Customer Reviews

Copper Fire (Copper Star Series, Book 2)

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4 star:		(2)
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Copper Fire by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the second book in the Copper Star series. Louisa Gordon has started a new life for herself in Copper Springs, Arizona. She's married to Robert, the pastor in the small community, raising his deaf son, William, as her own, and putting up with his crotchety aunt Martha. But when word comes that her cousin Elisabeth has been found in a Red Cross camp for displaced persons in Germany, she races to bring her home, and just maybe discover information about Friedrich Mueller, the man who devastated Copper Springs. Although this is the second in the series, you don't need to have read the previous book to get caught up. Fisher fills in the holes well while moving the story along swiftly. Louisa worked in the Resistance in Germany before her friend Dietrich Bonhoeffer helped her escape to freedom in the US. This is a fantastic book that explores a side of World War II rarely seen. Louisa loves her home country of Germany and is unashamed of it. Fisher helps separate the Nazis and Hitler from the German people and shows how they suffered at the end of the war. Elisabeth, who spent time in Dachau, is angry and not an easy character, but Louisa stands up for her and loves her unconditionally, showing the people of Copper Springs the true horrors of the war and how it effected a young girl. Throw into this drama a compelling plot about theft and spies, and Fisher has created an unforgettable novel with depth and faith.

Copper Fire is an entertaining, easy to read story. The variety of character types makes for a good read, especially as they interact with each other! When I was done I wanted to continue to read about their lives and what happens next!

Copper Fire is the sequel to the book Copper Star now on my "to be read" list as I simply fell in love with the character Louisa Gordon. As a lover of historical fiction one thing that can turn me off the fastest is a lack of true historical content...Suzanne Woods Fisher gives you an abundant supply of history in her story. Best yet she flawlessly blends the historical aspects into a story of love, family and faith. Even though this is a sequel it easily stands alone and the reader is not left feeling lost without having read the first book, this is a major plus that not many authors manage. Louisa is not the only character within the book though, all of the characters are well developed and have their own characteristics that will endear you to them, or make you dislike them immensely.
Set just as WWII comes to an end in a small Arizona town, you see life as communities return to life prior to the war. You also get to see the feelings that lay within the hearts of some as Louisa's cousin comes to town. Steeped in passion and faith this story is gripping and well written.

I went straight from Copper Star into Copper Fire without a break. I was so involved in the characters and events at that point I only wanted to continue. The circumstances we were introduced to be best not unfolded since I would recommend you read the first book before reading this one. This book was another compelling look at history during an atrocious time. There was romance but it was secondary to the historical suspense told so well by this author.

By this time I had come to appreciate Ms. Fisher's unique ability to make me like her first-person point of view. Her characters were such strong, vibrant individuals that it was impossible to not be engrossed in the outcome of their adventures. Much of the action seemed unbelievable; however, I know that it did happen. That made the outcome of the book even more important.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romantic suspense with a taste for the dramatic. This would not be for everyone because of content surrounding the wartime activity. However, it was not offensive. I look forward to finding and reading more from this author. - Brenda Talley

This was a very good book. You must read Copper Star first. Couldn't put it down until it was finished - one day. Suzanne is a very interesting author. Be sure to look up the rest of her books.

Entertaining, powerful, and filled with suspense, "Copper Fire" by Suzanne Woods Fisher is an outstanding read!

In the second book of the Copper Star series, heroine Louisa Gordon receives a telegram from the International Red Cross Training Service that her young cousin, Elizabeth has been released from a German concentration camp. As her only living relative, Louisa is determined to go to Germany--or whatever is left of it after WWII--to bring Elizabeth home to the States. Equally determined to discover the whereabouts of Friedrich Mueller, a Nazi sympathizer who fled Copper Springs, Arizona, Louisa doesn't find much help from her family or from the people she travels to Germany with. And little does she know, that her need to find Mueller will bring her face to face with a man from her past. A man she once loved, but now hated.

Written entirely from Louisa's point of view, the reader is instantly connected with all she experiences. You feel every emotion Louisa feels. Fisher paints such striking descriptions of war torn Germany, the camps, and Louisa's home life, that you swear you are right there with her in the Gordon's home, onboard the ship heading to Germany, and visting the concentration camp.

From first page to last, this story drew me in. "Copper Fire" explores the ridicule and prejudice Jews experienced during and after WWII, even in the States, and because this story is told from Louisa's point of view as a German Jew, you get to fully understand what impact this type of treatment had on Jewish people.

I fell in love with the Gordon family and their friends; not only because they were well-developed and complex, flawed people, but also because Fisher puts them in a position where they are forced to deal with so much change and so much adversity that you find yourself wanting them to succeed and be happy. Fisher provided just enough backstory that I could grasp how Louisa and the Gordons were brought together in Book 1, but not so much that anyone who read the first in this series would be skipping pages to get to the present day happenings. And the ending, is perfectly done. I had to read the last two chapters twice because I never wanted it to end.

I highly recommend "Copper Fire" to lovers of strong heroines, readers interested in historical fiction surrounding WWII, and anyone who enjoys a quick yet poignant novel.

Really, really good job, Suzanne. I thought the layered and almost antagonistic complexity of Elisabeth's character was very well done. I was continually interested in her and intrigued by her actions. And I especially enjoyed her relationship with Robert. Again, there was a certain reality to the simple complexity of their relationship. It could easily have fallen flatly one-dimensional, especially when the focus was her relationship with Louisa. But I think that just the opposite happened. I enjoyed her relationship with Robert almost as much as her relationship with Louisa. Even better than Copper Star. Great job!

Suzanne Woods Fisher has penned a radiant and inspiring novel in Copper Fire. Reminiscent of her delightful humor-flecked style in Copper Star, the author has painted captivating characters couched in a history-rich setting. A strong and moving novel that causes the reader to truly feel.