In Spotlight and Shadow by Rachel Scott McDaniel

In Spotlight and Shadow
by Rachel Scott McDaniel

ISBN-13: 9781636094762
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Released: February 1st 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Elise Malvern wants to fulfill her mother's wish of becoming a professional violinist, but she's been rejected so many times that she's scared to audition for a seat in the Pittsburgh Symphony. Her internship at the elegant Heinz Hall is more her style, where her photographs tell the story of the building. She's sent an old stage prop and finds a valuable necklace inside. She wants to return the necklace to the rightful owner. She accepts help from a childhood friend, who happens to be country music megastar—Peirson Brooks. Peirson was once Elise's best friend, but he let her down in a big way.

A century earlier… Sophie Walters is happy to return to Pittsburgh and accept an insignificant role in a popular production at the illustrious Loew’s Penn Theatre. She finally gets the coveted spotlight, but not for her talent. No, her surge to fame is because she’s suspected to be a notorious jewel thief. The man she pleads for help is none other than the man she jilted at the altar five years before, Sterling Monroe.


My Review:
In Spotlight and Shadow has two stories, one set in present day and one set in 1927 in Pittsburgh. Elise's mother died when she was young, and she never knew who her father was. Sophie's actress mother doesn't want news of her affair getting out, so she won't acknowledge Sophie as hers or identity Sophie's father. This has left both women feeling unwanted, unworthy, and like the people they love will abandon them. Elise's childhood best friend also abandoned her. She understands why he had to leave so suddenly but not why he shut her out.

Sophie left her love at the altar to save his life and only recently returned. She plays a jewelry thief in a play, but then audience members have jewelry stolen and her ex is hired to discover the thief. They ended up working together to uncover the thief and stop a major criminal. She finally explained why she left him, and their relationship slowly mended.

Elise loves telling stories with her pictures. A current project on the history of (Sophie's) theater leads to her receiving an anonymous donation of an old prop coat with a valuable necklace hidden inside. Her childhood best friend helps her track down the owner of the necklace and the identity of her unknown father as a way to help her learn how to move outside her comfort zone. As they spent time together, they worked through old hurts. He was more concerned with Elise's healing than in justifying his behavior. He showed her through actions that he's changed.

Both couples were good for each other and built each other up. They were likable and acted realistically. They had relationship challenges that they worked through which helped them grow as people. The women learned to find their worth in God's love rather than feeling like they had to prove their worth through their skills. They also learned that God's the best father and won't leave them. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel with an interesting mystery and realistic relationships.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.