Shelia Stovall

A widowed librarian in a small town, a minister who looks like he's stepped off the cover of CQ, and a teenager who's been forced to grow up too fast. Three very different people who share one common connection--they've all experienced deep hurts! These are just three of the great characters in Every Window Filled with Light, and they are some of the reasons that I enjoyed this book so much. Author Shelia Stover is a librarian herself and she perfectly describes some of the activities that a library director would be involved in. She also gives Emma Baker a loving, generous heart for young people, with one notable exception. She cannot forgive the young man that she holds responsible for the death of her husband. She's lost the love of her life, she can't have children, and her relationship with her mother is nothing to write home about. Emma is basically alone!

Every Window Filled with Light refers to Emma's desire to fill her large, stately home with people. This is a touching story of hurts left to fester, forgiveness that seems to be elusive, and the addiction epidemic that threatens our society. It is also a testament to the power of love and faith, and the liberation that comes from forgiveness.

I enjoyed everything about this book! The depiction of life in a small town, the people who live there, and the reminder of the importance of good foster care. I also enjoyed the hint of romance and the strong faith element woven throughout the story. This is Shelia Stover's debut novel and I look forward to reading more about the fictional town of Weldon, Kentucky. I recommend Every Window Filled with Light to all who enjoy Christian fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Celebrate Lit. There was no obligation for a positive review.… (mehr)

Imagine someone murdering your husband, and then having that person reach out to you. Emma experiences exactly that situation.

This book also illustrates how a group of unrelated people form their own family through circumstance. Faith in God plays a major role in this book. I loved getting to know Pastor Luke, Emma, Harley, Mr. McCullough, and all the other characters in this book.

The author masterfully created a plot with characters I wanted to get to know. I would love to read more books about other characters in this book.

With faith, forgiveness, and second chances, I definitely found myself drawn into the story. So check out this book for yourself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but it in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.… (mehr)

This is one of those books that will stay with you for a long time. The author has written such an emotional story that I found myself crying during parts of it. It is an incredible journey of forgiveness, trust and family. The lead character Emma has such a giving heart it is hard not to like her. When she opens her home to a young girl in need, they both find themselves yearning for acceptance. Emma has this big house and her desire has always been to fill it with people. When her husband is tragically killed, she starts to feel lonely and bitter. I liked walking with her as she allows God to help her through her anger at the person responsible for her husband’s death.

Harley is a young girl in desperate need of someone to love her. I cried when I read about her home life. Her mother has been caught up in drugs and Harley finds herself on the receiving end of her mother’s bad choices. I liked the part where Harley ends up in Emma’s care. They both need each other and this brings hope to both of them. Harley may be hard to handle at times but she will need to learn to trust before she can let her guard down. Can you imagine being on your own at such a young age?

I loved how the author gives readers a realistic look at people with a past that many have dealt with. I’m sure we all have a family member or friend that has suffered with drug abuse or physical abuse. The author doesn’t sugar coat anything but gives us a lesson on turning to God in our darkest moments. There is a definite feel of faith in the story as scriptures and prayers are scattered throughout the book. There is a bit of romance in the book, but it is not the focal point of the story. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.… (mehr)

Every Window Filled with Light by Sheila Stovall is the debut of The Weldon Novels. This is a charming story about library director, Emma Baker who is a widow. She is just starting to emerge from her grief, but sadness still plagues her at the idea of her home not being filled with light and laughter. Emma then finds Harley camping out in the library. Emma becomes a foster mother to the prickly teen. Emma and Harley are in for a bumpy road. After a beginning that had me cringing (I am not a fan of slimy creatures), I became immersed into the story. It contains good writing with developed characters and steady pacing. I liked seeing the main characters grow as the story progressed. I enjoyed the charming setting of Weldon, Kentucky. It is a sweet Southern town with friendly residents who look out for each other. We get to see true Southern hospitality. Emma belongs to a wonderful church family. I like how they help each other out. Faith is prominently featured in Every Window Filled with Light. Trusting God, forgiveness, and prayer are a couple of the topics addressed. Except for a mild swear word in the story (repeated at least twice), this is a clean Christian story. Every Window Filled with Light is a heartwarming story about forgiveness, having hope, finding family, good friends, and relying on God. Every Window Filled with Light is a touching tale with flavorsome fried pies, a troubled teen, a marvelous Victorian, a bouncy baby, a sweet Schnauzer, scrumptious cookies, and absorbing books.… (mehr)