[Bre’s Review]: The Candle Palace by Devney Perry

Sometimes a single flame can ignite a love that lasts a lifetime.

Milo Phillips knows the meaning of pain. Suffering through the most intense physical agony of his life, he’s confined to a hospital bed to bear it alone. More than once, he wishes he’d died in the explosion that melted and mangled his skin. Darkness consumes him, snuffing all the joy in his life and leaving an empty hole in its place.

But one day, a flicker of light sneaks into his hospital room, driving away some of the hopelessness. For the first time in months, pain isn’t all he feels.

The flicker’s name is Sara Foster, his new nurse. Milo just hopes that Sara can see past his scars. Because underneath, his heart has begun beating again just for her.

I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

“We’d all had wild, whirlwind romances with the men in our lives. My story was the tamest one, to say the least. There’d been no murder or arson or kidnapping or mafia involvement. But we all had one thing in common. Love.”

While this is supposed to be a novella, it’s on the longer side which means we really get a full story to round out the Jamison Valley Series. The Candle Palace isn’t a story about a girl who’s always been sought after and it doesn’t include a God-like hero you can’t take your eyes off of. This story is about regular people, fighting the odds, and finding love. 

“If you had said no, I would have kept asking. For a guy who’s been shot down more than once, I’m pretty gun-shy. But for you, I would have tried a million times. I’ve got a hell of a crush on you, Sara Foster.”

This book takes us back to the first book in this series, The Coppersmith Farmhouse, and gives us the aftermath of an explosion that severely injured Milo Phillips. In the darkest time of his life, he meets Sara Foster, his new nurse. She is sunshine and kindness during the pain and encourages him to hope again. 

“Sara, you are not plain. Or dull.” He framed my cheek with his hand. “Yes, I am.” “No, babe, you’re not.” He bent and brushed his lips against mine. “You shine.”

Sara is such an amazing character. She is kind, selfless, and soft, even when her life has given her an excuse to harden. Working on a burn unit, Sara sees the worst of people yet still believes the best. She is exactly who Milo needs. 

“I don’t see scars when I look at you. I see a man who makes me feel safe. A man who makes me feel wanted and sexy. You don’t have to hide these scars from me. They don’t scare me.”

This is a beautiful story that I could read every day. The Candle Palace reminds me that it pays to be kind, and that the good guy really does get the girl. 

“I’m grateful for the explosion. All the pain. It was worth it. To be here, lying in your bed. It was all worth it.”

Bre

Hey, I’m Bre! I have been pulling all nighters to read since I was in middle school, and nothing has changed since. My love of reading turned into a love for writing and I now have my dream job — being a writer. I also get to wear pajamas to work, which is a pretty nice perk.

I love Starbuck’s tea, organizing, the ocean, and buying too many purses and books. Is there such a thing as too many purses or books? I have two energetic toddlers at home so I mostly read to stay sane.

While I genuinely enjoy a variety of genres, I enjoy getting lost in the paranormal and fantasy world and nothing can melt my heart faster than a small town romance.