"Beautiful on the Mountain" is the true story of Jeannie Light's experience of life in the remote mountain community of Graves Mill, Virginia in the late 1970's. Light had previously lived an opulent lifestyle, which included life in a renovated plantation mansion. Following her divorce, Light received 700 acres of undeveloped land in the mountains, just outside the Shenandoah National Park and near the tiny hamlet of Graves Mill. Needing to be out of her plantation home, she rents a small home in the center of the hamlet while she struggles to figure out what to do with her land and how to proceed with life in this remote area. Even before she settles in, she is approached about re-opening the chapel. Despite feeling completely unprepared for the task at hand, she agrees.Colorful characters and fascinating stories of life "off-grid" fill this memoir. The transformation of this little hamlet to a true community is great fun to read about. The one thing I felt lacking was there was not much discussion of the author's own personal faith journey. Faith was certainly part of the story throughout, but there was not much in the way of personal reflection regarding her faith. Overall, it was a nice, easy read, but not necessarily a repeat read for me.
(I’ve received this complimentary book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for a review. A positive review was not required and the views expressed in my review are strictly my own.)
