Summary:
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.
My Review:
On the surface, this appears to be a book about a woman, Lady Marjory Kerr and her two sons and their wives, Janet and Elisabeth. The setting is 18th century Scotland during the uprising of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his subsequent defeat at the hands of King George II.
This is unlike any Christian historical novel I’ve read – which was refreshing. The characters are full of flaws and, as a result, very real. There was no large amount of preaching and no “perfect” behavior, although Elisabeth bordered on it at times.
It wasn’t until I finished the book and finally checked things out a bit more that I realized that nagging thought that had accompanied this book while I read it was recognition of the story. This was, ultimately, a re-telling of the story of Ruth and Naomi.
Beautifully written, filled with sadness but still hope, I’d recommend this novel to anyone seeking out a historical novel dealing with Scotland. A fascinating look at the time period, the class distinctions and what it must have been like to be a Jacobite – along with a message of faith and hope.
About the Author:
LIZ CURTIS HIGGS is the author of twenty-seven books with three million copies in print, including: her best-selling historical novels,Thorn in My Heart, Fair Is the Rose, Christy Award-winner Whence Came a Prince, and Grace in Thine Eyes, a Christy Award finalist; My Heart’s in the Lowlands: Ten Days in Bonny Scotland, an armchair travel guide to Galloway; and her contemporary novels, Mixed Signals, a Rita Award finalist, and Bookends, a Christy Award finalist. Visit the author’s extensive website at www.lizcurtishiggs.com.
Purchase Here Burns my Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs at the WaterBrook Multmomah site.
This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.
This review is my honest opinion of this book and was not influenced by Waterbrook Mulnomah or the Author.
Lydia, I very much appreciated your insightful review of HERE BURNS MY CANDLE. I’m all about flawed characters and heart-wrenching drama (smile), so I’m glad to know that’s how this story struck you as a reader. Marjory and Elisabeth will conclude their journey–both literally and figuratively–in MINE IS THE NIGHT next Spring. While I’m writing, I’ll keep in mind your comment about Elisabeth bordering on “perfect.” We certainly can’t have THAT! ;>) Blessings on you, this lovely season and always.
@Liz Thank you for stopping by! It was a pleasure to read your book – my first of books written by you. I’ll definitely have to check out Mine is the Night, would like to see a happier ending (hopefully!) for them.
@Christina It’s a beautiful re-telling. I was taken by surprise by it because I didn’t realize it until after the fact (I usually don’t like to read summaries or reviews until after I’ve read the novel).
Great review! I’m glad you enjoyed it. I am interested in Scottish history during this time period and I think it is neat that it is a retelling of Naomi and Ruth. I can’t wait to read it!