5 out of 5 stars 

There are few things in life that can be more thrilling than picking up a novel and discovering its setting takes place in none other than beautiful Scotland, and that its hero speaks with a rich brogue! 

Aye, be still my heart, because Liz Curtis Higgs' current release, Mine Is The Night, is such a novel that thrills the soul. 

In this outstanding and satisfying conclusion to Here Burns My Candle--the book of Ruth retold in the back drop of 18th century Scotland--Liz Curtis Higgs weaves Biblical insight and historical accuracy into a compelling story written with skill and mastery. 

Elisabeth Kerr, once a gentlewoman of wealth and title, but now widowed and penniless, has left her homeland to follow her mother-in-law to Selkirkshire. A hard-worker, and skilled with the needle, Elisabeth's labor catches the eye of a wealthy and generous gentleman, Jack Buchanan, who resides within the ancient walls of the town. As Elisabeth continues to work diligently to provide for her mother-in-law, she and this wealthy gentleman form a deep friendship that is quickly growing into mutual affection. Yet, is it possible that her and her mother-in-law's past indiscretions against the Crown might prevent this love from budding? Or is this man sent from the Almighty to make a new way for two women who have lost everything?

From the first page until the last, I couldn't set this book down! While I have long held Liz Curtis Higgs to be one of the most excellent writers in Christian fiction, this book is unparalleled to any of her previous work. Higgs manages to capture the beauty and profound message that runs through the account of Ruth. 

I wondered how Mrs. Higgs would manage to pull off the idea of a kinsman redeemer, since this idea is purely Jewish. I felt that even if she could somehow pull it off, that her version would not hold a candle to the account we read in our Bible. I've never been more proud to stand corrected. 

Just as she did in her last novel, Higgs enhances the meaning of this book and the tiny bits of information that we often over-look in the Biblical account. Through complex characters, rich historical detail, and an engaging plot, she brings the Word of God to a whole new experience in the mind of her readers. 

No, this book is not exact to the one we find in Ruth. Nor should it be. She's not re-writing the Biblical account, but paralleling it. 

Once you've finished reading Mine Is the Night, not only will you be longing for the beauty of Scotland, but you'll most certainly find yourself longing to explore the actual Biblical account to compare it with this marvelous story. And if you're single, you'll be praying for God to bring your own Jack Buchanan into your life--with the accent included!  

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for an honest review.