Dawn's Prelude

I take research into vacation destinations very seriously. That’s why I extensively read fiction before I travel. 😉 My trip to Alaska does not include Sitka as a stop, but I chose Dawn’s Prelude by Tracie Peterson because her historical romance novels feature well-researched historical details and great descriptions of setting. This one did not disappoint. The time is the 1870s, and Alaska has recently been bought from the Russian. Sitka, once a thriving city, is suffering from the departure of the Russians, but is holding its own on the Last Frontier. Lydia comes to the remote island in search of her aunt and to escape the machinations and danger posed by her dead husband’s family.

There’s much to love about Dawn’s Prelude show more — suspenseful action, endearing characters, despicable bad guys, and a stunning setting. I found the historical context very interesting. Travel to Alaska from the lower 48 was daunting — train and ship. The American army was in charge of Sitka, and the native population, though posing no threats, were treated poorly, forced to live in a sequestered part of the city and under curfew. Nature, along with the bad guys, was a formidable foe. Peterson captures the time and place well. Many obstacles are placed in front of the characters throughout the course of the book, but there is definitely a HEA. A meaningful faith thread is presented as well. The only thing I did not like about the book was the quick wrap-up — things just seemed to resolve too quickly. The book is part of a 3-book series, but the next book is set 15-20 years after Dawn’s Prelude, so it can certainly be read as a standalone. I listened to the audio version, and the reader did a great job of telling the story.

For action, adventure, suspense, and romance, Dawn’s Prelude is a good choice whether you are traveling to Alaska or in need of a great staycation.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase, click HERE.

(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) show less

Tracie Peterson is an author that writes with attention to historical detail and in this story you learn a little of life and the conflicts of the people in Sitka, Alaska in the late 1800's. It is a story full of romance, adventure and danger. I am a big fan of Tracie Peterson and this first book in the 'Song of Alaska' series is off to a good start.

Lydia Gray finds herself a widow when her husband (who married her for money after his 1st wife died), is in an accident and dies. She is relieved to be free of him as he was a cruel taskmaster to her. What she was not expecting was to become the sole recipient of her late husband's fortune. The grown stepchildren are furious that she gets "their" money and plan evil ways to get it. Lydia show more secretly leaves the life she was never happy with and flees to Alaska, where her aunt Zeralda lives. There she finds peace and contentment and learns, with the help of the Kjell Lindquist, the owner of the local sawmill, what true love really looks like. But when the "family" finally finds Lydia things go very wrong and it will take trust and faith in a God who can and will work all things out for good. Bad things do happen to good people and the author does a good job of dealing with the doubts and questions that arise in this story. I am looking foward to reading the rest of this series.
As a side note, the covers on the books in this series are really beautiful and draw you into wanting to read what is inside. It also taking place in Alaska is another draw for me as it is a part of the country I have always enjoyed reading about and would love to visit someday. show less

I too won this book through the Early Reviewers group. I don't remember reading that God was going to be a huge part of the book, or else I probably wouldn't have requested it. It was a cutesy romance with a huge helping of God. I probably would have found the story much more compelling if it were just the action (babynapping! amnesia! good vs. evil!) without the preaching.

I'd recommend this book if you're into soap operas and Jesus. For the rest of us, I think it's a bit too bible-thumping. The characters were likable enough, and the story was quick, but that wasn't enough to redeem this book.

I agree 100% with the review by alicetroxel. This book must have been written for those with a very short attention span or for those who are unable to deal with complex plot and character development. There are few gray areas. For the most part everything is in black and white, including the main characters, who with few exceptions, are either so "good" as to be almost saintly or so "bad" as to be beyond redemption.

There was a little history thrown in, though not enough to make me consider this to be historical fiction. It seems that this is the first in a proposed series, so perhaps the author intends to expound upon the treatment of women in the 1800s and/or the Tlingit population of Alaska during that time period.

Is a person a show more prostitute if that person was paid to have a sexual liaison with someone, but that tryst never occurred? If so, then in a refreshing twist, the obligatory would-be prostitute in this story was male. Yes, that's right -- male!

I suppose somebody will enjoy this shallow narrative, but that somebody would not be me. show less

An easy read, I zoomed through Dawn's Prelude.

Though I went through it quickly, it was mostly because of the relatively innocuous story and characters. Every character was either irredeemably evil or saintly with very little in between.

The best way to explain this book would be to compare it too a watercolour painting. There is little definition or fleshing out of the story or characters. The main character, abused for many years by her evil husband, seems to get over the problems far too easily with little thought.

I wouldn't recommend this story to anyone but frail grandmothers looking for a relatively boring romance with multiple mentions of God and little to no conflict.

I feel like this book has been well reviewed in some ways and unfairly reviewed in others. Yes, it is a short, easy read. Yes, it is a simple, clear-cut story line with, admittedly, little depth. I do feel, though, that those who are requesting Early Reviewers books should be aware of the fact that there are religious books offered and should do a little research on the author of a book before requesting it if they are going to complain for receiving one.

That being said, I enjoyed this book. I knew that it was by a Christian author so was not surprised by the emphasis on the guidance of God and the power of prayer. I enjoyed imagining the setting of Alaska (a destination I have always dreamed of going to). While I would not always want show more to read lighter fare like the Song of Alaska series, sometimes it is nice to be able to just sit back and enjoy a simple story. I look forward to the next installment! show less

What an exciting book to have won in the giveaway. I have never read anything by Tracie Peterson before but if this is any indication of her novels; she has a new fan for sure.

The story of Lydia Sellers an abused woman who finds her way to Sitka Alaska after the death of her husband and father was extremely well written. From the very first pages I embraced Lydia's struggle to be free of the Seller's family and everything they stood for.
Once in Alaska we meet her Aunt Zerelda another character that adds depth to the story by slowly revealing how much God influences her life and heart.
Watching the transformation of Lydia, especially, once she meets Kjell gives hope to any ailing spirit.

The story that unfolds is spellbinding. As the show more Seller's persist in disrupting Lydia's peace, we learn like Lydia to have faith in God and His plans for us.

I truly enjoyed reading this novel. It made me revisit my faith giving me plenty to think about long after I read the last page.

I look forward to reading more books by Tracie Peterson and I thank LTR's book giveaway for giving me the opportunity to discover this author. show less