Another great book. This is a new to me author but the description and topic on the back pulled me in and kept me engrossed in the storyline to the very last page. This is one I would like to share with my friends so we can talk about. The characters were amazing and I'm still thinking about it.

When the Flames Ravaged is part of the multi author series called A Day to Remember. It is, also, the first book by Rhonda Dragomir I have read. The historical details within the pages of this story made me feel as though I was right there experiencing the events first hand. I love how the author uses the element of faith within the pages.
I am giving When the Flames Ravaged a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for lovers of clean historical fiction, particularly based on true events. I would love to read more by Rhonda Dragomir in the future. I am looking forward to the next installment from A Day to Remember series, Denise Weimer's When Hope Sank.
I received a paperback copy of Rhonda Dragomir's When the Flames Ravaged from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

This book is part of a series, but each is a a stand-alone and written by a different author. July 6th, 1944 is the day a circus tent caught on fire during a show. There were lives lost, heroes and cowards revealed, and families changed forever. This book is fiction, but the tragedy of the circus tent is not. It happened during an already emotionally charged time.
The main character, Evelyn, is a war widow trying to make ends meet when her life is drastically altered by the fire. She meets a circus employee who is willing to help her as she tries to find her brother, sister-in-law and their two children. During the aftermath of the fire, Evelyn struggles with her weakening faith. She has to remember that God is always with us and will help us to find our way back to Him.
*I was given a copy to read by the publishers. My opinions are my own.

Very good!!! This book definitely held my attention and I didn't want to put it down.
This book is part of a great series and I'm looking forward to reading more!

I vaguely remember hearing about the circus fire that occurred during World War II but I have never had the chance to delve further to find out the circumstances that surrounded this tragic event. When the Flames Ravaged gives a heart-stopping account of what happened under that circus tent in Hartford in 1944.

As I was reading, I had to keep reminding myself that this actually happened. It’s so horrific and unimaginable to me. One minute you’re sitting with your family enjoying an afternoon at the circus, and in a matter of seconds it literally goes up in flames, the scars continuing to impact many today. It’s such a sobering thought. I’ve only ever been to a real circus once when I was five years old, so I am no expert of roustabouts by any means, but I have always had a fascination with the circus life.

The novel focuses on one clown in the show, Hank, and a waitress at a local diner, Evelyn, that are deeply affected by the events of that day. Hank is really battling his emotions internally while trying to be strong for Evelyn as they search for Evelyn’s family after the fire, and it shows his character early on. I adored all of the characters and think they were the perfect vessels to flesh out what transpired from a first-person perspective.

After I finished reading, I went to the website that is dedicated to this tragedy and I literally felt like the wind was knocked out of me. It’s one thing to read a fictional account, but quite another to put faces to this unthinkable tragedy. While the culprit has never been identified, I like to think that this was a freak accident and caused by a stray cigarette, because if this was maliciously intended it makes this ordeal that much worse.

There is one scene in particular that was seriously one of the sweetest scenes I’ve ever read in a novel. So incredibly powerful and such a great ending to such a harrowing story.

As with any tragic tale, I wish it would’ve never happened in the first place, but it did and sadly it is an event that is being forgotten with time. Thank you to the author for bringing this horrific event back into the spotlight and doing it in the best way possible. May we never forget the victims of the Hartford circus fire.

July 6, 1944 was a day to remember, but not for a happy reason, but rather for a tragedy. It was on this day that 168 people died and more than 700 were injured in Hartford, Connecticut as a fire spread and brought down a Ringling Brothers, and Barnum & Bailey Circus big top. As horrible asa that was, it could have been so much worse at 6,000 to 8,000 people were in attendance. While Rhonda Dragomir tells the story around her fictionalized characters, her research is evident as she includes the events of that day, and honors some of the victims by including parts of their stories. The emotions in this story swing from deep relief to gut-wrenching grief, from stalwart resolution to mind-numbing weakness. Readers will deeply empathize with Evelyn Benson as she searches for her family, marvel at her brother as he heroically saves lives, and root for Hank Webb as he seeks to help Evelyn while he wrestles with his past. They will be inspired by Bernice Riegel's selflessness as she offers all she has to give.

This novel spurred my interest in the original events of July 6, 1944, and I found myself frequently researching online to learn more. I highly recommend When the Flames Ravaged, and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

June 6, 1944 - The Hartford Circus Fire. It was supposed to be a day of fun and laughter. It quickly became one of the worst circus disasters in history. This experience you won't soon forget. Evelyn Benson and Fraidy Freddie begin on a path together to find her missing nephew and answers, as well as closure to the disaster of that day. They soon find they will be forced to face old and new demons as well the horror of the fire on that fateful day. I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing & was under no obligation to post a review.

** “Where did the providence of God end and the responsibility of man begin? Was God’s power limited by the free will of mankind? And what about his own choices?” **

Rhonda Dragomir brings us the second installment of the A Day to Remember series with “When the Flames Ravaged,” a telling of the horrific 1944 circus fire in Hartford, Conn.

Having lost her husband in World War II’s Bataan Death March, Evelyn Benson works as a waitress while living with her brother Bill, his wife Helen and their children Lily and Jamie. They can’t wait to attend the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus that has pulled into town, looking forward to a day of fun and entertainment.

Hank Webb works as a circus clown known as Fraidy Freddie, but he has a secret he’s keeping and a past he’s running from.

But Evelyn’s and Hank’s worlds quickly collide when, on July 6, 1944, a horrific fire occurs at the circus — a performance Evelyn missed due to work but her family attended. Their lives become forever intermingled as they work to search for her loved ones, all while finding love, forgiveness and redemption on their journey.

Dragomir does an incredible job of fictionalizing a real and horrific occurrence, basing characters and events on reality, to create a lovely yet emotional story. She develops incredible characters, all while filling the book with a number of great themes, like how to deal with times we feel God has abandoned us (“Was God with her? Faith chimed, Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. But doubt quoted Jesus in His darkest hour. My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?”); blame; sacrifice; no one is responsible for another’s actions; and God’s power and goodness.

Fans of historical fiction and inspirational stories will love “When the Flames Ravaged.”

Five stars out of five.

Barbour Fiction provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

This review is entirely my own opinion.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book when I read it. I was unsure of it to begin with because it is a little different than what I am used to. The author, Rhonda Dragomir, told a beautiful story of love but also the heartbreaks of life. She beautifully portrayed Evelyn's agony but also her story of love. She incorporated the redemption of Hank so beautifully in the story ultimately pointing us to Christ.

This book is about a tough time, and is a hard one to read, as I'm sure it was to write! I don't give this 3 stars because of the author's writing, because I think she's a good author, but instead, because of the sadness of the story, it just wasn't my favorite to read. It's interesting history, and something I really had never heard about, so in that sense, I liked learning about something new. If you're a history lover, you'll want to read this book, especially if you've never read much about this day in history.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Two hurt souls, find friendship and faith in the light of tragedy.

Evelyn lost her husband in WWII, moving in with her brother's family, she finds hope being around family until it is dashed again in terrible tragedy. Based on a real life event, this story tells of the heartbreak and pain experienced by the families of the victims of this horrific event. A compelling and heart rending read, it was just so sad all that Evelyn had to endure. But also encouraging and full of faith.

Overall, at times it was a hard read as the subject matter was just so sad, but I liked how the author gave this story a faith filled message in light of suffering. I liked Hank and Evelyn form a friendship, comforting each other, and leaning on faith throughout. A compelling historical read, about a tragic true and event in history.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I cannot imagine the horror of a huge circus fire. As in any emergency, people panic.
The main characters in the story are real examples of individuals who struggled with guilt, questions of why God allows such tragedies, and feeling overwhelmed at what life threw at them.
You should find yourself seriously thinking through your own responses to life.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

It feels a little awkward to say I have enjoyed Barbour Publishing’s A Day to Remember series featuring great U.S. disasters, but the gripping historical events have created a very interesting series. When the Flames Ravaged is based on the true events of the horrifying Ringling Brothers Circus fire in July of 1944. This intriguing debut novel by author Rhonda Dragomir is beautifully written, emotional and engaging. Both main characters immediately captured my heart and emotions as I followed their journey of reconciling loss with restoration and love. I look forward to reading more books in the series and more from this great new author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for the opportunity to read for my honest review.

Could this woman answer Evelyn’s most burning question? “Why does God let these terrible things happen? Either He doesn’t love us very much, or He’s not powerful enough to stop them.”

This book surprised me. Starting the story, I did not expect to really enjoy it, but the author drew me fast with her gripping writing and barely a blink I was 40% into the story.

“Yes. God could upend the laws of nature. Sometimes He does, and those are what we call miracles.” Bernice leaned closer. “But if they happened every day, they wouldn’t be miracles anymore. Sometimes God lets nature take its course.”

The author drew me along with the characters, making me feel their fear, loss, and despair. I also felt that through Lily, we as readers could see the true trauma of the survivors and their struggle to just live each day after the horrible day.

The characters struggle with their faith in grips of the trauma was realistic and the questions raised is something I think we all ask when faced with grave events in our lives.

“It’s okay not to understand. Just like you trust Aunt Evie, we all need to trust God—that He loves us, He is with us, and He will take us someday to live with Him in heaven with your papa and mama.”

This was a great debut which highlighted a horrible day in a realistic, emotional, and faith-filled way.

I'm always a sucker for a good circus tale. When I heard of this one, I knew it was a must read.
It sucked me in from the beginning, and, knowing this terrible tragedy actually happened made it so much more real for me.
This story has so many good things going for it, not the least are the many intriguing circus details. You can almost envision yourself there, seeing it in real life before your eyes.

I also enjoyed the characters, and could feel the terror and loss they felt.
Historical tragedies such as this one are so important to read about. It is good to know the little bits and pieces that make up our country's history.
If you enjoy history, I highly encourage this book.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

When the Flames Ravaged is the second in a clever series from Barbour Fiction, exploring great tragedies. Thankfully, there is light and hope to be found and this book isn’t shy about revealing that.

The story centers on a devastating fire at a circus which in reality claimed 168 lives. Hank is a clown on the run after a fight left him in the frame for murder. He fights valiantly to save as many lives as possible but still blames himself for the ones who perished.

War Widow Evelyn Benson lives with her brother and sister in law and is left grieving with the couple’s daughter after the fire claims their lives. Her two year old nephew remains missing and she teams up with Hank to try and cope with the aftermath.

I liked that faith interspersed throughout this well crafted story. The events of the Big Top Disaster are forever etched into the psyche of Hartford, CT and are sensitively handled here. Events during the fire made for tough reading but the author handled these parts carefully with nothing gratuitous. The love that great between Hank and Evelyn was birthed in sorry but lead to joy and that is beautiful.

I received a copy of When the Flames Ravaged from the publisher, via NetGalley. The views are my own.

When the Flames Ravaged by Rhonda Dragomir is the second of six books in Barbour Publishing’s series, A Day To Remember. Taken from true events, a fire engulfed the big top tent of a circus in July 1944. The horrifying tale was captured in the woven words of the author pulling at the heartstrings of this reader. More than once, I had two stop reading, grasping the true emotions of the moment. Rhonda wrote hope and healing into the story as only God’s grace can bring. Don’t miss this book or the series. They will captivate you!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions expressed are completely my own.

A fabulous debut novel by Rhonda Dragomir, this sensitive retelling of the Ringling Bros. Circus fire during WW2 is a stunning "historical with a romance," as the author styles it.

It's so much more though - by weaving strong threads of faith throughout, Dragomir shows how mercy and forgiveness can be granted even in the midst of terrible suffering. A compelling read, I could not put it down. Hope to see more from this talented writer in the future. Number three in a series of six similar books by Barbour., on Days to Remember.

I received a free ARC, but that did not influence my opinion on this review and my ratings. My opinion is independent and my own.

Evelyn Benson, a Hartford, Connecticut war widow, waitress, and aunt to two precocious youngsters, is put out when her boss calls her into work on a sweltering summer day in 1944. She had been planning to attend the afternoon performance of the circus with her brother and his young family. When tragedy strikes, burning the big top to the ground, will Evelyn be able to locate her missing relatives? Aided in her search by a valiant circus performer and a kindly police sergeant, will hope triumph in this fictional account of the events surrounding the Hartford circus fire disaster? Filled with themes of faith and trust in God, the author offers inspiration woven amongst historical facts. Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC to preview.

Rhonda Dragomir's debut novel, When the Flames Ravaged, is a mesmerizing journey through the tender heart of tragedy, faith, and redemption set amidst the backdrop of the unforgettable July 6, 1944 Hartford, Connecticut circus fire. This captivating blend of fact and fiction transports readers to a world where the flames of disaster threaten to consume everything in their path, yet amidst the chaos, the light of hope shines brightly.

At the center of the story are Evelyn Benson and Hank Webb, two individuals whose lives intersect in the most unexpected of ways. As the flames ravage the circus tent, Evelyn, a Gold Star Widow, grapples with unimaginable loss, while Hank, disguised behind his clown persona, becomes a pillar of courage and compassion amidst the turmoil.

Dragomir's vivid prose brings to life the sights, sounds, scents, and emotions of the circus, drawing readers into a world of wonder and danger. Through her meticulous research and attention to detail, she captures the soul of this tragic event with haunting authenticity, leaving a permanent imprint on this reader's soul.

Beyond the spectacle of the circus and the devastation of the fire, When the Flames Ravaged is a beautiful tale of faith tested by fire. Through Evelyn and Hank's journeys, Dragomir explores profound questions of belief and doubt, wrestling with the age-old dilemma of why God allows suffering. Yet amidst the ashes, there is a more than a glimmer of hope—a reminder that even in the darkest of times, God's love endures.

As the flames of tragedy give way to the light of redemption, readers are reminded of the transformative power of faith, forgiveness, and God’s sovereignty. Through heartbreaks and triumphs, Dragomir weaves a beautiful tapestry of grace and redemption that resonates with the timeless truths of the Bible and the Christian’s daily faith.

I am amazed by the quality of Dragomir's writing in this debut novel. Her ability to seamlessly blend historical accuracy with compelling storytelling is truly commendable. I applaud Barbour Fiction for consistently publishing novels that not only entertain but also inspire and impact readers. This series, A Day to Remember, continues to be a tribute to the enduring power of faith and the resilience of the human spirit—a must-read series for anyone seeking captivating narratives of hope (earthly and eternal) amidst adversity.

I was blessed to receive an eARC of When the Flames Ravaged from Barbour Fiction publishers through NetGalley. It's important to note that I neither had an obligation to write a favorable review nor received any compensation for my words. This review genuinely reflects my heartfelt assessment and sincere thoughts about this remarkable novel.