of each other. I wanted to read more. Hoping for a sequel?

This is a beautiful novel showing the relationships and loves of four generations of a family. The setting is Montana ranch / farm country. Bea and her husband of one year come to stay with her dad, Mitch, a widower, when they suddenly find themselves expecting a child and without jobs. They plan to stay only 3 months to get back on their feet but life happens. Mitch's mother, June, is suffering from memory problems and bouts of confusion. Rand, Mitch's father, is having difficulty taking care of his wife's medical issues. The family is sweet and loving and interesting from the beginning of the book to the end. Sometimes they are at odds with each other but no one can deny how much they love each other. Their Christian faith also comes into play. The way they resolve the issues and their love of "home" is endearing.

Please read this book. It's worth putting at the top of your "to read" list.

I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

What a great book about family, and now the Jensen family is growing, in more ways than one, and we along for the journey.

We are given a young woman now expecting a child, a grandmother still holding a long held secret, a Dad who has his daughter and husband home, but still grieving, and wanting to still father is little girl, not so little anymore!

I loved the family dynamics here, God is working in their lives, and all they have to do is accept!

You don't want to miss this one, it does deal with some tough subjects, and for some there is not a great outcome, but you will be page turning for answers.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

This is a heartwarming family story which deals with multiple issues. The novel touches on grief, adoption, dementia/alzheimer's disease, holding on and letting go (of our children) and communities of faith. The plot revolves around the return of a young woman and her husband to the home of her widowed father in Montana. I loved the different family dynamics and the descriptions of the mountains and setting. The novel was very sweet and reminded me of Debbie Macomber's books. I found myself crying several times. There are many touching and dramatic scenes, to which many of us could probably relate. I found the characters endearing and believable. A Flicker of Light is a story that would be appreciated by anyone who likes to read about small town American communities and family dramas.

This is a contemporary inspirational novel, not romance in category, but there’s so much love in it (and a few love story threads, as far as I’m concerned).

The amount of times tears stung my eyes as I read this captivating, heartbreaking yet heartwarming story, I don’t even know. So many times. This family had a lot of loss. Including a family member now having dementia… that’s probably why parts of this story meant so much to me. My grandmother is with the Lord now, but she suffered from dementia for many years. It’s devastating to watch a family member fade like that, and Powner did such an honorable job portraying this awful disease and the impact it has on families.

While there was loss there was also SO much gained by this family. Bea’s pregnancy is just one of the beautiful blessings that happen in this book. But you’ll have to read it to find out what those are. The blessings probably brought the most tears from me.

And I don’t actually tear up that often while reading. Katie Powner made a mess of me with this one.

Fans of Christian Fiction, you have to read A Flicker of Light. Don’t miss out! I give it 5 stars out of 5. And then some.

I can’t wait for Katie Powner’s next release.

Each generation of the Jensen family is facing its own set of challenges in this contemporary fiction novel. Two years after losing his wife to cancer, Mitch Jensen continues to struggle with his grief. His daughter, Beatrice, finds out she is expecting not long after her husband loses his job, and they decide that they will have to temporarily move from Santa Clara, California to Moose Creek, Montana to live with him. His mother has become more and more forgetful, and his once stalwart father more and more worried about her. The family faces these significant challenges, not to mention all of the cares and concerns that come to pass in the day to day of life. Through it all the Jensen's learn more about themselves and the importance of family and community, and readers learn right along with them.

At first I didn't think this book was going to be my cup of tea, mainly because I typically avoid books where cancer is a pat of the story. I was glad that I continued to read on though because this book did take hold of me, especially Mitch's mother's story. I found the characters to be realistic, the emotions raw, and the dialogue authentic. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of A Flicker of Light from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

This is a book that reaches way down deep and touches a part of your soul. One that will linger with me long after I've read it.
I loved the characters, and the way they came alive. They are real, realistic people.
This is a story about a family. We see life from three different viewpoints. Grandma June, her son Mitch, and her granddaughter Bea.
Each one has struggles, as all people do. As families do.
Grandma June is having struggles with her mind. Difficulty thinking clearly.
Her family draws together to care for her, and in doing this, they discover some secrets.
I loved the raw and real look at dementia in this book. I could feel the character's anguish as they went through the hard things that came at them because of this.
The setting is in the lovely state of Montana, and I enjoyed reading about it.
If you are looking for a book that will touch your heart, maybe even make you cry, you won't want to miss this one!
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

A beautiful story about faith and family in the west, including a family secret that I promise not to tell! The author writes well and with vivid emotion about difficult times and how family gets us through those difficult times.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Flicker of Light
by Katie Powner
Pub Date: October 5, 2021
Bethany House
Twenty-one-year-old Bea never expected to move back to her hometown in Montana, especially not as a college dropout with a husband in tow and a baby on the way. She insists the stay at her dad's is only temporary until she can get back on her feet. But the truth is, she has no idea what to do now.
This is a new author for me. I discovered this author last year when she published her first book, Sowing Season. I had found the book on NetGalley and thought it sounded very interesting and it was!
My favorite books are about regular, down-to-earth people and this is just what I get when I read a Katie Powner novel..
Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for the ARC. I will recommend this book.

5stars

I really enjoyed this novel about family and community. The setting of Moose Creek, Montana, is written beautifully and is the perfect backdrop for the development of the characters in the novel. I really liked the way the author approached the family struggling with a loved one with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis; it was told in such a raw and real way. I enjoyed reading about the growth and change that occurred in each character and the way the family grew and evolved as well. There is depth and substance to the story. The power of love is strong and weaves its way through each of the character’s lives in a unique way. If you’re looking for a heartwarming story where hope triumphs, I highly recommend this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Juniper Jensen has lived out most of her 63 years in Moose Creek, Montana, with her husband of forty-some years. Ranching together and raising a son together, and now growing old together. But feisty June holds a secret that may change their lives forever. If she can only confess before the memory flickers and dies out.

Beatrice Michaels, June’s only grandchild, finds out she’s pregnant the same day Jeremy, her husband, loses his job. With some misgivings, they ask Bea’s dad if they can move back in with him temporarily while Jeremy finds work. Even though it means moving out of their run-down apartment in California and moving home to Moose Creek—a place Bea never wanted to return to.

Mitch Jensen has lived a lonely existence since his beloved wife Caroline passed away and their daughter Bea went off to college. And then dropped out of college and got married to a city kid with lots of ideas. Now they want to move back home for a spell until the kid can figure out how to support his daughter.

While Mitch welcomes the thought of filling up the house again, he has a hard time with Bea’s decisions and seeing her as an adult. To make matters worse, something is wrong with his mom. For a 63-year-old, she seemed too young to lose touch with reality. But something’s going on, and Mitch doesn’t want to consider the possibilities.

Can the members of the Jensen family work through their past griefs before the next crisis hits?

Why I Loved This Book

Powner builds the cozy town Moose Creek, Montana, and peoples it with a cast of endearing characters. The town may be small, but the residents have a lot of heart. In a world where we often don’t know the family living across the street, Moose Creek and its residents bring a refreshing reminder of the work it takes to build community. And the benefits of living in community with others—from our town, our church, or our place of work.

Community helps us in times of need, nurtures us through our sad times, and sits with us in our grief. Sometimes, we get it wrong, but patience and persistence will help us understand the heart of community is love.