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Book Reviews
Before The Dawn by Kathleen Bauer
Book 1: Home To Heather Creek Series
Publisher: Guidepost Books
Publication Date: September 1, 2013
Format: Paperback - 280 pages / Nook - 360 KB
ISBN: 0824934245
Genre: Christian Fiction
BUY THE BOOK: Before The Dawn
BUY THE SERIES: Home To Heather Creek Series
Book 1: Before The Dawn
Book 2: Sweet September
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the books from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Litfuse Publicity.
Book Description:
Before the Dawn begins just one week after the funeral of Charlotte’s daughter, Denise. Denise’s three children barely have time to process the death of their mother before they must move to the Heather Creek Farm they have never visited with grandparents they barely know. At age 16, Sam is fiercely protective of his younger siblings. Emily is 14 and desperately misses her friends. Young Christopher is only 8 and just wants to fit in. While Charlotte tries to help her grandchildren adjust to their new life, she also wrestles with her own grief and the enormous task of bringing her family together. Bob believes the fastest path to adjustment is a firm routine, with structure and chores, the same way they raised their own kids. However, that route led to Denise running away from home as a teenager and an estranged relationship with her family. Charlotte is worried about making the same mistakes she made with Denise. Is this her chance to make things right?
It is spring when the children arrive, and as Charlotte looks around the farm, she hopes the new life around them will signify hope and healing. The miracle of new life, along with God’s healing touch, reminds all of them that it’s always darkest just before the dawn.
My Book Review:
Before The Dawn is the poignant family drama that follows the Stevenson family as they cope with the loss of their mother/daughter, and the struggle to accept the changes in their family and the rebuilding of their lives.
For the children: Sam (16), Emily (14), and Christopher (9), they struggle with grieving the loss of their mother, and the changes to their lives with the sudden move to their grandparent's farm in Nebraska.
For Charlotte and Bob, they are struggling with the loss of their estranged daughter Denise, and the surprise of becoming guardians to three grandchildren that they had never met. Charlotte still struggles with the pain from the estrangement with Denise when she had run away from home as a teenager, and now the grief of her loss has compounded the pain. Charlotte struggles to find the balance between the responsibilities as a farm wife and suddenly becoming a "mom" to her three grandchildren.
This is an inspirational story about a family that learns to slowly rebuild after the tragic loss of a family member. You can't help but get drawn into this family's lives, the trials and tribulations of forming a new family bond tugs at your heartstrings as they lean on faith, hope and love to see them through.
Before The Dawn is the first book in the Home To Heather Creek series.
RATING: 4 STARS ****
Sweet September by Kathleen Bauer
Book 2: Home To Heather Creek Series
Publisher: Guidepost Books
Publication Date: September 1, 2013
Format: Paperback - 246 pages / Kindle - 407 KB / Nook - 380 KB
ISBN: 0824934253
Genre: Christian Fiction
BUY THE BOOK: Sweet September
BUY THE SERIES: Home To Heather Creek Series
Book 1: Before The Dawn
Book 2: Sweet September
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the books from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Litfuse Publicity.
Book Description:
As tenuous family bonds threaten to break apart, a mystery on the farm might be the one thing that can bond the family together. Charlotte sets out to uncover the truth, and as the kids unite to find answers, this cobbled-together family learns more about one another and the love that binds them together.
The lives of the Stevensons and their grandchildren unfold in this captivating story of the remarkable change that comes from the love of family, the kindness of others, sheer persistence and unshakable faith. As readers follow the Stevensons’ inspiring stories, it’s almost impossible not feel a part of this friendly, loving community, where God’s grace can be seen in every circumstance.
My Book Review:
In the second book of the Home To Heather Creek series, Sweet September, the Stevenson family drama continues at their farm in Nebraska during the fall harvest. Sam, Emily, and Christopher have settled into their new lives at the farm, and the building of the family bond with their grandparents Charlotte and Bob are starting to gel as life continues on the farm. But a mystery abounds at the farm when the family discovers that someone or something has been stealing the vegetables from their garden.
Charlotte struggles to maintain the balance of responsibilities with the family, home, and farm, especially since Bob who is in his sixties, is struggling to keep up with the daily responsibilities of running a farm. The emotions run high as she struggles to accept their son Pete's taking over the duties of running the farm. Pete's passion for farming has been a source of tension, as Charlotte was disappointed that he left college to pursue farming. Through the various trials and tribulations, the Stevenson family learn that the bonds of love and family will bring their broken family together again.
Just like in the first book of the series, Before The Dawn, Sweet September is an inspirational story that will tug at your heartstrings. This is a wonderful inter-generational family story that will resonate with you for a long time.
RATING: 4 STARS ****
About The Author
Before the Dawn was written by Carolyne Aarsen. Originally a city girl, Aarsen moved to the countryside near Neerlandia, Alberta, when she married her husband, Richard. While raising four children, foster children and various animals, she learned how to drive tractors, front-end loaders and ATVs. She grew a garden and learned to can and preserve its produce. Somewhere in all this Aarsen learned to write. Since 1997 she has written more than 40 books. Learn more at www.carolyneaarsen.com.
Tricia Goyer is the author of Sweet September. A best-selling author of more than 35 books (both fiction and non-fiction) as well as 500+ magazine articles, she is a two-time Carol Award winner, and a Christy award and ECPA Award Finalist. Tricia is on the blogging team at www.MomLifeToday.com and www.TheBetterMom.com. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, and she currently heads up a Teen Mops Group in Little Rock, Arkansas. Tricia is the creator of www.NotQuiteAmishLiving.com and hosts a weekly radio podcast, Living Inspired. Find out more about Goyer at www.TriciaGoyer.com.
Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway
Win A Kindle Paperwhite
Enter Today - 9/16 - 10/5!
Guideposts Books is thrilled to announce their brand new series, Home to Heather Creek, by Kathleen Bauer. The first two books, Before the Dawn and Sweet September, launch this month and Guideposts Books is celebrating with a Paperwhite Kindle Giveaway!
One winner will receive:
- A Paperwhite Kindle
- Before the Dawn and Sweet September by Kathleen Bauer
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 5th. All winners will be announced October 7th HERE.
Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit the Litfuse blog on the 7th to see if you won! (Or better yet, subscribe to their blog [enter your email in the blog sidebar] and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)
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