A Different Light [Mass Market Paperback]

Mariah Stewart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1995

From the author of Moments in Time comes the story of Athena Morna, a devoted wife of police officer Johnny Moran--until a drug dealer's bullet made her a widow. Now Athena has been asked to run for major. But just as the wheels begin turning, she realizes she is only a pawn in a game of power. Her only ally is Quentin Forbes, the town's best news reporter. Original.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Since the death of her husband a few months ago, Athena Moran hasn't been able to get her life back together. Her friends have abandoned her because her husband was a police officer killed in the line of duty and to them Athena is a constant reminder of what could happen to them. Her once strong and supportive father is in a nursing home, unable to help her through her difficult time. Athena if left to raise her daughter Callie alone. The future seems bleak for Athena, but then she is offered the chance to run for mayor of her small town, Woodside Heights. It seems Dan Rossi, the current mayor, is looking for his successor and thinks Athena would be perfect for the job. Athena is reluctant at first, but accepts, hoping this will be the push she needs to join the living again. Then she meets Quentin Forbes, a writer who is new to town and seems interested in getting to know Athena. He even has a son the same age as Callie. Things seem to be looking up for Athena until Quentin finds out she's running for mayor. Convinced that Rossi is a crooked politician, he automatically assumes Athena is in on Rossi's dirty deals. As the new reporter on the city hall beat for The Woodside Herald, Quentin lets Athena know she can expect him to be in her face, questioning every action she makes as mayor. What seemed to be a blossoming friendship with Quentin has become adversarial. It becomes important to Athena to do a good job as mayor and convince Quentin that he is wrong about her. To regain their friendship and see where it leads, they have the obstacles of both the past and the present to overcome. Engrossing from beginning to end! A Different Light is true-to-life and emotionally gripping! Mariah Stewart's characters seem cut from the pages of reality! She vividly creates a small town atmosphere full of fascinating people! A wonderful story from the talented pen of Mariah Stewart! Compelling, touching, romantic! A tale of love-- both old and new!Kristina Wright -- Copyright © 1994-97 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times

About the Author

Mariah Stewart is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of numerous novels and several novellas. A RITA finalist for romantic suspense, she is the recipient of the Award of Excellence for contemporary romance, several RIO (Reviewers International Organization) Awards honoring excellence in women's fiction, and a Reviewers' Choice Award from Romantic Times magazine. A three-time recipient of the Golden Leaf Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award winner from the New Jersey Romance Writers, she has been inducted into their Hall of Fame. A native of Hightstown, New Jersey, she lives with her husband, two daughters, and two rambunctious golden retrievers amid the rolling hills of Chester County, Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Washington Romance Writers, the International Thriller Writers, the New Jersey Romance Writers, and the Romance Writers of America. Visit her website at www.mariahstewart.com. --This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (November 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671868551
• ISBN-13: 978-0671868550
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,193,406 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mariah Stewart is the bestselling author of ten novels and three novellas. A RITA finalist for romantic suspense, she is the recipient of the Award of Excellence for contemporary romance, a RIO (Reviewers International) Award honoring excellence in women's fiction, a Reviewers Choice Award from Romantic Times magazine, and a two-time recipient of the Golden Leaf Award for contemporary romance. A native of Hightstown, New Jersey, she lives amidst the rolling hills of Chester County, PA, with her husband, one geriatric gold retriever and one rambunctious mixed breed rescue dog. She's currently neglecting her garden and working on her next book. In past lives, she's been a teacher and an insurance executive, but firmly believes she's found the perfect job: sitting in her sunny office in old sweats and J. Crew flip flops, making up stories and the characters who live in them, and getting paid for it. Could life be sweeter?

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars solid read that combines romance and intrigue that is enjoyable but has a different style than her current books, February 23, 2010

By 

Bookaholics Reviewer (Bay Area, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Different Light (Mass Market Paperback)

A Different Light by Mariah Stewart
Contemporary Romance - December 29th, 2009
3 Stars

A Different Light is a reprinting of one of Mariah Stewart earliest novels. But the author has added some additional scenes to spice things up and give the novel a more contemporary feel.

A Different Light is the story of Athena Moran a young widow of a police officer slain in the line of duty who is trying to get her life back together and raise her young daughter. When she meets Quentin Forbes a tough newspaper reporter new in town, they both find an immediate chemistry for each other. Unfortunately, when Athena is asked to run for mayor things take an unsettling twist, with Quentin's sudden suspicion of Athena and her true motives due to the previous mayor's habits of corruption and dirty dealing.

Mariah Stewart does a good job of creating a story that is complex. It includes: a nice romance, political intrigue and characters that learn and grow as the novel moves along. However, I feel it is a different style from her current works so readers expecting a similar to tone to her recent books may be disappointed.

This story starts out as a sweet romance and mixes it up with an intriguing political twist that makes things more interesting but lacks a true development of the original romance I found so charming in the beginning. And while Athena and Quentin are both complex characters who I did feel connected to as the novel progressed I felt the development of the characters was slow and could have been more interesting and compelling to the readers.

That being said, I still feel this was a solid read that combines romance and intrigue that is enjoyable but has a different style than her current books.

Reviewed by Mary from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fun political romance, January 31, 2010

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Different Light (Mass Market Paperback)

In Woodside Heights, New Jersey, although she tries to put on a good pretense for her daughter Callie's sake, Athena Moran has not been able to move on past the death of her police officer husband John; killed in the line of duty. Nothing seems to turn her on anymore although she hides her grief and lethargy for the sake of their child and their friends who see the grieving widow as a reminder of what could happen to them.

Since she is the daughter of a former councilman and the wife of a slain cop, Mayor Dante Rossi offers Athena work in his office. She accepts. However, Athena is stunned when Dante asks her to run as his replacement. Although she wins, Dante still runs the city. Reporter Quentin Forbes is attracted to Athen, but detest that she is just Dante's puppet. He attacks her in the paper, which hurts her as she cannot understand his vendetta. Everything changes when Her Mayor meets Ms. Evelyn, who mentors Athena on redevelopment and living with gusto, which angers her puppeteer and his cronies.

Although this is a reprint of a Clinton Era political romance, A Different Light remains relevant with its simplistic instead of Mr. Smith goes to Washington, Ms. Moran remains in New Jersey. Initially blind to the corruption that surrounds her, Athen matures in political savvy without losing her idealism as she sees the town in A Different Light. Fans will enjoy this fun tale even if there are no instant blogger twitting on everything.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a fun book, April 2, 2010

By 

ems "EMS" (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Different Light (Mass Market Paperback)

This is my first book by Ms Stewart and I really enjoyed the story and characters. Even though I was pleased with the final outcome I found the finale a bit too neatly wrapped. I also must agree with a previous commentor that it's editing was not the best. But I look forward to reading more of Ms Stewart's books.