Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Review of As Dawn Breaks by Kate Breslin



About the Book ~

Her daring bid for freedom could be her greatest undoing.

Amid the Great War in 1918 England, munitions worker Rosalind Graham is desperate to escape the arranged marriage being forced on her by her ruthless guardian and instead follow her own course. When the Chilwell factory explodes, killing hundreds of unidentified workers, Rose realizes the world believes she perished in the disaster. Seizing the chance to escape, she risks all and assumes a new identity, taking a supervisory position in Gretna, Scotland, as Miss Tilly Lockhart.

RAF Captain Alex Baird is returning home to Gretna on a secret mission to uncover the saboteur suspected in the Chilwell explosion, as Gretna's factory is likely next. Fearing for his family's safety, he's also haunted by guilt after failing to protect his brother. Alex is surprised to discover a young woman, Miss Lockhart, renting his boyhood room, but the two eventually bond over their mutual affection for his family--until Alex receives orders to surveil her.

Rose squirms beneath Alex's scrutiny while she struggles to gain her workers' respect. But when her deception turns to danger, she and Alex must find a way to put their painful pasts behind them and together try to safeguard the future.

For more information about Kate Breslin and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

As Dawn Breaks by Kate Beslin is as intricate, lovely, and intriguing as Scotland's thistle. Beautiful with a hint of looming danger -- that is, until you prick your thumb!

The setting of As Dawn Breaks was very interesting and deeply romantic with its Scottish charm. I love stories set in Scotland! Additionally, I really enjoyed learning about the munitions factories, how they functioned, and the changing tide for women everywhere. And that deadly intrigue -- WOW! While the munitions factory was set away from the main conflict, I found no shortage of mystery mingled with life-and-death situations. Instead, I found that this storyline and setting gave a unique look at the intricacies and layers of war.

I loved how the author produced a heroine who was wounded but determined to regain her courage as a child of God without trampling on the intrinsic value of other bearers of God's image. The various steps of Rose's quest to reclaim her courage was a beautiful testament of bravery, loving others, and standing up for not only yourself but also for what is just. Alex's realistic struggle in forgiving himself is something that many can relate to experiencing -- myself included! I also really enjoyed the conflict and struggle to forgive that Rose and Alex experienced in their relationship, adding to the unfolding faith and drama within the story.

Five Stars ~ As Dawn Breaks by Kate Breslin is a romantic, high stakes historical to add to your bookshelf! As Dawn Breaks is a standalone, but the author has other books in her backlist for readers to enjoy!

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

No comments:

Post a Comment