Review of "Fire by Night"

by

Lynn Austin

Out of five, I’d have to rate this book a 10! It didn’t take long before I was so involved in the lives of Julia Hoffman and Phoebe Bigelow that I could not put this book down.

These two women couldn’t be more different. Julia is from a well-to-do Philadelphia family and Phoebe, well to use the author’s words, "….was as homely and horsefaced as a hound dog – and she knew it." How could you not love someone like that?

The story begins at Bull Run, Virginia, July 21, 1861. Julia along with her uncle, a Congressman and a family friend, as well as the very handsome, not to mention single Reverend Nathaniel Greene have come to "watch the war."

Julia has been in love with the Reverend since he was first assigned to their church the year before. She makes an impression on the Reverend but it is not the one she’d hoped for. After witnessing the war first hand and the wounded soldiers it left in its path, Julia became physically ill. Stating she didn’t care about helping the wounded men and that she just wanted to get away from there, wasn’t what Nathaniel wanted to hear.

Later, when Julia over hears Nathaniel telling the congressman he thinks she is shallow, spoiled, and unbearably self-absorbed she sets out to not only prove him wrong, but to get him fired!

What follows is an extraordinary story of change, courage and self-realization that will keep you on the edge of your seat and not wanting to close this book.

Meanwhile, Phoebe has been taken to the Haggertys. A family who she is to stay with and tend to their countless children while her three brothers go off to help fight the war. Feeling trapped and unhappier than she ever has, Phoebe flees by night to Western Pennsylvania to enlist!

Also enlisting the same day as Phoebe, who is now Ike Bigelow, is a little short fellow name Ted Wilson. The friendship which develops between Ike and Ted is one you will not soon forget. Theirs, is the true meaning of friendship, but will it survive when Ted finds out Ike is really Phoebe? Maybe Ted has his own secrets.

There are more secrets, twists and turns in this story that will keep you guessing until the very end. You never know what is coming next and you quickly learn, things aren’t always as they appear.

I highly recommend this book. Truly a well written, researched and gripping tale!!

ISBN: 0-7394-3902-2