Review – Lighting Candles in the Snow

Lighting Candles in the Snow

by Karen Jones Gowan

received from the author for review

This novel centers around Karoline, a woman who has to completely reinvent herself.  Her husband is unfaithful and lackadaisical and after she takes a hard look at what she has allowed…she changes things.  But has a hard time with moving on with her life once those changes have happened.  So life throws her a few curveballs until she has to ENGAGE and start living.

But once she doesn’t have work to hide in any longer, she doesn’t do much of anything.  She can’t seem to move forward and she does a lot of reviewing of her 5 married years.  Did she do something wrong?  What happened?  Her husband never told her about his childhood, he wouldn’t talk about the past, or much of anything.  This book is about divorce, communication and diet.  But it is also a lot about family and what is important in life.  Most chapters end with an actual recipe for something yummy, so Jones gives us wonderful culinary recipes as Karoline figures out the ultimate recipe for happiness in her life.

So, she is at loose ends.  She worries about weight but can’t exercise.  She is having a really hard time.  I don’t read many books like this, where things are pretty true to life.   People do bad things, make bad choices, but love can ultimately bring you to do what is right, and you might get a second chance at happiness.  Most of my heroines kick booty and take names.  Karoline doesn’t know what she wants and dithers, until she knows exactly what she wants, and then she won’t take no for an answer.  Once she figures things out…she becomes ferocious and driven and purposeful.  It is lovely to watch her blossom and you end with hope, budding love and happiness.  3.5 stars.  Karoline also eats oreos just like I like to, we connected.  🙂