Books › A Whole New Light
A Whole New Light
First published 1989 · 380 pages
A sultry, sun-drenched friends-to-lovers romance that explores the messy, passionate transition from shared grief to unexpected desire.
What it feels like
Reading this classic contemporary romance feels like stepping into a sultry, sun-drenched getaway where grief slowly melts into undeniable passion. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging pace, anchoring its emotional weight in the familiar, comfortable banter of two people bound by a shared loss. As the setting shifts to a tropical escape, the mood becomes thick with yearning and the sudden, startling realization of physical desire. The prose is emotionally direct and unapologetically romantic, leaning into the delicious tension of the 'best friend's widow' trope while navigating the very real pangs of survivor's guilt. It is a perfect, nostalgic read for those who devour character-driven stories about second chances, where loyalty to the past must ultimately make way for the vibrant, messy promise of a new future.
- Mood
- sultry
- sun-drenched
- yearning
- hopeful
- Tone
- earnest
- romantic
- warm
- tender
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- moving on after loss · friends to lovers · survivor's guilt · second chances · awakening desire
- The writing
- Emotionally direct and unapologetically romantic, heavily focused on the sensory details of physical attraction and exotic settings.
- The arc
- Moves from comfortable, grief-tinged platonic friendship through sudden, guilt-ridden passion, culminating in a joyful acceptance of a new romantic future.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love classic, character-driven contemporary romances featuring the 'best friend's widow' trope and a strong dose of nostalgic, swoon-worthy tension.
Content notes
- grief
- death of a spouse (past)
- survivor's guilt
About the book
FROM THE HEAT OF AN ACAPULCO NIGHT... Cyn McCall knew she could always count on her late husband's friend and business partner, Worth Lansing. He could always make her laugh and forget her problems. She could tease him about his many romantic entanglements. The last thing Cyn expected was to find herself longing for a man who could never settle down. TO A FLASH FIRE OF PASSION When Worth Lansing invited his bestfriend Cyn to a getaway weekend in Acapulco he never suspected he'd respond to her the way he did to any beautiful woman. While he thought it was time she stopped mourning and moved forward with her life, he couldn't escape the feeling that he's betraying Tim's memory. But guilt couldn't stop the rising tide of desire threatening to overwhelm him. Cyn wanted to believe that their night of abandon was sparked by the exotic locale and intoxicating scent of hibiscus. Worth knew they shared something deeper, a passion that would outlast the Mexican sunglow...if only Cyn would open her heart to new possibilities and the promise of love.
Description from Open Library.
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