Dawn's Prelude

Written by Tracie Peterson

Narrated by Sherri Berger

Married off at a tender age to a harsh, older widower, Lydia Gray can’t help but feel a measure of relief when an accident claims his life. What happens next, however, is a surprise to everyone: Through an unforeseen fluke, Lydia finds herself the sole recipient of her late husband’s fortune. But instead of granting her security, strife ensues as her adult stepchildren battle to regain the inheritance for themselves. Lydia longs to wash her hands of the situation and determines to join her aunt in Alaska, putting financial decisions in the capable hands of her lawyer. The beauty and serenity of life in Sitka appeal to Lydia, as does Kjell Lindquist, the handsome owner of the local sawmill. But a new discovery in Lydia’s life forces her to rethink her future. She is bound to her past as never before… but what more must she sacrifice?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Oasis Audio
• Release date: Aug 20, 2009
• ISBN: 9781608145737

Tracie Peterson

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling author of more than 100 novels, both historical and contemporary, with more than 6 million copies sold. She has won the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award and the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Her avid research resonates in her many bestselling series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana. Learn more at TraciePeterson.com.

Reviews for Dawn's Prelude

[Jessica · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I like to listen as I read and this audio version randomly skips over large portions of the book! It's terrible. Like half the story is missing. Because of this none of the chapters on the audio line up with the chapters in the book. Almost half of every chapter is simply missing from this audio book. DO NOT LISTEN!

[Denise Michelle Gough · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love this story ? I'm new to this author besides another book looking to explore and started with this series

[curls_99 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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 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!

[Marie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The story was great! I loved the characters. The good were good and the bad were decidedly bad. The narrator did an okay job. I was put off sometimes by the brief hesitation in the reading that happened frequently. Over all though a great book!

[Dian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I find the story interesting and it held my attention the characters are believable the narrator did a good job

[Edyta Alicja Godfrey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was very engaging story, with the steady plot unfolding keeping you in suspense.

[Tamara Grullon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is one of my favorites. I read it like 5 or 6 years ago and it was amazing. You must listen or read this book. You won’t regret it.

[Chris · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The whole book was so great that I did not want to stop even to eat or do anything else. Very well written, indeed!

[kevin shumway · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had read all the other books in the series before this one. It was excellent! I could picture everything that related to the other stories.

[vintagebeckie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.)

[judyg54 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[cherryblossommj_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

First let me mention about how much I love the cover of this book, the coloring especially is just to die for it is so pretty. So far almost every historical fiction that I have read from Tracie Peterson I have enjoyed and this one is no different on that enjoyment scale. It may not be as non stop fabulous as the Yukon Quest, but it in a different manner it is better at the same time. Reading the book blurb as an expectant reader you can assume certain things of the plot line and story to occur and wonder how they unfold and what will happen next, but this novel is so much more in depth with twists and turns and much more plot than the blurb even begins to imply. The best of Christ's beginning love is shown through in the characters and they learn and grow. Evil is still present as ever in some characters as is always in the writing of Tracie Peterson in a way that is very real as uncomfortable as that may seen. What is fabulous is the way that even with so many bad things that can possibly occur all the good that God can bring out of it. With emotions running, and pages not turning fast enough if you ever have enjoyed some of the work of this author before you will be glad to read this new novel that does not disappoint. If you have yet to read Tracie's books, this is a great place to start. I highly recommend her. This book is a great start to a new series and I cannot wait for the next one.

[toryaslim822 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I thought this was a cute short book, however I thought god played a to big of a role. I am not really into reading christian fiction books. But I did enjoy this one. I have passed it on to my aunts. I probaby wouldn't have requested this book in the Early Reviewers if I knew that it was a Christian Fiction book.

[rebecca191 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As a teenager, Lydia Sellers was forced to marry a cruel man to advance her father’s business interests. Now, after many unhappy years in an abusive marriage, twenty-eight year old Lydia is relieved by the death of her husband in the spring of 1871. Through a technicality in the will, she has inherited her husband’s entire fortune, and decides to leave Kansas City behind and go to live a quiet life with her aunt on the Alaskan frontier.

Arriving in Sitka, Alaska, Lydia meets the handsome young sawmill owner Kjell Bjorklund, and begins a relationship with him that may lead to romance. But then she discovers that she is pregnant with her late husband’s child, something she did not expect since she had many miscarriages during her marriage, leading her to believe she could not have children. Will Kjell still love her if she is having another man’s child? And how far will her greedy adult stepchildren go to claim the fortune they believe is rightfully theirs, especially now that she is having their father’s child?

Dawn’s Prelude is the first book in another new series from the prolific Tracie Peterson, who has written many inspirational historical romances. This book is an enjoyable read that combines a tender romance with suspense in an interesting historical setting. It is sure to be enjoyed by the author's many many fans, and is also a good choice for new readers looking to try something by this author.

[checkerdandy · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

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.

[xaverie_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

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.

[oldman_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Straight forward romance with story line clear from first few chapters. Abused young wife, evil family running away, found, evil doings and bad people caught. Talk of God and praying just plopped into middle of the story for unknown reasons.

I thought more history of Alaska would be included. Because the story is so rote I lost interest quickly, but did finish it. My wife also read the book in a single sitting and enjoyed it immensely, which is I am sure more the target audience than me.

I give the book, an easy read, one star.

[nyiper · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I will give T. Peterson credit for a short book, a quick read with its own pieces of drama. It moved fast without a lot of detail. I found the inclusion of an emphasis on praying to be a little odd---sort of dumped into this particular story. I wasn't sure if the author was out to start a somewhat religious series? That part didn't seem to go anywhere so I wasn't sure why it kept appearing in the book.

If this is to be the beginning of a series perhaps some of the events following the end of this book will be brought to light instead of wondering what happened to the awful relatives back in Kansas City and/or how did Evie fit into the Alaska scene over time.
_______________

I try to write my review before reading any others and now, I find that I agree with alicetroxel.

[rosereads · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I received this book from the Early Reviewers. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book very much. The characters were very one dimenisional and the writing style seemed a little odd to me. I understand the author is a popular one but she is not one I will go back to.

[quiltinfun06 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[rphalliburton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As usual Tracie Peterson has written an interesting book.
She showed all through the book that God is always on our side and that he will take care of his children. I thorougly enjoyed this book and read it in two days. Lydia was involved in an abusive marriage at the beginning of the book and with the help of Christians she realized she could trust God even in her situation. I can't tell you more and give away the ending, but I thought it was great.

[boobalack · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

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 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.