In The Distance There Is Light tells the story of Sophie and Dolores. When Sophie’s world is shattered by the unexpected death of her partner Ian, she forms a bond with the only person who can truly understand her grief; Ian’s stepmother Dolores. As the pair work together to rebuild a life without Ian, they find themselves becoming closer than they ever thought possible, until eventually their relationship takes a truly unexpected turn. The two women have to ask themselves if what they are experiencing is true love or just a side effect of grief; and if it is love, do they have the courage to reveal the truth to those closest to them?
Even as a massive fan of Harper Bliss novels, the controversial concept of In The Distance There Is Light left me initially skeptical. Prior to picking up the book I struggled to believe that I could invest in a romance built upon such tragic circumstances. As I searched through online reviews it became clear that this was a common misconception among many readers before falling in love with the story. Despite initially viewing Ian’s death as a hindrance to the intended love story narrative, it proved to only deepen my belief in the indescribable bond between two such seemingly different people. The grief ties the characters together in a way that not many other circumstances could and ultimately it’s beautiful to see something so positive and life-affirming flourish from a situation so dark. Ian’s death is handled with a great deal of respect in that he isn’t forgotten or pushed aside, but instead remains integral to the story and the lives of those that he has left behind.
As for the age difference between Sophie and Dolores, I’m a sucker for age gap romances. I’m a firm believer that age should never be a determining factor when it comes to love and if you don’t agree, try and tell me that Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor aren’t one of the cutest couples ever?
Sarah and Holland aside (aren’t they adorable though?), I love the age difference between Sophie and Dolores and it’s nice to read a story that will inevitably work to break down some of the stigma that such couples face. The fact that the book touches upon two subjects that some would consider taboo and still manages to work so well, is absolutely testament to Harper Bliss and her incredible storytelling. Whilst the popularity of the book among the lesbian community is a wonderful thing, I do feel great sadness in the fact that LGBT romance novels don’t reach a wider audience in the way that straight romance novels naturally do. I defy anyone, regardless of sexuality, to read this book and not be utterly swept away.
Don’t believe me? Check out these reviews from Amazon!
Do check out the Harper Bliss website where you can find information about all of her books. Also make sure to sign up to the mailing list as you’ll get lots of lovely updates and treats sent to your inbox! http://www.harperbliss.com/
Keep your eye on my blog for more book recommendations in the coming months as I’ve recently reclaimed my love of literature and I’ve been reading lots of really cool stuff! Thank you as always for reading and if I don’t post anything else before December 25th, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
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