Welcome! Carrie Turansky is a historical, Christian author who has written the Edwardian Brides series. Readers can follow her on Amazon and receive emails when she publishes a new book. Tonya Kappes will be published Mocha and Murder on June 16. It is the second book in A Killer Coffee Mystery series. I suggest reading Scene of the Grind (Book One) before it releases.
Shine Like the Dawn by Carrie Turansky sweeps readers back in time to 1903 Heatherton, England. In 1899 the Lounsbury family (Daniel,
Abigail, Olivia, Maggie, and Violet) are enjoying Olivia’s birthday by taking a
picnic across the lake. They are far
into the lake when the boat starts taking on water. Unable to row the boat back to shore in time,
they start swimming to shore. Unfortunately, only Maggie and Violet make it
back alive. Four years later, Maggie and
Violet are living with their Grandmother Hayes above her millinery shop. Nate Harcourt is returning home to
Morningside Manor after a four years absence to see his father before he passes
away. Maggie and Nate used to be good
friends before she lost her family. She
has not forgiven him for not being there for her when they died. Nate inherits his father’s estate and Clifton
Engineering Works. Nate promised his
father that he would care for his stepmother, Helen and stepsister, Clare. Helen, though, does not make this task
easy. Maggie received her father’s
journal after his death, but just recently started reading it. She finds out that someone had reason to harm
him and he was threatened shortly before his death. Could the boat have been sabotaged? After a fire destroys the millinery, Nate
invites Maggie, Violet and Grandmother Hayes to stays at Morningside Manor. This could be Maggie’s opportunity to find
the evidence she needs. Nate is grateful
to spend time with Maggie and, hopefully, repair their old friendship. Will Nate help Maggie with her quest?
Shine Like the Dawn is a
well-written and researched novel. Carrie
Turanky captured the setting and the historical period. The author brought the characters to life and
gave them real personalities. We are
given characters to love and a couple to dislike. The book had a good pace, but I thought it
was slightly too long. Shine Like the
Dawn captured and held my attention. The
Christian element is light (not preachy).
Maggie had closed her heart to God and let in anger and hurt
instead. She does not understand how God
can let good people die and suffer (something I struggle with myself). One of the main messages in the novel is to
let God in to heal your heart and comfort you.
I give Shine Like the Dawn 4 out of 5 stars. I appreciated the mystery element that was
present in the story. It enhanced the
novel. There are other issues in the
story (I could not describe everything in my summary). Nate learning to run his father’s company,
workers wanting to strike, Maggie struggling to forgive Nate (she only knows
her side of the story, romance between Nate and Maggie, Violet injuring her
leg, the rebuilding of the millinery, and Lilly’s romance with Rob are some of
the other storylines. The novel has a
lovely and fulfilling conclusion. Shine Like the Dawn is a good book for readers who enjoy Christian, historical books
(set in the Edwardian period). This was
the first book I have read by Carrie Turansky, and it is not my last.
I hope you found today's review helpful. I will be sharing my thoughts on Dead and Berried by Peg Cochran on Wednesday. May you have a wonderful Tuesday. Take care and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
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