This is a fantastic book! Strong characters and a unique storyline makes this book one of a kind! I truly enjoyed reading it. I also LOVE the references to God and the encouragement to trust him. ( )

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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 — 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.) ( )

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 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. ( )

NCLA Review - In April of 1870, in Kansas City, Lydia Grey has just become a widow at the age of twenty-eight. It has not been an easy life. Lydia’s mother died when she was young and at sixteen, her father arranged a marriage for her with a much older man. Her father had known this man was cruel, but wanted to be business partners with him, and sacrificed his daughter. Lydia’s stepchildren never liked her and were fit to be tied when Lydia becomes the sole recipient of their father’s inheritance. Fearful of what her greedy stepsons will do to get the money, Lydia escapes to Alaska to live with her aunt. Her aunt welcomes her with open arms and gently tries to reassure her that in time she will come to see that God loves her and hasn’t abandoned her. Lydia is doubtful. The owner of the sawmill, Kjell Lindquist, takes an interest in Lydia. Kjell is a gentle spirit, filled with love of music and the Lord. There is love, forgiveness, tragedy, evil-doing and spiritual awakening in book one of the Song of Alaska series. Rating: 4 —VJ ( )