A story of strength and survival, and trying to run from the past.
I enjoyed learning more about the Galveston hurricane and this time period, overall.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

Set in Galveston in 1900, a young woman finds herself on the run from her powerful, unsavory father and finds her way into the Orphan’s Asylum on Galveston Island. Set close to the beach, she is able to watch the tides rolling in and out each day.

She has arrived afraid and full of secrets. Her name is Kathleen McDaniel, from a wealthy family, but evidently one that is driven by greed. Kathleen adopts another name in the hopes for father will not find her. As the summer comes to an end, she has made a few friends and has begun to learn more about the ocean and its weather patterns.

By September it becomes obvious a big storm is headed towards Galveston. Kathleen has met Isaac Cline of the US weather bureau and right away he realizes he underestimated the storm. This was a sobering read coming so soon after the devastating flooding that hit the Texas Hill country on July 4th. I think the power of water is often underestimated, but history has proven that it is a danger that needs to be taken seriously.

Told in two timelines, one from Kathleen’s home in New York, and the other in Galveston, once Kathleen arrives there and endures the hurricane. Luckily for Kathleen, those dearest to her manage to survive, but the town is devastated by the deaths and damage.

Galveston is such a unique place, rich in history and diversity, with citizens who are survivors and strong in so many ways. Many thanks to NetGalley and Tyndall House Publishers for allowing me to read an advance copy. I really enjoyed the book and am happy to review and recommend to other readers.

The date is September 16, 1900, readers learn about the Sisters of Charity, a Catholic orphanage in Galveston, Texas. There, we meet Annie/Kathleen, who has sought refuge at the orphanage. She has learned an aspect of her life that has her running for dear life.

She soon meets Matthew, a student studying meteorology. He devotes all his energy to this subject. Then the unimaginable occurs. How could they have predicted this? They misinterpreted the signs. With little time to take cover from the pounding storm, how will they react to something so unexpected, with no time to seek refuge from the raging gales?

I had read and enjoyed this author’s previous writings, so I ordered this one. The story started out slowly, but by the middle of it, the action picks up, and there are some unexpected twists. It helped me appreciate how far we've come in this area and how much of our everyday lives depends on the forecasts of meteorologists.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

What a heartbreaking yet beautiful story. I had never heard of this devastating historical event in Galveston.

Kathleen has traveled as far as she could to get away from the horror of her life back in New York. She struggles to find her faith in God and trust in the people that love her.

You follow two timelines. Kathleen’s life to society after returning home from school abroad and her struggle to find herself again living in Galveston.

“Sometimes God has to tear down all the distractions, all the lies in our lives, in order for us to see the truth. To see that after everything else is gone, He’s still there.”

This book was so good. Unlike anything I have read before.

I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley but all thoughts are my own.

Last Light Over Galveston is a historical novel filled with tragedy, hope, and the devastating force of Mother Nature. Told in two timelines, Kathleen’s story shows not only the nature of greed but the power of nature as she flees from the horrors of her home in the northeast only to be trapped in the horrors of the Great Galveston hurricane. Although the story of Kathleen’s home and her father’s work is interesting and powerful, the story really shines in the build-up and occurrence of the hurricane. The despair and tragedies that Kathleen faces as she fights against the hurricane are descriptive and incredibly heartbreaking, and readers will truly feel as if they’re stuck in the storm along with Kathleen and her friends. Filled with endearing characters and focusing on faith in the midst of injustice and natural disasters, Last Light Over Galveston is a powerful novel that will appeal to fans of Christian historical fiction.

Set around the 1900 Hurricane that decimated Galveston Island, I loved the dual timeline centered around Annie/Kathleen between the terrifying reality of an unanticipated storm and the past she was trying to escape. I felt like I was walking through Galveston and New York along with her, albeit in a very different time!

Thank you to Netgalley and to Tyndale House for an ARC.

This is my first Jennifer L. Wright book, and I was captivated! A terrifying event has rocked Kathleen McDaniel's world, and she takes off to distance herself from family, friends, and a web of deceit in New York. Ending up in Galveston, Texas, she takes on a new name and seeks shelter in an orphanage run by nuns. A sweet novice Emily, a precocious orphan Maggie, and a weather bureau employee named Matthew all become part of her new world. But Kathleen holds herself at a distance, hiding secrets from her past. Then the unthinkable happens - a hurricane. Suddenly her past fears pale in comparison to her current nightmare. Galveston is devasted, her world is rocked, and she's in the fight for her life. The aftermath is unthinkable - can Kathleen dig deep to do what is right, help those around her, and begin a new life? This poignant storyline and detailed descriptions wove a tale so fascinating that I couldn't put it down!

Thanks to the publisher who gifted me a copy of this novel through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

It feels like it’s been a while since I read serious historical literature. This was really incredible. The writing was strong and evoked anxiety about the storm and survival thoroughly. You feel the devastation of the loss of friends and family, of watching houses be decimated by winds and floods.

Being from Texas, the infamous Galveston hurricane and the destruction it wrought was not new to me. But reading it in the format, with this perspective, was eye opening. I couldn’t put this down.

It does have a fairly strong religious background to it, with nuns and praying for signs from God, but that’s to be expected as it was set in Texas during a natural disaster.

** “Building a foundation. Stone by stone, layer by layer. Apparently, that’s what it all came down to. But how was I supposed to do the same when both my past and my future seemed completely devoid of bricks?” **

Jennifer L. Wright delivers an intense and impactful story of finding one’s foundation within life’s storms in “Last Light Over Galveston.”

As Annie Odell finds herself in Galveston, Texas, as far away as she can get from her New York life and the horrors she left behind, little does she know she is about to face the biggest storm of her life.

When an unexpected and seemingly impossible hurricane hits Galveston on Sept. 8, 1900, she will have to find the will to survive, as well as helping those she loves to survive. Can she survive and rebuild her life, all while a storm-ravaged community seeks to also rebuild?

Wright delivers an incredible fictionalized story based on a very real and very horrific event. Many of the places and people in her story are based on historical figures and locations. She creates many great characters, like the charming Annie, an adorable 8-year-old named Maggie, and a popcorn-giving guy named Matthew, as well as some questionable characters.

Told between two time frames — earlier in 1900 when Annie is living with her father in New York State and September 1900 in Galveston — Wright also fills her story with several great themes, like wanting to help people and make a difference; the impact being defensive, obstinate and arrogant can have; the power of self-condemnation; building and finding our true foundation; God needs to remove life’s distractions sometimes so we can see the truth (“When we suffer, it reminds us that this life is short, and this world is not our home … Sometimes God has to tear down all the distractions, all the lies in our lives, in order for us to see the truth. To see that after everything else is gone, He’s still there”); God is the master artist; and finding our worth and value.

Fans of historical fiction, stories about disasters and survival, and series like the “A Day to Remember” series will love “Last Light Over Galveston,” which is due out Aug. 12.

Five stars out of five.

Tyndale Fiction provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Kathleen McDaniel returned from finishing school in Switzerland to her family home in New York. She flees after a horrific event, and works at the orphan asylum with the nuns in Galveston. She begins to make friends, and Kathleen realizes she cannot run away from her life. It is believed a hurricane could never make landfall, and everyone is surprised what is needed to be done to survive.

“I’m sorry I lied to you. It was wrong. But I never meant to hurt you. I hope you believe that. I just . . . I’m lost, Matthew. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, where I’m supposed to go. I don’t know where I belong. I don’t even know who I am.”

An amazing story of strength, perseverance, finding your worth in God, and love. This story is inspired by a true event and is a little heavy because of the devastation involved.

Kathleen is hiding from her past. She is resilient and brave. I enjoyed the chapters that took us back to the events leading up to her arriving in Galveston. All I’ll say about that time is be prepared for Wesley. I loved Kathleen’s relationship with Maggie and her time with Matthew. Matthew is persistent and full of sunshine. I loved how he pursued a friendship with Kathleen, “Not Nun” 🤣, even when she turned him away. Their time during the hurricane was heart-pounding. Kathleen’s search in the aftermath was very emotional. And my heart was very thankful for the Epilogue!

Two more quotes:
“Sometimes God has to tear down all the distractions, all the lies in our lives, in order for us to see the truth. To see that after everything else is gone, He’s still there.”

But who I truly was, my worth and value, lay deeper, inside my inmost being, where my Creator had lovingly stitched me together.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review, rating and opinions are my own.

"Last Light over Galveston" by Jennifer L Wright is a hauntingly beautiful novel based on the real hurricane of 1900 that hit Galveston Island, Texas. This is an incredibly well -written, faith-filled story that grips the reader from beginning to end. I stayed up late last night trying to finish this one and just couldn't put it down! The main character Kathleen is a woman who wants more out of her life for the time period she's living in. She, like so many other women of the Gilded Age wants more out of her upper class life than the expectations of her father. A series of events lead her flee from her father and end up in Galveston.

Kathleen escapes her father and ends up in Galveston, where her money runs out and she's taken in by nuns who run an orphanage. The story goes back and forth between her life a few months in the past and her life on Galveston Island. It culminates in the hurricane hitting the island. This is definitely a not a story for the faint-hearted but it's very well written. This character has a powerful journey of faith that leaves the reader wanting to fight alongside Kathleen as she experiences one bad thing after another. There is light in the story at times to balance out the dark and my favorite side character is 8 year old Maggie.

Kathleen's faith grows throughout the story and there are beautiful passages throughout that bring a strong Christian faith storyline. The tragedy that unfolds on Galveston Island is difficult to read however for fans of historical fiction, this real life disaster is worth reading about. I found myself tearing up several times in the last third of the book. Readers that can handle the death and destruction will find a satisfying ending after the storm passes.

My only wish for this book is that there was a spot at the end to tell the reader about any real things used in this book. Even without that, I highly recommend this book and could see this story being an excellent book club read.

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a gripping tale about a woman running from her past right into the path of a devastating hurricane. Her reason for running is revealed in flashback with both storylines hitting their tragic climaxes at the same time.

Particularly effective is the description of the strike of the hurricane. It is visceral and nerve wracking, giving the reader the sense of being right in the middle of the storm surge and destruction.

But the book is about more than the storm. It’s about love and fear and standing up for what is right and believing you are more than circumstances dictate.

This is a well-written, emotional novel that I really enjoyed. I would recommend it to everyone, especially lovers of historical fiction.

This is Christian fiction so expect prayer and discussions about God and faith.

Family friendly though there are death scenes.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tyndale House. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Jennifer L. Wright combines historical fact with eloquent fiction to create a rich and compelling novel in her upcoming release, Last Light Over Galveston. Centering around the life of debutante turned runaway Kathleen McDaniel as she hides for her life in a Galveston orphanage in the fall of 1900, this novel dances about the topics of social responsibility and identity until everything collides in full force. Wright’s characters are spunky and flawed, her setting developed so well that the reader is fully immersed, to the point that I might have checked once or twice to make sure my feet were not wet. Kathleen’s struggles are understandable, her longing for home familiar, and her flaws relatable. The supporting characters are well developed, pulling at the heartstrings just as I am sure the author intended. And when nature proves that Galveston is not actually immune to hurricanes, all comes to a climax that will leave the reader gasping for air and anticipating the next nail in the coffin until the point that the delicious conclusion is revealed.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, the publisher, or the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I appreciated how the author wove rich historical detail into the narrative. The imagery and tension in the storm scenes were among the strongest parts of the book. They were powerful enough that I found myself looking up photos and reading more about the hurricane afterward.

I also enjoyed the sections focused on Kathleen’s earlier life, before she fled New York. Her backstory had emotional weight, and I was drawn in by the promise of a major reveal. However, I found myself growing a bit impatient as the Galveston timeline dragged out the mystery for too long.

I also struggled with the large number of side characters in the Galveston timeline. I would have preferred a smaller, more focused cast with deeper relationships. It took a long time for the big reveal to occur (though I will say it was shockingly good), and it wasn't until that point that events in both timelines truly clicked into place. I just wish it hadn’t taken quite so long to get there.

This book drew me in immediately, gently at first and then with the power of a hurricane. I could not stop reading- I had to know both what had happened to Kathleen in April and her fate in September. This story switches between the present and past, and as Kathleen deals with the Galveston Hurricane in her present, she deals with a completely different kind of storm back in New York. Both stories are heartbreaking but both bring Kathleen to a place of reckoning to determine who she’s going to be and to discover a God she can rely on.

Well-written and well-researched, filled with reality and yet, hope. I felt like I was watching a disaster movie (and I love disaster movies) even though at the same time the scope of this real-life tragedy broke my heart. I did a little bit of research about the Galveston Hurricane after reading the final pages and hadn’t realized it remains the natural disaster with highest death toll in the United States, even on the low-end estimate. I read an e-ARC and I hope the completed version will have an author’s note with all the historical details because I just love those!

If you love historical fiction, stories of survival, disaster movies/stories, books that keep you turning the pages, and stories of self-discovery by the main character, you’ll love this book.

I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. I was not asked to leave a positive review and my opinions are my own.

I love when I go into a book not knowing what to expect and come away completely "wowed"! This book was fantastic and unlike any other book I've read before!
The story goes back and forth between the present and a few months previous. The reader is left in a state of anticipation from the very first chapter. You know something terrible and traumatizing has happened to the MC and you get peeks into her past as you continue to read.
Powerful, gripping, redemptive storyline with a touch of mystery and faith wrap this story up at a full 5 stars for me! Excellent read!

*I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own!

I appreciate NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Last Light over Galveston by Jennifer L. Wright. Kathleen is a young woman from New York who is hiding in a Catholic orphanage in Galveston, Texas. As we read the story, we learn what Kathleen is hiding from - her father and his horrible actions at home. She makes several friends and lives in constant fear that her father will find her, as she knows he has sent people looking for her. She was in Galveston when the 1900 hurricane hit. She works tirelessly to return to the orphanage but is unable to. We learn about the horrors that the people of Galveston endured. I thought the story was interesting and wanted to find out what would happen. Wright's writing had me feeling like I was in Galveston at this trying time - the smells, the heat, the wind, and rain.

Well, that was exceptional. In fact, I was engrossed from the very first page.

The pacing of this novel was torturously masterful. As the storyline jumped between past and present you were being led on the most agonizing journey to find out what happened. The glimpses back in time to reveal what had happened in New York to cause Kathleen to leave were just enough to keep you going. I plowed through this book wanting to find out what happened and what would happen. Major applause to the author for how she structured it all.

And I really liked the writing. It balanced well in giving information, while also being pleasing to read. Not full of poetic fluffiness, but with some really beautiful lines nonetheless.

The drama of the actual hurricane literally made my heart pound. It was so stressful! Almost too stressful! It got so hectic at a couple points that I felt disoriented. But overall it really captured the ugly, horrific moments of a hurricane, and its aftermath too. There was so much death and destruction, but I'm glad she didn't gloss over anything.

And here’s another thing I really appreciated. It wasn’t a Christian novel that had little preachy paragraphs mixed in at random points. The main character really did struggle with her belief. She really did make mistakes. There were things that did not wrap up with a perfect bow. Promises that weren’t kept. People that were fallible and who trusted in the wrong thing. Not everyone got a happy ending either.

I love when a book is based off of a true historical event. And I love it even more when it makes me do a deep dive into said event after finishing. I hadn't really heard of the Galveston hurricane before I read this book, and I'm glad to have learned about it from reading this.

A couple small critiques:
- If anything, the main character's pivotal faith moment might have been made a little too small in the grand scheme of the book.
- I wasn't extremely compelled by the relationship between Kathleen and Matthew. I wish there would have been a few more interactions between them before the hurricane began to establish their friendship. (view spoiler)

P.S. I was going to throw the book across the room if we did not get some closure on Matthew by the end. So glad that we did!

An amazingly suspenseful, harrowing, hope-filled, and engaging story of a young woman hiding from her former life, and finding herself enmeshed in what is still our nation's most deadly natural disaster - the 1900 Galveston hurricane. Wright's descriptions were so vivid and stark, I truly felt like I was there. The slow unpeeling of the life she was running from in New York, in the midst of the life she was living (barely surviving at times) in Galveston kept me engaged, and guessing, throughout. The revelations seemed to come at just the right time.

I fell in love with Kathleen - as well as several of the people SHE loved. The characterization was deep and real-to-life. The struggles were real, as was the hope thread. Plus a perfect (though NOT "happily ever after") ending.

Gritty but hopeful, with a touch of romance and a string of God's love from beginning to end, I can't recommend this one more highly.