Rita Gerlach

This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes - written in Latin on a coin given to Mercy.

The author has done an incredible amount of research to bring us this story in honor of the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower. The history behind the Separatists leaving England and Holland to search for a land where freedom to worship and live out their faith is not new to us. However, this story brings us along for that trip many years ago.

I could almost hear the ship’s creaking and show more sense the fear as they were tossed about in a storm. You could feel the joy and the sorrow as that tiny ship made its way to an unknown future. It is hard to imagine the hardships endured by all. Yet they never abandoned their reason for leaving the relative safety of Holland to come out and be separate, to start a new country where all beliefs would be recognized and where there would no longer be class differences.

Published by Dusk to Dawn books, these comments and impressions are my own and were in no way solicited. show less

The idea for this story is good but the execution did not work at all. As others have mentioned, the main characters motivations and actions are all over the place. There is no natural progression from one action to the next. A reasonable character becomes a monster overnight, while another character, who begins the story with conviction and a sense of purpose, becomes a sniveling and pathetic shell of what she originally was. The inexplicable and constant groveling made me sick. These are show more not characters I can get behind or care about in any way. Sarah's presence made no sense. She was like a ghost just floating through the story without saying or doing much. Overall, I felt betrayed by this book due to the following: I was invested in characters that just died suddenly without sufficient explanation or care, the main characters were unlikeable, and the ending left so many things unresolved. I know this is a trilogy and I own the second book- after skimming the beginning of the second book, my worst fears were confirmed and I will not continue the series. show less

From Maryland 1865 just after the civil war to Kentucky 1877 to New York 1898 to Ohio and Colorado1892 to Massachusetts 1892 to Ohio 1877 to Ireland 1877. I never used to really care for collections, mainly because they were too short. If I did feel that way, this is sure to change it, as I am quite endeared to it. Some were new authors to me, some I'd read their books before, now I'm a fan of all.

Usually as I go along I think of what I would like to say in my review, noting things that show more stand out. This book though, as I read I thought - I like this one best - then I thought the same about the next story, and the next - so they're all my favorites! I've got to say that The Groom She Thought She'd Left Behind I couldn't put down and I swear that I held my breath till the end. And the next story makes you laugh out loud. Misunderstandings and perfect understandings, rejection and acceptance. A girl can change her mind, can't she? I love that there's a Christian message and lessons too. This is a book that I can highly recommend to just about everyone.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” show less

For once I have read a book that I could not predict how it would end. Usually once a story presents itself you can kinda of figure out the logistics of how it will end but not in Before The Scarlet Dawn by Rita Gerlach.

In this wonderful historical novel set in the 1775 first in Derbyshire, England we find our main character Eliza Bloome who is caring for her ailing father, the vicar of the church there. While he lays dying he receives a letter from a man named Mr. Langbourne, who wishes to show more marry Eliza so that she will not fall into poverty once he passes away. However Eliza wishes to marry for love only not for financial security. So when he father passes away, she is given one week to vacate the church property and find other living arrangements.

While riding through the country side one day, she happens upon a childhood friend, Hayward Morgan, the son of a wealthy family and wonders if perhaps he is interested in marriage. When he tells her he is not but that she might find work among his family's household in Havendale, she decides to try to find work there otherwise she will be homeless.

Upon arriving in Havendale, she overhears Hayward proposes to a well-to-do lady named Lilith Marsden who has her eyes set on Hayward's future inheritance, but when she learns that the marriage will involve leaving England and heading for property he has acquired in Maryland, she refuses. Now Eliza offers Hayward one more opportunity to propose marriage and move with him to Maryland to which he accepts, under the condition that Eliza understands, he does not love her.

Moving to River Run in the Maryland, Eliza and her maid, Fiona will have to endure the life of learning to live in frontier, but as long as Eliza has Hayward, she is convinced God will show Hayward's heart that love is possible. Only now that the Revolutionary War draws near, Hayward's only desire is to fight against the British even if it means leaving his wife to fend for herself. Will Eliza ever truly find love or will God have a different answer in mind for her prayers?

I received Before The Scarlet Dawn compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and LOVED it. I couldn't put it down til I knew how it would end and I believe, I have to wait for the next book. I was not disappointed that Eliza's conflict was not resolved and for once applaud the author who takes a great storyline, and carefully takes the reader by the hand and walks through it with them, not rushing to come to a hasty conclusion. This is the reason why I love this book. It's completely unpredictable at some points and that kept me entertained and engaged. I'm not sure I could deal with all life handed Eliza in this story and she has more strength that I could ever imagine. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and anxiously wait her sequel to this story. This is the first book in the Daughters of the Potomac Series! show less