Fire by Night

November 1, 2003
Set during the American Civil War, Austin's second entry in the "Refiner's Fire" series focuses on Julia Hoffman and Phoebe Bigelow, two different young women who forge a lasting friendship through their shared experiences in the conflict. After beautiful socialite Julia overhears her beloved Rev. Nathaniel Greene insist that he would never consider marrying her because he finds her "shallow, spoiled, and unbearably self-absorbed," she sets out to prove him wrong by signing on as a Union nurse. Phoebe, self-described as "homely and horsefaced as a hound dog," is left behind when her brothers go off to join the military effort. Soon, she finds her situation unbearable, so she dons men's clothing and becomes a soldier herself. Offering refreshing, atypical heroines in absorbing parallel plots, this well-written historical will attract readers who enjoy high-quality romances with a 19th-century American flavor. Book 1 in this series, Candle in the Darkness, won a 2003 Christy Award in the historical fiction category. Highly recommended for all collections.

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.