A Light in the Forest
- Downloads：2725
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-12-27 08:21:36
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Melissa Payne
- ISBN：B09ZB6C7TK
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Cyndy
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Not a happy ever after book。
Belinda O'donnell
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Family is what we make itExcellent exciting story！ Full of lessons on acceptance of ourselves and others just as God has made us。 May this story spread and give its light and love to the whole world。 Just keep your Kleenex close。
Baylee Cheyenne
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I went into this with the understanding that it is a character driven novel。 I am typically not the biggest fan of books like that but kept an open mind nonetheless。 I am so glad that I did！This book has a good， solid， spooky/sad/intriguing/mystery vibe to it。I plan to buy the physical copy ASAP to add to my library！
Ann
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I read this in a day。 By far， the BEST book I have read this year （and I read A LOT）。 There are some triggers， due to the abuse。 But let me say， she writes with hope and faith。 I highly recommend！！！
Karen
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This is a character-driven novel that makes for an engaging read， if you enjoy novels that focus on developing the characters and the drama that surrounds them。 I personally felt the action moved rather slowly; and the alternating viewpoints and timelines were confusing。 There are also some trigger warnings including domestic abuse， animal cruelty， homophobia， and sexual abuse。 Read this if you enjoy character-driven novels， small town stories， and old mysteries。 Thank you @getredprbooks @meliss This is a character-driven novel that makes for an engaging read， if you enjoy novels that focus on developing the characters and the drama that surrounds them。 I personally felt the action moved rather slowly; and the alternating viewpoints and timelines were confusing。 There are also some trigger warnings including domestic abuse， animal cruelty， homophobia， and sexual abuse。 Read this if you enjoy character-driven novels， small town stories， and old mysteries。 Thank you @getredprbooks @melissapayne_writes for my digital copy。 My thoughts are my own。 。。。more
Brandy Voyer
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Even though the middle is slow， the book was so good and has so many heartfelt moments！ I loved the way it ended！ Definitely worth the read！！！
Cassi
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Thank you to #NetGalley， @melissapayne_writes， and #LakeUnionPublishing for an eARC of A Light in the Forest。 I will give a trigger warning for domestic abuse， abuse to animals， and LGBTQ+ phobia。A Light in the Forest follows Vega as she runs from her abusive husband to the town of Crystal， where her late mother had spent some time as a teenager。 Vega and her mother had been nomads while she was growing up， always on the move and helping women get away from their own abusive husbands， so it's su Thank you to #NetGalley， @melissapayne_writes， and #LakeUnionPublishing for an eARC of A Light in the Forest。 I will give a trigger warning for domestic abuse， abuse to animals， and LGBTQ+ phobia。A Light in the Forest follows Vega as she runs from her abusive husband to the town of Crystal， where her late mother had spent some time as a teenager。 Vega and her mother had been nomads while she was growing up， always on the move and helping women get away from their own abusive husbands， so it's surprising （even to Vega） that she didn't see the warning signs with her own husband。 When she gets to Crystal， she's immediately welcomed to the small town by almost everyone， but she's leery about opening up to anyone due to her background。 Slowly， Eve and Heff， and Betty and Carl get Vega to trust them， and they become friends， which Vega has never had before。 But you can't run forever， and sometimes you run to things that you don't mean to， and things catch up to them all。 Can they keep each other， and the town， safe？Vega is relatively likable。 I was frustrated with her sometimes because she wouldn't say or do something simple that would make her life easier， or give her answers。 She went to Crystal to find out about her mother， but didn't seem to be putting much effort into that。 I had to keep telling myself that because they moved around constantly， Vega doesn't know how to trust people or open up to them， plus not wanting anyone to know she was hiding from her husband。 Eve， Heff， Betty， and Carl are （for the most part） your typical small town people。 They're kind， caring， and willing to do whatever is necessary to help others， although they have some secrets of their own。All in all， a well written novel with multiple viewpoints and timelines。 The story weaves well between present and past， leaving breadcrumbs to the local mystery。 You want Vega to learn to love these people and this town， letting them into her life。 I would recommend if you like stories about friendship and building your own family。 。。。more
Cassi
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Thank you to NetGalley， Melissa Payne， and LakeUnionPublishing for an eARC of A Light in the Forest。 This is the first novel I have read by Melissa Payne， and I enjoyed it。 I will give a trigger warning for domestic abuse， abuse to animals， and LGBTQ+ phobia。A Light in the Forest follows Vega as she runs from her abusive husband to the town of Crystal， where her late mother had spent some time as a teenager。 Vega and her mother had been nomads while she was growing up， always on the move and hel Thank you to NetGalley， Melissa Payne， and LakeUnionPublishing for an eARC of A Light in the Forest。 This is the first novel I have read by Melissa Payne， and I enjoyed it。 I will give a trigger warning for domestic abuse， abuse to animals， and LGBTQ+ phobia。A Light in the Forest follows Vega as she runs from her abusive husband to the town of Crystal， where her late mother had spent some time as a teenager。 Vega and her mother had been nomads while she was growing up， always on the move and helping women get away from their own abusive husbands， so it's surprising （even to Vega） that she didn't see the warning signs with her own husband。 When she gets to Crystal， she's immediately welcomed to the small town by almost everyone， but she's leery about opening up to anyone due to her background。 Slowly， Eve and Heff， and Betty and Carl get Vega to trust them， and they become friends， which Vega has never had before。 But you can't run forever， and sometimes you run to things that you don't mean to， and things catch up to them all。 Can they keep each other， and the town， safe？Vega is relatively likable。 I was frustrated with her sometimes because she wouldn't say or do something simple that would make her life easier， or give her answers。 She went to Crystal to find out about her mother， but didn't seem to be putting much effort into that。 I had to keep telling myself that because they moved around constantly， Vega doesn't know how to trust people or open up to them， plus not wanting anyone to know she was hiding from her husband。 Eve， Heff， Betty， and Carl are （for the most part） your typical small town people。 They're kind， caring， and willing to do whatever is necessary to help others， although they have some secrets of their own。All in all， a well written novel with multiple viewpoints and timelines。 The story weaves well between present and past， leaving breadcrumbs to the local mystery。 You want Vega to learn to love these people and this town， letting them into her life。 I would recommend if you like stories about friendship and building your own family。 。。。more
Jenna
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Thank you to Lake Union and NetGalley for early access to the new read。 This may be my favorite I’ve read off of NetGalley this far。 Hands down a five star read for me。 This book was so well written， and the characters so well developed I couldn’t wait to see each of their stories play out。 I found myself not wanting the book to end because I wasn’t ready to be done with these characters。 The handing of delicate traumas was so meticulously and carefully done all while providing hopeful outcomes Thank you to Lake Union and NetGalley for early access to the new read。 This may be my favorite I’ve read off of NetGalley this far。 Hands down a five star read for me。 This book was so well written， and the characters so well developed I couldn’t wait to see each of their stories play out。 I found myself not wanting the book to end because I wasn’t ready to be done with these characters。 The handing of delicate traumas was so meticulously and carefully done all while providing hopeful outcomes was masterful。 I can’t wait to purchase my own copy of this one to have on my shelves and share it with friends and family。 。。。more
Riss
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In reading this novel， I got to meet new characters like Vega， Heff， and Eve。 Vega is an extraordinarily strong character who is taking care of her two month old baby after escaping an abusive relationship。 I think one of the best parts of this novel was feeling like I was a part of the town Vega finds refuge in。The author creates a story that is both unique and important for readers to hear。 A Light in the Forest is a story that will stick with me for a while。
Shirley McAllister
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Wow！What an incredible story！ This will stay with me for a very long time！My heart has broken， been patched， and broken again。 All to the end， my heart is full。What a beautiful realistic story！ Thank you for sharing your gift！
Nic
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I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to like A Light in the Forest。 It has a very unusual plot。 I’m so glad I kept on reading。 Talk about unique and eccentric characters！ Moral of the story is even though you may be going through the darkest time of your life， there can be a second chance waiting for you around the corner。A beautiful heartwarming story。 There are heartbreaking moments throughout the story so be prepared to get a bit emotional。Many thanks to NetGalley， the publisher and author for I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to like A Light in the Forest。 It has a very unusual plot。 I’m so glad I kept on reading。 Talk about unique and eccentric characters！ Moral of the story is even though you may be going through the darkest time of your life， there can be a second chance waiting for you around the corner。A beautiful heartwarming story。 There are heartbreaking moments throughout the story so be prepared to get a bit emotional。Many thanks to NetGalley， the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review。 All opinions expressed are my own。 。。。more
wellreadtraveler
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My book club read this book and all really enjoyed it。 As I was reading it I was thinking about how it would make a really good movie。 For some this could be a very relatable story and for others it will just make you hopefully for second chances in life。 I would advise people who are sensitive to domestic abuse to steer away from this book as it definitely contains triggers。
Melissa Levens
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A Light in the ForestAuthor， Melissa PayneAvailable now！Thank you， @getredpr， Melissa Payne， #lakeunionpublishing， and @netgalley for my #gifted e- arc and for my #gifted arc！ I loved The Night of Many Endings， so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read Payne's latest novel！An emotional and mysterious novel about the power of families - the ones we're born into and the ones we choose - of healing， love， and so much hope。 My heart hurt for Vega's situation， but her growth and character wen A Light in the ForestAuthor， Melissa PayneAvailable now！Thank you， @getredpr， Melissa Payne， #lakeunionpublishing， and @netgalley for my #gifted e- arc and for my #gifted arc！ I loved The Night of Many Endings， so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read Payne's latest novel！An emotional and mysterious novel about the power of families - the ones we're born into and the ones we choose - of healing， love， and so much hope。 My heart hurt for Vega's situation， but her growth and character went through such an inspirational journey of self-discovery and resilience that I couldn't help but feel proud of her in the end。 Set in a small town filled with an amazing cast of complex and flawed characters that grip and draw the reader right in from the beginning， A Light in the Forest explores domestic violence， single parenting， child abuse， and identity。 These heavy issues are written with empathy and insight that forge memorable connections between the characters as well as allow for growth and a better understanding of oneself and each other。 After reading The Night of Many Endings and A Light in the Forest， Melissa Payne is now an auto- buy author for me！ Her beautiful themes of family， hope， and second chances are a few of my favorites。 。。。more
Lyndi （mibookobsession）
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Vega Jones grew up constantly on the move with her mother， helping women escape their abusive relationships everywhere they went。 Now that her mother is gone， Vega is humiliated to find herself with an abusive husband after everything her mother taught her。 She escapes with her two-month-old son to a town in Ohio with ties to her mother's past。 As she becomes closer to the people in this small community， she learns more about the secrets of her mother's past。 This beautiful cover caught my eye a Vega Jones grew up constantly on the move with her mother， helping women escape their abusive relationships everywhere they went。 Now that her mother is gone， Vega is humiliated to find herself with an abusive husband after everything her mother taught her。 She escapes with her two-month-old son to a town in Ohio with ties to her mother's past。 As she becomes closer to the people in this small community， she learns more about the secrets of her mother's past。 This beautiful cover caught my eye and I realized it was written by an author I've enjoyed before。 With strong messages against domestic violence， child abuse， and homophobia， I found myself really connecting with the characters and feeling their pain。 When the pieces start to fall in place with the alternating past and present chapters， I was flying through the pages to find out what really happened。I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book。 All thoughts and opinions are my own。 。。。more
Sharon
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Thank you to Netgalley， the publisher and the author， for an ARC of this book， in exchange for an honest review。I found "A Light In The Forest" by Melissa Payne to be an addictive， interesting & well written story that pulled me in right away & didn't let me go until its final page。The subject matter was dark & disturbing but the author was able to tell a story that was hopeful & heartwarming。I enjoyed the author's writing style， how she told the story by connecting her 3 main characters through Thank you to Netgalley， the publisher and the author， for an ARC of this book， in exchange for an honest review。I found "A Light In The Forest" by Melissa Payne to be an addictive， interesting & well written story that pulled me in right away & didn't let me go until its final page。The subject matter was dark & disturbing but the author was able to tell a story that was hopeful & heartwarming。I enjoyed the author's writing style， how she told the story by connecting her 3 main characters through alternating chapters & timelines。I would love to read another book by Ms。 Payne。 。。。more
Kitty
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Enjoyable domestic drama。 Vega had an unusual upbringing， living in a can with her mother and helping women escape from violent relationships。 When her mother dies， she gets involved with a man that turns out to be just what her mother always warned her about。 She and her infant son flee to a small town in Ohio that Vega knows about because of an old faded postcard。 She winds up learning more about her mother and herself， and brings people who live in the town together in ways she never could ha Enjoyable domestic drama。 Vega had an unusual upbringing， living in a can with her mother and helping women escape from violent relationships。 When her mother dies， she gets involved with a man that turns out to be just what her mother always warned her about。 She and her infant son flee to a small town in Ohio that Vega knows about because of an old faded postcard。 She winds up learning more about her mother and herself， and brings people who live in the town together in ways she never could have predicted。 Not my favorite from this author， but yes， I did need a few tissues at the end。 。。。more
Corey Hedges
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Just wow。。。When I say I have read over a 1000 books in my life， I mean I have read probably more than 10 times that！ I love this book so much that this is one of top 5 books of all time， this needs to be a movie。。。great storyline， complex characters， I did not want it to end！
Sarah Bowe
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This was a very great book of found families and helping those in need （this book deals a lot with domestic abuse and homophobia）。Vega lived life on the road with her mom Renee who helped battered women escape。 The book starts with Vega leaving her abusive boyfriend with their son and running to a small town called Crystal that her mom spent some time in。 There she meets a cast of people that want to look out for her without even knowing really why。。。Eve， Betty and Carl， Heff。I figured out a lot This was a very great book of found families and helping those in need （this book deals a lot with domestic abuse and homophobia）。Vega lived life on the road with her mom Renee who helped battered women escape。 The book starts with Vega leaving her abusive boyfriend with their son and running to a small town called Crystal that her mom spent some time in。 There she meets a cast of people that want to look out for her without even knowing really why。。。Eve， Betty and Carl， Heff。I figured out a lot of what was happening in this story， but it never stopped me from loving it。 I really liked Eve and her story。 She died and had a NDE and her story is one of hope and eventual real love。 The story ends beautifully and I was amazed at how some of the people turned their thinking away from hate and moved towards acceptance and love。 。。。more
Sandy Scherer
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The reader is shoved right into the middle of the action from page one and held there by the colorful characters who feel like family by the end。
Charlie Helton
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This book gave me all the feels。 An emotionally powerful story of when past secrets collide with the present where people come together from abusive histories and join together to heal and love。 It sheds light on the horrible truth of how some people treat those they do not understand and how the pattern of abuse is cycled through generations。 A story that no matter the horrors faced on a journey through life， there is always a light in the forest by those that are there to pull you into their a This book gave me all the feels。 An emotionally powerful story of when past secrets collide with the present where people come together from abusive histories and join together to heal and love。 It sheds light on the horrible truth of how some people treat those they do not understand and how the pattern of abuse is cycled through generations。 A story that no matter the horrors faced on a journey through life， there is always a light in the forest by those that are there to pull you into their arms， love you and keep you safe。 Tragedy and abuse suck but sometimes it takes those things for beauty and light to shine。 This was an amazing， beautiful， and at times， hard to read story of truth of hardships， courage， love and accepting others as they are with a dash of suspense。 Be sure to check the triggers before reading， but I highly recommend adding this one to your list。 。。。more
Ginger L Levan
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Beautiful storyThis was interesting， gripping， sad and womderful。I read it in one afternoon。 Hard to put down。 So much hate and so much love。 All in one story。
Lynn
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A very timely story with plenty of great characters and twists to hold my interest。 I enjoyed it！
Jame
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This book is a must read mystery contemporary fiction！ Firstly， there are many triggers and domestic violence， but these scenarios are the reasons in the story。 Additionally， the women’s fiction and their angsts to seek redemption shaped the storyline。 Finally the ending is so well-written that I was so elated while endorsing Eve， Vega and Donna。 It is a two POVs and timelines between a mother and her daughter trying to find a village to raise them。 A must read if you like a bit of drama and mys This book is a must read mystery contemporary fiction！ Firstly， there are many triggers and domestic violence， but these scenarios are the reasons in the story。 Additionally， the women’s fiction and their angsts to seek redemption shaped the storyline。 Finally the ending is so well-written that I was so elated while endorsing Eve， Vega and Donna。 It is a two POVs and timelines between a mother and her daughter trying to find a village to raise them。 A must read if you like a bit of drama and mystery。 Thank you GetRedPr for having me on this booktour to read and review！ I really like this book and I know the story will be with me for a very long time！ 。。。more
Allyson
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What a beautiful depiction of what it means to be a good human。 Truly this book was incredibly inspiring and also gripping。 I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see how this story ended。 I loved the small town of Crystal and getting to meet the people there that spend their days opening their hearts and their homes in an effort to make a difference。 Melissa’s writing is beautiful and this books message is one that will stick with me for some time - some people are so use to hate， they don’t What a beautiful depiction of what it means to be a good human。 Truly this book was incredibly inspiring and also gripping。 I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see how this story ended。 I loved the small town of Crystal and getting to meet the people there that spend their days opening their hearts and their homes in an effort to make a difference。 Melissa’s writing is beautiful and this books message is one that will stick with me for some time - some people are so use to hate， they don’t know what to do with kindness。 Kindness is always the option。 。。。more
Janelle
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TW: domestic & （mentions of） sexual abuse， homophobiaPayne again delivers a beautiful work of hurt， healing， and finding yourself。 It is great example of starting over， finding home， and finding family。 I empathized with a lot of the characters in this book， and shook my head at others。 They were complex， flawed， but ultimately human。 Vega would do anything she could to protect her baby and she finds people who would do anything to protect her。 I was invested in the story as the dual timeline al TW: domestic & （mentions of） sexual abuse， homophobiaPayne again delivers a beautiful work of hurt， healing， and finding yourself。 It is great example of starting over， finding home， and finding family。 I empathized with a lot of the characters in this book， and shook my head at others。 They were complex， flawed， but ultimately human。 Vega would do anything she could to protect her baby and she finds people who would do anything to protect her。 I was invested in the story as the dual timeline allows the reader to view what happened in the past that created who these characters are in the present and how they are intertwined without knowing it。 I will always read a book by this author。 。。。more
Janilyn Kocher
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Vega is on the run from her abusive boyfriend。 She flees to a small town in Ohio， where eventually her backstory and her mother’s becomes crystal clear。Several story lines run parallel fir the majority of the book until their intersection allows readers to piece it all together。 Readers learn the story behind Vega’s mother’s history and why they lived a vagabond life。I figured out several of the major plot points。I liked the animals the best in the story， especially the sneaky， escapist artists Vega is on the run from her abusive boyfriend。 She flees to a small town in Ohio， where eventually her backstory and her mother’s becomes crystal clear。Several story lines run parallel fir the majority of the book until their intersection allows readers to piece it all together。 Readers learn the story behind Vega’s mother’s history and why they lived a vagabond life。I figured out several of the major plot points。I liked the animals the best in the story， especially the sneaky， escapist artists swine。Thanks to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy。 。。。more
Brontee （bookswithbibi）
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This is a slow-burn story that was good but didn't wow me。 I appreciated how the topic was handled and the found family element。 I also liked the writing as I felt as anxious as Vega and felt for her when she longed for her mom's advice。 This was a touching read that engaged me to the end， even though I felt that the 3rd person prevented me from connecting with Vega fully。 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review。！There are also a good amount of trigge This is a slow-burn story that was good but didn't wow me。 I appreciated how the topic was handled and the found family element。 I also liked the writing as I felt as anxious as Vega and felt for her when she longed for her mom's advice。 This was a touching read that engaged me to the end， even though I felt that the 3rd person prevented me from connecting with Vega fully。 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review。！There are also a good amount of triggers to watch out for， and there was one scene that I skipped altogether！ 。。。more
Ali （exercise_read_repeat）
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DNFing。 The plot had potential to be interesting but I can’t really connect with it。 Be careful if you’re a sensitive reader— lots of trigger warnings。
Megan Twenter
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