Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire, Book 1)

I really enjoy Christian fiction books and I always have a hard time choosing the right one. For some reason this book really stood out at the book store and I bought it without realizing what the book was fully about. It is such a strong book about going after what you truly believe in and standing up for what is right! After I finished it I wanted to read more and more about Caroline and I also found myself researching more about the Civil War. It is a hard book to put down! One of my good friends borrowed it & fell in love with it immediately! :0)

Caroline Fletcher was twelve years old on the day in 1853 when she realized just how different she was from everyone else. She had grown up feeling like the slaves were part of her family. She loved her "mammy," Tessie, and spent her days playing with Tessie's son, Grady, who was like a little brother to Caroline. But when her father sells Grady, Caroline realizes her views on slavery are not the same as those shared by the rest of Virginia. The time she spends in Philadelphia with relatives after the death of her mother only cements her view that slavery is a moral wrong that must be ended. But returning to Richmond, she realizes that will be a lot harder than she imagined. Against her own will, Caroline finds herself falling in love with Charles St. John, the son of a wealthy Richmond businessman and a defender of slavery. Caroline and Charles become engaged to be married, but the Civil War breaks out just three months before their wedding was to take place. Charles goes off to fight for the Confederacy, even though Caroline begs him not to. When her father leaves as well, Caroline finds herself alone in Richmond and torn in two. She struggles with her conflicting loyalties to her home and family, and to the cause she so strongly believes in. This was an excellent historical novel. Caroline was a wonderful and very human character who came alive through her first-person narrative. Her struggles felt very real to me. The author brought to life Virginia just before and during the Civil War very well. Although this book was very long, I never lost interest in it. My one complaint is that the final thirty pages were told in a third-person point of view. I would have liked the whole book to be narrated by Caroline; it felt odd after four hundred pages for the viewpoint to change. However, it doesn't really take away from the book that much; overall, I still loved it. I highly recommend this novel to adults and older teens who enjoy historical fiction about the Civil War.

I can't even remember the last book that brought tears to my eyes, but this book didn't just make me misty-eyed...it made me weep! It is so full of beauty, truth, and wisdom. I can't imagine anyone, young or old, male or female, whatever religious beliefs or background, not loving this inspiring tale. Austin weaves incredibly real characters together with history, creating a story that has meaning even in our modern, every day life. A true "must read!"

I actually had a hard time putting this book down, and it was a really well written book.....very reminiscent of Gone With the Wind - some scenes especially - I loved the book and am glad I read it, but there was a nagging thought in my head that, yes, in retrospect, it WAS God's will for the North to win, and for slavery to be abolished since that IS what happened. But it bothered me that is seemed God approved of Caroline's obvious betrayal of her government and her family when God's word says to obey governing authorities, and I wondered if this could send a wrong message about being faithful. As a Southerner I was a little bothered by her betrayal of the South, too. But the story is well-told, and probably parallels the truth of someone's life back then, even though this is a fictional account, and it did give me a different perspective of the civil war and the realities of the day. I could not put this book down once I started it.

I was very impressed with the entire story! I thought the characters were fantastic. The spiritual insight given to Eli, particularly, was deep and inspiring. It shows Lynn Austin's understanding of how God works in and through all circumstances, both good and bad. Although it is a work of fiction, it seemed as if it could well have been a true story. I was even challenged in my own trust in God as I read about Caroline's courage to follow her convictions no matter the cost and surrendering 'Thy will be done' to God, as well as the slaves' deep love for God and their faith in His sovereignty and love for them in spite of very unjust suffering. (Not to mention that I enjoyed the history lesson of the Civil War.) I thought it was a wonderful book of loyalty, courage, selflessness and forgivenss in a world of injustice, pride, prejudice and bitterness. I really enjoyed this book - so much so that I just purchased another from the same author.