If I were a vain woman, I’d blush – if I could!” Sheila exclaimed. “No, Diego, it’s only God’s grace that has sustained us through all the ups and downs of our life together.
“Love’s Refining Fire” by Dorothea Odom is a faith-centered historical romance that unfolds against the volatile backdrop of mid-1980s Bogotá, Colombia. Proudly published by Citi of Books, this is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other major retail platforms.
Dorothea Odom was born in Boston, Massachusetts, but she and her younger brother, George, were raised in East Texas and Houston. She grew up as the daughter of a mathematician and a lady barber, a marriage that eventually ended in divorce. She also honors the presence and influence of her other siblings—Aretha, Gerald, and Valerie—who remain an important part of her life story.
Dorothea is living proof that a poor Black girl coming of age in the segregated South of the late 1960s could achieve her dreams of world travel and higher education. She recognizes that her journey was not achieved alone and openly acknowledges the struggles and sacrifices of those who came before her, whose perseverance helped make her opportunities possible.
Her professional path led her into a federal government career that included both domestic and international assignments. While she never pursued wealth, the experiences she gained serving at U.S. Embassies across Latin America, Europe, and Africa profoundly shaped her worldview and deepened her appreciation for the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Americans at home.
Now retired, Dorothea lives in a small mountain community east of Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she volunteers as a Spanish teacher. She enjoys reading and listening to inspirational Christian music, and she begins each day with prayers of gratitude and gentle physical exercise. Her spiritual life is rooted in Bible study, embracing both the Old and New Testaments, which continue to guide and sustain her daily walk.
Set during a period marked by political unrest, terrorism, and the far-reaching impact of drug trafficking, the novel intertwines a deeply personal love story with the real-world dangers faced by those living and working in the U.S. diplomatic community. This book is an expanded and enriched version of the author’s earlier work, Love Under Fire, offering readers a more detailed exploration of characters, settings, and emotional depth.
The story follows Sheila Dunbar, a U.S. Embassy office manager, and Diego Santos, a Colombian physician, whose lives intersect amid the uncertainty and tension of Bogotá during a dangerous era. Both characters are navigating personal crossroads—Sheila balancing her professional responsibilities and emotional vulnerability, and Diego confronting family expectations, professional pressures, and questions of faith. As they are drawn together, their relationship develops in an environment where fear and unpredictability are part of daily life, forcing them to confront difficult decisions about love, commitment, and trust.
This book is a compelling read because it offers more than a romance—it presents a testimony of faith, perseverance, and hope set within a realistic and historically grounded context. Readers who appreciate stories where love is tested rather than idealized will find this novel especially meaningful.
The emotional sincerity of the characters, combined with the authenticity of the setting and the spiritual foundation of the narrative, creates a story that resonates long after the final page. It is a book that speaks to readers who believe that true love, when anchored in faith, can endure any refining fire.
At its core, “Love’s Refining Fire” is a story of enduring love tested by circumstance, refined through trials, and sustained by faith.
“Love’s Refining Fire” by Dorothea Odom is now available for purchase below: