Book Review: The Light on Halsey Street by Vanessa Miller

 Title:  The Light on Halsey Street

Author :  Vanessa Miller

Genre:  Women's Fiction

Publisher:  Thomas Nelson

Publication Date:  September 5th, 2023

Rating:  💥💥💥💥💥

About the Book:

Two girls’ lives are irrevocably intertwined the summer of 1985 in the streets of Brooklyn, New York, and neither will ever be the same in this coming-of-age story that spans decades.

In the summer of 1985, Lisa Whitaker is a church kid headed to college on a scholarship while her best friend, Dana, is floundering in the wake of her mother’s latest eviction. Though Lisa tries to help, their paths diverge. Fifteen years later, Lisa has a beautiful family and is stepping into her dream job as the director for a social services organization. Everything is going right—until her future is snatched away by identity theft. Her life begins to unravel, and Lisa wants nothing more than to see the woman responsible pay for her crimes.

When she was a teenager, Dana Jones always felt alone in this world. Her mother was addicted to drugs, her boyfriend was entering a life of crime, and it seemed Dana, too, was heading down the wrong path. The only bright light was her friendship with Lisa. Now, in the new millennium, Dana finally gives herself permission to dream—to believe she is stepping into better days. But when the betrayal of their friendship comes to light, it will take a lifetime to forgive the destruction that youthful summer in Bed-Stuy set in motion.

In this latest story from beloved author Vanessa Miller, two girls from the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, find that their paths have been woven together by the love of community and a friendship that is tested by time, betrayal, and unforgiveness.

• Inspirational Christian fiction
• Stand-alone novel
• Perfect for fans of Tara M. Stringfellow, Terry McMillan, and Kimberla Lawson Roby
• Book length: approximately 85,000 words
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

My Thoughts:

The light on Halsey street was one of those books that I absolutely loved, but have been struggling to find the words to describe how much I absolutely loved and enjoyed this book.  The author takes you back to the 80's and on such a journey of living life, making mistakes, owning up to those mistakes and eventual forgiveness.  This book was a quick read for me, and totally took me on such an emotional roller coaster ride.  I mean the way she wrote these characters and how they moved throughout the story and grew had me shedding tears a couple of times.  And we must not forget the power of friendship and forgiveness.  This book will have you looking at things in a different light.  A book you will not be able to put down until you are finished and one where the characters will stay with you long after you're finished.  

About the Author

Vanessa Miller is a best-selling author, entrepreneur, playwright, and motivational speaker. She started writing as a child, spending countless hours either reading or writing poetry, short stories, stage plays and novels. Vanessa’s creative endeavors took on new meaning in1994 when she became a Christian. Since then, her writing has been centered on themes of redemption, often focusing on characters facing multi-dimensional struggles.

Vanessa’s novels have received rave reviews, with several appearing on Essence Magazine’s Bestseller’s List. Miller’s work has receiving numerous awards, including “Best Christian Fiction Mahogany Award” and the “Red Rose Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction.” Miller graduated from Capital University with a degree in Organizational Communication. She is an ordained minister in her church, explaining, “God has called me to minister to readers and to help them rediscover their place with the Lord.”

· Essence Bestsellers’ List March 2008; May 2008 (Former Rain)

· Essence Bestsellers’ List September 2008 (Rain Storm)

· Black Expressions Book Club Alternate Selection 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010

· #1 Ebook for fiction on Amazon.com November 2010 (Long Time Coming)

· #1 on BCNN/BCBC Bestsellers’ List November 2010 (Long Time Coming)

She has worked with numerous publishers: Urban Christian, Kimani Romance (Harlequin), Abingdon Press and Whitaker House. She is currently working on Something Good with Thomas Nelson (HarperCollins) which releases in March 2022.

In 2016, Vanessa launched the Christian Book Lover’s Retreat in an effort to bring readers and authors of Christian fiction together in an environment that’s all about Faith, Fun & Fellowship. To learn more about Vanessa, please visit her website: www.vanessamiller.com. If you would like to know more about the Christian Book Lover’s Retreat that is currently held in Charlotte, NC during the last week in October you can visit: http://www.christianbookloversretreat.com/index.html

Vanessa lives in North Carolina with her husband and family. She graduated from Capital University with a degree in Organizational Communication.

Most of Vanessa’s published novels depict characters that are lost and in need of redemption. The books have received countless favorable reviews.

“. . . Heartwarming, drama-packed and tender in just the right places.”—Romantic Times Book Review.

“Recommended for readers of redemption stories.” –Library Journal.

www.vanessamiller.com

Don’t forget to join my mailing list:

http://www.vanessamiller.com/events-join-mailing-list/

Join me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Vanessa-Miller-106334304622871

Join me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorvanessamiller/

Join me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/vanessamiller01

Website: www.vanessamiller.com