It's 1907 in the heart of the Arizona Territory and Mary Pearl has known little else, but ranches, family, and sneakily reading her aunt's books with her sister. When Mary Pearl gets the opportunity to study photography at Wheaton College she decides to leave behind an engagement, her family, and everything she knows. From there begins a journey Illinois and back again, through hardships of many kinds, and strengthening Mary Pearl in ways she never imagined.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I really enjoyed it. Mary Pearl's strength is evident, but different from many other 17-year olds. Her experiences captivated me and the paths that she has to take throughout the novel only prove to make her stronger. This was a very enjoyable book.

This is a well written book that holds you attention. It is full of adventure and romance and was an absolute joy to read. It keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next. If you like historical fiction about a strong willed woman who is not afraid to go after what she wants, you will love this book. Thank you St. Martin's Press Thomas Dunne Books via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 stars. Arizona Territory early 1900’s. Mary Pearl a strong-willed woman out to change her life. Light Changes Everything by Nancy E. Turner was a book I was looking forward to because I absolutely loved These is My Words by the same author. Mary Pearl comes from a close-knit family, who expects women to marry, take care of their husband, have children and keep the house clean. She had other ideas, she wanted to be educated. The book is about strong women, love, war, courage and most important family. While I did really enjoy this book I found it long winded at points. In the beginning I almost gave up but am glad I forged ahead. I loved the ending, the last two paragraphs are words that I have spoken to my four children. “There is a much better recipe for life than what was in Jane Austen’s book. She was wrong writing that happiness came with a man with money.” The last sentence ends with “Love is a million little promises kept.” Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Nancy E. Turner for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my third novel by Nancy E. Turner and I’ve loved every one! In this newest novel, readers are introduced to Sarah Prine’s niece, Mary Pearl. Set in the Arizona Territory in the early 1900’s, Mary Pearl reveals what life was like in those times—especially for a young woman.

I found the story a bit predictable at times, but there was such a sense of adventure throughout that had I been able, I would have read this straight through without stopping.

The story begins with Mary Pearl planning to attend Wheaton college in the fall. As luck would have it, she is also presented with a marriage proposal right before she’s to leave. At 17, Mary Pearl believes that college is important and that surely her fiancé loves her enough to wait for her to finish.

Turns out her fiancé is just full of surprises—and not the good kind. He manages to ruin Mary Pearl’s opportunity to finish college, drive a wedge between her and one of her sisters, and tell lies to everyone in her family. Luckily, the Prine family is a close and loving group. When life throws adversity their way, they rise to the occasion, supporting one another and focused on doing right by all involved.

After reading this novel, I feel the need to read more about the Arizona territory because it brought to light how little I know about Arizona in the years before it became a state.

This is a story full of history, romance, adventure and strong female characters that will appeal to a wide range of readers.

Many thanks to Thomas Dunne Books and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

I received this from Netgalley.com for a review.

"Full of gumption and spirit, Mary Pearl’s evocative coming of age tale is destined to be the next American classic. Light Changes Everything is the story of a resilient young feminist a century ahead of her time. Return to the world of Sarah Agnes Prine through the wide-eyes of her irrepressible young niece, Mary Pearl. "

Great story. The Prine's history of strong women is continued through Mary Pearl.

4.25☆

Arizona Territory, Mary is part of a close knit family who has a bigger ambition than to be a wife and mother. She wants to be an artist and her father agrees to send her to Wheaton College in Illinois. This also happens to be a place I'm very familiar with since it is relatively close to where I live. Life, however in all it's cruelty will intervene before she can realize her dream. Life was tough for women in the territory and Mary is a strong woman, who must find a way to move forward.

This was another, actually our second this month, with Angela and Esil, and though we often agree, this time our opinions were somewhat different. Something I can't quite put my finger on bothered me about the tone, voice, I which this was written. It seemed, especially in the beginning, that Mary sounded very young, younger than her years, though she does grow stronger throughout the novel. I also found it predictable. I did enjoy the last third more than the other parts, though even there, I fe!t it was overly dramatic at times. I did like the history, the characters, Mary and her family. My two favorites of the supporting cast were Mary's grandmother snd the cowboy, Brody, both who added greatly to this story.

So, a mixed reaction but an easy to read, well paced story with some interesting history.

ARC by Netgalley.

This book has just about everything you could ask for in terms of a western/pioneer tale. Strong characters, plenty of trials and tribulations, family feuds, heartbreak and betrayal, gunfights and a really good horse. I really appreciated that Mary was valued for more than just a pretty face and was encouraged to go to school for something as seemingly trivial as art, especially because her father was so supportive. You don't typiy see that kind of opportunity freely given in books like this. I devoured this book, read it in one sitting.

This coming-of-age story captivated me right from the start - Mary Pearl Prine growing up in the rough, primitive, blazing hot desert of the Arizona Territory in the early 1900s.

I loved the characters in this story, especially the female ones. There is a thread of independence woven through them all, from memoir-telling, feisty Granny to book-loving, gun-toting Aunt Sarah and headstrong Mary Pearl herself.

This is very enjoyable, immensely readable historic fiction, rich with historical detail and settings with a great story and memorable characters.

I just love Nancy E. Turner's writing. Her books are well written but her strength is writing a narrative with the protagonist's voice. Like her previous books, this is historical fiction that continues the story of a previous protagonist except this is her niece. I don't know how she comes up with the storylines but they are realistic and very well written. The story is not sugar coated yet so easy to read. Nancy Turner is one of my favorite authors.

Absolutely wonderful! Loved every single word. This book is a treasure! I was lucky enough to receive an arc of this book, but I will be standing in line on publishing day to purchase a hard copy (which is the highest compliment I my book). Thank you netgalley and publisher this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly this I liked and disliked this book. The story was interesting enough that I wanted to know what happened to the characters, but the style of writing was just not what I enjoy at all. It was choppy and felt more like the narrator just telling a long story from one subject to the next.
Im sure that is what the style was supposed to be, but it made the book hard to follow in certain places and made you wonder random things were added that didn't seem to fit. I finished it because I hate not finishing books, I enjoyed the ending and was glad how things worked out for the main character.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Description
“I adored stepping into to the world of the Prines through tough-as-rawhide Mary Pearl. Light Changes Everything is a novel as gritty and authentic as the women of the Arizona Territory. Nancy E. Turner brings the west and its people fully to life.” –Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours

Bestselling author Nancy E. Turner returns to the world of Sarah Agnes Prine through the wide-eyes of her irrepressible young niece, Mary Pearl.

It’s the summer of 1907 and the sun is scorching down on Mary Pearl in the Arizona Territory. Mary Pearl and her sister Esther take their minds off the heat by sneaking banned Jane Austen novels from Aunt Sarah Elliot’s lively bookshelf. Whispered read alouds preoccupy their nights, and reveries of getting hitched to their own Mr. Darcy à la Pride and Prejudice swirl through their day dreams.

In walks old-fashioned old-money suitor Aubrey Hanna, here to whisk seventeen year old Mary Pearl off her feet with a forbidden kiss and hasty engagement. With the promise of high society outings and a rich estate, Aubrey’s lustful courtship quickly creates petty tension among the three generations of Prine women.

As autumn approaches all too quickly, Mary Pearl’s Wheaton College acceptance counters quick marriage preparations. Days of travel by horse and by train carry her deep into a sophisticated new world of Northern girls’ schooling. Seeking friendship but finding foes, Mary Pearl not only learns how to write, read, and draw, but also how to act, dress, and be a woman.

Light Changes Everything is the story of a resilient young feminist a century ahead of her time. Full of gumption and spirit, Mary Pearl’s evocative coming of age tale is destined to be the next American classic.

This novel received great reviews from many sources, but I have to say, I didn't get it.
It almost seemed like, to me, that it was done in a way that resembled bullet journaling. There was thought after thought that was sadly tied together - like one huge run on sentence. Lacking in descriptions and character development. If I could give zero stars, I would.

Nancy E. Turner has done it again! Her novels centering on the Prine women are so entrancing - filled with such soul & humanity. Ms. Turner writes her female protagonists with true grit and tenacity, and she understands a woman's heart, soul, and spine! Most intrigung to me is the fact that these novels were inspired by Turner's own family history.

Mary Pearl is every bit as endearing and admirable as Sarah Agnes Prine (whom I was happy to see written into this story). This novel was an absolute joy to read, and I savored every page. For fans of the history of the Prine family, this novel comes highly recommended. However, even for readers who are unfamiliar with Turner's previous works, it also comes heavily endorsed as a stand-alone novel. Though, I warn you, once you begin reading Nancy E. Turner's novels, you'll have to devour every last one...

You'll have to wait a bit for this one, but mark your calendars for the January 14th, 2020 release: mamasgottaread.blogspot.com .

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for gifting me with this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Light Changes Everything is an absolutely beautiful book. Nancy Turner is truly brilliant. I highly recommend this wonderful read.

I loved this book! Light Changes Everything is such a well written book, the characters are sooo alive I will miss them. The settings so vivid I heard the sounds saw the sights and smelled the smells. I will miss spending time in Arizona with MaryPearl and her family. Everyone who enjoys a well written book will looove this!! Don’t miss this one it is worth the time to read it!!

Set in the early 1900's Arizona Territory, Light Changes Everything brings us back into the past examining the strife and hardships of daily life, especially for women. This novel is seen through the eyes and ears of 17-year-old Mary Pearl who gives us a touching narrative of life on her Pa's Pecan farm all the way to Wheaton College. She is a wonderful protagonist, her strength of character and love of her large family is refreshing and reading along as she grows into a strong young woman through her experiences is engaging.

I absolutely love Ms. Turner's writing and having read her previous books, I know when I open the first page I will be absorbed from beginning to end. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Thomas Dunne Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An advertisement in the paper changes a girl's life.
She decides she wants to leave her family in Arizona Territory and go to college- Wheaton College.

Life makes changes in her life.
She must make the best of bad things that happened.

Thanks so much for the ARC of LIGHT CHANGES EVERYTHING by Nancy Turner.

Mary Pearl is 17 years old and living in the Arizona Territory with her family. The year is 1907 and after reading PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, Mary is determined to find her Mr. Darcy. As the summer wraps up, Mary is accepted to Wheaton College and despite a proposal of marriage from the rich Aubrey Hanna, Mary asks Aubrey to wait while she completes her schooling career. What awaits Mary in northern Illinois is a life like nothing she has seen before. And yet, Mary’s love for her family at home in the rough Arizona Territory never lessens, but she must determine what life does she want? The sophisticated life she learns about at school or gritty life of the Arizona Territory.

How refreshing and fascinating it was to read historical fiction set in a time period and place I didn’t know much about. Mary is as tough as the place she comes from and faces each hurdle, regardless of size, with spirit. It was exciting and moving to watch her develop into herself.

I could not finish this book.

I got it free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I wanted to like a book set in the U.S. Southwest and Illinois in the early 1900s, but I could not. I felt like the author told us too much, not enough showing us Mary Pearl's life. Mary Pearl's voice is very strong, she speaks often in cliches, which makes Mary Pearl feel more like a caricature than a real character. I think I laughed at things that should have made me feel sad (or maybe I should have laughed, I'm not sure). There was so much that happened, even in the first seven chapters that I read that it would take a whole page of paper, single spaced, to explain. And a lot of it seemed pointless and did not move the plot forward at all. And I'm not even sure what the plot or purpose of the story was. I liked the idea of a book about a young woman who was a feminist ahead of her time, but the main reason she seemed to be a feminist was because she didn't want to marry (despite getting engaged?). And Mary Pearl didn't like Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice (though maybe the book is based on Pride and Prejudice?). Overall, a confusing book that wasn't enjoyable enough to finish.

I have followed Nancy E. Turner since the publication of These Is My Words in 1998. She writes eloquently of the lives of strong women in the Arizona Territory, letting her characters speak for themselves in plain, unvarnished language. In Light Changes Everything, we meet Mary Pearl Prine, niece of Sarah Agnes Prine (These Is My Words), as she struggles between wanting the sort of life of she sees around her and wanting more, including an education. Mary Pearl's strong sense of herself and of what is right and wrong carry her through a number of tribulations to what I considered a 4 star ending.

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars, and much gratitude to NetGalley and Thomas Dunne Books for the opportunity to read Light Changes Everything in return for an honest review.