Thursday, August 12, 2021

Toward the Light

 Toward the Light by Bonnar Spring is a book I reviewed for a NH book award. I am glad it was brought to my attention.  It was a very entertaining book with a satisfying ending.

This is a wonderfully developed plot that really brings the characters to life. You become quite attached to Luz as she tries to figure out her feelings and who to trust in this cat and mouse game she is caught up in.  

Luz Concepcion travels back to Guatemala as an adult after being whisked away years ago from a guerrilla raid that left her father dead on the forest floor.  Her childhood memories of the experience have built up an anger and desire for revenge.  She is on a mission to retaliate against the man who she saw kill her father.

Her main contact when she gets to Guatemala is Evan, an expat painter, who finds himself wanting to paint Luz.  She tries to spurn his advances, but it gets harder to do as she becomes confused about who she can really trust.  Her mentor, Richard Clement, who has sent her on this mission, has set her up as the nanny to Cesar, a lonely child, grandson of Luz's enemy and son of an absent playboy father.

Reading all the different plots overlapping keeps you on your toes, watching behind your back and peeking around corner.  You are hoping that the romantic interest works out.  Though the romance and involvement of Evan is not quite as clearly spelled out.  Who is his girlfriend and how is he connected to Richard's business?  

You can picture the colorful market with the fresh fruits and vegetables Luz goes each morning,  The different factions of guerrilla fighters are clearly explained. Luz also has multiple agendas and she is getting herself into trouble and confused by who she can trust and who is trying to kill her.

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