A Candle in the Dark [Mass Market Paperback]

Megan Chance (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2, 1993

When Ana arrives on his doorstep with blood on her dress, Cain D'Alessandro agrees to pose as her husband in order to help her escape unjust charges of murder.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Megan Chance is the critically acclaimed, award-winning author of several novels. A former television news photographer with a BA from Western Washington University, Megan Chance lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two daughters. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 10 pages
• Publisher: Dell (August 2, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440214874
• ISBN-13: 978-0440214878
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,867,724 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Iconoclastic Romance by a Talented Writer, February 7, 2003

By 

Sires "I enjoy mysteries, historical and proc... (Chesapeake, OH, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Candle in the Dark (Mass Market Paperback)

This book won the 1994 RITA Award for First Book. It breaks nearly every rule about genre romances. It's a book I can't forget.

Ana was raised in abject poverty. She has made her way in the world of mid 19th century New York by exploiting her intelligence and her body, but she still resides in a world of violence. One night the violence touches her and she find herself needing to escape.

Cain Alessandro is an alcoholic doctor. He ekes out a meager living between drinking bouts. When he is given a chance to go to California where gold has been discovered he agrees even though he will be posing as Ana's husband. Cain has no interest in the physical if it does not involve acohol.

The trip, part way by ship to Panama and then by land cross the isthmus, tests both of them physically and emotionally as they face their demons. These are two people one really wants to win.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down, April 20, 2011

By 

Dr. R (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Candle in the Dark (Mass Market Paperback)

This is one of the most remarkable books I've ever read. I agree with previous reviewers--it is unlike anything in the genre. Though it's a long read, it's worth the slog. The majority of the book is set in a dangerous Panamanian jungle full of disease, poverty, and violence. There was no sugar-coating the misery, and it even got downright bleak at times, giving Heart of Darkness a run for its money. Yet, somehow, through marvelous story-telling, the author still manages to make her two struggling characters fall in love. It's not easy, mind you, and raw emotions leap off the page.

Some other notable points: Alcoholism and addiction are extremely well-portrayed. The helplessness, terror, and insanity of being enslaved to the bottle was spot-on. And this book, featuring a doctor protagonist, takes a different approach to medicine--the doctor isn't the usual avant-garde thinker-scientist on a mission, bucking the medical norms by eschewing bleeding, leeches, etc. He simply uses what he knows as best he can. There's a quiet heroism in that.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Never read anything like it., September 8, 2010

By 

Anne in VA (VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Candle in the Dark (Mass Market Paperback)

Wow! This book was such a surprise. I've been a fan of this author for years and am always wowed by her stories. There's nothing like them. This one is no different. Such a unique story. Nothing is predictable, nothing is cliche and it's about real people. If you're tired of the same old same old in romance you definitely need to read this.