AUTHOR: Tracie Peterson
DATE: September 2009
PUBLISHER: Bethany House Publishers
STARS: ****
Newly widowed Lydia Gray discovers that through an unforeseen fluke, she is the sole recipient of her husband's fortune. But instead of granting her security, it only causes strife as her adult stepchildren battle to regain the inheritance for themselves. Lydia, longing to put the memories of her painful marriage behind her, determines to travel to Alaska to join her aunt. Lydia's arrival in Sitka, however, brings two things she didn't expect. One is the acquaintance of Kjell Bjorklund, the handsome owner of the sawmill. Second is the discovery that she is pregnant with her dead husband's child. What will this mean for her budding relationship with Kjell? And what lengths will her stepchildren go to reclaim their father's fortune? Lydia soon finds her life and that of her child's on the line.
When an accident claims the lives of Lydia Gray’s father and her brutal husband, she hopes for a simpler, happier life. But the terms of the men’s wills place her in jeopardy at the hands of her greedy, evil stepsons, so she flees to Sitka, Alaska, where her aunt Zerelda lives. The trip is more difficult than expected, and when Lydia finally gets to Sitka, she faints into the arms of Kjell Bjorklund.
Dawn’s Prelude deals with harsh topics of abuse and terrible greed, and the grievous subject overshadowed the romance and place in this story. Author Tracie Peterson paints vivid pictures of the various characters, and I came to care about Lydia, Zee, and Kjell, but not as much as I wanted to. At the same time, the tension-filled story line held me captive until the very end.
I plan to read more books by Tracie Peterson, and this one earns four stars.