July 6, 1944 was a day to remember, but not for a happy reason, but rather for a tragedy. It was on this day that 168 people died and more than 700 were injured in Hartford, Connecticut as a fire spread and brought down a Ringling Brothers, and Barnum & Bailey Circus big top. As horrible asa that was, it could have been so much worse at 6,000 to 8,000 people were in attendance. While Rhonda Dragomir tells the story around her fictionalized characters, her research is evident as she includes the events of that day, and honors some of the victims by including parts of their stories. The emotions in this story swing from deep relief to gut-wrenching grief, from stalwart resolution to mind-numbing weakness. Readers will deeply empathize with Evelyn Benson as she searches for her family, marvel at her brother as he heroically saves lives, and root for Hank Webb as he seeks to help Evelyn while he wrestles with his past. They will be inspired by Bernice Riegel's selflessness as she offers all she has to give.

This novel spurred my interest in the original events of July 6, 1944, and I found myself frequently researching online to learn more. I highly recommend When the Flames Ravaged, and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.