Faith in the Fire

The Pursuit of Elena Bradford

Written by Ann H. Gabhart

Published by Revell

Publication Date: 05.06.25

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Historical, Romance

4.5 Stars!

Behind all the pursuit, pressure, and polite Southern charm, this story is really about one thing: a woman learning to trust God with everything when everything’s falling apart.

Set at a resort known for its “healing waters,” the story quietly invites readers to see where true healing actually comes from.

Elena isn’t out here chasing fairytales. She’s trying to keep her family afloat without losing herself in the process. But what I appreciated most? Her strength didn’t come from sass or self-sufficiency—it came from surrender. Little by little, prayer by prayer.

“She couldn’t solve her problems tonight. Tomorrow would bring whatever it brought, and she would face it with the Lord’s help. With His love.”

That right there—that’s where the whole story turns for me. Because haven’t we all had those “Lord, I can’t fix this” nights?

I loved that this was about a woman waking up to the truth that God’s love is steady, even when everything else is shaky. That love looks different than we think. Sometimes it's not romantic. Sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes it asks us to give up the very thing we thought would save us.

And yeah… some of those moments between Elena and her mother? Whew. Like sandpaper on the heart. But it’s the rough edges that show how far God’s willing to go to shape us. And how often He uses people we don’t understand to get us there.

“She did believe the Lord loved her… Did she have any of that kind of sacrificial love for her family?”

That question doesn’t just belong to Elena. That one’s got teeth. It’ll sit with you.

This story reminded us that God doesn’t just show up in church pews and quiet times—He shows up in broken families, confusing emotions, and those decisions you make with tears in your eyes and prayers on your lips.

If you’re looking for a faith-first historical read that balances heartache, humor, and hope—this is it. And if you're like me, you’ll want to linger a bit longer after the last page, just to soak in what the Lord might still be whispering.

I received a digital ARC of this book from the author. I am not required to write a positive review in any way or for any reason. My honest and unbiased opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing style, the pacing, and the story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.