Before The Scarlet Dawn

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 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!

For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Before The Scarlet Dawn by Rita Gerlach

The Messsenger

For me what signifies being a part of the story is the attention to detail. From the character develop to the way I can imagine simply being in the scene is what separates Siri Mitchell's novels apart from most. In her latest historical novel, The Messenger the reader is taken back to Philadelphia in 1778 at the height of the Revolutionary War where the British have now occupied the city. Here we find Hannah Sunderland and her family who are Quakers. Based on their religious beliefs, they will not take either side in the conflict, however when the Sunderland house is taken over by a British officer, they are informed that Hannah's twin brother has been imprisoned. She is torn between her religious beliefs to stay out of the war effort but she is determined to see her brother.

Jeremiah Jones is a disgruntled veteran of the war fifteen years ago, losing an arm in the process, who has vowed to take revenge on the British soldiers. So now that his pub is under the occupation of the British, he finds that they are very willing to talk quite a bit over a few drinks. He learns that Washington wants to stage a prison breaks and he finds himself becoming an unlikely candidate for spying.

Between Hannah and Jeremiah they each have different reasons for wanting to learn more about what is going on in the prison and Jeremiah tries to use Hannah to search for the information he needs to aid Washington, only the problem with Hannah is she isn't willing to lie and that could definitely become a problem. How they both will find a way to work together is what makes this novel a fantastic historical read while the reader is in for a bit of historical entertainment as they become part of the action.

I received The Messenger by Siri Mitchell compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. It definitely gives readers an idea of what life may have been like as people struggled with the war and for that reason, I rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars. It's a unique twist on your typical historical novel where a love story develops out of each person trying to gain and advantage to help the cause each is most loyal to. It is in this novel that two unlikely heroes will find the courage to act to help in the war.

For more information on this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

The Messenger by Siri Mitchell

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