Customer Reviews

Refiner's Fire

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3 star:		(1)
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I travelled in Romania during the same time period of this book. That got my attention. I hoped to relive the intimate conversations with believers behind the Iron Curtain; I hoped to taste and smell and visualize the rugged and beautiful countryside. I was mildly disappointed.

Bambola's novel is a tale of two brothers separated by time and geography, brought together again as adults in Romania--one an American ambassador, one a Romanian colonel. The cover and description of "Refiner's Fire" led me to believe this would be more male-oriented fiction. It's not. That's not to say that it's a waste of time for male readers; in fact, I appreciated the story and the lessons to be learned. The writing is easy and flowing. The dialogue is generally snappy. I felt that the plot and characters, although fitting, were geared toward a female reader. A number of times, I found the ambassador's reactions to his wife a bit syrupy and/or emotional for a man of his position.

The book reads quickly, and the wake-up call to a lazy American society is needed (particularly within the churches). Bambola does give us some heart-rending facts regarding the persecution others face. Unfortunately for me, though, I never felt like I was taken back to the places or peoples I visited. For those who have never been there, this might be a great introduction.

I hate to be trite, but I couldn't put this book down! Not only was the story interesting (and you couldn't wait to find out how it all turned out), but the dialogue was real and the people even more so. The background that Ms. Bambola researched and presents to us is fascinating. How many of us truly understand what it must be like to live in a cold, bleak, cruel and restrictive society as it was in Romania? That these people suffered and died for their Christian faith is something for all of us to understand, respect, and if ever necessary, hope we could emulate. Ms. Bambola...write us some more great books!!

WOW! What a great book! Whether you like intrigue, inspirational literature, historical works, or just plain good reading, you'll find this is well worth your time. I savored it from a few sittings and then couldn't put it down. The author has down an excellent job and I look forward to seeing more by her.

Bambola was masterful in her character and plot development. Not only were the main characters, Alexander and Yuri, interesting and multi-dimensional, the many supporting players had depth and carried weight.

Refiner's Fire is a riveting piece of historical fiction. Bambola establishes multi-dimensional protagonists that lead us through compelling plot lines that intertwine intrigue, persecution and spirituality to a suspense-filled conclusion. A testament to Bambola's character development is my lingering wish to follow the stories of Alexander and Yuri beyond the last chapter...

Refiner's Fire combines a gripping story line with well-drawn characters and a real sense of the time and place in which they live. The book held me captive to the very last paragraph and is particularly fascinating to anyone with an interest in Romania. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys adventure!

A CLASSIC, "I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN!" BOOK. AT THE SAME TIME I WAS SUBMERSED IN THIS SOLID, COMPELLING AND PROVOCATIVE NOVEL. I WAS ALSO BEING EDUCATED,COMVICTED AND CHALLENGED BY IT'S AUTHOR WITH APPARENT EASE. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE AND I LOOK FORWARD WITH GREAT ANTICIPATION TO SYLVIA BAMBOLA'S NEXT WORK OF CRAFTSMANSHIP.

Set amidst the brutal reign of Nicolae Ceausescu in 1980s Bucharest, Rumania, Sylvia Bambola's Refiner's Fire is the gripping story of secrets, suspense, persecution, and faith. Alexander Wainwright is the ambitious new American ambassador to Romania. Yuri Deyneko is the Romanian army officer (and clandestine Christian) assigned to spy on him. Both men are professionals who know their assignments. But what they do not know (although Yuri suspects) is that each man is the other's long-lost fraternal twin. Two brothers on the opposite sides of the Iron Curtain who must learn together how to discover their destinies -- and each other. Sylvia Bambola is a master storyteller who plays fair with her readers at all times in this novel of the human heart, faith, struggle, and destiny.

Refiner's Fire is a meaningful novel with an intriguing plot. Twins, separated as children, are reunited under strange and compelling cirucumstances. Portraying persecution of Christians in a foreign land, the book, though fictitious, has a genuine and universal theme. It is obvious that Sylvia Bambola has done extensive research in the matter and she is to be congratulated on a work well done.

THIS NOVEL CAPTURED MY IMAGINATION AND ENTHRALLED ME. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN AND COULD VIVIDLY PICTURE THE ENTIRE STORY IN MY MIND. IF YOU LOVE A STORY THAT WILL MAKE YOU CRY , LAUGH, EXCITED, MAD; ONE THAT WILL TICKLE ALL OF YOUR SENSES READ REFINERS FIRE BY SYLVIA BAMBOLA. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO EITHER.