🌃🕯️ “The Hint of Light” (2023) 🕯️🌃 – Book Review

 

MY REVIEW 

 

 

Paperback: 303 Pages 
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing/Amazon Publishing (August 29, 2023) 
Language: English 
ISBN 10: 1662512511 
ISBN-13: 978-16625125113
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“In this heart-wrenching exploration of unconditional love, what a mother finds in the aftermath of her son’s death could put her family back together―or tear them apart for good.

 

In the wake of her son’s sudden death, Margaret Dobrescu struggles to keep it together in the face of her grief…and her guilt. She can’t help but blame herself for Kyle’s own lifelong struggles―namely, the alcoholism that plagued him.

 

But within mere days of his funeral, secrets and suspicions begin to surface, and Margaret’s husband admits that Kyle once confessed to having a daughter. Clinging to the hope that some part of her son is still out there, Margaret embarks on a search to find her rumored granddaughter.

 

What Margaret hasn’t prepared for, however, is the deluge of secrets that keep coming. And as she digs deeper and deeper into her son’s life to find the truth, what she finds instead is that her own secrets can’t stay buried forever.” 

 

Thank you in advance to the author, Kristin Kisska, for providing a complimentary review copy through Kate Rock Book Tours. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own. 

Most of my blog readers, and followers of my reviews, know I primarily prefer the Christian reads; as well as clean and sweet reads. 

 

I want to strongly caution those who look to me for book recommendations – this book has some “LANGUAGE”. While it isn’t proliferated throughout the book (every chapter, etc) – there is ENOUGH of it that some readers might not care for or be comfortable with. This not only includes “barnyard” language (H3!!, D@MN, CR@P, A$$), but the s-word (over a dozen uses) and the f-word (close to 10 uses). 

 

While this is by no means a Christian read, one of the main characters does “talk” with God, goes to confessional, and is Irish-Catholic though. 

 

That said … 

 

Kisska includes a content warning about the book and what is mentioned. The author cautions about sexual assault (the word r@pe is used by a character), physical assault, suicide, addiction, and alcoholism). I personally would like to add that there is mention of a drug overdose, a reference to DUI, depression, cancer, as well as mention of abortion, and a reference to the #MeToo movement. Some of these topics might be difficult for some readers.  

 

Kisska introduces readers to: 

 

🩺 Margaret Dobrescu (Kyle’s mother, nurse)

🥃 Kyle Dobrescu (Deceased)

👨🏻‍🦳 Martin Dobrescu

👩🏻 Kimber Dobrescu

📚 Allison “Ally” O’Leary

 

The POVs are all first person – Margaret – After (current); Kyle – Before (past); Ally – Before and After (past and present), with the bookends a mystery person (revealed in the end). 

 

The Hint of Light begins with a powerful, moving, and stoic line: 

 

Motherhood is not for the weak.

 

After the birth of the child (obviously this is in the past), chapter one takes readers to a grieving and guilt-ridden Margaret. Yesterday – two children, today – one. 

 

From there, readers are thrust into the aftermath of a suicide, funeral, grief, and guilt; especially with Margaret’s last words to Kyle – “get out”. This is out of frustration in watching her nearly 38-year-old son battle for sobriety for most of his life, and repeatedly caving into his addiction. His death? A slip and fall, which is consistent for his addiction, but also? A drug overdose which surprises her since there was NO evidence of drugs. 

 

She then learns, from her husband, that Kyle had a daughter. Her age and name are not known. 

 

From Margaret’s POV, readers watch as she searches for the mystery granddaughter she nicknames “Boo”. She throws herself into finding the girl, so much so, her daughter Kimber wants her to abandon it. She goes as far as calling the girl a “phantom grandchild”. But, Margaret is also trying to understand how her son got a clean bill of health in an ER just 24 hours before he died. She even tells her family, during an intervention, not to tell her how to grieve (I really supported her here). 

 

She also has to come to terms with a secret that she even had her soon keep – one that she feels killed him. When she tells a priest, she is informed that because God gave us free will, he will never interfere with the outcomes we create by our actions. She soon realizes what she has to do. 

 

From Kyle’s POV, readers are taken through the year leading up to his death. He has a court date for DUI, getting another DUI on a suspended license. He’s almost worn out his mother’s grace; and is forced to enter a rehab for year to avoid prison. It is at this time, he tells his father about his daughter, though doesn’t reveal everything. He is happily surprised that the woman didn’t have an abortion which he’d suggested. 

 

He also asks his father not to tell his mother yet. Kyle begins to get to know Allison. And, he decides to take this stint in rehab seriously. Everything goes according to plan, until a serious derailment. 

 

Despite his flaws, his love for Ally, propels him into doing what is right. Readers get a glimpse into a man who is struggling, but is working towards sobriety for good, especially for Ally – to be the father she deserves. 

 

From Ally’s “BEFORE” POV, readers see a young girl who’s been well taken care by her single mom, but yearns to know about her father and his family. Finally, her mother gives her the name, but cautions her that he isn’t the best influence, and tries to repeatedly talk her out of it. Her mother is vehemently against it, and unsupportive.

 

Ally finds the real and raw Kyle – the gifted soul, but the broken man. The father he tries to be, and the mistakes he keeps making. 

 

Ally’s AFTER POV takes readers through her losing her father after finding him, and working up the courage to introduce herself to her father’s parents. She is dealing with her grief and the injustice of his death, while trying to get through college.

 

Kisska draws readers into this dramatic, emotionally moving, gripping, haunting, realistic, and sinister read that lurks underneath a beautiful and reflective cover.

 

I was so drawn in that I ended up reading 77% within a 8-hour period. I managed to finish it within 24 hours. For a book of this size? It’s more of a 2-3 day read for someone like me. That attests to the fact I absolutely couldn’t put this down. 

 

I loved how everyone was revealed to each other, and how they all interconnected; especially Kyle’s mother and Ally’s mothers both being nurses. One in a clinic, the other in the ER. I absolutely detested Ally’s mother. While I understand why she hesitated telling her daughter about Kyle, I think she should’ve been more supportive of her daughter.

 

As far as Kimber – I barely tolerated her. I liked her SLIGHTLY more than Ally’s mom. Acting as though her mother should forget about a grandchild, then being mad at her mom (who suffered a trauma) were two unforgiveable acts for me. While I get the trauma affected Kyle (and it was clear that he needed help), Margaret was a victim as well. She wasn’t thinking clearly. She also, in a narrative, points out that Kimber was judging her through today’s #MeToo standards and not yesterday’s reality. The author’s understanding of the past culture surrounding SA is refreshing and authentic. 

 

Martin (the husband) was more like a blip on the radar, and I would’ve enjoyed seeing his POV with regard to his wife’s search for the granddaughter, along with his son’s battle with addiction. 

 

Unlike most reviewers, I absolutely LOVED the ending! It does change the tone and theme of the book, but – in my opinion – in a good way. The ending gives it the feel of a Lifetime movie of the week. It is chilling and with the strong prologue, the perfect bookend. Not saying I support what the character did – but, that it was a dramatic scene that gave this some “oomph” and drama, almost suspense. 

 

It does make me wonder if this is a true standalone read, or if this is just an opening to a potential series or second book. If there is a follow-up to this one, I definitely want to read it. 

 

If not for the language, I would probably have given this 5-stars; and, I’d definitely recommend it to my fellow readers.

 

This is more for people who don’t mind a visceral, gritty, and realistic look into addiction, its aftermath, and the impact on the families; as well as what sexual assault and trauma does when untreated. 

 

On a lighter note, I had to agree with Kyle about institutions (hospitals, etc) and their side salads with meals (along with ranch dressing). During a 10-day stay in the hospital for a serious health condition, I had my share of those salads, which I did actually enjoy. Though, I have to admit – the hospital food (where I was) – wasn’t that bad. But, they sure loved to serve those salads. 

 

 

 

RATING:  

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads  

  

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub  

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html; update: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html) 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

 

Kristin Kisska is a native of Virginia, where she currently resides with her family and their moody tabby, Boom. She holds a BS in commerce from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Northwestern University. She is the author of a dozen short stories published in anthologies. The Hint of Light is her debut novel.

 

Kristin loves hearing from friends and readers at www.KristinKisska.com.

 

 

She can be found on the following social media accounts: 

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KristinKisskaAuthor  

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinkisskaauthor  

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KKMHOO 

 

 

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