Customer Reviews

Susannah (Sunfire)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Despite the image on the back cover, Susannah isn't Scarlett. She's a resiliant, strong girl who doesn't wallow in melodrama. War is not romanticized in this book - not only is the loss of life unflinchingly told, but the terrible price that those on the homefront faced - poverty, starvation, and a generally unsettled life. But this isn't a grim story, because of the romance between Susannah and Caine, a Union soldier, offers such hope and promise. When I was fifteen I was half in love with Caine myself... the ending is a compromise and feels realisitic - Susannah realizes that the home of her childhood is gone forever. A moving story of the Civil War, a wonderful romance, all told in Ransom's usual descriptive style. Ms. Ransom, I believe, makes her home in Virginia, and her love for the area is reflected in Susannah.

I have to say that i really enjoyed reading this book. Susannah is the tale of love during a time of war. She not only watches the battles on the field, but also must face the battle in her heart. Caine is just what every woman wants :) Its too bad this story is out of print, if you get a hold of a copy keep it. Share it with your daughters, your friends, any woman who loves a story about love, war and being swept off of her feet.

I have to agree with the other reviewers...just a great book! It presents a realistic view of the tragedy of the Civil War, while also telling a wonderful love story. I am sorry to read that this whole series is now out of print. When I first read this book 15 years ago, it inspired me to learn more about the Civil War, and the other novels in the Sunfire collection also made me aware of other important historical events. I love this book!

I first read this book about 14 years ago, when I was in junior high. I don't know what inspired me to search for it on Amazon, but here I am. This was the first Sunfire book I read, and my favorite. Susannah, with her strength and courage, was a great heroine and role model for young women, and the book gives a fairly balanced portrayal of both sides of the Civil War (considering it is written from the point of view of a Southern girl). I still haven't found a real guy as great as Caine Harding, but that's why they call it fiction. My sister and I read all of the Sunfire books when we were teenagers. In addition to being very entertaining, they introduced us to many historical events and periods. From "Rachel", I learned of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911. Over 10 years before Leo and Kate set sail on the Titanic, I was introduced to the story in "Nicole". It's a shame this series is out-of-print, because I believe it was a wonderful way to get young women interested in history. It may sound silly, but it worked for my sister and I. These books personalized history and made it come alive: I would often want to learn more about a certain period after reading a Sunfire, and thus gained a great love for history.

I remember seeing this book in the back of my french class back in 8th grade. Someone had left it there so I had to pick it up. Looking at the cover, I didn't think I was going to like it because romance novels aren't my type of things, but as I read it, I grew to love it. Throughout high school, I checked it out at least ten times if not more. It made me want to read more of the Sunfires. ( I now own 14 of the books and am still collecting the whole series! )

Since I am a history and Civil War buff, I was glad to see that the book was true to the historical time period especially with how things were in the South compared to the North. Susannah is a girl I wish I could be. She's strong and has a lot of character strength, especially when she is faced with all the hardships she is faced with. I always read this book when I feel down in the dumps. Even at the age of 19, I enjoy this story just as much as I did the first time I picked it up, literally.

This wasn't the best Sunfire I've read. Don't get me wrong, it's a wonderful book. It's an accurate picture of the life of a young girl during the Civil War. It was more emotional then exciting, which is alright. It kind of leaves you in a gloomy state. Usually in those books, the end is cheerful, and all the problems have been fixed, etc. But in the end, the war is still going on leaving me with a curiosity of how there life worked out for them. But all things considered, Susannah is a strong girl, who is aware of her strengths and weaknesses. How she took control of things was quite admirable. It really was an emotional roller coaster, at times I got so mad at her beau's sister I wanted to throw the book. Then the next minute I was near tears, then the next happy that she was in love. I think it was a good book, but I wouldn't suggest it to just anyone. You really has to be a romantic to enjoy this book. But if you are, then it's a great book.

I read this a long time ago, but I still remember it. It was such an interesting story, with characters you wish you were friends with. I think it touched my heart so much because I would love to meet a man like Caine Harding--he is my dream man. :)This was a book that I wish had a sequel, because I would love to find out what happened to Susannah and her family, and what Caine's and Susannah's life was like in the West. It really is too bad that this book and books like it are out of print; it is a great introduction to history, and a wonderful series (I read every single one throughout middle and high school, but this one has to be my favorite).

The Sunfire books were some of my best loved books when I was a young adult reader, and Susannah was my favorite. An exciting, touching, vivid portrayal of the Civil War south seen through the eyes of a young woman. It's a shame these books are out of print; I hate to think that young readers are being deprived of them.

I read this a long time ago, but I still remember it. It was such an interesting story, with characters you wish you were friends with. I think it touched my heart so much because I would love to meet a man like Caine Harding--he is my dream man. :)This was a book that I wish had a sequel, because I would love to find out what happened to Susannah and her family, and what Caine's and Susannah's life was like in the West. It really is too bad that this book and books like it are out of print; it is a great introduction to history, and a wonderful series (I read every single one throughout middle and high school, but this one has to be my favorite).

This is the one that's caused me to start this mad search for more of these books! I would say this is probably my favorite so far (with Amanda a close second). Susannah is a strong heroine and Caine is everything you could want in a romantic counterpart - sweet, but still holding a personality of his own. I LOVE this book!