Status
Call number
Series
Publication
Description
Fiction. Literature. Romance. Historical Fiction. HTML:A mother who cannot face her future. A daughter who cannot escape her past. Lady Elisabeth Kerr is a keeper of secrets. A Highlander by birth and a Lowlander by marriage, she honors the auld ways, even as doubts and fears stir deep within her. Her husband, Lord Donald, has secrets of his own, well hidden from the household, yet whispered among the town gossips. His mother, the dowager Lady Marjory, hides gold beneath her floor and guilt inside her heart. Though her two abiding passions are maintaining her place in society and coddling her grown sons, Marjory�??s many regrets, buried in Greyfriars Churchyard, continue to plague her. One by one the Kerr family secrets begin to surface, even as bonny Prince Charlie and his rebel army ride into Edinburgh in September 1745, intent on capturing the crown. A timeless story of love and betrayal, loss and redemption, flickering against the vivid backdrop of eighteenth-century Scotland, Here Burns My Candle illumines the dark side of human nature, even as hope, the brightest of tapers, lights the way home. Includes a bonus PDF with a listener's guide, glossary, and map… (more)
User reviews
Elizabeth Kerr is a Highlander by birth and has married and is now Lady Elizabeth Kerr. She lives with her husband Donald, her mother-in-law, Marjory and Donald's brother and his wife in Edinburgh. Prince Charlie and his army come into town to capture the crown and enlist the help of the Kerr men. The whole family seems to have secrets from their past (and present) and it all comes out eventually. Tragedy happens, but so does love and forgiveness and hope. There is betrayal, lies, war, love, cruelty and a spark of hope that keeps on burning. I would like to thank WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for sending me this book for review. (The book has a great cover and so does its sequel.)
The Kerr family loyalties lie with King George with one exception: Lady Elisabeth Kerr. Her heart and her own family (she is
This could have been cut back about a hundred pages. I realize this author normally writes Christian fiction and I am not holding all the preachy stuff against it, but it could have been cut back a wee bit as the Highlanders would say. Once I began to just skip the religious stuff, I found the story and all the family drama very enjoyable, BUT I grew very frustrated with the too good to be true and way too forgiving Elisabeth with all her "beloveds" over that blasted dog, Donald.
Again, great history in here, but I'm not pining for the next book.
What I think Higgs does so well
If I have a complaint, it is that her characters sometimes feel a bit one-dimensional - Elisabeth is just SO good, and Janet is just SO spiteful. I think Higgs is a genuinely good writer, and could make her characters so rich and complex - so I feel a little bit disappointed when she doesn't.
Overall, though, I enjoyed it. It was a great read for this time in my life, because it sucked me in to the story right away, and the pages turned quickly thanks to lots of excitement. If you enjoy this type of historical Christian fiction, I think this is definitely a title to add to your list.
Lady Marjory Kerr is a widow of substantial means, whose life is
Exquisitely written and the fictional take on a Bible story mixed with Scottish history gave a very well known character much drama and depth. For any of you who love the historical timepieces this is a perfect addition to add to your shelf.
Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs
(For review from Waterbrook Multnomah. Blog tour dates March 22-26)
As the Jacobite Uprising of 1745 unfolds as a back drop to the story, Lady Elizabeth Kerr, a highland lass lives in Edinburgh with her husband, Lord Donald Kerr. Elizabeth follows
Lord Kerr loves his wife but constantly battles his own demons. He and his brother Andrew must make some hard decisions about where their loyalties lie. With King George in England or "bonny Prince Charlie," as he tries to reclaim the throne for the Stuart line.
Lady Marjory, Elizabeth's mother-in-law has regrets of her own. With her husband gone, she has little do other than dote on her sons and her daughter-in-laws, but will her extravagances cost them more than she can bear to part with?
My Thoughts:
Liz Curtis Higgs has done a wonderful job with this book. The historical accuracy is astounding. I wonder at the amount of research it must have taken to make this book a reality. It is obvious that she has taken great care with the facts and stories that surround the Jacobite Uprising of 1745. Readers who are unfamiliar with this event will come away from this book feeling educated as well as entertained.
This book is based on the Biblical story of Ruth and Naomi. It is a re-telling of sorts that emphasizes the relationships that exist within families. Lady Elizabeth faces the censure of her mother-in-law because of her highland birth and ways, but she learns that she has much to contribute to this family. Lady Marjory changes a lot from the beginning up the book, 'til the end. She begins to see the error of her ways in judging Elizabeth and eventually comes to love and respect her dearly.
Though the women of this book are forced to deal with great tragedy and loss they also learn a deep and abiding faith in God and His ability to see them through. Elizabeth is forced to face her doubts about her own faith and in the end she knows that Lady Marjory can help her learn more about the God she is desperately seeking.
The second book, Mine is the Night will continue the story of the Kerr women, picking up in the later part of the book of Ruth. I highly anticipate this book and can't wait for it's release in the Spring of 2011. Here Burns My Candle is an excellent book for fans of Historical and Christian Fiction.
Lady Elisabeth Kerr is a Highlander by birth and a Lowlander by marriage it is her story that that of her mother-in-law Lady Marjory Kerr that the pages are brought to life. Following along as they watch from the recessed side lines of battle between King George of England and Scotland's own Bonny Prince Charlie causes quite a stir of emotions. Learning with them through their own trials as some old ways are forgotten and God makes a difference in their lives is refreshing and eye opening showing his presence in the best of moments and well as the worst.
Knowing that this story was loosely of Ruth and knowing most of the Biblical story by heart, I ended at a point surprised having expected a different part. This just went to show me that I did not know all of the story, just the last part and causes me to have a newly increased thirst to go back and read the scriptures in full to delve into the first eighteen verses which it seems I hardly know at all. With all that said, I am entirely too eager to anticipate the next installment and sequel in Mine is the Night to come in 2011.
There is a lot to love about this book. All of the main characters, save one grew or matured during the book. The changes were small at first and enormous at the end. This book teaches of love and forgiveness. There are sparks of humor that make you laugh out aloud and it is good to know ahead of time that it has some very sad and parts that make you very angry!
I enjoyed of course the putting of the story of Naomi and Ruth into eighteen century with the Bonnie Prince Charley attempting to take the crown. It tells the story of the Jacobite Rebellion, mostly from the titled side and shows the conflict of class distinctions. The book is richly with of Scottish terms and culture and that made it even more of a joy to read. Liz Curtis Higgs wisely had Elizabeth, the main character be the daughter of a weaver from the Highlands. So she was skilled in cooking, and most of all sewing. The dresses of the titled are wonderfully described and the descriptions fit with the story.
There is a useful glossary in the back of the book along with a Readers Guide and some fascinating Author Notes. All I had remembered before this book was a few sentences in a high school history book. Now I am eager to read more of this time period and setting. If you read this book, you will be excited to know that a new book ‘Mine is the Night’ will continue the story. I can hardly wait to find out what happens to Eliazabeth and Marjory.
A Scottish tale of
**Look for the conclusion "MINE IS THE NIGHT" coming in March 2011**
I have never read a book set in this setting and I fell in love with the characters Scottish accents if you "ken" what I mean.
Now that I am deep within the second book in this series, which picks up right where the first leaves off I cannot imagine never reading this book.
I think that a truly great story is so well-written that the plot flows along, is not constantly suspenseful, nor is it predictable. Liz Curtis Higgs does this beautifully and I will be looking for more of her books to read.
Did I like this book? Yes and no. It honestly wasn’t my favorite. I did enjoy the Scottish setting, as I love books set in Scotland, and the time in history it was set in was interesting. The story line it’s self was interesting and the overall story was well written. But I did find it a bit dry and it certainly is a long-ish book. All of the characters were flawed and that felt more true-to-life than some other Christian fiction where the main character is often too good to be true. Lady Marjory is manipulative and spoils her sons. Donald is a serial adulterer and I absolutely did not like him. Elisabeth is a closeted pagan and long forgiving wife. Janet is self-involved and selfish. Andrew is spoiled. The most likeable is Elisabeth and she does prove to be the “glue” that holds things together as their lives spin out of control, but in regards to Donald, she is a doormat that he walks all over.
I love historical fiction, but honestly I did not enjoy reading this book. From the number of positive reviews, a lot of folks did, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I think Liz Curtis Higgs is a fine writer and I may try reading another of her books in the future, but I just had an awful time getting into this one.
NOTICE:
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher, WaterBrook Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”