All praise for Candlelight Bridge
—G.J. Berger, Starred Review from Historical Novel Society
—Luis Alberto Urrea, author of Good Night, Irene and The Hummingbird’s Daughter
—Vanessa Hua, author of Forbidden City
“Candlelight Bridge is a novel of tremendous heart. Cara Lopez Lee delivers a well-researched, moving, grand adventure of hope and sacrifice and of what it means to create and define the true meaning of home.”
—Kali Fajardo-Anstine, bestselling author of Woman of Light and Sabrina & Corina
“Candlelight Bridge poignantly portrays the journeys of Candelaria Rivera and Yankee Wong, fleeing violence and revolutions and heading toward each other in a new world. Impeccably researched, this heartfelt story offers no stereotypes, no cliches—only interconnected stories of life’s struggles and resilience.”
—Eleanor Parker Sapia, multi-award-winning author of A Decent Woman, a Novel and Tight Knots, Loose Threads, Poetry
—Tiffany Quay Tyson, author of The Past is Never
“In Candlelight Bridge, Cara Lopez Lee masterfully weaves together two compelling perspectives to explore geographical and emotional borderlands. Elegantly told, dazzling in its verisimilitude, and fascinating in its cultural complexity, this gorgeous novel shows just how far we are willing to go in our quest for home.”
—Erika Krouse, author of Tell Me Everything: The Story of a Private Investigation
—Lisa Brackmann, NYT best-selling author of Rock Paper Tiger and Black Swan Rising
“If Maxine Hong Kingston and Luis Alberto Urrea were to come together to write a masterpiece, I imagine it would read much like Cara Lopez Lee’s brilliant novel, Candlelight Bridge. Set amid the Mexican Revolution and the ramifications of the Chinese Exclusion Act in the U.S., her characters form an unlikely union in El Paso, Texas. At once heartrending and deeply human, this is a story you won’t forget.”
—Susan Blumberg-Kason, author of Bernardine’s Shanghai Saloon and Good Chinese Wife
“From the very first sentence, readers are pulled into an epic, beautifully written, rich, and vivid story that leaves us breathless, hopeful, and excited for the sequel. This untold immigrant story is nothing short of amazing!”
—J.D. Mason, national bestselling author of The Real Mrs. Price and One Day I Saw A Black King
“This timely gem shines as does Candelaria herself, a born fighter if ever there was one. Set against the turbulent backdrop of the Mexican Revolution, the Riveras—an impoverished family escaping the long reach of war—head for what they hope is a better life in America. The story follows the oldest daughter, Candelaria, in an unexpected and sweeping saga that stretches from Mexico to China and into America. Settling in the wild west town of El Paso on the cusp of Prohibition forces Candelaria and her family to make dangerous and difficult decisions. Candlelight Bridge delivers a profoundly moving story of one strong and determined woman. Highly Recommended!”
—Randi Samuelson-Brown, author of Market Street Madam and On The Fringes