Into the Whirlwind: ( A Historical Romance set amid the Chicago Great Fire of 1871)

4.5 stars

Into the Whirlwind is the first of Elizabeth Camden's books I've read and I really enjoyed it! The author did a great job of portraying the Great Chicago Fire - the characters' emotions were so real and I felt like I was there!

The one downside for me were the characters. I liked them all fine, but Mollie definitely wasn't a favorite and I have mixed feeling about Zack. At first, I liked him, then I got a little frustrated by his actions...in the end, though, I really liked him and loved the things he did for Mollie. So sweet!

The history in this book was fantastic and I also loved the clock aspect in Into The Whirlwind. It was fascinating to get a glimpse into that world.

Overall, Into the Whirlwind was a very good historical read. I definitely plan on reading more of Camden's novels! I recommend it if you enjoy these types of books.

*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book from NetGalley for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

This is one of those books, I can't quite put my finger on.....

I absolutely loved learning more about the Great Chicago Fire and the incredible amount of damage it did. It is hard to visualize something in its true depth if you don't live through it. I think the author did an incredible job of making me understand not only the devastation it left to the physical landscape, but also the energy it took individuals to rebuild their lives.

I also adored seeing the Polish community represented in this novel. Being half Polish myself, it was interesting to see the people interact, sing songs, eat together, and stand with each other through this trying time.

My puzzlement with this story is with the plot line itself. The author kind of breaks the rules of the "typical" format for this genre. The male lead immediately declares his love for the heroine in the beginning of the story and the climax of the story also takes place in the first third of the book. The second two-thirds of the book was basically the heroine "figuring things out" in her head and in her heart. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed their journey but it seemed to be a bit long in the joining of them together.

I have read all of Elizabeth's books and although I did enjoy this one, it is not my favorite of hers. I still look forward to all of her future novels and will be first in line to scoop them up.

Bethany House sent me the above book for review purposes. It will allow me to keep the book. I have no other connection to and have received no other compensation from Bethany House.

I am a fan of Elizabeth Camden. I have read all her books at least twice and was really looking forward to this one with much anticipation. Unfortunately, the book did not live up to my expectations. The main male character Zack was well developed, but Molly, his love interest wasn't as well developed. The love story was realistic but was too protracted, she falls for him after he declares his affections (that he had kept silent for 3 YEARS) and then after 1 month or so she falls for another man Richard, and the rest of the book chronicles how he waits for her to come to her senses, this takes another 6 to 7 months. From a religious theme perspective the book was also lacking as well, I didn't expect bible verses to be in every chapter but the impact of God on the actions of the main characters wasn't sufficiently explored. I have to admit that the backdrop of the Chicago fire of 1871 and insight into the inner workings of the watch making business made the book unique but the actions of the lead female character in this story and the repetitive complications to the love story dragged the book down from 5 stars to 3. I would actually give this book a 2.5 stars but as previously stated, I love Elizabeth Camden and the dialogue was beautiful and so regardless of the lackluster love story and annoying heroine, I give it 3 stars. So read it but don't expect it to be as great as Against the Tide.

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

I recently received a copy of this book to review for Bethany House, the publisher.

The book centers around Mollie Knox, the owner of a luxury watch company in Chicago in the 1870s. Her company provides watches to an upscale department store and, out of the blue, the enigmatic lawyer of that company comes to Mollie with an offer to buy her operation. But, before she can make a decision, the Great Chicago Fire happens, thrusting her relationship with Zack (the lawyer) into a whole new light as he helps her rescue her watching-making equipment and essentially saves her life.

One of the reasons Mollie is hesitant to sell is that she employs numerous Civil War veterans at her watch company. Her father had been a soldier and brought members of his squadron who might not have been employable anywhere else on at his company. Mollie is worried about what might happen to them if someone else were to be in charge of the company.

As Mollie seems to be falling for Zack, the child of Polish immigrants who has made good for himself, of course another hero has to swoop in, this time the commander of her father's Civil War battalion. He is wealthy, powerful, and straightforward, and Mollie's head tells her he is the right choice for her. But the requisite struggle with her heart ensues.

That's the gist of the book and, honestly, it was rather mediocre. It's on the long side-377 pages-and while I found the story intriguing it did not suck me in. I kept having to remind myself that I should go read it, which, for me, is a sure sign that I'm not engrossed in a book.

I will say the parts about the Chicago fire were fascinating and well-researched. (The author is a research librarian, so that makes sense.) I love historical fiction, and this was an event I knew next-to-nothing about, so it was interesting to read an on-the-ground account of that night and the following days, even if it was fictional.

I was surprised that Mollie's role as a businesswoman was so widely accepted during the time in which the book was set. I would have thought a woman being in charge of a business would have been frowned upon, or at least rather uncommon, and thus making it a topic of conversation, but that did not seem to be the case. I guess in order for the conceit of the book to work we couldn't question that, but it stuck out to me.

The characters were likable enough, and the relationships between them were well-constructed.

Bethany House is a Christian publishing house, so I always expect that faith will play a role in the books it publishes, and I was surprised by the subtlety with which the author brought up faith in Into the Whirlwind. Mollie prays a few times during the fire, and afterwards she occasionally makes mention of relying on strength from God or hoping that someone will go to church. At first I felt like this element was so subtle as to be unnecessary and wasn't sure it added anything to the book, but the more I read the more I felt like it was actually extremely realistic. In real life, very few people go around spouting about their faith all the time. If they are believers, it's just a part of their psyche, something they bring up in conversation and that informs the decisions they make. So in that way, I thought the appearance of faith in this book was well-done.

All in all this book was only okay, but if you're interested in historical events like the Chicago fire it might be worth adding to your historical fiction repertoire.

I have read all of Elizabeth Camden's previous books and loved them! So I was anticipating great things when I requested to review this book, however I was slightly disappointed.

The story started off differently than I expected, it begins with the main characters trying to escape the fire. This was a different way to start it and, while I somewhat liked it, I would have preferred to have gotten to know the characters a bit first. It was so intense yet I felt disconnected from it. Thankfully, since the story goes back in time six days, the scene is somewhat repeated later on but by then I had so much time to think about why they were where they were and so it wasn't as intense for me as it may have been. I can't help it when I read something I like to try to figure things out before the book tells me...and I usually do to some degree. Now, don't get me wrong, the author does an AMAZING job of describing the fire - I felt as though I was right there and could smell the smoke and see the flames. The problem was more with my connection with the characters.

I liked Mollie a lot. I thought she was a great character, once I got to know her. The way she is keeping her family business going was wonderful and when the fire destroys her workshop I felt her pain. I also loved how the watch company employed many of veterans from her father's army troop and that her father said that any of the men from his troop would also have a job with his company if they wanted one.

Now for Zack. He is a character I am torn in my feelings. In the beginning of the story I LOVED him! It's sweet how he cares for his family, Mollie and even for people who need help. However, there was a point in the story where a certain thing is revealed, something he denied knowledge of but then we find out he lied, and it completely changed my opinion of him. Later on I could see a few good points to him, but that one issue really tipped the scales and made it really hard for me to care for him.

Overall, it's a good read about what it was like during and after the Chicago Fire, but I would recommend borrowing it first.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***

I always appreciate historical fiction because as a history lover, it's fun to see real events come to life for characters and imagine what it would have been like to be there.

In Into the Whirlwind, Mollie Knox lives through the Great Chicago Fire and she is the perfect heroine to imagine having been there. As a single businesswoman at a time this was unheard of, her strong character and independence are admirable.

She thinks she has problems when attorney Zack Kazmarek makes her a suspiciously generous offer to purchase her business and then the fire strikes compounding her problems. Will she ever know the real reason behind the offer? Can Zack be trusted? Early on I sensed sparks between the two that were more than just the great fire spreading!

The fire chapters were fast pace and suspenseful and had me holding my breath. Things slowed down a bit after that and the pace of the book seemed to drag for the duration. I still enjoyed the story and things again heat up when Zack has some competition for Mollie's attention.

Into the Whirlwind is a great account of one woman's life before and after the Great Chicago Fire and was worth reading, even when it got a bit long winded.

I would give this 3.5 stars if I could.

I loved reading about the Chicago fire and the aftermath of building the city back up. Elizabeth did a great job of showing the horror and desolation of the city and desperation of the people.

I definitely like Mollie Knox, the heroine. She is strong, yet kind and feminine with a soft heart towards others.

The hero, Zack, let's just say I can picture those dark eyes of his with no problem and he is everything a hero should be.

The romance happens a little too quickly for me. It felt forced in the beginning, but then after the initial romance blooms there are problems and that is when it got more interesting for me.

Overall, a good book and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical romance.

A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher through the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance in exchange for an honest review.

This book was very well researched. While I enjoyed the historical side, the characters made the story very hard to read. Mollie was unreasonable and unkind. She had a deed for part of the Hartman store due to a oversight by her father's lawyer. Zack Kazmarak is the lawyer for Hartman's store and in love with Mollie of course. She thinks he is deceitful by not telling her how much the property is worth, and for leaving out the fact that Hartman wants to purchase her watch business because she still holds the deed. She did not have a right to it as Hartman paid for the property years before. It was very upsetting to me to read because she was so snotty and rude. She treated Zack so poorly and only came to him when she needed something. He still loves her so he forgives her for her cutting words and her behavior towards him. It was unbelievable and ruined the story for me. The author did a great job with describing what it would have been like to live through the Great Chicago Fire, but the story-line was really awful.

In high school, I disliked History class but if I had a teacher who could tell a story like Ms. Camden, I'm sure I would have excelled. Into the Whirlwind takes us through the horror of the Great Chicago Fire and the months afterward. From page one the stage is set, the cast is ready and the heat is on.

Mollie Knox is a character who has resilience, determination and a huge capacity to love. These traits are echoed throughout the story and shown in eloquent detail. From her business dealings to her personal tragedy, she is a woman to be admired.

Zack Kazmarek is another fantastic male character. Really, I don't know how the author does it. From the first scene to the last, he captured my heart. The strange thing is, I can't "see" him. Even after the intricate description of his features, his looks elude me. It's his heart I envision. His compassion, his spirit, his all-encompassing love for his family and for Mollie is what speaks to me.

The scene of the fire was vivid and brilliant. I could feel the heat, the embers, the overwhelming fear while Mollie and Zack ran in and out, weaving through the streets while walls of flames blazed in the night. I felt the chill of the water as they took refuge and the sorrow as they watched their beloved city burn. My heart cried for the people who experienced that awful night all those decades ago. They must have felt hopeless and in total despair. But they rose from the destruction and rebuilt, just like Molly did in the book, to be better than before.

I loved this book. It was difficult to put down for long. There are many wonderful characters and moments that take place in this beauty from ashes story, it is impossible for me to cover all of them. Into the Whirlwind is a perfect combination of drama and romance with a delicate spiritual thread. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a Christian influence.

Bethany House provided a copy for review purposes only. I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only my opinion of the book.

I was very intriged by the setting of this book. However, in the face of such a disaster I thought the main character frustrating and stubborn.