Cover Image: By the Light of Embers

By the Light of Embers

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Member Reviews

Really enjoyed this book. Great plot and engaging, believe characters. I was drawn right into the story. Would definitely recommend.

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It was really enjoyable, interesting pace and the writing was very good.
Characters and their chemistry too.

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Lucia Lafleur is working as a candy striper at a hospital while studying at Penn College, she has a few run ins with Sebastian Banner, her father’s a well known doctor in Louisiana and she’s always wanted to follow in his footsteps. She’s engaged to Kip O’Neill, their getting married in October and Lucia hasn’t told him she’s been accepted into the Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

Kip expects her to marry him, not have a career and raise his children. She travels home with her best friend Gretchen, she has never been to the South and Lucia’s still deciding what she’s going to do about Kip and his ultimatum? Gretchen notices on the train how people of color are treated differently in the South, they still have segregation and some people are extremely racist.

Lucia and Gretchen are invited to a masquerade ball at Inverness plantation, and Gretchen has fun creating their costumes and taking photo's. The Moore family own Inverness, father Richard and son Robbie are both racist, dangerous and Robbie takes a shine to Gretchen. Lucia meets Nicholas Fletcher, he’s a dark skinned scholar, poet and works for the Moore’s.

Lucia and Nick share a love of reading, they both admire Oscar Wilde and his literary masterpieces. It’s extremely risky for Nicholas to be seen with a white woman, he could be killed and they meet in secret. Tension is rife in Louisiana, Lucia realizes how dangerous it is for Nicholas, she wants them both to leave and has she left it too late?

By the Light of Embers by Shaylin Ganghi is a story about living in the American South during the 1950’s, attitudes haven't changed towards colored people since the Civil War, and Lucia discovers the pain of forbidden love, and it can either destroy you or make you stronger. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, Lucia’s a feisty character and she has a positive influence on Dr. Banner, and four stars from me.

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As a foreigner, there are a lot of the stakes that I maybe don't understand as people of the country would, but By the Light of Embers was an absolutely heart-wrenching story of a forbidden love, both the lovers who have painful backgrounds in a time that was kind to no one. I wish the relationship was more drawn out that it was, but I cannot complain much.

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“Sometimes we’re given an opportunity: to run and hide, or to step into unchartered territory with courage and strength.”

I always love it when a book surprises me. I picked up By The Light of Embers a bit hesitant about whether or not I’d enjoy it, I left it on my TBR pile for a few too many months and when I eventually picked it up, I found myself an engaging, but emotional read.

By The Light of Embers follows Lucia Lafleur, a young woman just accepted into Medicine, who goes home to Louisiana for the summer before ultimately needing to decide her own future; marry her fiancé who doesn’t approve of her career choice, or follow her dreams and defy the conventions of the 1950s. That summer she meets a dark-skinned poet named Nicholas and forms a deep and instant bond - both of whom get caught up in the racial violence of the time.

The book explores the constraints and opportunities of women from the 1950’s through Lucia’s relationships with her mother, her best friend Gretchen and a family friend, Breckin. All four women have had their opportunities challenged in different ways, and in this, we can explore the myriad of ways women were oppressed and steered away from making their own life choices. In contrast, Lucia is positioned as someone who dares to dream beyond the hand that most women around her have been dealt. I particularly loved the relationship between Lucia and her mother and their seeming very different choices, which they ultimately come to realise are not-so-different after all.

“You’re allowed to want more, and you shouldn’t be ashamed of it.”

I’ve been thinking a lot as I was getting ready to write this review about how I’d describe Lucia’s relationship with Nicholas. It’s hard for me to describe it without giving away spoilers, and so I won’t go there too much in this review. Suffice to say that we sometimes find that person who ‘gets’ to the core of who we are, someone that lifts us up rather than tears us down, when we’re least expecting it. They can appear but fleetingly or be someone who stays with us for a long time, and no matter who they are and for how long you know them, it is something to be treasured.

While I’ve been writing drafting this review, the murder of George Floyd happened, and then the protests in the USA and all over the world erupted. I saw a symmetry between the racial violence that follows Nicholas in By The Light of Embers and what is still happening in the world today. I don’t have all the words, except to know its unacceptable that any person with dark skin should go through such systematic and deeply-rooted oppression and racism. For Nicholas and his family, they lived with it daily and it saddens and angers me that in my own reality, many still live with it and fight against it each day.

When I finished By The Light of Embers I had to sit for a while and think over what I’d just read. It’s only the really good books that make me reflective and I need time away before starting the next book. I wasn’t expecting it to happen with By The Light of Embers and for that I’m both pleased to be surprised, and sad that I’ve finished reading. I do think this is a book I’ll revisit one day in the future for a re-read.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I received a digital copy from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

A forbidden interracial relationship in the southern state of Louisiana during the 1950s

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I was drawn into this book immediately. I love period pieces involving women who feel out of place in their decade/period/life, as did Lucia and her yearning to become a doctor instead of settling into marriage and a life of homemaking.

The turns the novel took were so well crafted - I did wish that the love story between Nicholas and Lucia was a bit more drawn out - it was one of those romances that were instantaneous and slightly unbelievable, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

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It's 1954, and twenty-two-year-old Lucia Lafleur has always dreamed of following in her father’s footsteps. While sock hops and poodle skirts occupy her classmates, she dreams of bacteria and broken bones—and the day she’ll finally fix them.


I am a sucker for any female protagonist who has to fight against social norms and society to obtain the same rights as her male counterparts. Lucia is on elf my favorite characters to date. I rooted for her, my heart broke fr her, and I celebrated her accomplishments.

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By the Light of the Embers transports the reader to 1954 Louisiana before segregation ended and racial tensions were exploding. Lucia Lafleur comes home for the summer from Philadelphia with her best friend Gretchen to decide whether to marry her fiancé or break it off and attend medical school, which was her dream. Lucia unexpectedly falls for Nicholas, a dark-skinned worker that was intelligent and quite well-read. His poetry and gentleness called to her soul and they became involved – a match that was forbidden at the time. She also regularly corresponded with a physician she knew from Philadelphia that detailed his troubled life and her feelings changed from disapproving to friendship. Her best friend Gretchen becomes involved with a white supremacist with a cruel and vengeful father. All these story lines connect to bring the reader on a compelling and terrifying journey as racial violence erupts. The descriptions of Louisiana were incredible and the reader could visualize the beauty of the setting and the ugliness of the tension of the time. My only critique involves the long dialogue that was somewhat stilted and lengthy at times.
I received the book from NetGalley and Briar Rose Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The book did not disappoint!

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There are some books I've read that will stay with me forever. This may be one of those books. It's a heartbreaking tragedy told with hope, resilience, and poetry woven into every phrase. For every literary lover out there, Nicholas is the embodiment of that love. He is beautiful and complicated and love personified.

The plot is not one to be easily forgotten. It is hope filled with foreboding, and the ethereal beauty of the location is the ultimate counterbalance to the ugliness that lies beneath the surface.

Shaylin Gandhi writes in poetry that masquerades as prose, her words evoking pictures and feelings that are amazingly dazzling and emotionally agonizing. I absorbed the words as one would greedily consume nourishment following near starvation, dreading what was to come while anxiously racing to the conclusion. It was exhausting.

Metaphors and similes sing to me in a language so few speak with fluidity. Phrases like "night coalesced into a warm embrace," and " heat clenched around us like a wet fist," and " the sun heaved itself up out of the sea like a molten ruby" evoked some of the most simple yet sublime visions of a place transcendent — a place which both attracted and repelled me in equal measure.

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I wanted to like this because it was set in Louisiana, but as a Louisiana girl I just couldn’t buy it. It threw in all possible conceptions of Louisiana in a gumbo that turned out to be foreign. It wouldn’t, couldn’t have happened this way Romanticize all you want, the occurrences in this book are impossible. Gandhi is a talented writer - the word pictures drawn by her will take you away to a beautiful place and another time. However, the circumstances in the book don’t match that time and place. She tried to throw in too many things, even a little witchcraft, on a “plantation” frozen in time and ideas. It read as though it was set in the early 1900’s, not 1954, and the “Southern gothic” was laid on a bit too thick. The book just couldn’t quite decide what it wanted to be - love story?, women’s rights?, civil rights tension?, murder mystery?, fantasy?, - throw in racial hatred, pre-civil war values, secrets galore, misunderstandings, alcoholism, mother daughter misunderstandings, and more. I think Gandhi needs a critical editor to help prune her free-ranging ideas! But don’t take my word for it. Read it and see what you think. You just may love it like the other reviewers.
Thanks to Netgalley and Briar Rose Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Enjoyed this book. Kept me interested all the way through. Would recommend to a fellow reader. Love the cover.

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By the Light of Embers by Shaylin Gandhi
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For me, this novel was incredibly moving, powerful and beautiful. The author's elegant and stunning prose in this novel was awesome and truly appreciated. As well as the beautiful language, the author spins a fabulous tale of love, devotion, friendship, racism, and history.

I loved all of the characters, even those that I thought were contemptible, as they added to the story. All of them were extremely well drawn and some were rather surprising. There were definite twists and turns in the plot as the multiple layers were stripped back and revelations made. With so much emotion, I was incredibly impressed with this book. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Briar Rose Publishing via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

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This is the Story of Lucia Lafleur who is faced with an ultimatum at the beginning of the summer, and as she navigates her feelings at her parents' home, she meets someone who understands her.

I'm not going to lie, I did not like the first chapter, because it felt unrealistic for a child to act this way. After reading it I was less than enthusiasts to read the rest of the book and put it away for the day.

When I reached for it the next day, I forgot all about it, I was sucked into the story. I wanted to know more about the headstrong Lucia and her amazing and supporting friend Gretchen.
This book is beautiful, I loved it.
It is a tale of love and hardships.

I would recommend it to anyone who loves to read about the following:
-Historical novels
-Slow burn romance
-Interracial Love
-Forbidden Love
-Racism (I always find it hard to read how ugly racism is, but I believe it's important to remember how bad it can go with ignorance)
-Strong friendship

I would recommend skipping it if you're not a fan of the following
-Violence(through the recounting of racism and other things)

I want to thank NetGalley for giving me a free copy in exchange of an honest review. The opinions expressed are all my own.

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It's 1954 in Louisiana, twenty-two-year-old Lucia Lafleur is a white woman who while her friends dream of girlhood crushes,poodle skirts and sock hops she has much more lofty expectations for herself. Becoming a doctor like her father and following in his footsteps.
Her intended gives her an ultimatum, it's either him or studying medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Like it is expected of her at the time, women are to be homemakers and look after the children that come with marriage. She doesn't accept this as her lot in life but does go along with it, it's what's expected after all. Returning home to Louisiana she doesn't expect much that summer. Back home she is deeply contemplating what decision to make she isn't expected to do much besides be a genteel lady,gossip and sip sweet tea. When she meets a gentle soul, a poet who is a man of color who is intellectual and a balm to her soul she befriends him. You have to remember this is the 1950's racial tensions and inequality are running rampant in the south.
This love of literature soon blossoms into something forbidden and bewitching.
My heart bled reading this. A colored man was hung just for picking up a white woman's handkerchief and tapping her elbow to give it back to her. Where do you go when the law thinks they are above the law? Who is responsible for this hanging? That's right, the sheriff and his cronies. They are just saving the reputation of the lady they say, right!
This "secret" 1950's southern romance is destined to fail. How do I know that? Because in the 1950's interracial relationships were not "allowed". If you were run out of town you were one of the lucky ones. The consequences were usually much worse. I knew a tragedy was going to happen in this book. I just didn't know when or how and when it did my heart was just ripped apart!
I will have a hard time concentrating on another book after this one. This one will stay with me for a long time.
Published May 9th 2019 by Briar Rose Publishing.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley through Briar Rose Publishing. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.

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First, I’d like to start off by congratulating the author on this precious gem being her debut novel. She’s made a stalker out of me.

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What I look forward to most when I’m reading a historical romance is feeling like I’m part of the era the author has chosen to write about. I like to imagine myself being right there with the characters. How they live. Where they come from. How they dress. Learn new things I never new about, even after all the years of boring history class. The romance just makes it juicier. Specially if it’s forbidden.

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Although this story takes place in the 1940-50’s, and it really hasn’t been that long ago, it takes place in the south of America where slavery still existed and a women’s place was at home. So without further boring you with an essay/synopsis like review, picture our lead female being white and beautiful, but also smart and a big rebel. So unlike the women of the south. The male lead is black, underprivileged, but he hides so many secrets and is unlike the other black men in the story according to how a “negro” was supposed to act in the south. When these two are in the same room, they make their own fireworks happen. Two souls meeting, who are meant to be together, trying to change the world. I hope many of you will fall in love with this story as much as I have. Highly recommend it!

Happy Readings 🤓

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Superb with beautiful imagery, and so much tension it hurts to swallow." ~The flow of the writing is a elegant and finely, woven producing a spellbinding novel the reader will not soon forget!!

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By the Light of Embers by Shaylin Gandhi
By the Light of Embers penned by talented author, Shaylin Gandhi is one insightful, heartwarming, intelligent read but heartbreaking story.
This challenging narrative has been well written with vivid language, visuals, and rich characters. By the Light of Embers has a rich history focusing on the period dating back to the 1950s. The racial issues were distinctive teleporting the reader into a world of oppression, fear, and injustices which the younger college-educated generation often found difficult to swallow. The rich dialogue touched my heart.
The character development was powerfully crafted. The settings were full-bodied and vibrant load with plenty of sensory elements. I fell in love with the main characters and the supporting cast members because they were strong and yet sometimes ruthless.
There were many life lessons embedded within the pages of this poignant novel about racial issues, women's issues surrounding having the women confronted with deciding between love or career.

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Two confessions to start off my review. First, oftentimes I just click a request on Netgalley without reading the synopsis and I do remember thinking this was a fantasy. Second, I am shocked this book is not getting a bit more buzz.

By the Light of Embers is a historical romance that takes readers to 1950's Louisiana. Lucia Lafleur and her best friend, Gretchen have recently graduated from college in Pennsylvania and return to Lucia's hometown for summer break. Lucia is hell bent on becoming a doctor like her father, but her fiancee has given her an ultimatum- him or medical school. In the midst of all this decision making, family matters and matters of the heart in that summer will shape Lucia's future.


I absolutely adored this book and its characters. Especially Lucia who was definitely a woman who wanted more than her society deemed. Also bestie Gretchen hooked me from the first chapter. I loved how she and Lucia supported each other even when they feared each other's decisions. By the Light of Embers deals with relationships, love, racism, and gender equality. The storyline was compelling and I really hope that more buzz emerges for this book. Personally, I cannot wait to see what Shaylin Gandhi writes next!

Publication Date 09/05/19
Goodreads Review 09/05/19

Thanks to Netgalley and Briar Rose Publishing for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.

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I have absolutely no ounce of constructive criticism to give about this novel. It was eloquently written. A beautiful, dark, intriguing love story. The protagonist was breaking all the rules, and I was living for it. I am thrilled to get my hands on more books from this author!

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