Dawn's Prelude

Dawn's Prelude by Tracie Peterson Lydia Gray's relief at her husbands passing is immeasurable. Her next obstacle is to live through the will and gain freedom from her stepchildren's manipulation and greed. Once she thinks of a plan she throws her heart into it and escapes, or does she? This superbly written book is fascinating and descriptive. I found myself emotionally tied to Lydia and her frantic escape towards freedom. How will she overcome the abuse she endured at her husband's hand? Will she learn to trust again? How will her discovery affect her future? I was dismayed at the ability for the rich and spoiled to plot and plan and connive. It's amazing to me that there is such an element out there in our world. The authoress did a fantastic job brining in just the right balance of good and evil. I couldn't put this book down until it was finished. Tracie Peterson creates such realistic people and events it's a wonder when you look up from the book and realize you aren't in the Alaska Territory. This book gets right to the heart of the readers and doesn't let go until the very last page. Publisher - Bethany House 2009 335 pages

For Tracie Peterson fans, Dawn's Prelude, did not disappoint. I began the book and was instantly drawn into the story and Lydia Gray's life. Having been part of a barter agreement and married off to her father's unscrupulous business partner at 16, Lydia endured physcial and verbal abuse at the hands of her husband and his children. The result of her years of pain and heartache was a denial of God's love and existence. Although, Dawn's Prelude is obviously a work of fiction, one can easily relate and ask the same questions when God seems to allow suffering and misery in the lives of seemly innocent people. Lydia's character even verbalizes her disbelief saying, "If I could better understand why I had to go through the pain and ugliness of my past, then I would be more inclined to trust God. If He would give me that much." Both her husband and father die in an accident and Lydia is left as sole beneficiary of a large fortune. In hopes of escaping her painful past, she runs to her only living relative, her aunt in Alaska. While in Alaska, it is this aunt that loving rebukes her questioning of God with, " answers aren't what will make you fell better. Only God can do that. Only making it right with Him will fill that longing." As Lydia comes to terms with her past hurts and overcomes her trust issues, there are more plot twists and turns beginning with Lydia realizing that she is pregnant and what lengths her step children will go to to ensure they keep their wealth and Lydia is left destitute. This was a great read and a wonderful escape into the world of early Alaska!

This story was truly fabulous in every way. I sensed the peril and the helplessness the characters experienced as much as I felt the tenderness and love. This is probably Tracie's best book yet. Her plotting is sheer perfection and the pace was satisfying. There was a suspenseful element to the story that made me not want to sleep until the situation was resolved and the people were safe. There was a secondary character that was compassionate, too. I worried for her and her lifeless marriage and started to sweat when temptation literally nipped at her corsette. I love it when an author makes me care enough to worry about the characters. Of course, the romantic element was amazing and probably the best part of the book. When the sparks flew my heart felt ablaze along with the people in love. Trust is so hard for some people to experience after years of abuse and mistreatment. The hero in this story was the perfect person to reestablish that missing link and give the heroine hope. He was also smart enough to allow the heroine to come to him. Sigh, that was soooo romantic! Ah, this was such a good read! In fact, it's making my favorite books of 2009 list. I would've read it straight through but life got in the way. It was very hard to put down and the story kept calling me to pick it up again and finish. I'm glad I did.

First let me mention about how much I love the cover of this book, the coloring especially is just to die for it is so pretty. So far almost every historical fiction that I have read from Tracie Peterson I have enjoyed and this one is no different on that enjoyment scale. It may not be as non stop fabulous as the Yukon Quest, but it in a different manner it is better at the same time. Reading the book blurb as an expectant reader you can assume certain things of the plot line and story to occur and wonder how they unfold and what will happen next, but this novel is so much more in depth with twists and turns and much more plot than the blurb even begins to imply. The best of Christ's beginning love is shown through in the characters and they learn and grow. Evil is still present as ever in some characters as is always in the writing of Tracie Peterson in a way that is very real as uncomfortable as that may seen. What is fabulous is the way that even with so many bad things that can possibly occur all the good that God can bring out of it. With emotions running, and pages not turning fast enough if you ever have enjoyed some of the work of this author before you will be glad to read this new novel that does not disappoint. If you have yet to read Tracie's books, this is a great place to start. I highly recommend her. This book is a great start to a new series and I cannot wait for the next one.

Tracie Peterson is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. She continues to produce such incredible books, it's hard not to enjoy her. And this first book in her newest series, "Song of Alaska" is no different. The vivid detail of the late 1800s, the depth of the characters' lives and stories, the engaging story holding you hostage even long after you've finished the book. I can't wait til the book in the series comes out! One of the things I have come to appreciate in Tracie's writing is her ability to address questions of faith without coming across in a "preachy" manner, and this book is no exception to that. Throughout the book, several of the character voice their questions about trusting God to one another in a similar way that you or I might address such questions. Time and time again, the answers are the simple truths of Scripture. This story starts with trouble - a forced, abusive marriage ending abruptly due to death - and trials continue throughout. Lydia Gray has finally escaped her abusive marriage of the past 12 years and has run off to live with her aunt in the newly acquired property of the USA, known as Alaska. In Alaska, she finds the unthinkable - God's love & the true love of a man. However, her past manages to find her, and things quickly escalate from bad to worse. Will God prove Himself faithful to her yet again? Will He answer her prayers the way she wants to see them answered? This is an edge-of-your seat "easy" read that all historical/inspirational fiction readers will enjoy! Pick it up at your local bookstore or library today!!