Customer Reviews

A Candle in the Dark

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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.

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.

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.

After reading all of Megan Chance's novels, I was thrilled tofind this out of print book. True to Ms. Chance's form, her firstbook is just as good as any she's written. Her trademark is writing about normal people that are not perfect and don't claim to be. She writes her stories with much emotion and feeling.

I found this to be a wonderful book, rich with feelings . You won't be disappointed. We can only hope that Ms. Chance's books will be re-released END