A Scattering of Light: A Crockett’s Landing Novel

By Lori Benton

A Scottish drover spirited into servitude. A young Quaker woman wounded by loss. Their meeting will leave no heart unchallenged, no life unchanged.

Colonial Virginia 1734

Mourning her wayward brother's death, Verity Wilde has turned her back on Williamsburg society, striving to live by her notion of true religion: to keep oneself unspotted from the world. But when she boards a ship to claim an indentured Scottish clerk, she's unprepared to find another Scotsman, starved and gravely ill, left on deck untended. With scarcely more knowledge of the man than his name and place of origin-William Crockett of Skye-pity compels Verity to purchase his indenture too, meaning to provide the compassionate death denied him by the ship's crew. Only he doesn't die.

Will Crockett's survival upends Verity's carefully circumscribed life, while he awakens to find his world shattered beyond recognition. As they seek to reconcile their broken pasts, bitterness and fear vie with hope to chart their futures. Can they find the courage to trust each other, and a God who scatters light in the darkness?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1962845303
• ISBN13: 9781962845304
• Release Date: March 2026
• Publisher: Story Architect
• Length: 432 Pages
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 1.1" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

an epic historical tale

In this book, Lori Benton pens such an epic tale of loss, grief, redemption, and faith with unforgettable characters and sweeping and majestic backdrops. I loved how the story flowed in dips and swells, like I was hearing this lore sitting by a roaring fire, told by a master storyteller. 1734 Scotland was beautiful but life was not easy there. I appreciated how the dialogue stayed true to the dialect though it took me a few chapters to get acclimated. 1734 Virginia was fascinating and I enjoyed learning about brickmaking and also about the way of the Quakers. The installation of an orangery was wildly imaginative and it was exciting to see Verity's success with it. Verity was a lovely heroine - tender, loyal, determined, and hard-working. How she learned to repent and forgive and grow deeper in her faith was inspiring. Will was an atypical hero; he wasn't an alpha male but easily moved by emotion, impulsive yet protective and fiercely loyal. Will's salvation moved me to tears. The whole cast of secondary characters - Jenny, Christopher, Lucy, Judah, Rob and even Hamish - was wonderful and how God moved in each and every person's life was wondrous to behold. I'm hoping for a story about Judah next.... I received a complimentary copy courtesy of the author and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.