“When the Flames Ravaged” by Rhonda Dragomir
Historical Fiction, Part of the Day to Remember Series
Barbour Publishing
My rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
About the Book:
Will Faith Perish in the Big Top’s Flames?
Introducing a new series of 6 exciting novels featuring historic disasters that transformed landscapes and multiple lives. Whether by nature or by man, these disasters changed history and were a day to be remembered.
Evelyn Halstead’s husband perished in the Bataan Death March but not her faith. The World War II Gold Star widow is taken in by her brother and soothed by the love of his wife and children. Evelyn refuses to cower to grief. She may not understand God’s mysterious ways, but she has never questioned Him—until the circus fire.
The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus train chugs into Hartford, Connecticut, on a sweltering day one month after the Allies invaded Normandy. Among the roustabouts is a reluctant clown, Hank Webb. He may hide from his murky past behind grease paint as Fraidy Freddie, but God wants to offer Hank a chance to be found. Though first, what little Hank believes about God will endure a fiery trial.
On Thursday, July 6, 1944, a devasting blaze of unknown origins consumes the circus tent along with Evelyn’s hopes and Hank’s anonymity.
My Thoughts:
I wasn’t previously familiar with the tragedy that was The Hartford Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey circus tent fire of 1944, but oh how sad it was to read about in this fictional telling of the all too real event.
I very much enjoyed the experience of reading When the Flames Ravaged. I believe it is the author’s debut novel, and it was very well written. The grief leapt off the page in reality, and you could certainly empathize with what the characters were going through. It was sometimes hard to hope alongside them, but you wanted to do just that, even when their own hope was waning.
What I appreciated probably the most of the whole book was the faith element – it was so important to the entire story, and the author did a great job tackling one of the most asked questions in faith – if God is good, why does He allow bad things to happen?
The faith each character displayed and grew in was very realistically done, and I found it inspiring.
Evelyn Benson and Hank Webb both did a lot of growing throughout this novel, and I love how they wrestled with their faith in their own ways and came out with peace.
A very interesting historical romance with a sweet romance, and great faith.
I received a complimentary copy from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts expressed are entirely my own.
Gods Peculiar Treasure Rae 