About the Book

Book: When the Flames Ravaged

Author: Rhonda Dragomir

Genre: Christian / Historical / Romance

Release Date: March, 2024

Will Faith Perish in the Big Top’s Flames?

Introducing a new series of 6 exciting novels featuring historic disasters that transformed landscapes and multiple lives. Whether by nature or by man, these disasters changed history and were a day to be remembered.

Evelyn Benson’s husband perished in the Bataan Death March but not her faith. The World War II Gold Star widow is taken in by her brother and soothed by the love of his wife and children. Evelyn refuses to cower to grief. She may not understand God’s mysterious ways, but she has never questioned Him—until the circus fire.

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus train chugs into Hartford, Connecticut, on a sweltering day one month after the Allies invaded Normandy. Among the roustabouts is a reluctant clown, Hank Webb. He may hide from his murky past behind grease paint as Fraidy Freddie, but God wants to offer Hank a chance to be found. Though first, what little Hank believes about God will endure a fiery trial.

On Thursday, July 6, 1944, a devasting blaze of unknown origins consumes the circus tent along with Evelyn’s hopes and Hank’s anonymity.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Rhonda Dragomir is a multimedia creative who treasures her fairy tale life in Central Kentucky, insisting her home is her castle even if her prince refuses to dig a moat. She has multiple published works in anthologies and periodicals, along with numerous Bible studies studied weekly by more than 10,000 women around the world. Rhonda has garnered numerous writing awards for both fiction and nonfiction, including her selection as 2019 Writer of the Year by Serious Writer, Inc. In 2020 she was also a finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest for her first novel, a 16th century historical romance.

More from Rhonda

The heroine’s last living family members are struck down in a tragic fire. Will she crumble? Will she tumble into bitterness? Will she forsake her faith? We view life through her eyes and wonder, “What would I do?”

The best fiction sails the vast sea of human experiences and explores how we survive when storms roil the waters. Triumph, tragedy, victories, valleys—though we have not lived through the exact events as the characters, we feel the same elation on the crests and despair in the troughs of the waves.

This is why I love to write historical fiction, especially romance. I interweave my own thoughts and feelings with those of my characters. My words become theirs, and their responses mirror my own as I fight to keep my head above water.

I spent dozens of hours researching When the Flames Ravaged, the story of a horrific circus fire in Hartford, Connecticut on July 6, 1944. I gasped, I wept, and I marveled at the courage of rescuers who sacrificed their own lives to save others. True, live-or-die battles fueled my imagination, and composite characters leaped to life.

At one point, my hero dives into dark water, grasping with frail human understanding to comprehend the scope of the disaster. He decides good and evil are locked in an everlasting struggle, and humans are mere pawns stuck in the middle. Then he asks, “What is the use of serving God if He won’t protect you?”

Who has never asked the same thing when tragedy strikes? Pat answers and platitudes won’t suffice. Only a personal quest to discover an acceptable answer to this age-old question will help us find peace in the midst of the churning sea of doubt.

I hope my novel will toss a live preserver to everyone treading water.

My Impressions

“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 hast thou forsaken me?”

This second book in the Barbour series, A Day to Remember, brings us the horrific story of When the Flames Ravaged by Rhonda Dragomir. Each book in the series highlights a lesser-known American tragedy. As with the first, this was a difficult read because of the intense emotions stirred by the recounting of the Hartford, Connecticut circus tragedy. I had to be careful to recognize why I was in a very despondent mood as I occasionally came up for air as I read.

Both Evelyn, whose close relatives attend the circus that fateful day in 1944, and Hank “Fraidy Freddy,” have some big questions for God after the fire. “How could a loving God…” reiterated over and over as two young people who were once believers in His care, consider that they may not need a God Who wouldn’t prevent such an atrocity. No easy answers are given, but Scripture and wise words are combined at precisely the right time to stir thoughts in a seeking soul.

Slowly, painstakingly so, we follow Evelyn and Hank as they search for Evelyn’s missing family. While the tragedy brings them close, the two teeter between more than friends and persona non-gratis as secrets, guilt, and efforts to be independent take center stage.

I loved so many secondary characters. Bill, Evelyn’s brother. Mrs. Riegle, with her gentle ways, yet determined to be a help to Evelyn. The Preacher. “I’m not really a preacher. I’m simply a man who wants to tell others about how God helps us through our troubles.” Connecticut State Police Sergeant Amato. As one of my favorite people often says, he is the kind of person “who makes your problem, his problem.”

I can’t believe this is Dragomir’s debut novel. It is so well-written. I loved the inclusion of Emmett Kelly (excuse me while I go off to research him a little more, I used to collect clown figurines based on his art). I also had to research the Bataan Death March a bit. I learned so much from this book!

I also loved some twists and the humor. Unfortunately, the tragedy was so severe, there was no humor at that point in the book. But that is real life. I am looking forward to the next book in the series and will also be looking forward to reading more from Rhonda Dragomir.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via Netgalley. I also bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“the costume also hid a man wanted for murder. His parents would be spared the shame of watching their son die in the electric chair.”

“A blood moon was expected tonight, and the superstitious circus folk had grumbled all day about the alleged ‘omen of death.’”

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

“The deadliest enemy at this moment wasn’t the fire, still too far away to be a threat. But panic could kill.”

“The speed with which tragedy stripped a person bare was nothing less than terrifying.”

“It was his fault. Murder. By neglect. Almost two hundred times over.”

“I hope someday you’ll see yourself as God does.”

“We accept blessings from God’s hands every day, but when bad things happen, we blame Him.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Magnificent! There won’t be a dry eye as you learn about this horrific fire and one lady’s efforts to find her surviving family.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 30

Pause for Tales, March 30

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 1

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 2

Texas Book-aholic, April 3

Simple Harvest Reads, April 3 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 4

Betti Mace, April 5

For HIm and My Family, April 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 6

Blossoms and Blessings, April 7

The Lofty Pages, April 7

Connie’s History Clasroom, April 8

Labor Not in Vain, April 9

Holly’s Book Corner, April 9

Cover Lover Book Review, April 10

Inkwell Inspirations, April 10

To Everything There Is A Season , April 11

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, April 12 (Author Interview)

Life on Chickadee Lane, April 12

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rhonda is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-Gift Card & a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2aa75/when-the-flames-ravaged-celebration-tour-giveaway