Delia Parr Refining Emma

Refining Emma

Delia Parr

Bethany House, Jun 2007, $12.99

ISBN: 0764200879

In 1842 in Candlewood, New York Emma Garrett is a caring kindhearted soul who is always there to help someone else. When a fire devastates the town, no one is shocked that she offers rooms in her boardinghouse at no charge although there is little space to house anyone else.

However, Emma also has legal problems involving the ownership of the Hill House that she converted into a boarding house. Adding to her woes is that her lawyer Zachary Breckenwith no longer wants to represent her as he feels a conflict of interest because he loves her. He is the only person she has told the truth about her questionable ownership of Hill House.

The second Candlewood historical fiction is a well written nineteenth century Upstate New York tale starring real people who deal with the tragedy and post trauma caused by the inferno that challenges everyone's beliefs in the Creator as the story line is driven by the cast struggling to understand why. Readers will enjoy this strong inspirational saga that stands alone but is embellished by previously perusing HEARTH IN CANDLEWOOD (not as focused as this novel is) in which the key players like Emma were introduced.

Harriet Klausner