Friday, February 27, 2026

My Thoughts and More on Whispers in the Snow by Heidi Eljarbo

Whispers in the Snow JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Whispers in the Snow by Heidi Eljarbo, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Whispers in the Snow
Series: Heartwarming Christmas
Author: Heidi Eljarbo
Publisher: independently published
Release Date: ‎ January 27, 2026
Genre: Cozy Historical Mystery Romance

Of course, a young woman in Norway during the late nineteenth century can be a successful amateur sleuth, and goodness knows, Cornelia’s days are always more exciting when she can devote her time to resolving a local mystery.

Cornelia Gran is a dedicated daughter, friendly and kind; although, she has an exorbitant amount of curiosity. She devours Arthur Conan Doyle’s magazine articles and tries to follow the fictitious Sherlock Holmes’s investigative examples, but her fascination with solving puzzles always gets her into mischief.

Each morning, Cornelia reads the newspaper, looking for a conundrum to solve. Searching for clues—and then chronicling her discoveries—thrills her. She certainly finds those activities more entertaining than taking her grandmother’s advice and attending one Christmas ball after another in search of a husband.

But chaos and danger turn Cornelia’s quiet days upside down when her attempt to find information about the owner of a nearby abandoned cottage takes her into dangerous territory. As winter winds rattle the windows and swirl snowdrifts against the doors, she faces off with a ghost, gets in trouble with the police, and finds herself staring down danger without thinking of the consequences. In the middle of it all, she meets Simon and is captivated by his charm, good looks, and personality.

Meanwhile, a real killer is after her, and he won’t stop until he gets information she doesn’t have! Christmas, with all its cheery festivities, hygge, and family traditions, has never been more threatened. Cornelia must call on all her investigative skills, not only to stop the ruination of her family’s holiday, but also to make certain Simon and his aunt keep what belongs to them. And maybe, just maybe, the amateur sleuth will discover the meaning of true love.

Set in a fictitious town in Norway in 1891, this cozy historical mystery is perfect for those who enjoy curious and determined women sleuths, clean and wholesome romance, and the discovery of buried secrets in an abandoned house.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

About the Author

HEIDI ELJARBO grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries.

After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She lives with her husband on a charming island and enjoys walking in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history.

Her family’s chosen retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summer and ski the vast white terrain during winter.

Heidi’s favorites are her family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.

Connect with Heidi by visiting heidieljarbo.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

My Thoughts:

Taking place in Norway in 1891, we meet Cornelia Gran, A young woman who is trying her hand at being a mystery writer very much like the famous Arthur Conan Doyle of Sherlock Holmes fame. Trouble is living in her small quite town she doesn't get many story ideas. Well, all that is about to change when she reads an article about the abandoned yellow home, a home she barely even noticed before.

As Cornelia tries to find out what happened to the previous owners, she surprisingly keeps coming across others that will not help her. However, that only intrigues her more and her investigations continue until they catch the attention of someone they shouldn't. Now Cornelia is caught up in a real mystery and a life and death situation with her own life. Not to mention she also finds love in all of this mess. Can she make it out alive and have a chance at romance?

This was a cute little mystery that would be great to read on a snowy cold afternoon, especially for the ambience.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a paperback copy of Whispers in the Snow and The Relic Thief, plus a $10 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 23, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 2, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. No shipping restrictions. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

My Thoughts and More on Texas Reclaimed by Sherry Shindelar

About the Book

Book: Texas Reclaimed

Author: Sherry Shindelar

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: February 3, 2026

Can love blossom between a woman haunted by her family’s past and a man haunted by the trauma of war?

Cora Scott is determined to hold onto her family’s Texas ranch and provide a stable home for her young half brother, Charlie, despite the mounting challenges of post-Civil War frontier life. But when a scheming creditor threatens to seize their land, she must accept help from Ben McKenzie, a former Yankee soldier sent by her late brother. Though Ben’s generosity and strength draw her, the man’s private struggle she stumbles upon—too reminiscent of her father’s alcoholism—makes her question whether she can trust her heart to him.

Ben McKenzie arrives in Texas intent on fulfilling his promise to his dying friend to protect Cora and Charlie. While using his inheritance to save their ranch, he battles not only the loss of their cattle but also his dependency on laudanum—a medicine that turned into a curse after his imprisonment at Andersonville. As his feelings for Cora deepen, he must choose between his promise to his father to take over their Philadelphia newspaper and his growing dream of a life with Cora in Texas.

When a Comanche warrior begins courting Cora and Ben’s responsibilities in Philadelphia threaten to tear them apart, they must decide if their love is strong enough to overcome their fears and forge a future together on the Texas frontier.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

I must say, this book had me feeling all kinds of emotions. This book at times was not an easy read, it deals with addiction in a very raw and emotional way which I appreciated. From the person who was going through the addiction to the people who were affected by it. Plus, I am getting over a very bad head cold, so for the pain, I was really feeling it with Ben.

Ben is addicted to laudanum, not by his choice but due to his imprisonment by the Confederates during the Civil War. He was imprisoned with fellow soldier Jeb Scott, who is Cora's and Charlie's brother. The descriptions of their imprisonment and subsequent torture were somewhat shocking. Needless to say, Jeb does not make it out alive. Hence Ben promises him to look after his mother and sister. However, that promise is hard to keep as Ben lives in Pennsylvania and Cora lives in Texas. However, Ben is not the same man he once was. He has a powerful addiction to laudanum that wants to control him, an almost fiancé who thinks she can make him all better, and a father with family expectations. Except Ben only wants to keep his promise to Jeb.

And so, he does. Finding Cora and Charlie in worse straits then he thought. Cora has survived much heartache and family loss. Trying to keep her land, especially now that her drunkard father has passed away. She is not sure what to think about Ben when he shows up. Many emotions, till finally she accepts him on the behalf of Jeb and tries to consider him as a brother. However, that is not going to work out. Love has other plans.

Through many trials and tribulations, a lot dealing with Ben's addiction and Cora's distrust of him because of that, we have what I felt to be a raw and emotional read. It was so good though and one that will really stick with me for a long time to come. Maybe, just maybe prepare your heart for it.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Originally from Tennessee, Sherry loves to take her readers into the past. She is an avid student of the Civil War and the Old West. When she is not busy writing, she is an English professor working to pass on her love of writing to her students. Sherry is an award-winning writer: 2023 Genesis finalist, Maggie finalist, and Crown finalist. She currently resides in Minnesota with her husband of thirty-eight years. She has three grown children and three grandchildren.

More from Sherry

Texas Reclaimed is a story of victory, redemption, and the rebirth of trust. It is a story of courage and of freedom from the chains of the past and the chains of addiction. It is a story that honors the Civil War soldiers who survived their wounds, only to return home to fight another battle: dependency on the opioid-based medicines that had helped save their lives.

I first heard of laudanum when I watched the movie Amazing Grace about William Wilberforce’s eighteen-year battle to end the slave trade in Great Britain. Wilberforce played a pivotal role in ending the slave trade and eventually slavery itself in Britain by speaking, campaigning, and introducing bills into the British parliament. However, Wilberforce was also addicted to laudanum, a tincture of opium.

It wasn’t his intention to become dependent upon a drug. A doctor prescribed it to him when he was twenty-nine years old for ulcerative colitis and other health ailments. Laudanum was used to treat a number of health issues and ailments in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, and no one, including doctors, had much understanding about addiction and dependency. The word addiction didn’t even exist as we use it today. But the soul-deep struggle was very real for too many people, even a man of faith like Wilberforce.

Addiction is pernicious, and laudanum took its toll on Wilberforce. He suffered physically, mentally, and spiritually from its poisonous effects.

Years later, I learned that even some of the nineteenth-century authors that I admire, such as Louisa May Alcott and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, struggled with laudanum dependency, as well.

In the nineteenth century, doctors and the public viewed opium, in its various forms, as an essential medical tool. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers were wounded in the American Civil War, and many more suffered from debilitating and potentially life-threatening illnesses. A Civil War medical manual, quoted in Dr. Jonathan Jones’s Opium Slavery, states that opiates were as “important to the surgeon as gunpowder to the ordinance [military weapons].”

My heart went out to Wilberforce, the tens of thousands of soldiers, and others enslaved to laudanum or other substances through no fault of their own. For many, once infected, it could be a lifelong battle, one that many did not win on their own. But there were victories.

And I love to write about soul-deep struggles and victories.

My hero, Ben McKenzie, is a Federal Cavalry captain captured and imprisoned in the notorious Andersonville Prison Camp. He barely survives the harsh conditions of the camp. His best friend, Jeb Scott, does not. Ben makes a death bed promise to his friend that he will look after Jeb’s mother and sister who live in Texas.

Ben aims to keep that promise, but the medical treatment that he receives after his release from prison camp leaves him dependent upon laudanum. My story starts a year later. Ben determines to break the chains that are eating away at his self-respect. He throws away his bottle of medicine and heads to Texas to keep his promise.

I asked a friend of mine about his own deliverance from addiction. He had this to say, “It was a lifetime ago, my addiction was strong, but my pain was stronger. I’ve lost so much in my life, but then I found that God’s love was deep, and He was even bigger to forgive. Out of His mercy He set me free, and through His grace He healed me from my past.”-Rev. Mark Little Elk

That is my prayer for all of those who struggle. And I look forward to sharing Ben McKenzie’s story with you in Texas Reclaimed.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 14

Books Less Travelled, February 15

Books You Can Feel Good About, February 15

Betti Mace, February 16

lakesidelivingsite, February 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 18

Texas Book-aholic, February 19

Bizwings Blog, February 20

Holly’s Book Corner, February 20

For Him and My Family, February 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 22

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 23

Lyssa Loves Books, February 24

The Bookish Pilgrim, February 24

Connie’s History Classroom, February 25

Cover Lover Book Review, February 26

Pause for Tales, February 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sherry is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/mEe2g/texas-reclaimed-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts and More on Seal of Honor by Jessica Ashley

Seal of Honor JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for SEAL of Honor by Jessica Ashley, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: SEAL of Honor
Series: Iron Tide Brotherhood #1
Author: Jessica Ashley
Publisher: B.A.D. Publishing, LLC
Release Date: February 23, 2026
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

She vanished on their wedding day. Now she’s back… and someone wants her dead.

Zane Knox is a man who doesn’t officially exist.

The former Navy SEAL has spent years living in the shadows, forced into off-the-books missions for a government agency that owns his secrets—and his freedom. He’s learned the hard way that love is a liability and trust gets you killed.

Until the woman who broke his heart stumbles onto his boat in the middle of the night.

Bruised. Terrified. And begging for medical supplies.

Tessa Lane doesn’t know who’s hunting her or why. She only knows that nowhere is safe and that every place she runs to turns into another crime scene. The faith she once clung to is gone. So is her belief in love… and the vows she nearly made to Zane.

But when the danger closes in and her past catches up to her, Zane becomes the only safe place she has left.

Protecting Tessa was never part of his mission.

But losing her might destroy what little is left of him.

As a relentless enemy hunts them through the coastal shadows, Zane and Tessa must confront the secrets that tore them apart—and the faith, love, and redemption that might be the only things that can save them now.

Because this time, walking away isn’t an option.

About the Author

Jessica Ashley is a three-time award winning author of faith-filled stories where swoony romance meets edge-of-your-seat suspense.

Her goal is simple: to remind readers that even in the darkest moments, God’s love shines through with hope, healing, and redemption.

She believes fiction has the power not just to entertain but to transform. Growing up, she saw how stories of faith and love could bring hope. So she pours this experience into the stories she writes where characters face real danger—literal or emotional—but through faith, love, and courage, they emerge changed.

When she's not writing, she's homeschooling her three kids, baking homemade bread, or sneaking in quiet moments with her husband in their New Hampshire home.

Her stories are clean, heartfelt, and written to inspire. Because she believes fiction should stir the heart, strengthen faith, and leave you with a smile.

Connect with Jessica by visiting jessicaashleybooks.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

My Thoughts:

This was really an engrossing and tightly woven plot of two people whose love withstands time and danger. Zane and Tessa were due to get married, yet Tessa runs away with a new identity on their wedding day. Which leaves poor Zane stood up at the altar and changing his life plans of becoming a doctor and joining the Navy SEALs. Not only did she run away, but Zane and his family actually feared she was dead, and though they searched they could not find any evidence.

Well, Tessa has survived some major abuse from the one person she should have been safe with, her father. But she chose to run away from everyone and not to bring Zane's family into anymore of her conflict at home. Now eighteen years later danger has found her once again. Still, she is hiding in the shadows till Zane finds her. Imagine his surprise that she is still alive. He saves her again, but wants answers, answers she is not willing to give.

This was a great romantic suspense filled with two very flawed characters who are leaning on their faith. I also really appreciated that no matter how much time has passed or what has transpired, when two people are really in love, none of those things matter. Especially when forgiveness and redemption cover betrayal and abandonment. This story keeps you invested as all the layers of these two lives are pulled back and the connections are revealed.

This was my first author Ashley novel, and I enjoyed this fresh voice in romantic suspense and look forward to more in this series

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a $20 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 25, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 4, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Monday, February 23, 2026

My Thoughts and More on Ambush of the Heart by Mary Connealy

About the Book

Book: Ambush of the Heart

Author: Mary Connealy

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: February 3, 2026

When bandits strike in the wilderness, can love and faith overcome the shadows of danger?

As Owen Riley and his fellow Marshals escort Delaney Bridger, her brother, and an escaped prisoner to Fort Russell, a gang of outlaws ambushes them, bringing death and devastation to their party. With their lives on the line and the outlaws in pursuit, Owen directs the rest of his battered group to temporarily seek hiding at a remote ranch.

After the attack leaves her brother seriously injured, Delaney helps Owen, nursing him and a wounded Marshal back to health while danger looms ever closer. Despite the threat at their heels, romance sparks between Owen and Delaney as they fight for survival on their perilous trek to the fort. Can they overcome the obstacles and find a future together?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Wow, this story drops the reader right into a gun fight. One that doesn't bode well for either side. However, on the side of the Marshalls, they are determined to get to safety and see to their wounded, all the while not letting the criminal escape. This is Marshall Owen Riley's story as he falls in love with Delaney Bridger that all began when they were being escorted to their family.

There was just something about this story that really escorted me away and into the action. And it was full of action, but also faith and self-discovery. The characters reflections on what was truly important in their lives and what they would be willing to sacrifice to have it.

I also found the story of Stella interesting. She is the daughter of the outlaw's family that started shooting first. I hope we get her story next, because as I was reading, I just had an overwhelming sense of what a shame that the circumstances escalated the way they did. I am very curious how this whole series will be resolved due to what happened in the first couple of pages.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Mary Connealy writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has sold more than 1.5 million books and is the author of the popular series A Western Light, Wyoming Sunrise, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.

More from Mary

Two things drove my interest in The Rocky Mountain Marshals Series. In book #1, Ambush of the Heart, I got to begin that adventure.

The first thing: U.S. Marshals. I did a bit of research and just began discovering how much I didn’t know. I mean…what are U.S. Marshals? The only one I could think of was Rooster Cogburn in True Grit. But my research was confusing. Yes, there were lawmen out hunting for outlaws. But a lot of that was because Oklahoma Territory back then was Indian territory and thus, had no law beyond tribal law. And, because of that, outlaws had gotten to running into Oklahoma and treating it like they’d reached base in a game of tag.

Because it was federal, the government came up with a federal solution. The U.S. Marshals Service already existed. But chasing outlaws into a place with no law…that was new. I went to Fort Smith, Arkansas, known back in the past as the gateway to Indian territory. So many outlaws passed through there that, a part of my research led me to the brand-new U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith.

I could write an entire series about Bass Reeves alone, a former slave who became a U.S. Marshal. Some of my reading suggests he was in part the inspiration for the Lone Ranger and it’s said in his 32 year career as a marshal he arrested 3000 outlaws. He has a TV Series on Paramount+ TV. A network I don’t have.

I found so much of this out because I went on a research trip. (I don’t do that often) Very fun and I learned a LOT.

My second driving interest was…just how lost could someone get in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains? I’ve read so much about Pathfinders…Kit Carson, John Colter, James Beckwourth, John Mullen (a guy I’d never heard of who is so interesting he deserves his own book!). I definitely count Sacagawea among them. These bold, adventurous explorers who went out in the wilderness and found their way through. It was NOT easy.

One thing I found really interesting (all those pathfinders are interesting!) was talk about The Donner Party. That Donner Pass cut 400 miles off the trip to California on the California trail. That might sound ridiculous to us, but back then, in a wagon train, especially in rugged country, that 400 miles was a huge lure. Of course they tried it. People were always trying to find a shorter way through those treacherous mountains.

So, my hero Owen, is transporting a federal prisoner who escaped jail, from Denver to Fort Russell near Cheyenne, Wyoming—where he’s due to hang.

An attempt to break him free by his gang drives the escorts and those with them—including beautiful Delaney, into the Rockies and whoa…they didn’t know how to get out…especially one pair who got separated from the main party.

One other twist is, my three heroes…the guys (the women are heroes, too of course) but the men, Owen, Morgan and Tex, all appeared in the book Marshaling Her Heart, book three in my Wyoming Sunrise series. Writing that book awakened my interest in U.S. Marshals. And I loved those tough men and wanted to … ahem … well, maybe tame them just a little.

So come and join me as my travelers, including the bold and brave Owen Riley and the beautiful and trail savvy Delaney Bridger, are chased from behind and more lost with every step they take ahead. They fight the outlaws, the Rockies and their growing attraction, to find their way home.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, February 18

Holly’s Book Corner, February 19

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 19

For Him and My Family, February 20

Betti Mace, February 21

Devoted To Hope, February 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 23

Pause for Tales, February 23

lakesidelivingsite, February 24

She Lives To Read, February 25

Labor Not in Vain, February 26

Jeanette’s Thoughts, February 26

Books You Can Feel Good About, February 27

Lyssa Loves Books, February 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 28

Cover Lover Book Review, March 1

Bizwings Blog, March 2

Jodie Wolfe, March 2

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, March 2

Connie’s History Classroom, March 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Bookshop.org gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/3eYes/ambush-of-the-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, February 20, 2026

My Thoughts on Marrying the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund

About:

As the middle child of the Shanahan family, Zaira does her best to keep the peace. She doesn't share her dream of becoming a published author with her family to spare herself their disapproval. When she's caught in a scandal involving the local matchmaker, Bellamy McKenna, she must put her storytelling ability to good use and feign a match with him to avoid wagging tongues and her parents' anger.

Feeling the growing pressure to marry as a well-known, yet single matchmaker to St. Louis's Irish community, Bellamy reluctantly agrees to a temporary match with Zaira. But even though the matchmakers in his family might be able to find love for others, they have a history of disastrous relationships for themselves. When secrets and danger force Zaira and Bellamy to work together, is it finally the matchmaker's turn to be lucky in love?

My Thoughts:

I am beyond giddy that we finally have Bellamy's story. He has been such a cheeky character from the beginning, and I was so excited to finally read his story. I was pleased that he ended up with a Shanahan match himself, and Zaira matched him perfectly.

Their story starts off first as a fake match, but throw in some just causes, secrets that both are keeping hidden from their families, kisses that just happen, and you know Bellamy and Zaira are going to head to the altar for reals. They just need to go through some stuff to get there. Their journey was a perfect ending for this series. Unless of course the younger Shanahan's get their stories told.

Another dynamic to the story was the strong Irish community and their fortitude to make it in America. I appreciated the importance of the old-time style of matchmaking they brought from the home country. There was the fight the town still had against the horrors of cholera, and the orphan population was growing. I do not know if I have a favorite in this series, simply because they all blend and flow so well together. So, I recommend this series for great reading.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

My Thoughts on Deadly Rodeo Threat by Sami A. Abrams

About:

A trail of missing women

leads him right into a killer’s trap.

When his twin sister disappears, Navy SEAL Logan Russell’s search for her leads him deep into the woods, where he finds her best friend in the clutches of a masked assailant. Sheriff Isabelle Sinclair is determined to solve Lisa’s mysterious disappearance the night of her last rodeo—and someone will do anything to keep her from digging too deep. When crucial evidence links Lisa’s case to a string of barrel racers who’ve also vanished, Logan and Izzie fight against the clock to track down a suspected serial killer. But when he sets his sights on Izzie, can they outsmart their enemy before both women end up dead?

My Thoughts:

Talk about terrifying and creepy situations. This story starts off with Sheriff Izzie's almost murder as she comes out to investigate a report of a body found. Hoping and praying it is not her best friend yet feeling for the poor woman's body she has discovered. And then someone tries to kill her until her once upon a time crush and her best friend's twin Navy SEAL Logan shows up and saves her. Just in time mind you. Now they are in a fight for their lives while trying to find out if his sister is still alive.

Their investigation leads them to more missing women. Aided by his service dog who keeps both of these wounded heroes calm, we go on a fast-track race in time to solve this case before anyone else is snatched or killed. There is also an underlying second chance at romance theme that our characters also question and are dealing with. This was an excellent thriller that kept this reader invested and a little bit creeped out.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

My Thoughts and More on Before the Dawn by Erica Vetsch

About the Book

Book: Before the Dawn

Author: Erica Vetsch

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: February 10, 2026

A determined wife and a blind mining engineer—separated by fear, connected by love, and tested by darkness that threatens to tear them apart.

David Mackenzie was the most capable mining engineer in Colorado until a cave-in left him blind and filled with guilt over the deaths of his workers. Now he fears he’ll never be worthy of love or respect again. When his fiancée returns from nursing her sick aunt, he must find the courage to break their engagement before she wastes her life caring for a broken man.

Karen refuses to give up on the man she loves, but David has built a wall between them that grows higher with each passing day. When he tries to call off their engagement, she forces him into marriage through an unconventional lawsuit. Now she must find a way to break through his bitter shell and prove that her love hasn’t changed—before his fears and pride drive them apart forever and she loses not only the man she loves but also her chance at the family she’s always longed for.

When David’s cousin reveals a deadly secret about the cave-in, Karen and David find themselves trapped underground, forced to work together to survive. In the darkness, they must confront the fears that threaten to destroy them both. But even if they survive, can they find their way back to the love they once shared?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This was a beautiful story that showed what true love between a couple looks like. Especially when the wife is and actually acts like a helpmate to her husband. David and Karen have had a rough go at it. I admired Karen's tenacity to stand up to David and his pity party over his blindness and what she saw as his selfishness. I don't understand when people think they are protecting others like David who wanted to release Karen from their engagement. Why not let the other shine in the role now placed before them.

Karen was tough and learning to be tougher with David, especially threatening to sue her if he wouldn't honor their engagement. I did feel bad for David. As humans when we are hurt, we tend to lash out at those who love us most and want to hide and lick our wounds so to speak. However, like Karen and David's family realize, it really is a form of pride and selfishness. We need one another and Karen proved her worth to David.

There is a bit of mystery, especially revolving around the mine accident. There is also a family history of trauma that showed the other side of not helping one another. All in all, this was a deeply moving and emotional romantic drama of learning to live with what life has thrown at you.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Best-selling, award-winning author of The Debutante’s Code, first in the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery Series, Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum.

More from Erica

My story, Before the Dawn, is set in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. As a girl born and raised in Central Kansas, the first time I visited mountains, I was in awe…and also a little worried. Having grown up in a land where you can watch your dog run away for three straight days, not being able to see very far when in between mountains was a bit claustrophobic.

My children, growing up in SE Minnesota, had a similar experience. We were able to take the kids to Colorado several years ago, which is where I first became interested the history of Colorado Mining.

We took the kids to Idaho Springs, where we toured a mine and ore processing facility from the 1880’s. The Argo Mine was fascinating. When I ask my kids about what they remember, it’s always the panning for gold. My daughter reminded me that I was the first in the family to find any gold in my pan, a few little bright flakes, upon which many an adventurer has wagered his life.

The kids also got to sift through a box of sand and dirt to find colorful stones. As my son was enamored with agates and polished rocks at the time, this was the highlight for him.

When I wrote Before the Dawn, I tried to make the setting a character. The story is so tied to the setting, that if I changed where the story took place, it wouldn’t be the same story at all.

I hope, as you read Before the Dawn, you are drawn into the mountains, that you can feel a bit of the same sense of awe that I felt the first time this prairie girl saw the Rockies.