I'm having a really hard time getting into this one--already about a sixth of the way through and it's just not doing it for me. I've really enjoyed so many of her other books, so maybe I'll try again later....

Julia is finally recovering from a brutal fire that nearly took her life. One important step forward is getting to marry her love, the rancher Paul Otto. Life in Wyoming is very different from her life in Salt Lake City, but she takes it in stride. Julia must learn to deal with mistreatment and distrust from other ranchers. She and Paul also have to deal with another man threatening them and a young boy they have taken care of. As Julia learns to endure her trials, she will grow and learn to love the land and her husband even more than she thought possible.

This book was very sweet. Julia is a very determined woman who is willing to fight for what she wants, and that is always fun to read about. Paul is very kind and a great husband to her. One slightly negative thing was that I was unaware this was the second in a series, but it became very apparent rather quickly. The book was easy to get into, but it glosses over some things that you would know if you had read the first book. That made it a little harder to read at times. There was just a familiarity with the characters and their pasts that I was missing.

That being said, I still enjoyed the book. The plot of this book is fairly independent from the first book, so other than a distinct feeling you're missing some details, you can still enjoy this book. I was particularly fascinated by the reactions of other ranchers to Paul's becoming LDS. There was a lot of negative reactions and prejudice towards Paul and Julia because of their religion, and I thought this was a very interesting plot point. If you like romance and historical novels, this will certainly be a book you will enjoy (although it will definitely help if you read the first book before this one).

Galley provided for review. ( )

This review was posted on my blog at www.bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com

To anyone that is considering to read this story before they read BORROWED LIGHT, please STOP and get the first book. You won't be sorry, as it is the story that started it all. It's like having a `pie' without the `pie crust'! You'll understand the analogy when you finish the book, but seriously, you'll appreciate this sequel so much more after reading its prequel.

I am a very new Carla Kelly fan, but she has managed to impress me after only one book, and finding out that she has written a book (or two now) that were not Regencies, intrigued. Finding out that they were LDS based, baffled this ignorant reviewer who wasn't familiar with 'LDS' nor did she know what it means. When in doubt, ask is my motto, so I asked Ms. Kelly and she was more than willing to tell me about her beliefs(and if you're like me, please find a minute to read about them at the end of my review), and the reasons for writing these two books. For more on that subject, tune in tomorrow.

ENDURING LIGHT continues the story of Julia Darling, a woman who in BORROWED LIGHT finds the love of her life on a Wyoming ranch.

As the book opens, Julia and Paul Otto are very much in love, but as he's freshly minted Mormon, he's not able to marry Julia for the next six months, or until one year passes from his Baptism. The separation will not be easy for either, as she prepares for their union while in Salt Lake City, and while Paul takes care of ranch business in Wyoming.

The reader is then taken on a journey of these two people who through many trials and tribulations learn the lessons of endurance. Their Father is teaching them to love thy neighbor and thy enemy while turning the other cheek and slowly killing them all with kindness. Trust me, not an easy lesson for us mere mortals to learn, but with His help and with Him at the helm, Paul and Julia, as well as the reader, come away much stronger after the lessons have been learned.

Both Paul and Julia will learn that no matter what life throws in front of them, together they CAN endure, but ONLY if they SURRENDER all of their burdens to their Heavenly Father.

I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this story. You don't have to be a Mormon to enjoy it. This is truly a story of love. Love of a woman for her man as much as love of One God for his children, be they good guys or bad. God loves a sinner, and there were some in here that were pretty bad.

I don't really care which `creed' you fall under, but if you're looking for an inspirational love story, passing these two up (and you must remember the BORROWED LIGHT, too) would be such a shame.

Melanie

*Copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review. ( )

Only for Carla Kelly would I read Mormon based inspirationals. ( )