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 … 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.
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The Candle Palace by Devney Perry will warm your heart and soul!
In this wonderful novella, Devney gives us the long awaited love story of Milo & Sara. The story begins in present day Jamison Valley, 12 years after Milo’s tragic accident that landed him in the burn unit of a hospital in Spokane… A hospital where he meets Sara. The connection between these two was so beautiful to be apart of. Sara gave Milo the strength and courage to pull through during his darkest moments. Love blossomed in room 503… lite by the light of a tea light.
The Candle Palace, nicknamed by another burn patient named Luna who will surely captivate your heart; this novel was a bit angsty but had a whole lot of spirit. It truly is the perfect ending to such a sublime series–a series full of stories I will always come back to. Thank you so much, Devney!
With a distinctive way of storytelling and a rather unique set-up that returns readers to an unforgettable series full of beloved characters, Devney Perry begins in present day Jamison Valley before taking us back twelve years prior.
Sara is a nurse in the burn unit at the hospital in Spokane. But she isn’t just any nurse. She is caring and brings sunshine and smiles to those in despair and pain… And Milo, sweet, kind-eyed Milo is in pain, so much so that he’s closed off at first, drowning in regrets as he blames himself for not being attentive enough to have prevented the accident that occurs in The Coppersmith Farmhouse, book one of the Jamison Valley series. However, Sara is a calming balm for Milo as she soothes his pain.
As a fan of novellas, there is nothing more I love then a fast-paced read that I can finish in a couple of hours. However, with this book it was just not the case as I found myself wanting to spend more than just a few hours. As always when spending time in Jamison Valley, I wanted to stretch this book thin and savor every word.
The significance of a candle, the meaning behind the titled book, Luna’s bright presence throughout, and a love that shines even during the darkest times like an ever-glowing tea light. The Candle Palace, though a short story is not only one that is full of depth but it is one that is full of heart!
If you’re looking for an angsty, emotional, small-town romance, with a forbidden love… you’ve hit the jackpot! The Candle Palace is pure perfection!
Small town romance with all the angst. Sign. Me. Up.
Devney Perry’s forbidden romance is now live!
A beautiful story about healing in all its many forms.
„I’d endure a lifetime of pain if that meant lying here with her hand under mine.”
Oh, how this novella melted my heart! Devney Perry has a beautiful way with her words. She leads her readers through pain and sadness towards the light, showing that you can find a happiness even in hopeless situations. The story in The Candle Palace is so raw and real, it gives hope and warms our hearts. This is the epitome of true romance- every single page of this book is filled with feelings. So is my heart after this read.
The relationship between Milo and Sara started with a forbidden note, given that she was a nurse and he was a patient on the burnt unit. Being a cop, Milo got caught up in the situation that left him severy burned and in his darkest moments, lovely Sara became his light. They had some obstacles to overcome, but their time spent in hospital room left no doubts- they wanted to be together. They just needed to make that happen.
I admire sweet, caring, shy and kind-hearted Sara. She’s a good soul with so much love to give! And Milo… He’s bit socially awkward, but polite and kind. Maybe he’s not a straight up alpha, but he sure can be super protective when needed. I adore both characters so much and their love was beautifully developed. The Candle Palace has a slight amount of angst, but not too much. And I think that’s a good thing, considering that Milo’s injuries brought enough pain.
This story is simply beautiful. Devney Perry sure knows how to enthrall her readers with her masterful storytelling. The Candle Palace was a heartwarming read and I recommend it with all my heart!
Devney Perry never ceases to amaze me with her romance novels and that didn’t change when it came to The Candle Palace. While this is a shorter novel when compared to the other books in the series, it still moved me. How Devney can sweep me off my feet with each novel is beyond amazing and I hope all readers have a chance to read her novels. The are above par, raw, emotional (in a good way, not an ugly cry way) and so realistic that you will feel as if you are a part of them too.
In the Candle Palace, readers will meet Milo and Sara. Milo is suffering- physically and mentally. He almost died in an explosion that marred his skin and is living with the remembrance of it. Sara though is his nurse. Physically, she can help tend to his wounds. But can she also cure his heart? When it comes to a Devney Perry novel, you can always count on this happening. Even if the journey is one that takes you through the ringer.
The Candle Palace is a wonderful addition to the Jamison Valley series and is a must read for all fans. I actually recommend all her books as well. They are truly gorgeous and the reading experience is excellent! Please note, each book in this series CAN stand alone.
Devney Perry
Calling all forbidden romance lovers!!!! Devney Perry’s latest amazing angsty small-town love story is LIVE!!
Nothing like a small town romance from Devney Perry. This series finale is not to be missed!
“‘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.’”
And let me just speak for many of us when I say, damn it feels good to have an author like Devney Freaking Perry shine in our lives.
The Candle Palace was a novella like no other. It wasn’t just simplistic and quick like a novella normally would be. The Candle Palace is that of a burning flame; whether short lived or burned eternally, this book’s scent and aura, it’s love and heat, and everything these characters projected will always linger. It’s like walking into a room hours later after a candle is blown out and savoring that little bit of decadent scent that’s left behind and having the want and need to re-light that candle because you can’t get enough.
That’s Sara and Milo in a nutshell. And that’s Devney Perry and her impeccable story telling. She always has her characters so well written and leaves you wanting more. Sara and Milo were quick to bite with their unwavering pull to one another knowing the forbidden ness of the nature of their attraction. But it was the sweet pain that lasted afterwards with a pulse behind it so strong, their hearts gave into each other and refused to let go.
The Candle Palace is the best candle blown out and relit time and time again.
Like everyone else, I’ve been dying for Milo’s story since I finished The Coppersmith Farmhouse. Although this series wrapped up with The Bitter Root Inn, it series just didn’t feel complete to me without this story. Devney Perry gave readers what they’ve been waiting for in this novella.
The Candle Palace is the story of how Milo and Sara met. It was sweet and poignant, and theirs was a hard won love. Full of feels, this story read like a much longer one, and Perry didn’t skimp on details or emotions. Milo and Sara had chemistry right away, something that was quite disconcerting to Sara as his nurse. I love how Perry built this bit of conflict in to their story.
Just as richly told as the full-length novels in this series, The Candle Palace is well developed and well executed. A moving and romantic story, Milo and Sara’s story was sweet and beautiful, and I just couldn’t put it down. Five smooches from me for The Candle Palace from Devney Perry!
~Danielle Palumbo, Red Cheeks Reads
4.5 Stars
The Candle Palace is the sixth title in the Jamison Valley series. This series is where I fell in love with Devney Perry’s writing.
The Candle Palace takes readers back to the very beginning of the Jamison Valley series, as the story runs concurrent to The Coppersmith Farmhouse.
Milo and Sara’s story is emotional, angsty and has a touch of drama to keep you completely engaged. Neither have had an easy time of it, and deserve the love and happiness they find in each other’s arms.
Sara is sweet, kind, caring and compassionate. She has a huge loving heart, and is perfect for her role as a nurse in a burns unit. Sara and Milo’s paths cross when he is injured in and explosion. Any relationship between the pair is completely forbidden, but their connection, chemistry and attraction is undeniable.
I loved returning to the characters of Jamison Valley and I cannot wait for the release of Gypsy King!
Overall Rating: +
When I heard that Devney Perry was writing Milo’s story from the Jamison Valley series, I was ecstatic. See, I struggled with the ending of the Jamison Valley books series. I fell hard for those books. I started The Coppersmith Farmhouse one day and proceeded to binge-read the rest of the series over the course of four days. Yes, binge-read. Perry has this way of writing stories with pieces of heart entwined with her characters. There is a gentleness in her characters, even when they carry big personalities. I’ve read it in all of her books. It’s the gentle finesse of character and story creation that keeps me reading her books.
When I finished the final book (and at the time, the last book) of the series, The Bitter Root Inn, I ended it painfully. I mourned the end of this series because I had fallen in love with the characters of this fictional community. In fact, I’ve already commented to her that I’d like the 2.0 version with the children from the original four books.
Instead, Perry felt called to Milo and Sarah’s story. We find Milo initially in The Coppersmith Farmhouse, and we know that he’s involved in a horrifying accident with Jess, the lead hero of that book. We know he’s burned horribly and is air-vacced to Portland. In a later book, we know he has fallen in love with his nurse, Sara, and they are married, but, until her newest book, The Candle Palace, we don’t know their story. And, now, thanks to the creative imagination of Perry, we do.
I really don’t need a synopsis for this review as, if you’ve read the other books, you get the gist of this story, and quite frankly, I really don’t want to lay it out because The Candle Palace has taken a little bit of my heart. It’s in my soul, as Perry’s other books are. What I’d like to focus on are the emotions I felt as I read this book. I’d like to offer how these emotions make this story an undeniable read, even if you have never read Perry’s other books. Seriously, you could read this extended novella and learn about the writer who is Devney Perry because the stories she writes evoke distinct emotions. So here goes:
Nostalgia. I wrote this first because I felt this heavy feeling of nostalgia as I finished The Bitter Root Inn. It was a strange feeling because I was just finishing the book, and it didn’t seem that I should miss something of it yet. But I did. It weighed in my soul as I said good-bye to characters I had fallen in love with. I’ve not felt this with too many other books (and I’ve read quite a few – just check out my GoodReads profile). Yet, I felt it distinctly at the end of the series. And then again at the end of The Candle Palace. Perry brilliantly recreated this feeling in some final thoughts and words of Sara’s. I didn’t think I’d feel it as I did in her previous book, but it was central to my understanding of this book. In hindsight, I suppose this is a bit of a love letter to her fans through this book or even a goodbye to those characters. I’m not sure. And, in my opinion, it’s what makes it special to me. It’s why it receives the rating I’ve given it, and it’s also why I think everyone should read it, even if you haven’t read any of the other books.
Love. It seems obvious that love would be one of the emotions I felt about this book as it’s a romance. However, the love I’m referring to is an appreciation for the characters of this story. I fully love Milo and Sara. These are regular people. There are no billionaires waiting to sweep the heroine away; there are no mafia kings/queens; there is no royalty. Milo and Sara are just plain blue-collar people who find their soulmate in each other. And I think it’s important to understand the significance of that because it’s a trademark, I think, of Perry’s writing. She writes regular folk who live out their somewhat regular stories on the page and fall in love with the person he/she is destined for. And Milo and Sara are no different. To Sara, Milo is extraordinary (and he thinks the same of Sara). However, as it seems, to most of the other characters, they are unremarkable. They are simply fated for each other, so they see the beauty in each other. That’s the charm of this story. It’s why love is front and center in talking about these characters. It’s real, and it connects the reader into Perry’s story. Easily.
Angst. While Milo and Sara are easy characters, there are characters in this story who provide the angst, a trademark of a Perry story. This isn’t rom-com, and it isn’t heavy angst. But there is something about this story that pulls at your soul. Sara’s mother can’t love Sara in the way that she needs to be loved, and this creates complications. Once again, it also connects readers to this reality. Many of us have felt this in our lives. Yet, Perry gives Sara someone who loves her enough that the angst is only temporary. There is also a situation of sexual harassment in this romance. I don’t want to reveal anything more about it, but it too adds layers to a seemingly simple book. Above all that is the connotation of the name the Candle Palace. I will absolutely not reveal its significance here. Just understand that it’s another layer to Sara and Milo’s book.
If this review reads like a profession of love to Devney Perry’s intelligence as a writer, well, then so be it. I was ecstatic to read this book because I knew she would offer us the meaning of love through Milo and Sara’s story. Unremarkable, everyday people, soul-deep love, and loving beyond the outside describe the power behind Devney Perry’s The Candle Palace. If you love Devney Perry, you will be forever grateful for this story. If you haven’t read her books, then you’re missing out on immaculate story-telling.
Have you ever read an author that seems to have personal insight into your emotions? That knows what will trigger your laughter, your tears, your heart? I have and her name happens to be Devney Perry.
I realized this young woman was something special, when I read the first paragraph of the first book of the Jamison Valley Series, The Coppersmith Farmhouse. She immediately became my favorite author of 2018 and she has held that title in 2019.
It’s not only that Devney writes great books. It’s not only that each story touches you. It’s not only that her characters are everyday people with everyday issues. It’s that Devney’s books tend to reside inside you. They take up space in your life. They insert themselves in your spirit.
When I found out this book was going to be a novella, I was a little disappointed because Devney’s words could go on for a lifetime and I would read them forever. But her idea of a novella is fulfilling. The richness of this story fulfilled everything I wanted, returning to Jamison Valley.
I have been waiting for Milo’s story. He’s such a man. Simple, hardworking and a heart as big as the state of Montana. But life sometimes deals rough hands and the decision is do we call the bluff or wallow in self-pity. Milo called its bluff. He did not allow the hardships of life to define him. He defined himself though his determination, steadfastness, and the friendship of a good woman.
Sara, such a sweetheart. Kind, loveable and simply sweet. She gives her all and cares with every drop of compassion one can muster. She takes the bad, looks for the good and does everything within her power to bring that to the forefront of people. But as they say, “do not push a cat in a corner, it will fight its way out.” And when Sara must, she fights.
Milo and Sara reach each other in their own space and time. They search each other out and carry each other when one is not as strong. The strength is not based on physicality but internally. Because none of us are 100% all the time, but Milo and Sara balance each other out. The connection, the friendship, the caring, the slow brewing adoration they have for each other is what makes them work.
This is what Devney does. She allows her characters to find their own way, and then she follows the path they set for themselves. Not where she wants them to go, but where they take her. And the thing about that is as the reader she takes us along for the ride. And what a ride. Not a roller-coaster, but a carousel. A slow-moving ride where we can see all the beauty surrounding us. And on the ride, I grab every star I see and give them to this book. Because 5 stars is never enough.
Ladies we get to visit Jamison Valley one last time to visit Milo and Sara’s story and I promise it’s worth the wait. Devney has this ability to take any story that may seem to have a standard story line but she will make it truly exceptional and unlike anything you’ve read before, it’s been true for each and every story of hers I’ve ever read and I can’t wait for all of you to read The Candle Palace.
“My story was the tamest one, to say the least. There’d been no murder or arson or kidnapping or mafia involvement. But we had one thing in common. Love.”
While we’ve known Milo and Sarah throughout the other stories in Jamison Valley their love story took place years before in Spokane. Milo having suffered multiple burns is placed in the hospital where Sarah works, sparks as I’m sure you knew fly immediately, their love story may not have been easy, they had many obstacles in their way from crazy bosses, family drama and hospital restrictions but they knew what they had was a once in a lifetime feeling.
“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”
While Sara was healing Milo’s wounds, Milo was busy healing Sara from the inside out. Sara is kind, sweet, understanding and above all else she loves to help people. Milo is having a hard time to see through his constant pain, he longs to be the man he once was without needing to rely on anyone else for help to do the simple things in life.
“I don’t see scars when I look at you. I see a man who makes me feel wanted and sexy. You don’t have to hide these scars from me. They don’t scare me”
While I am so sad to see the Jamison Valley Series ending I don’t think Devney could have ended it better than Milo and Sara. I truly can’t wait to see more and The Gypsy King is set to release the end of October and I truly can’t wait! You may even get a little sneak peek at the end of The Candle Palace.
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If you have read Devney Perry’s Jamison Valley Series, and you really SHOULD have, your heart has been wanting Sara and Milo’s story. Not only did Devney give her readers their story, but she did it in a way few authors do. This “novella” is the length of many full length novels and it isn’t just fluff. The reader is treated with a true love story that surprisingly takes place in a hospital. Milo is facing a difficult recovery and Sara is just the salve he needs. The absolute beautiful part of this story is Devney truly shows how people fall in love at the most basic level and how not only the nurse can help heal the broken, but how the broken can help heal the nurse. You will fall in love with Sara and Milo and get a quick glance at some old friends too.
The Candle Palace is the sixth book and the conclusion to Devney Perry’s Jamison Valley series. It was supposed to end with book five, but I’m so glad Ms. Perry gave us Milo and Sara’s story because it was so perfect for them. It’s a small town, forbidden romance. If you’ve read the previous books, we know that Sara and Milo return to Montana a couple, so I wasn’t sure how their backstory would unfold, but it read like a Hallmark movie. Milo was lovable from book one, so there was no doubt whoever he finally gave his heart to would have to be a very caring and loving individual but not a pushover. And Sara is just that. They blend so well as a couple, each complimenting the other in all the right ways. While we knew from previous books that they got their HEA, their story was just so sweet, and it was an amazing way to round out the series with their love story.
You can read the book as a standalone title, but this series was so good, I highly recommend reading each book in order. But I’m a series junkie, so unless I hate a book or two out of a series, that’s always my go-to recommendation, so take it with a grain of salt. Regardless, the Jamison Valley series is one that I will return to over and over again.
NICUnurse’s Rating: I give The Candle Palace by Devney Perry 5 out of 5 stars!
The Candle Palace had a little bit of everything that I love, sweetness and longing, conflict and drama, a little heat, and a lot of love. It was a delightful read!
I’ve been craving Milo’s story for awhile now. Ms. Perry used such a unique way to tell the story of how Sara and Milo met and fell in love. Since it’s the final book in the series I was thrilled that all the female leads of the past books were involved. Sad to see this series come to an end but looking forward to see what’s next from Ms. Perry.