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Candle in the Wind
The year is 1863. After two years of battles, the Civil War has evolved into a bloody slaughter with scarcely a town or home on both sides untouched by the tragic loss of its young men. President Abraham Lincoln has just announced the first order of "Draft" in the history of the American Republic.
After Jeptha enlists, Fiona Dawes finds herself working their farm with her five-year-old daughter Bridget on a thin spit of sandy peninsula stretching out into the Atlantic from the rocky coast of Massachusetts.
Like so many women of her time, she struggles to keep the farm running. When her husband is reported missing--presumed dead, Fiona knows in her heart he is still alive. She decides to take her daughter and leave the farm to look for her beloved husband, but something sinister is brewing. Someone means to not only take their land, but see them dead.
From Massachusetts to New York to Gettysburg and through the war torn South, Fiona searches for her husband, making friends and enemies along the way.
Fans of history, mystery, and romance are certain to enjoy, "Candle in the Wind."
After Jeptha enlists, Fiona Dawes finds herself working their farm with her five-year-old daughter Bridget on a thin spit of sandy peninsula stretching out into the Atlantic from the rocky coast of Massachusetts.
Like so many women of her time, she struggles to keep the farm running. When her husband is reported missing--presumed dead, Fiona knows in her heart he is still alive. She decides to take her daughter and leave the farm to look for her beloved husband, but something sinister is brewing. Someone means to not only take their land, but see them dead.
From Massachusetts to New York to Gettysburg and through the war torn South, Fiona searches for her husband, making friends and enemies along the way.
Fans of history, mystery, and romance are certain to enjoy, "Candle in the Wind."
476 pages, Hardcover
First published March 7, 2013
About the author
Ric Wasley
28 books1 followerRic Wasley thrived on music in the sixties and performed as a folksinger and in rock several bands all over New England. He met the likes of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.
In a recent interview Ric said, I started keeping a kind of a journal of my own 'adventures on the road' traveling around on my motorcycle, playing as a single folk act, and later in a VW Mini-bus touring with my rock band. Equally fortunate, I kept these journals which many years later became much of the source material and inspiration for the adventures of Mick and Bridget, my two main characters of the McCarthy Family detectives featured in Shadow of Innocence.
The sixties was just so cool, Ric added. The largest segment of Americas
population, myself included, grew up in the sixties. It remains the most influential decade of social and cultural change in the past 200 years.
Ric has been writing for over 30 years. He has been published in several literary magazines in L.A. and San Francisco while living in California. He currently lives outside of Boston with his wife and three children, works for a major media company and retains his love of music and writing.
His other works include:
Acid Test (a novel) October 2004
Various Literary Magazines
"
In a recent interview Ric said, I started keeping a kind of a journal of my own 'adventures on the road' traveling around on my motorcycle, playing as a single folk act, and later in a VW Mini-bus touring with my rock band. Equally fortunate, I kept these journals which many years later became much of the source material and inspiration for the adventures of Mick and Bridget, my two main characters of the McCarthy Family detectives featured in Shadow of Innocence.
The sixties was just so cool, Ric added. The largest segment of Americas
population, myself included, grew up in the sixties. It remains the most influential decade of social and cultural change in the past 200 years.
Ric has been writing for over 30 years. He has been published in several literary magazines in L.A. and San Francisco while living in California. He currently lives outside of Boston with his wife and three children, works for a major media company and retains his love of music and writing.
His other works include:
Acid Test (a novel) October 2004
Various Literary Magazines
"
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 6, 2013
I struggled with how to rate and review this book for a while. I wanted to be completely honest, but I also needed objectivity in the area of morality. It was a difficult balance, but I believe I can give this a five-star rating. Although there is a definite moral dilemma, I can give this a five-star rating with no qualms whatsoever.
Historical fiction/romance is often quite predictable, and I have to admit that I figured this story would follow suit. This book is anything but predictable. While I was able to hypothesize portions of the story accurately, the author threw enough curve balls to keep me off balance. I have to admit that I figured the story would end differently than it did, but that did not diminish my interest in the book.
In spite of the fact that humor was practically nonexistent in the book, the reader should be able to find multiples instances of mystery, intrigue, war violence, and some unique thoughts on the Civil War. I had not idea there were dissenters in the North, but then again, why wouldn't there be? In that same vein, I believe it safe to assume that there were dissenters in te South. I found myself so thoroughly immersed in the characters' lives that I did not want to put this book down.
The morality in the book (or lack thereof) was gave me pause at various points throughout the story. Profanity is included, but most of it is not hard-core (and it is the men who swear). I didn't relish this feature of the book, but it was bearable. There are no bedroom scenes, but it is clear that people are sleeping around, and prostitution does exist. And this is where my difficulties lie. I considered marking down the book since infidelity occurred (and I wasn't too happy about it). However, as I continued to consider this issue, I realized that this book handled this situation in a different way. The norm was not to be unfaithful. In fact, it was almost aberrant to cheat on your spouse. Forgiveness and doing the right thing were also expressed. In many ways, this is a picture of redemption, so I decided that the author truly handled the situation well. In many ways, the author has written a more Christian book than the "Christian books" I have been reading in recent times.
So what is my verdict? If you can excuse the profanity, you may find this book entirely suitable for your tastes. And should you be lucky enough to read the book, I believe you will be pleasantly surprised.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
Historical fiction/romance is often quite predictable, and I have to admit that I figured this story would follow suit. This book is anything but predictable. While I was able to hypothesize portions of the story accurately, the author threw enough curve balls to keep me off balance. I have to admit that I figured the story would end differently than it did, but that did not diminish my interest in the book.
In spite of the fact that humor was practically nonexistent in the book, the reader should be able to find multiples instances of mystery, intrigue, war violence, and some unique thoughts on the Civil War. I had not idea there were dissenters in the North, but then again, why wouldn't there be? In that same vein, I believe it safe to assume that there were dissenters in te South. I found myself so thoroughly immersed in the characters' lives that I did not want to put this book down.
The morality in the book (or lack thereof) was gave me pause at various points throughout the story. Profanity is included, but most of it is not hard-core (and it is the men who swear). I didn't relish this feature of the book, but it was bearable. There are no bedroom scenes, but it is clear that people are sleeping around, and prostitution does exist. And this is where my difficulties lie. I considered marking down the book since infidelity occurred (and I wasn't too happy about it). However, as I continued to consider this issue, I realized that this book handled this situation in a different way. The norm was not to be unfaithful. In fact, it was almost aberrant to cheat on your spouse. Forgiveness and doing the right thing were also expressed. In many ways, this is a picture of redemption, so I decided that the author truly handled the situation well. In many ways, the author has written a more Christian book than the "Christian books" I have been reading in recent times.
So what is my verdict? If you can excuse the profanity, you may find this book entirely suitable for your tastes. And should you be lucky enough to read the book, I believe you will be pleasantly surprised.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
June 3, 2013
This book is definitely more historical mystery than it is romance, although there is a romantic element to it. And Mr. Wasley captures the historical element of it perfectly.
The hero and heroine are apart for much of the book--as war tends to do to people. And, I was frustrated for them because they were often so close to each other as Fiona was searching for Jeptha, but they always managed to just miss each other.
The battles are well written--be aware, they are battle scenes and are very graphic. Mr. Wasley does not shirk from showing you the hell that is war nor the good and bad of soldiers on both sides of the conflict.
Most of the characters are well-drawn and were people this reader felt like you could have met during any time period. The only exception were the two "bad guys" of the piece. When I was reading the scenes with them in it, I felt like I was watching a movie. There was nothing redeeming about them to make them three dimensional and real. But, the other characters more than make up for that issue.
Speaking of movies, Candle in the Wind would make an excellent one--- it has action, heart-stopping moments, periods of despair, and a happy ending. Hollywood, take note!!
The hero and heroine are apart for much of the book--as war tends to do to people. And, I was frustrated for them because they were often so close to each other as Fiona was searching for Jeptha, but they always managed to just miss each other.
The battles are well written--be aware, they are battle scenes and are very graphic. Mr. Wasley does not shirk from showing you the hell that is war nor the good and bad of soldiers on both sides of the conflict.
Most of the characters are well-drawn and were people this reader felt like you could have met during any time period. The only exception were the two "bad guys" of the piece. When I was reading the scenes with them in it, I felt like I was watching a movie. There was nothing redeeming about them to make them three dimensional and real. But, the other characters more than make up for that issue.
Speaking of movies, Candle in the Wind would make an excellent one--- it has action, heart-stopping moments, periods of despair, and a happy ending. Hollywood, take note!!
June 6, 2013
Real people have relationships with other people. Ric Wasley understands this, which is why his three-dimensional characters have realistic motivations, regrets, and desires.
Fiona has the grit, fire and Irish love of the land that motivated Scarlet in Gone With the Wind. Her husband, Jeptha, is strong, brave and intelligent, but with a much more linear moral character than Rhett. He also decides much more quickly if equally reluctantly to forfeit his life, if necessary, to support his belief in human equality and a united nation. He plans to enter Lincoln's army, despite his love and devotion to this family--or perhaps partly because of it.
Wasley portraits the honest horror and internal conflict sometimes forgotten when addressing war, with careful details that realistically portray the bloodiest war ever fought on American soil. History buffs will appreciate the true events woven seamlessly throughout the plot. Mystery lovers will appreciate the conflict and uncertainty Fiona faces while searching for a beloved husband the military presumes dead. And what romance lover can't appreciate the dogged determination of a couple in love who will do anything to be reunited, against all odds.
Fiona has the grit, fire and Irish love of the land that motivated Scarlet in Gone With the Wind. Her husband, Jeptha, is strong, brave and intelligent, but with a much more linear moral character than Rhett. He also decides much more quickly if equally reluctantly to forfeit his life, if necessary, to support his belief in human equality and a united nation. He plans to enter Lincoln's army, despite his love and devotion to this family--or perhaps partly because of it.
Wasley portraits the honest horror and internal conflict sometimes forgotten when addressing war, with careful details that realistically portray the bloodiest war ever fought on American soil. History buffs will appreciate the true events woven seamlessly throughout the plot. Mystery lovers will appreciate the conflict and uncertainty Fiona faces while searching for a beloved husband the military presumes dead. And what romance lover can't appreciate the dogged determination of a couple in love who will do anything to be reunited, against all odds.
June 9, 2013
I didn't really enjoy this book. The plot twisted and turned, but for me, it depended too much on bizarre coincidences to make sense. Some of the writing was excellent, but other parts were too cliché for me. The good guys and gals were super good, and the bad guys were pure evil. The setting was detailed and well described, but that wasn't enough to overcome what I saw as weaknesses in the storytelling. I think a good editor would have made the book much better.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews