Customer Reviews

Refining Fires: A Christian Romance Novel

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In "Refining Fires," author Erin Rainwater breathes new life into Christian fiction with her wit, humor and intelligent expositional style. This book departs from traditional romance storytelling in a unique and charming way. It's definitely an investment of time and money well spent. Cheers to new Christian romance publisher, Torn Veil Books, for seeing the value of these three separate yet seamlessly interwoven stories tied together with the timeless threads of faith, hope and love.

I personally dislike reviews of books where major plot points are divulged, inadvertently or not. However, it's not giving away anything to say that main characters in the first story, Peter and Clare, leap off the page and into the heart and mind of the reader. The characters are sharp and smart, the dialogue sparkling. The action never lags in this Beauty and the Beast story, the longest of the three, with a disfigured post-Korean War hero and the disgraced, desperate woman who applies for the position as his nurse. Peter's irascible and bull-headed, and he's met his match with sassy Clare. She's just what the doctor ordered for his heart as well as his physical frailties, if only he'd let down his guard long enough to admit it. The humor in the story is infectious and welcome, and the secondary characters add dimension and are well-drawn.

In the second story, you'll cheer as young Susannah makes a treacherous journey alone to find help in order to save her mother in spite of a considerable handicap and impossible odds. You'll be touched by the unbreakable bond of love between a mother and child. In the third story, a woman who has always depended on her beauty and charm discovers the greatest love of all from a surprising source. Peter and Clare make appearances in these last two stories in unique ways, and it's truly like revisiting old friends.

So many Christian books focus on the angst and drama in life. "Refining Fires" offers the perfect balance of elements for anyone seeking a great read. Erin Rainwater doesn't shy away from the message of God's love and the hope He offers. This book will resonate in your heart long after you finish the last page...and leave you wanting more. I wholeheartedly recommend it, and can't wait for her next book!

Until last week, I had never read a historial novel. Honestly, I can't even remember the last time I read any kind of fiction book, much less a Christian romance. My reading tends to come from the 'business' and 'Christian' and 'self-improvement' sections of the bookstore.

But, through an odd coincidence, I happened to order "Refining Fires." And I am glad I did. Ironically, last night, I saw Clint Eastwood's new movie "Hereafter," and if you have seen or read about that movie, you know how three lives ended up neatly intersecting at the end. "Refining Fires" was similar in that author wrote stories about four lives (in three sections of the book), then converged them at the end. And not to spoil Clint's movie, but I have to tell you, the ending to "Refining Fires" was a lot more satisfying than that of "Hereafter"!!

So, whether or not you are an avid reader of historical, Christian, fiction books, I think you can count on this book as one you'll enjoy.

Sometimes, a person has been wounded so badly that they build a wall to keep everyone out. That's when God often sends someone with the strength to scale that wall. In her book, Refining Fires, Erin Rainwater pairs two such characters. Resistance reigns and sparks fly until it seems there is no hope for a resolution.

The author draws on her own experiences as a nurse who served during the Viet Nam War and cared for wounded soldiers to create this tale. She has crafted a story that speaks to the physical and emotional scars of one such injured veteran and the woman who dares to reach out to him with compassion, mercy, and love.

The second phase of this three part story tells of a young girl with a physical handicap who confronts her uncertainty and fear to save the life of her mother.

The satisfying conclusion of the book tells the sad story of a young woman who has a bruised and battered heart. She finds a healing balm to soothe her broken spirit.

Erin Rainwater cleverly weaves three stories into one with characters that face real life weaknesses and overcome them with strength that comes from the most unexpected place.

This is the most beautiful, most heart-touching collection of stories I've read in a long time and they will stay with me forever!

The first story begins when Clare Canterbury applies for the position of Home Nurse which she saw advertised in a newspaper. She had 3 years experience as a military nurse caring for wounded soldiers returning from the Korean War. She was also an employee at a hospital in Denver where she cared for other soldiers as well as President Eisenhower after he suffered a heart attack. But unfair circumstances have left her homeless and without money. She really neeeded this job.

The interview starts out well enough but ends in disaster. Ultimately she secures the job by trickery.

As the story progresses Clare does wonders for Peter's body, soul and spirit. Peter believes God is punishing him but Clare tries to explain that God doesn't punish His children for sins Jesus already paid for. He does discipline, though, like any loving father. Peter tells Clare that God can: "...keep his love and His discipline..." But during a Thanksgiving prayer that's been forced on him, Peter is under pressure to say something. He begins a half-hearted prayer comitted to memory as a child then suddenly stops, realizing it isn't working. He then began anew and addressed God in a prayer that was five years in coming.

Through his growing love of Clare, Peter begins to think back over conversations he and Clare have had regarding God. For Peter, Clare represents the unconditional love that God has for Peter because she was able to look past his horrible wounds and see Peter from the "inside". This entire revelation hit Peter like a ton of bricks and he learns a valuable lesson that his relationship with God was truly "refined by fire!"

The second story opens with 9-year-old Susannah who is blind and her ill mother, Ellie Carver. Ellie is gravely ill with pneumonia, and Susannah realizes she must make the terrifying journey down the mountain alone and into town to get the doctor. That journey is only the beginning for Susannah, who must then wait out her mother's illness with strangers, not knowing whether her mama will live or die. After witnessing her mother having a horrible coughing fit and seeing doctors and nurses rushing from every direction toward her Mom, little Susannah is frightened beyond belief and runs down the hallway and bumps into a man in a robe who listens to her story and speaks very kindly to her and tells her: "I'll pray for your Mama, Susannah". Little does Susannah or her Mama know that this chance encounter with this kind man will turn out to be the best thing that has ever happened to them. You will be totally blown away by the rest of this story!

The third and final story introduces us to Miss Duchene who is admitted to the hospital after a car accident. Miss Duchene is a very angry woman who is uncooperative and throws a few tantrums, then decides to escape the hospital on her own. During her escape, she finds herself in front of the windows to the baby nursery, and what she discovers there will change her life forever. Once again, you will be blown away by what happens.

Refining Fires is a book that you MUST read!! It's a book that will stay with you forever and remind you that no matter what your circumstances, God is ALWAYS there. Even when we think He is silent, not listening and not responding, trust me, HE is there as He has always been from the beginning. I've never been one to be stumped for words before but this book has done just that, I simply don't know what else to say except PLEASE READ THIS BOOK you'll love it, you'll be touched, you'll be hooked from the first page to the last page, and will be sad to see the end come. This is a book you'll want to read again and again and share with your friends and family. I hope Ms. Rainwater will pen another novel such as this one! Just a beautiful, beautiful book all round.

I loved this book. I read it every chance I could get and finished it after 3 days. The author makes the characters "alive" and relatable. Godly messages that will warm your heart. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to read a good book, especially anyone who might have a hard tome with confidance.

This book was purchased as a gift for a loved one. I knew that she loved it because she carried it with her wherever she went.

Others have written reviews very well, telling what this story is about. I want to add something different -- I was curious as to who the author is.

Erin Rainwater was a US Army nurse during the Vietnam War era. Copying from the note at the end of the book; "...she was privileged to care for the bodies and spirits of soldiers and veterans."

I think that she brings her own personality to this novel -- I don't know her at all, but Erin Rainwater did a great job writing this book. There are several plots, all meshing so very well in the story. I was never bored, and the book did for me what I always hope for; I forgot that it was a novel and drew me into the lives of the characters.

I also want to add for some of the readers like me -- there is no paranormal, vampires or ghosts. It is a true to life fiction. The Christian part of the novel peeks out a little, and more at the end of the book. It doesn't add or detract from the story in my opinion.
5 STARS.