Dawn of Change

This is the 1st book I have read by Gerri Hill and I sat down down with it and read it straight through. Then I read it again. Now I am rereading the parts that I really like :-) I absolutely love when an author can grab your attention and leave you wanting. The writing and characters are phenomenal!!!! Thank you.

Susan has walked out of her marriage after catching her husband in their bed with a 20-something woman. She escapes to the couple's cabin in the King's Canyon National Park. One day, while walking one of the trails, a dog bounds across the river to shake muddy cold water all over her. The dog's owner, Shawn, apologizes, and that seems to be the end of their encounter. But you have to know that with a Gerri Hill book, that is only the beginning. In this outing, Hill takes a very married, but basically unhappy, woman and shows how she deals with the end of a 20-year marriage, with her family, and with new friends. There are many sub-plots in this book, but the one you love to hate is the sub-plot involving Susan's sister and mother who are insistent that she return to her husband and their life in society. The sub-plot you love to love is Susan's daughter's coming out. This is one of Hill's stronger outings. She doesn't rush Susan's angst over ending her marriage nor does she rush the obvious attraction Susan begins to feel toward Shawn. Once again, Hill develops characters that you'd like to know better.

Gerri Hill has delivered a heart pounding, tension-filled romance that will leave you breathless through the last page. Dawn of Change is a story of discovery- a different kind of coming out story where damaged hearts take a chance again and first loves are realized. Susan, the "perfect" wife and mother, escapes to the mountains after she finds her husband of 20 years in bed with a much younger woman. There she literally runs into Shawn while hiking. Susan invites Shawn to dinner on the spur of the moment because she is lonely. They strike up a friendship that includes regular dinners with conversations, sharing their pasts. Every weekend that Shawn camps in the mountains, she spends time with Susan. By the end of the summer, they have become best friends. But without telling each other, they both begin to have more than friendly feelings towards the other. Shawn does not want to become involved with a straight woman on the rebound. Susan is questioning whether her feelings are real. While I find most lesbian/straight romances in novels suspect, Dawn of Change is believable. Hill develops their friendship throughout most of the book. Through the characters' visits with each other and their family encounters at Susan's cabin, Hill illustrates beautifully their individual emotional struggles with their current situations and their pasts. As Susan and Shawn get to know one another so does the reader. This process occurs over several months, not just a week or two. Hill builds her characters gradually, making their relationship realistic and natural. Susan and Shawn as friends support each other's choices, and that gives each woman more confidence to make independent decisions. Hill creates believable histories that flow well with the storyline. With Dawn of Change the secrets are shed, the souls are bared, and the hearts slowly open. The reader will find it difficult to stop reading until the very last word.

If you liked Gulf Breeze and the "banter" between the characters, you'll love Dawn of Change. Once again, this author puts you in the same room as her characters, making you feel as if you're eavesdropping, wondering if you should make a quick exit before they catch you! The ease at which Hill moves the story from friendship to romance is so subtle, you, like the characters, will be surprised when it smacks you in the face! There is also a delicious character to hate, Aunt Ruth! She'll have you gritting your teeth, (a la Alexis Carrington from the old Dynasty series), and wishing someone would smack her already! The setting for this story is the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, which adds to the simple, relaxed format. It wasn't until I read it for the second time that I realized the entire book takes place on weekends over one summer. Added bonus: Alex the dog is too cute for words!

Gerri Hill certainly doesn't disappoint with this one, her fourth book. Watching the friendship form between Shawn and Susan is very refreshing. It just seems so easy and comfortable. The relationship grows and the passion is wonderful. However, there are plenty of twists and turns along the way to romance. Susan's family is full of surprises, but Shawn has a few surprises of her own. When you finish this book, you will find yourself sighing with contentment. Yes, it's that good. Dawn Of Change is an excellent read. If you have not yet read a a book by Gerri Hill, I'm sorry. You're really missing out. I've always been extremely satisfied with Gerri's books, and I'm really looking forward to Hunter's Way in May.