Such an amazing read!
I read The Shell Collector, which is the prequel to this book, and knew that I just had to get my hands on this latest installment of life on Whelk’s Island.

Rosemary is a widow who doesn’t know where life is taking her, but she is feeling pulled to visit an old school acquaintance in North Carolina even though those on the island are bracing for a major hurricane. Tug is still reeling from losing his life long love, Maeve. When the hurricane hits him and his diner hard, he just doesn’t have it in him to rebuild.

Paul and Amanda are major characters in this sequel and of course the kids will make you laugh out loud with their antics!

The second book this series, and just as good as the first. Tug is struggling after losing Maeve and when a storm destroys the diner, he really doesn't know what to do. He does know that he is too old to start over and doesn't have it in him to rebuild and run the diner. Rosemary lost her husband a few years ago and thought living with her daughter and granddaughter would help everyone; unfortunately, things didn't work out and now she is visiting a friend.

I loved the fact that the characters in this book were all older and trying to find a new way in life. Rosemary helps Tug, even though he didn't realize how bad he had gotten. Everyone in town also helps Rosemary realize that she doesn't have to live by anyone else's rules. While rebuilding the town, everyone learns important life lessons and things about themselves that they might not have realized.

It was nice seeing Amanda, Paul, and Amanda's kids again. Even though this is the second book, you do not need to read the first book to understand this book. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more books from this author. I received an ARC and this is my honest, voluntary review.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Rosemary has been lost since her husband died and living with her daughter has been rough. She decides to visit an old friend and in doing so runs in Tug who owns the diner. She also meets Amanda and her two children. A beautiful friendship develops. She too has lost her husband. Can they find love again? Can they rebuild after the hurricane? A story of love, loss, and hope and dreams,

To Light the Way Forward is book 2 in the Shell Collector Novel series by Nancy Naigle.

Rosemary lives with her daughter and granddaughter, but it isn’t smooth sailing. Rosemary plans to visit a friend and ends up at Tug’s diner in Whelk’s Island. It is a small town in North Carolina’s Outer Banks that has a hurricane heading towards it. The two are unexpectedly drawn to each other. When the hurricane hits, there is loss, but also new beginnings. This is about love, loss, rebuilding, and friendship.

Thank you to the author, WaterBrook, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I really loved the characters in this story. The fact that they were all different ages was appreciated. I think the story showed the different crossroads that people face at different stages in their lives. The effects of the hurricane illustrated how devastating they can be. The message I took away was that even when you reach the end of something, there is another path. I was left with a hopeful and happy feeling when I finished the book. As with all Nancy Naigle books, I find them easy to read with the stories moving at a good pace. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Despite a forecast that includes the possibility of a tropical storm, Rosemary is determined to visit an old friend on Whelk’s Island, no matter what her grown daughter thinks. Her visit with her friend gets off to a rocky start, sending Rosemary out in search of a meal. She and the diner’s owner, Tug, become fast friends almost immediately, and when the storm flattens his diner, Rosemary enlists some of the locals to help him heal.

I have enjoyed this author’s books for years. The description of the settings in her books make you feel like you are there, experiencing what the characters are going through. Her characters are well-drawn and well, human, with human feelings, human goals, and sometimes, human disappointments. Besides the human characters, I loved the parrot, The Wife. He was important to Tug and important to the story as well.

I look forward to reading Ms. Naigle’s next book, whether it’s a continuation of one of her series or a stand alone book.

"To Light The Way Forward" by Nancy Naigle is an absolute gem that grabs the reader’s attention from the very first page. Set against the charming backdrop of Whelks Island, this faith-based romance beautifully weaves themes of love, hope, and the enduring power of friendship.

Nancy Naigle's storytelling shines as she brings the small beach town to life, filling it with vivid characters whose journeys are both relatable and inspiring. The romance is tender and heartfelt, blossoming in the most genuine way, while the faith elements are seamlessly integrated, offering uplifting messages without feeling overbearing.

What truly stood out to me was the depth of the friendships portrayed—loyal, supportive, and heartwarming. The inspirational undertones reminded me of the importance of community and trusting in life's path, even when the future seems uncertain.

If you're looking for a feel-good read that touches the soul, "To Light The Way Forward" is a must-read. Nancy Naigle has crafted a story that's as comforting as a warm ocean breeze, leaving you with a renewed sense of faith and a smile on your face.

To Light the Way Forward is the second book in Nancy Naigle’s A Shell Collector series. It is not necessary to have read the first novel in the series, The Shell Collector, but having done so will add so much to the experience.

Whelk’s Island, NC, residents are carefully watching, then preparing for, landfall of Hurricane Edwina. The hurricane has bounced off the Georgia coast and many expected it to head out to sea when it actually bounces back toward the North Carolina barrier islands. As the storm approaches, Amanda Whittier and her children Hailey and Jesse, plus dog Denali, prepare to head to her parents Ohio home while her not quite fiancé Paul Grant stays behind, helping prepare the island by boarding up windows and preparing his business, Paws Town Square to act as a shelter.

Meanwhile, Rosemary Palakiko is traveling toward Whelk’s Island from her daughter’s home in Philadelphia. After her husband Kai passed and she sold their Hawaiian macadamia farm, it seemed wise to move to Philadelphia to share in her daughter’s large house and help with expenses and her granddaughter Kendra as her daughter was dealing with both her father’s death and the death of her marriage. However, the constant clashing has made it so Rosemary needs a break and is going to visit her high school friend Kathleen on the island even though it’s been over 50 years since they’ve seen each other.

A chance service station encounter with Amanda and the kids propels Rosemary forward after the two exchange phone numbers. Another chance encounter with Tug a short time before the storm hits and then meeting Paul brings Rosemary on a very new adventure.

This is a wonderful story written by a true storyteller. It is so refreshing to read a book in which the main characters, Rosemary and Tug, are senior citizens and the secondary characters are close to middle age. There are too few stories directed at this demographic. The characters are well drawn, the action so well described you can almost hear the wind blow, and setting descriptions are top notch. I very much enjoyed this book and am so in hopes there will be a third book in the future! I wholeheartedly recommend this book!

Rosemary is widowed and living with her daughter. She misses her husband terribly and needs some purpose in her life. Although she loves her daughter dearly, they are constantly butting heads. Rosemary decides to visit her high school friend on Whelks Island. She knows a hurricane is bearing down on this lovely island, but she still heads that way, much to the chagrin of her daughter.

Tug has owned and operated Tug's Diner for many years on Whelk's Island. Everyone knows and loves Tug. Tug has been suffering and grieving the loss of his good friend, Maeve. He is basically going through the motions each day. However, you would never know it if you encountered Tug. He is giving and loves his community. When he gets an unexpected visitor right before he shuts down for the hurricane, he never dreams that his life is about to be drastically changed. Who knew that giving a burger to a sweet lady named Rosemary would be a catalyst in his life?

This lovely story will pull on your heartstrings. It provides a great lesson in that fact that people are often put in our pathway at a time when we need them there the most. Tug and Rosemary do not realize that divine providence is at work with their chance meeting.

This golden age story of love lost, grieving and almost losing hope when all seems dark will warm your heart. As Tug and Rosemary together find a glimmer of light in the darkness and hope for tomorrow, you will find yourself cheering them on. You are never too old to find love, and sometimes it knocks on the door when you least expect it. This tale as old as time love story with an inspirational thread delighted my soul in every way. Home is not just about four walls. It is where your heart resides. This thought resonated for me as I read this sweet story of second chances. I could write for days about the many things I liked about this book. It was that good.

Thank you to Waterbrook and Multnomah and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a beautiful story of grief, second chances, friendship and finding family among those around you, and discovering that love doesn't have to be gone forever after a loss. I love Nancy Naigle books and this one certainly didn't disappoint.

Rosemary lost her partner and her business all in one moment. She has returned from Hawaii to live with her daughter, but things are strained. She goes to Whelk's Island to visit an old friend, much against her daughter's wishes. After all, there is a hurricane headed that way. On Whelk's Island, Rosemary makes new friends and feels like she belongs somewhere for the first time in a long time.

Thanks to WaterBrook and NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts are my own.

Some books I believe I am meant to read, and they come into my life. This was one of those books. I could understand the younger generation because I have been there, and the older generation I thought some of the things they are struggling with I am struggling with, and it was nice to see what they did to make it through. One thing stood out for me, and that was, you'll find your gift for this season of your life. When they start to think of their life that way, things begin to change, and they see changes in their life, the way they think, and it seems they have a more positive attitude. That is, the light that will shine and move you forward.
I received an ARC from WaterBrook through NetGalley and this was a book meant for me to read, and it was uplifting, a reminder that every season in life has gifts that moves us on to what is to come. We just have to find the light that brings us to what we need now, adventure, and finding our way, from where we are now.

The first book in this series, The Shell Collector was so close to my heart. It is one of my favorite books since it reminds me of a dear older friend that is now gone. In this second book of the series, the story continues and is wonderful. While it does not completely capture the feelings I have for book one, for a reason I can’t write here to not disclose any of the plot, it still is an excellent book. There will be a third book, which I am really happy about.

It does take place before, during and after a hurricane, so if you can't handle that, I just wanted to warn you of that trigger. It is not as bad as living through one though, and I know that personally, unfortunately.

The town setting is ideal for the warm characters and plot. The story brought me laughter, tears and so many heart-warming emotions. I love stories with older characters and this book has two that touched my heart. I definitely advise you to put on your “to be read” listing, if you cannot read right away!

I want to thank NetGalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

To Light the Way Forward is a beautifully written continuation of The Shell Collector, written by Nancy Naigle. This is a wonderful story about friendships, love, community, and overcoming loss while learning to live and take risks again.

Rosemary has reconnected with an old friend (Kathleen) and is scheduled to visit her on Whelk's Island. Her daughter Nina wants her to put it off due to a tropical storm/possible hurricane there, but Rosemary is determined she can get there before the storm. On the way to Kathleen's, Rosemary stops at Tug's Diner and she feels an instant connection to Tug.

Tug is still dealing with his grief from losing Maeve. Taking it one day at a time, he has to now put his focus on the upcoming storm and protecting his diner. He was not expecting a newcomer to walk into his diner just as he was closing...and he was even more surprised at how he immediately felt drawn to her.

The story that unfolds is simply amazing and has wonderful messaging throughout. This is a story that will definitely tug at your heartstrings because it is so well-written. The characters are well-developed and draw you into their lives...you will feel as if you actually know them. My favorite is Tug, and of course, The Wife steals every single scene she appears in. I felt for Rosemary at the beginning and was happy to see her finally do something even with knowing her daughter would not approve. I especially loved the interaction and developing relationship between Tug and Rosemary.

Overall, this is a heartwarming story that is beautifully written. I loved being able to reconnect with the characters from The Shell Collector, and especially enjoyed the comical scenes with Amanda's children when they met Rosemary for the first time. This story has a bit of everything in it...love, loss, overcoming grief, friendship (old and new), and learning to take chances and living life to the fullest!

I received an ARC of To Light the Way Forward from WaterBrook & Multnomah Publishing and also NetGalley. My views are my own, and are in no way influenced by anyone else.

To Light the Way Forward is a women's fiction novel by Nancy Naigle.


Tug was an old man who talked to his bird who had lovingly named his bird The Wife. His angelic wife Maeve had passed away.


There is a hurricane coming to Whelk Island. Should Tug stay or go? The tropical storm was gaining strength. My favorite supporting character was Rosemary.


It was interesting to learn about hurricanes, including the one in the Bahamas that lasted twenty-eight days. My favorite quote: Life takes you to unexpected places. Trust the light to lead you home.


I appreciated that the author brought God into the story. This book is a great read and I give it 5*.


Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, the Libby app, 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.

This is such a sweet story! I loved Rosemary and her willingness to help complete strangers in a small beach town that she was visiting. Her giving nature ends up bringing so many blessings into her life!

North Carolina is no stranger to tropical storms so To Light the Way Forward by Nancy Naigle is such a heartfelt realistic story that could easily happen along our coastline. Hope and resiliency are at the heart of how we react to the storms in our lives. Certainly Tug, Rosemary, Paul and Amanda are examples of this as they share, help the community, find purpose and love after the storm. The faith-based story is mostly uplifting but also keep a tissue or two on hand for the parts that are sad. Recommend To Light the Way Forward to all fans of women’s fiction.

Rosemary is a widow who is searching for a new purpose in life, but she doesn’t know where to begin to find it. She is just fairly certain that living with her newly divorced daughter Nina is not going to fulfill her, so she sets out on a trip to visit Whelk Island, a little town in the Outer Banks where she can visit her high school friend Kathleen and have some time on the beach to reflect on her past and her future. Having spent almost fifty years with her husband in Hawaii, Rosemary hears the call of the ocean and really thinks that time there will ground her and show her what she should do to continue her life without her beloved husband Kai. Once there, she meets Tug, the owner of a renowned diner and an all-around good guy and friend to everyone. The two hit it off immediately, and their friendship is encouraged when a hurricane comes through and forces people to work together to prepare and then to clean up. I really enjoyed the realistic setting of the beach town facing a natural disaster and the fact that the characters all pulled together and watched out for each other. I also liked the dual romances in the story and the way the author seamlessly wove the two stories together in an engaging and moderately paced plot. My favorite parts were the humor and the ones where the characters just enjoyed being together, enjoying a meal and dancing or strolling on the beach. I also liked the themes of a hopeful future and living in the present instead of dwelling in the past. Forward together is a good and memorable theme for this novel and I enjoyed how this happened for the youngest to the oldest characters. This book is a sequel to the first novel set on Whelk Island, The Shell Collector, but this one can be read and enjoyed as a standalone as new characters and a whole new story is told here.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

This book is a perfect blend of faith and love, as well as a great beach read. I think most people will feel inspired to share encouragement through shells after reading it.

To Light the Way Forward, by Nancy Naigle, is a contemporary Christian story that follows shortly after her story The Shell Collector with several of the main characters. In this story takes place on Whelk’s Island in North Carolina as the area is affected by a major hurricane that destroys some businesses. This is an enjoyable story to read and get lost in. It has good caring characters who step into to help others. We also get to see how the evacuation and separation affected Paul and Amanda. This is a well written story that tackles serious situations but has enough humor to make it fun. I so enjoyed the part of The Wife. I enjoyed Tug’s character and how he and the newcomer to town formed a nice friendship almost immediately. The story is so realistic in how the cleanup needs to take place before home owners could return. I like that it also shows the financial difficulties with waiting for insurance and how the business owners are forced to make decisions based on that. I found the relationship between the newcomer and her daughter to be very genuine is how they both are dealing with emotional situations, yet they are quick apologize ask for and give forgiveness.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

To Light the Way Forward is the second book in The Shell Collector series and while I haven't read the first book in this series (I definitely want to now!), I had no issue with jumping right into this one and enjoying it fully.

Whelk's Island is preparing for Hurricane Edwina to come on shore and the residents are doing their best have everything in place before it does. Tug, the owner of the diner, has done what he can to prepare and Paul, who owns a local business is helping everyone he can as they get closer to the storm roaring ashore. Paul has convinced his love, Amanda, and her two children to evacuate to her parents, but she isn't thrilled she has to leave Paul until the storm passes.

Rosemary has come to visit her high school friend on Whelk's Island after losing her husband. She is trying to figure out what her new life is going to look like. What Rosemary doesn't expect is how the people in Whelk's Island band together following the devastation left behind by Hurricane Edwina and how that is going to affect her.

This story is about second chances, picking up the pieces when things don't go the way you expect, chosen family and most importantly love. I very much enjoyed the way this story unfolded and the message of trusting that you will end up exactly where you are meant to be.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**