More than anything, Friedrick Wagner wants to be part of his adopted country's struggle for peace. But when the bitter animosity between Germans and Americans soon turns citizens against newcomers, friend against friend, he will do whatever it takes to protect Livy from the hysteria that grips their town. As tragedy--and dark secrets from the past--threaten their future, Friedrick and Livy have one chance to stand up for what's right and...one chance to fight for their love.
Christian romance and Christian fiction usually aren't my thing, but I found myself becoming more interested in this book every time I saw it because of the cover (and the blurb). I know---I judged a book by it's cover--a simply gorgeous one at that! And yes, I was definitely intrigued by the story.
My maternal grandfather was born in the late 1890s and was of German descent, with a big ol' German surname. We are from Cincinnati, a town with a very huge German population. And a town that during the Great War (aka WWI), renamed streets with names that were "too German," with names that were decidedly less German sounding. When I realized that Livy Campbell and my grandfather were the same age, I was taken aback. I had, and have, honestly never given my German heritage much thought, of what it means to be German-American. I'm proud of my German heritage--but I've never suffered for it, like Friedrick and his family did. Reading about Friedrick and his family's struggle made me wonder what kind of struggles my ancestors, in particular, my grandfather, had faced during WWI. Grandpa did not fight in WWI. I always assumed it was because he was too young to fight. I will never know what it was like for him during that time--he passed away when my mother was only 3 years old.
Livy and Friedrick have an instant connection that is tested by ignorance and hatred on their parts, the townspeople, and the German settlers. Ms. Henrie does a beautiful job of showing all sides, the townspeople and the Germans' ignorance and hatred of each other and Livy and Friedrick finding common ground and a deep and abiding love for one another. She weaves the seeds of love and forgiveness through the story so beautifully, that it is easy for the reader to imagine that all in this story have learned to see beyond what divides us to see that what unites us is much stronger and much more plentiful.
I simply could not put this book down. Livy is a strong, independent woman, who loves her family and ultimately, Friedrick and his family. She's willing to do what is right, even if it costs her. And she is shown to struggle with Friedrick's "German-ness" and what that will mean to her family if she brings home a man of German descent when her family has sacrificed so much in fighting the Germans in WWI. Friedrick is such a strong and gentle man. Any woman of any era would be blessed to have this man as her partner in life. He willingly suffers the slings of others for not serving in the Army because someone has to take care of the family farm. He is tested greatly and his deep devotion to God carries him through all of the trials he's faced with.
For readers who might be squeamish to pick this up because it's a Christian Romance, don't be afraid to pick this one up. Yes, Livy and Friedrick are very obvious Christians and their faith and devotion to God is never hidden, but you will not be assaulted with bible thumping in the story. HOPE BEFORE DAWN is a gentle story that is highly recommended.
XOXO,
Teresa
Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars--Do yourself a favor and read this book!
BOOK FACTS:
HOPE AT DAWN (Of Love and War, Book 1) by Stacy Henrie
Forever/Grand Central Publishing, June 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4555-9880-9
Buy it at AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | BOOKS A MILLION
Stacy Henrie's on Twitter: @StacyHenrie and Facebook
P.S.: I cannot wait until the other books in the series come out in late 2014 and early 2015! Here's a little peek at those titles:
HOPE RISING (December 2014):
Corporal Joel Campbell dreams of the day the war is over and he can return home and start a family. When a brutal battle injury puts that hope in jeopardy, Joel is lost to despair . . . until he meets Evelyn. Beautiful, compassionate, and in need of help, she makes an unconventional proposal that could save their lives-or ruin them irrevocably. Now, amidst the terror and turmoil of the Western Front, these two lost souls will have to put their faith in love to find the miracle they've been looking for.
A HOPE REMEMBERED (April 2015)
Nora Lewis just wants an escape after losing her fiance in the Great War. When she inherits property in England, she boldly packs up and leaves America for a fresh start. But, if not for her dashing new neighbor, Colin Ashby, she'd be lost. Even as their friendship deepens, Nora knows a British aristocrat would never be free to love an American orphan, no matter how much the war has changed the world ...
After his brother's death in the war and his own experiences as a pilot at the front, Colin returns home broken, only to discover his family's estate is also in ruin. The pressure is now on him to save his home and the Ashbys' place in society with a well-bred match to a wealthy heiress. Too bad he finds more of a kindred spirit in Nora, the beautiful American next door. She, too, has faced the rigors of war and survived. Now the ex-soldier will have one more battle to fight--this time for love.
