Title: When the Flames Ravaged: July 6, 1944
Author: Rhonda Dragomir
Series: A Day to Remember, book 2
Major Themes: Disaster, Circus, Connecticut, Fire
Synopsis: When her life was suddenly and forever changed in the fiery disaster that hit the Ringling Brothers circus in 1944, Evelyn had to wrestle with God’s mysterious ways and why He would let bad things happen to good people.
I have always loved historical fiction. When I was young, I was delighted when I found a book that introduced me to some historical event and made it into a story—and I still am! For that reason, I am enjoying the series, A Day to Remember, written by various authors. Each book in this series tells a gripping story set during and after some great tragedy in America’s past. I had never heard, before I read When the Flames Ravaged, about the fire in the circus tent in Connecticut in 1944.
Publisher’s description:
Evelyn Benson’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 devastating blaze of unknown origins consumes the circus tent along with Evelyn’s hopes and Hank’s anonymity.
My thoughts:
When the Flames Ravaged is easily my favorite of the three books I have read so far in this series. The disaster described was horrible, and Rhonda Dragomir described it so well that I could feel the horror of the day. That part was not my favorite, of course—but what happened in the lives of people as a result was great. I really appreciated the exploration of the question, “Why would a God of love allow such pain and suffering?” More than one person in the story struggled with that question, and it was answered in various ways. I also liked the example of someone making past wrongs right and seeking forgiveness.
There was one thing that jerked me out of the story. Someone said, “I’m supposed to be sure everyone is legit.” That didn’t sound like it belonged in a book set in the 1940s! However, I looked it up and apparently it became a reasonably common expression in the 1920s. So, my faith in the author’s research is restored. As with the other books in the series, I appreciated the author’s notes about her sources and the real events on which she based her story. I will be eagerly anticipating further books in the series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
WARNING: Chapter 3: Kiss between husband and wife. Chapter 4: Men ogling a woman’s legs. Chapter 5: Fight between men. Chapter 6: “Leggy ladies”/“visual treat,” lion clawing man. Chapters 7/8: Fire, panic, many people hurt/killed. Chapter 15: Description of burned bodies. Chapter 33: The dickens they were.
Age levels:
Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Audible Audiobook (unabridged) | Audio CD (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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