Book Review: Last Light Over Galveston by Jennifer L. Wright
4.5 / 5
What a moving, emotional read. This was my first book by Jennifer and will not be my last. I really enjoyed the way she can pull you in to the story and you feel like you are right there in the midst of what the characters are going through. I cried. I felt such empathy. And I learned so much about this moment in history.
This is surrounding the most devastating hurricane that occurred in 1900 in Galveston, Texas. We follow Kathleen McDaniel who returns to New York after finishing school in Switzerland. A horrific event happens and she flees into hiding....she finds refuge and safety at St. Mary's Orphan Asylum on Galveston Island. She makes friends at St. Mary's, Sister Emily, Mother Camillus, Maggie and Matthew. Matthew is a handsome man who works for Isaac Cline at the US Weather Bureau.
This is dual timeline so we follow Kathleen's life 6 months in New York with her family before she flees to St. Mary's and then the events during the hurricane in Galveston. This is a survival story through and through. I knew nothing of this hurricane and this taught me so much about what the people of Galveston endured. It was tragic. Heartbreaking. The author really pulls you in and you feel such empathy during those moments. While it's a tough read, it's an important read. No matter the devastation, we still see God at work and Kathleen finds Him in between the heartache.
I did find some of the timeline back and forth pieces took me out of the story sometimes since I was more invested what was going on in the current timelines with the hurricane but by the end, I loved seeing what transpired and what the reasons were for her leaving NYC.
Overall, I highly recommend this book. Be prepared for an emotional journey.
Thank you to TLC Book Tours, Tyndale House Publishers and Jennifer L. Wright for a complimentary copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.
Content: death, hurricane devastation, hurricane victims, child and parental death, grief, toxic parent situation.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7775547440
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/617644
Amazon: https://amzn.to/45CZgYm
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