Helpful Score: 3
This is part of a series, yet each book can easily stand alone. The story is intriguing and the characters are believable. I was totally captured by the storyline. It brought me to tears several times. Definitely a good read and I highly recommend the rest of the series.
Christine M. (Mystic) reviewed Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire, Bk 1) on + 13 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Excellent book = I couldn't put it down. Great heroine, realistic characters and feelings and a great underlying message about the power of having trust in the Lord.
Helpful Score: 1
loved this series!
Victoria T. (justicepirate) reviewed Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire, Bk 1) on + 350 more book reviews
This was excellent.
Trying to type out my thoughts about this book is not going to be easy. I already have a huge heart for abolition and for fighting racism and about standing up for God's kingdom over fighting for the world's opinion of freedom through wars and such, and this book captured all of that so well, that my emotions were overwhelmed with pride in Christ in reading this.
Caroline begins to write down about her life. We sense there is something she did that could get her in trouble. She begins to reflect on her life and how she lived around slavery in her home of Richmond, VA. The accounts of slavery and the emotions of both the North and the South including the ignorance of both are so thought provoking. Caroline hates slavery with a passion even though her own parents own slaves. The slaves she lives around are more like family to her than her own parents, though she longs to be loved by them too and she loves them as well, it is just not as easy for her to open up to them as it is the slaves.
We get to grow up with Caroline while reading of her adventures. Eventually we learn about her love for obeying God over doing what her side of the country tells her is right. Will she risk everything for them as Jesus risked His life for her? This book goes through how she lives during the Civil War as well. It had so much history, details, and emotion on every page.
Definitely a series to read! I look forward to reading the other two books now! Wow!
Trying to type out my thoughts about this book is not going to be easy. I already have a huge heart for abolition and for fighting racism and about standing up for God's kingdom over fighting for the world's opinion of freedom through wars and such, and this book captured all of that so well, that my emotions were overwhelmed with pride in Christ in reading this.
Caroline begins to write down about her life. We sense there is something she did that could get her in trouble. She begins to reflect on her life and how she lived around slavery in her home of Richmond, VA. The accounts of slavery and the emotions of both the North and the South including the ignorance of both are so thought provoking. Caroline hates slavery with a passion even though her own parents own slaves. The slaves she lives around are more like family to her than her own parents, though she longs to be loved by them too and she loves them as well, it is just not as easy for her to open up to them as it is the slaves.
We get to grow up with Caroline while reading of her adventures. Eventually we learn about her love for obeying God over doing what her side of the country tells her is right. Will she risk everything for them as Jesus risked His life for her? This book goes through how she lives during the Civil War as well. It had so much history, details, and emotion on every page.
Definitely a series to read! I look forward to reading the other two books now! Wow!
enjoyed it very much...may even reread it!
Highly recommend. Enjoyed the whole series of three books. Once you read this one you will be eager to read the next two.
this was my first time to read lynn austin and i liked it. it was well written and the detail really brought you in. it was slightly long winded but as you can tell by the 4 and 1/2 star rating still a really good read. if you like christian fiction this is one of the better historical dramas. I look forward to reading the next in the series!
I truly enjoyed this novel. However, I must admit that I like the second in the series, Fire in the Night, about 5 times as much. There are a number of great plot twists that keep the novel moving and entrancing. The romance aspect of the novel occurs quite quickly in the beginning of the novel so those expecting a book with heavy romance might possibly be disappointed. However, the moments that it IS in the book are strong and excellently written.
Courtney A. (aggielawyer) -
I was really drawn into this story, and am looking forward to the 2nd and 3rd books in the series. I thought it was very interesting to compare the Civil War with the struggle of the Israelites in Egypt--specifically the devastation that Egypt suffered before the Isrealites went free as compared with the devastation suffered in the South. This wasn't a feel-good book, but I'm glad I read it and recommend it to others who are interested in this part of history.
This is an excellent book! The story of a Southern girl's fight to free slaves. Very heartfelt and true. I don't think it favored the North at all. It laid out facts with a wonderful story underneath. Had more suspense than I expected. This is staying in my "keep" shelf.
This is a really good Christian fiction book. I became engrossed in this book and read it in two days, which is pretty good for me. The characters are realistic and flawed which is sometimes not the case in Christian fiction. It takes place during the Civil war era from the perspective of the south. If you read this one you will want to read the next one. Highly recommended!
Amanda T. (amandatorres) reviewed Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire, Bk 1) on + 2 more book reviews
Gorgeous story..
This is one of my favorite books.
I am now reading the second in the series, and it seems even better than the first.
This is one of my favorite books.
I am now reading the second in the series, and it seems even better than the first.
This book is excellent. I enjoyed it so much, I could hardly put it down. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Really great book. I can't wait to read the other 2 in the series. It holds your interest and has such wonderful characters.
Lisa S. (Auquachick) reviewed Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire, Bk 1) on + 14 more book reviews
Great Book! A must read for any age! make sure you read all 3 books.
Cresanna K. (Cresanna) reviewed Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire, Bk 1) on + 20 more book reviews
A historical novel, written in 1st person, as the diary of a young woman living in Richmond during the Civil War. I enjoyed the story.
Excellent view of a Northern girl in the South during the Civil War.
Lorelie L. (artgal36) reviewed Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire, Bk 1) on + 471 more book reviews
Caught in a nation splitting apart. Angered by those who would enslave others. Emboldened by a passion to make a difference. Torn between the one she loves and a truth she can't deny. Here is Caroline Fletcher's story.
Rachel R. (A2JC4life) reviewed Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire, Bk 1) on + 40 more book reviews
This was a disappointment. It is a Christian historical fiction novel set at the time of the Civil War. It did a good job of portraying both Northern and Southern perspectives, but clearly (and strongly) favored the North, likening the South to Egypt and Pharaoh and painting them as "unChristian" or "ungodly."
Civil War story. Story involves not only the battle fields, but also the women, slaves and households left behind.
Pamela C. (pj-s-bookcorner) reviewed Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire, Bk 1) on + 858 more book reviews
Virginia early 1860's. When Caroline, daughter of a wealthy Virginian, loses her mother she is sent to Philadelphia to live with her aunt. There she learns about the anti-slavery movement. When she returns to Virginia and is once again exposed to the institution of slavery, she sets her mind to changing the South. She meets and falls in love with Charles, who enlists in the Confederate army once the war breaks out. Torn between her love of her soon-to-be husband and her faith and beliefs, Caroline walks a fine line during the raging battles around Richmond. Very good read for those that like historical fiction!
Shirley P. (booknookchick) reviewed Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire, Bk 1) on + 117 more book reviews
Caroline, born and raised in Virgina on a plantation, moves to Pennsylvania for several months when she was a teenager. She, personally, always considered their slaves her family, even though her parents did not. While living away from home, Caroline learns about the philosophy of the abolitionist movement and returns to Virginia and feels compelled to secretively strive toward freeing slaves and she finds herself in several dangerous situations, but determined and hopeful to see the slaves given their freedom.
This is the first book I've read written by this author. I agree with another reviewer that the descriptive detail, especially relating to the war experiences, was more 'telling' than showing, which is reflected in my rating. Getting to know her characters by their personalities and actions, especially the slaves living on the Fletcher property, was the highlight of the book for me. I appreciated that spirituality in the book was not overdone and definitely not intended to preach the message, rather it is meant to encourage the reader to consider the seriousness of the pros and cons for any spiritual or moral decisions they are facing.
This is the first book I've read written by this author. I agree with another reviewer that the descriptive detail, especially relating to the war experiences, was more 'telling' than showing, which is reflected in my rating. Getting to know her characters by their personalities and actions, especially the slaves living on the Fletcher property, was the highlight of the book for me. I appreciated that spirituality in the book was not overdone and definitely not intended to preach the message, rather it is meant to encourage the reader to consider the seriousness of the pros and cons for any spiritual or moral decisions they are facing.
Susan G. (suegaytan) reviewed Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire, Bk 1) on + 11 more book reviews
This is a good book that takes place mostly during the Civil War. It is well written and the characters are complex.
Gerry H. (FrontRoyalGerry) reviewed Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire, Bk 1) on + 209 more book reviews
Excellent! Another wonderful book by Lynn Austin.
family Civil War story
