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Song of Alaska #1
Dawn's Prelude
Newly widowed Lydia Sellers 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.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2009
797 people are currently reading
3419 people want to read
About the author
Tracie Peterson
255books2,999followersTracie Peterson is a bestselling author who writes in both historical and contemporary genres. Her novels reveal her love for research as well as her strong desire to develop emotionally meaningful characters and stories for her readers. Tracie and her family live in Montana.
pen name: Janelle Jamison
pen name: Janelle Jamison
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 390 reviews
September 3, 2018
This book was quite the surprise. I originally thought it would be a good historical read (which it was), but reading the first chapter, I realised it would also be so much more. The suspense contained in this story had me skipping some pages to see what happened, then going back to read the detail.
There was so much spiritual wisdom in this book through Lydia's questioning of God and her circumstances. I adored Zee and how by just loving Lydia, was able to help Lydia in her search for answers. The relationship between Lydia and Kjell was sweet and realistic, though there was a time I wanted Kjell to take action instead of stepping back and waiting as he did.
The evil portrayed through the Gray family's greed for power and money was harsh.
The last 30% of the story felt a bit long with bringing in Evie's storyline, but at the end I can see why the author did this. Even though it was implied, I would have liked to see a story about justice being served over the Gray brothers. And since the next book continues after a number of years passed, I think I would have liked an epilogue just to maybe see a happy ending for Evie.
I really enjoyed this and will continue this series.
There was so much spiritual wisdom in this book through Lydia's questioning of God and her circumstances. I adored Zee and how by just loving Lydia, was able to help Lydia in her search for answers. The relationship between Lydia and Kjell was sweet and realistic, though there was a time I wanted Kjell to take action instead of stepping back and waiting as he did.
The evil portrayed through the Gray family's greed for power and money was harsh.
The last 30% of the story felt a bit long with bringing in Evie's storyline, but at the end I can see why the author did this. Even though it was implied, I would have liked to see a story about justice being served over the Gray brothers. And since the next book continues after a number of years passed, I think I would have liked an epilogue just to maybe see a happy ending for Evie.
I really enjoyed this and will continue this series.
June 12, 2018
Wow. Honestly, I wasn't really looking forward to reading this book. It was just on my TBR list and I had it on my kindle, but the cover was really not that appealing to me. I know I shouldn't judge a book by its cover and this was certainly a testament to that statement. There was so much raw emotion in this book and I loved getting to know the characters and seeing how they progressed throughout. The best part of this book was the story line and the suspense. This book had more suspense in it than actual suspense books that I have read. This is hands down one of the best books by Tracie Peterson that I have ever read and I will definitely be finishing this series.
January 15, 2012
The thing that stood out for me in this book was the author's beautiful writing style. The storyline caught the readers attention immediately, then held it rapt through all the twists and turns of the plot while keeping an almost lyrical feel to the words being written. The only downside was some of those twists and turns were a little beyond the fray of even suspended belief. made parts of this otherwise delightful read a little hard to accept.
January 25, 2019
Wow. That was ... a weird combination of exciting, slow-paced, and jam-packed. But when it's all said and done, yeah it was a good book.
It started out pretty slow, but established the characters' relationships very well. Then Lydia arrived in Alaska and fell into Kjell's arms, and things started moving. Almost a little too quickly. For example: I was skeptical of how easily Lydia was able to trust Kjell (pronounced Chell--who knew?). But, considering the rest of the stuff that needed to happen, I guess we needed to soften her defenses early.
Then the sort-of climactic moment arrived. (That was when it was getting late, so I needed to go to bed, but there was over 100 pages left) Really exciting, and very well-written, so that was the best part of the book. It was also about halfway through, so when things settled down a bit, I was able to put the book down. But I was left in a place of confusion, because I had no idea how things would be fixed. (I love those types, as long as things are fixed.) So, while the ending took a while, it wrapped things up nicely. Maybe slightly rushed, but if it hadn't been rushed at all, things would have been boring. There were one or two things I would like to have been fixed/wrapped up more, but that's just personal preference.
I'll mention the characters. Lydia was pretty good, though, as I mentioned before, her guarded "I hate men" mentality left pretty quickly. At least she struggled a few times before completely trusting Kjell. Kjell, of course, was the star of the story for me. Kind, smart, and composed, but not so determined to get what he wants. He was also firm and of good Christian character. (except for that one time that he proposed before Lydia became a Christian ... good thing that worked out quickly. Didn't Zerelda warn him of disregarding God's command?) I also loved his anger toward the Russian guy, because it was such a masculine thing to do. I also liked Zerelda; she was a good, strong woman, but more realistic than some(that is, not being able to convert her niece in one or two conversations). Then there was the Gray family ... ugh. Complete and pure evil. I couldn't tell Mitchell and Marston apart, but I really didn't want to, because for all I care, they were one and the same. Thomas and Trayton weren't much better, if at all.
As a note, there was a significant amount of mature content, just a tad higher than some Christian romances. A lot of talk about miscarriages (result of abuse) and consummating a marriage (or lack thereof). There was also a semi-detailed birth and mention of breastfeeding, as well as an almost-seduction. Most of it was important to the story, but all the details weren't as necessary, in my opinion.
Despite the strange order of action, this was an enjoyable book. I have realized I'm always up for a Swedish hero.
It started out pretty slow, but established the characters' relationships very well. Then Lydia arrived in Alaska and fell into Kjell's arms, and things started moving. Almost a little too quickly. For example: I was skeptical of how easily Lydia was able to trust Kjell (pronounced Chell--who knew?). But, considering the rest of the stuff that needed to happen, I guess we needed to soften her defenses early.
Then the sort-of climactic moment arrived. (That was when it was getting late, so I needed to go to bed, but there was over 100 pages left) Really exciting, and very well-written, so that was the best part of the book. It was also about halfway through, so when things settled down a bit, I was able to put the book down. But I was left in a place of confusion, because I had no idea how things would be fixed. (I love those types, as long as things are fixed.) So, while the ending took a while, it wrapped things up nicely. Maybe slightly rushed, but if it hadn't been rushed at all, things would have been boring. There were one or two things I would like to have been fixed/wrapped up more, but that's just personal preference.
I'll mention the characters. Lydia was pretty good, though, as I mentioned before, her guarded "I hate men" mentality left pretty quickly. At least she struggled a few times before completely trusting Kjell. Kjell, of course, was the star of the story for me. Kind, smart, and composed, but not so determined to get what he wants. He was also firm and of good Christian character. (except for that one time that he proposed before Lydia became a Christian ... good thing that worked out quickly. Didn't Zerelda warn him of disregarding God's command?) I also loved his anger toward the Russian guy, because it was such a masculine thing to do. I also liked Zerelda; she was a good, strong woman, but more realistic than some(that is, not being able to convert her niece in one or two conversations). Then there was the Gray family ... ugh. Complete and pure evil. I couldn't tell Mitchell and Marston apart, but I really didn't want to, because for all I care, they were one and the same. Thomas and Trayton weren't much better, if at all.
As a note, there was a significant amount of mature content, just a tad higher than some Christian romances. A lot of talk about miscarriages (result of abuse) and consummating a marriage (or lack thereof). There was also a semi-detailed birth and mention of breastfeeding, as well as an almost-seduction. Most of it was important to the story, but all the details weren't as necessary, in my opinion.
Despite the strange order of action, this was an enjoyable book. I have realized I'm always up for a Swedish hero.
October 7, 2010
I had to really think about what rating this book should get. The first fifty pages and the last 75 to 100 pages were decently written, worth at least a three but the rest of the book was boring and one dimensional. The plot itself was sort of interesting, while not a mystery, since you knew whodunit, the bad guys were so malicious you just had to find out how bad they would really be but in the safety of a Christian novel where everything always turns out just fine. That to me is at least worth a three, predictable but entertaining.
The characters were so flat it was annoying. There was nothing interesting about Lydia, Zerelda and Kjell. They had very little affect or personality, they were pure, always choosing the right thing, and therefore contributed nothing to the story except to be the victims. As I went through the story, I found myself skimming more and more of the sections that focused on their characters, I simply had no connection to them. It isn't good when the interesting characters are the bad guys, Marston by far was the most interesting character. He was so evil, I couldn't help but read everything whenever he was on the page just to find out how evil he really was. Evie was also a better character with a small amount of growth throughout the book. It is only because of these two characters that character development gets a two instead of a one.
The faith aspect of the book was truly lacking. The characters preached at me about a variety of different subjects. I read a review that stated only "Christian propaganda" before I started the book. This is very accurate, it doesn't even try to have the characters live out their faith, it only has them talk theology. Kjell is slightly more dynamic because at one points he questions a God that would allow so much bad to happen but Zerelda is totally without any emotion just talking about God's plan and trusting Him. I have met few Christians who, when confronted with tragedy, don't go back to God with questions and anger. This makes it so unbelievable and sets a standard that is nearly impossible to achieve but for those truly mature in faith, and those truly mature in faith, generally have already confronted these kinds of loses. Since we see nothing of Zerelda's background we don't know if she has or not, going back to the lack of character development. So as far as faith and inspiration, it gets a one.
I won't be reading anymore of her books, unless, like this one, I get it free from kindle. Even then, I may pass. It is such a shame that Christian women are being fed this kind of shallow belief system and being told to pass it off as true faith.
The characters were so flat it was annoying. There was nothing interesting about Lydia, Zerelda and Kjell. They had very little affect or personality, they were pure, always choosing the right thing, and therefore contributed nothing to the story except to be the victims. As I went through the story, I found myself skimming more and more of the sections that focused on their characters, I simply had no connection to them. It isn't good when the interesting characters are the bad guys, Marston by far was the most interesting character. He was so evil, I couldn't help but read everything whenever he was on the page just to find out how evil he really was. Evie was also a better character with a small amount of growth throughout the book. It is only because of these two characters that character development gets a two instead of a one.
The faith aspect of the book was truly lacking. The characters preached at me about a variety of different subjects. I read a review that stated only "Christian propaganda" before I started the book. This is very accurate, it doesn't even try to have the characters live out their faith, it only has them talk theology. Kjell is slightly more dynamic because at one points he questions a God that would allow so much bad to happen but Zerelda is totally without any emotion just talking about God's plan and trusting Him. I have met few Christians who, when confronted with tragedy, don't go back to God with questions and anger. This makes it so unbelievable and sets a standard that is nearly impossible to achieve but for those truly mature in faith, and those truly mature in faith, generally have already confronted these kinds of loses. Since we see nothing of Zerelda's background we don't know if she has or not, going back to the lack of character development. So as far as faith and inspiration, it gets a one.
I won't be reading anymore of her books, unless, like this one, I get it free from kindle. Even then, I may pass. It is such a shame that Christian women are being fed this kind of shallow belief system and being told to pass it off as true faith.
September 22, 2009
So, here's the deal. If you like Janette Oke-type books, you will probably enjoy this one. However, it is a bit darker and deals with some heavier issues.
This is my beef with these types of books. If you are going to do something like this, make it somewhat believable. Don't tell me things like the main character slept through all of her first labor, or that she, through a knock on her head, has no idea that she birthed a child mere weeks before. There are tell-tale signs of this and surely you do not want your main character to come off as an idiot?
Everything is just a tad bit too neat in the plot, and very unrealistic. It saddens me, honestly. If you want a good example of interesting, believable characters (although they were VERY goody goody) look at Grace Livingston Hill for a model.
This is my beef with these types of books. If you are going to do something like this, make it somewhat believable. Don't tell me things like the main character slept through all of her first labor, or that she, through a knock on her head, has no idea that she birthed a child mere weeks before. There are tell-tale signs of this and surely you do not want your main character to come off as an idiot?
Everything is just a tad bit too neat in the plot, and very unrealistic. It saddens me, honestly. If you want a good example of interesting, believable characters (although they were VERY goody goody) look at Grace Livingston Hill for a model.
July 23, 2011
Ok, please excuse me if you love these, but ick! The main character is married off at 16 to a much older abusive man, who had murdered his first wife. She ends up inheriting all the family money, the grown kids hate her, she secretly moves to Alaska, finds out she's pregnant, has the kid, falls in love, gets married, gets shot, kid gets stolen by the evil stepson , she has amnesia, her sister-in-law brings the kid back. Through it all there are platitudes about how you have to put your faith in God, but no answer to the question of why He lets the bad stuff happen. But, hey, as long as you believe you'll end up rich and married in Alaska, so go for it. I was also disturbed by the sister-in-law having an adulterous relationship, not consumated, and seemingly this was ok (til she found out her husband was behind it all) because her husband wouldn't touch her and there were rumors of twisted tastes on his part (I interpreted this as maybe he likes guys...apparently in Christian fiction you can cheat if your husband is homosexual?). Basically a formula romance, minus the sex, plus the preaching. And I never need to read another book by this author!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2017
I LOVED this book!! I finished it in less then one day. I literally started it around 2 in the afternoon and finished around midnight! I couldn't put it down!! If you like Christian Fiction and Christian Romance I HIGHLY recommend this amazing book!!!!!
October 27, 2010
Let me start out by saying 5 out of 5 stars!!!!
I absolutely loved this book, it truly exceeded my expectations!
But first, let me start with a summary.
The book is set in the late 1800s and begins shortly after the death of Lydia Gray's husband. She is young, only 28, and now a widow with several stepchildren who have never liked her. In fact, not only did her husband beat and abuse her, her stepchildren have made it their personal mission to make her suffer as much as possible.
Lydia now is forced to battle against her stepchildren to receive any inheritance so that she can start a new life without them, but it is their goal to make sure she gets absolutely nothing. After being forced to marry him at 16 and suffering for 12 years in a horrible marriage all Lydia wants is to get away from the Gray family which has caused her so much misery.
Things, for the first time, begin to look up for Lydia when it turns out that her father tried to make penance for selling her off to her husband when she was 16 by leaving everything to her in his well. And as it turns out her husband's will was closely tied to her father's, and her husband left everything to her father who left everything to her. The Gray children are left with virtually nothing, and for once Lydia has all the power.
Lydia is much more kind than her stepchildren and she gives them the home and the furnishings and quickly takes off to go live with her aunt in Alaska so that she never has to see the Gray family every again. She is ready to start a new life away from anyone who ever knew her so that she can truly have a fresh start.
Lydia's aunt, Zerelda, has been living in the town of Sitka for years, and as Lydia's only family, warmly welcomes Lydia into her home. Lydia quickly meets a nice young man who lives in the town, Kjell Lindquist, who has been a friend to her aunt and quickly becomes her friend too.
It does not take too long for Lydia to realize that she is carrying her dead husband's child, something she wishes to forever keep from the Gray family, as they are already upset enough with her, and because she left without giving them a clue where she was going.
Lydia's aunt is a woman of great faith, and Kjell is a man of great faith, both placing their faith in God, and trusting that he is taking care of them, constantly watching over them, and always loving them. However, Lydia's faith in God is all but nonexistent. She cannot reconcile the fact that God "let" her suffer for so many years with a belief that God is loving and caring. Instead, she thinks he doesn't truly care about her or he wouldn't have let her suffer.
However, the influence of Zerelda and Kjell quickly open her mind to begin to receive the love of God, and when she opens her heart to God, she finds that Kjell finds his way into her heart as well, and she into his. Though she is carrying her dead husband's son, Kjell loves her, marries her and is determined to raise the child as if it were his own.
Finally, everything seems better in Lydia's life, until the Grays discover she is carrying their dead father's child, and their sibling. They quickly realize that there is one way to force Lydia to do what they want: steal her son or daughter from her.
Once again, Lydia's life is falling apart. Will she lose her faith in God entirely? Will she ever get her son back? Will she ever truly be happy?
Read Dawn's Prelude to find out!
I got this book when it was a Kindle freebie on Amazon. I cannot be happier with this purchase, and I gladly would have paid money for it. It definitely was not a book where I read it and justified it by saying "oh well, at least it was free". Rather, I am glad I read it, and would recommend it most highly to anyone else who loves Christian and/or period fiction. Sadly though, Dawn's Prelude is no longer available for free, but I still recommend that you pick it up as soon as you get the chance!
I think this book really spoke to me because instead of having a main character who always just trusts in God, this book truly shows the very real struggle that people go through when they feel abandoned by God. I think Lydia's loss of faith is something that is so real, and so easy to understand because she suffered in an abusive marriage for 12 years, never having a chance of finding a way out.
Beyond that, it's truly a beautiful story. It has romance, mystery, intrigue, danger, and above all, true love between family and friends.
In some ways it is reminiscent of Amish fiction because the small town of Sitka reminds me very much of Amish communities in that neighbors so often come together to help each other out in times of great need. But, then again, it's also very different than Amish fiction.
Either way, it's truly great Christian fiction, and I highly recommend it.
Personally, I'll be reading the next two books in the series, so look for reviews down the road of the rest of the Song Of Alaska series!
Again, 5 out of 5 stars!
I absolutely loved this book, it truly exceeded my expectations!
But first, let me start with a summary.
The book is set in the late 1800s and begins shortly after the death of Lydia Gray's husband. She is young, only 28, and now a widow with several stepchildren who have never liked her. In fact, not only did her husband beat and abuse her, her stepchildren have made it their personal mission to make her suffer as much as possible.
Lydia now is forced to battle against her stepchildren to receive any inheritance so that she can start a new life without them, but it is their goal to make sure she gets absolutely nothing. After being forced to marry him at 16 and suffering for 12 years in a horrible marriage all Lydia wants is to get away from the Gray family which has caused her so much misery.
Things, for the first time, begin to look up for Lydia when it turns out that her father tried to make penance for selling her off to her husband when she was 16 by leaving everything to her in his well. And as it turns out her husband's will was closely tied to her father's, and her husband left everything to her father who left everything to her. The Gray children are left with virtually nothing, and for once Lydia has all the power.
Lydia is much more kind than her stepchildren and she gives them the home and the furnishings and quickly takes off to go live with her aunt in Alaska so that she never has to see the Gray family every again. She is ready to start a new life away from anyone who ever knew her so that she can truly have a fresh start.
Lydia's aunt, Zerelda, has been living in the town of Sitka for years, and as Lydia's only family, warmly welcomes Lydia into her home. Lydia quickly meets a nice young man who lives in the town, Kjell Lindquist, who has been a friend to her aunt and quickly becomes her friend too.
It does not take too long for Lydia to realize that she is carrying her dead husband's child, something she wishes to forever keep from the Gray family, as they are already upset enough with her, and because she left without giving them a clue where she was going.
Lydia's aunt is a woman of great faith, and Kjell is a man of great faith, both placing their faith in God, and trusting that he is taking care of them, constantly watching over them, and always loving them. However, Lydia's faith in God is all but nonexistent. She cannot reconcile the fact that God "let" her suffer for so many years with a belief that God is loving and caring. Instead, she thinks he doesn't truly care about her or he wouldn't have let her suffer.
However, the influence of Zerelda and Kjell quickly open her mind to begin to receive the love of God, and when she opens her heart to God, she finds that Kjell finds his way into her heart as well, and she into his. Though she is carrying her dead husband's son, Kjell loves her, marries her and is determined to raise the child as if it were his own.
Finally, everything seems better in Lydia's life, until the Grays discover she is carrying their dead father's child, and their sibling. They quickly realize that there is one way to force Lydia to do what they want: steal her son or daughter from her.
Once again, Lydia's life is falling apart. Will she lose her faith in God entirely? Will she ever get her son back? Will she ever truly be happy?
Read Dawn's Prelude to find out!
I got this book when it was a Kindle freebie on Amazon. I cannot be happier with this purchase, and I gladly would have paid money for it. It definitely was not a book where I read it and justified it by saying "oh well, at least it was free". Rather, I am glad I read it, and would recommend it most highly to anyone else who loves Christian and/or period fiction. Sadly though, Dawn's Prelude is no longer available for free, but I still recommend that you pick it up as soon as you get the chance!
I think this book really spoke to me because instead of having a main character who always just trusts in God, this book truly shows the very real struggle that people go through when they feel abandoned by God. I think Lydia's loss of faith is something that is so real, and so easy to understand because she suffered in an abusive marriage for 12 years, never having a chance of finding a way out.
Beyond that, it's truly a beautiful story. It has romance, mystery, intrigue, danger, and above all, true love between family and friends.
In some ways it is reminiscent of Amish fiction because the small town of Sitka reminds me very much of Amish communities in that neighbors so often come together to help each other out in times of great need. But, then again, it's also very different than Amish fiction.
Either way, it's truly great Christian fiction, and I highly recommend it.
Personally, I'll be reading the next two books in the series, so look for reviews down the road of the rest of the Song Of Alaska series!
Again, 5 out of 5 stars!
April 30, 2014
I really enjoyed reading this!! Oh my goodness! This was the best book that I've read in a long time! I had been reading other books and it was like, "okay I read it,NEXT"! You know what I mean? The storyline of Dawn's Prelude really entranced me from the beginning and I knew I had to finish reading this one. Also this is probably the first book that I've read that was solely by Tracie Peterson if I'm correct. I've read some books that were written by Tracie Peterson and other co-authors. I was really surprised at how good this was!
I really liked the main character, Lydia in this book. In the book she goes through so much. Abusive marriage(Thankfully it wasn't in detail!), being unloved by some of her stepchildren,and seemly unloved by her father. It seemed like everything bad was happening to her. The book, all in all, had all the intrigue,mystery,and well thought out characters that I was looking for in a story.
Another good thing that I really liked about this book was that all along through the book, Lydia had this question that almost every Christian struggles with in everyday life. The question of, "Why me Lord?" I really impressed how Tracie Peterson illustrated that in this story. We as humans can't understand the will of God all the time because it wasn't meant to be that way or we'd never need to have faith in God. I mean look at Job in the Bible! But this story really encouraged me in why I read Christian Fiction in the first place!
The only problem that I had with the book was that to me it kept switching from the language that they used back then and language we use now. I had to keep looking to the first page to make sure it was in the 1870's! But it's forgiven! I loved it anyway. :)
I'm eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series! :)
I really liked the main character, Lydia in this book. In the book she goes through so much. Abusive marriage(Thankfully it wasn't in detail!), being unloved by some of her stepchildren,and seemly unloved by her father. It seemed like everything bad was happening to her. The book, all in all, had all the intrigue,mystery,and well thought out characters that I was looking for in a story.
Another good thing that I really liked about this book was that all along through the book, Lydia had this question that almost every Christian struggles with in everyday life. The question of, "Why me Lord?" I really impressed how Tracie Peterson illustrated that in this story. We as humans can't understand the will of God all the time because it wasn't meant to be that way or we'd never need to have faith in God. I mean look at Job in the Bible! But this story really encouraged me in why I read Christian Fiction in the first place!
The only problem that I had with the book was that to me it kept switching from the language that they used back then and language we use now. I had to keep looking to the first page to make sure it was in the 1870's! But it's forgiven! I loved it anyway. :)
I'm eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series! :)
March 10, 2021
"So we are just to look at life and its sorrows and disappointments as blessings in disguise?"
"Well, if we can, why not?"
I can always count on one thing from Tracie Peterson books - I will be entertained. This was no exception. Having been on my TBR shelves for a good long while, I randomly decided to pick it up when in the mood for a historical fiction. It was perfect for that. It was also a roller coaster of emotions, which I kinda didn't expect.
There's a bit of a thriller element to the story, with Lydia's narrow escape of her step-children leading to both good and bad situations. (which, sidenote, I loved Lydia as a character, I thought she was fabulous) The Alaskan setting was super cool, the characters were all awesome (Kjell Lindquist? I think you mean the sweetest man who deserves the entire world) ((also Aunt Zerelda. I want to be her when I grow up)), the thriller element kept me glued to the page.
The pacing was the only thing that seemed a little bit off? The first half was good, I liked the pace it set, but then the second half flew a smidge too fast for my liking. But the story in and of itself was pretty darn solid.
Overall, I had a great time reading this book and devouring it in just a couple of days. Four stars from me!
"Well, if we can, why not?"
I can always count on one thing from Tracie Peterson books - I will be entertained. This was no exception. Having been on my TBR shelves for a good long while, I randomly decided to pick it up when in the mood for a historical fiction. It was perfect for that. It was also a roller coaster of emotions, which I kinda didn't expect.
There's a bit of a thriller element to the story, with Lydia's narrow escape of her step-children leading to both good and bad situations. (which, sidenote, I loved Lydia as a character, I thought she was fabulous) The Alaskan setting was super cool, the characters were all awesome (Kjell Lindquist? I think you mean the sweetest man who deserves the entire world) ((also Aunt Zerelda. I want to be her when I grow up)), the thriller element kept me glued to the page.
The pacing was the only thing that seemed a little bit off? The first half was good, I liked the pace it set, but then the second half flew a smidge too fast for my liking. But the story in and of itself was pretty darn solid.
Overall, I had a great time reading this book and devouring it in just a couple of days. Four stars from me!
June 4, 2021
Complex gem of a book! I adored this one from beginning to end. Lydia was such a wonderful heroine. I’m so glad she stood up for herself against her rotten stepchildren early on. That really launched the adventure and made it really easy for me to root for her from the jump. I adored Evie as well and found that she was a troubled young lady who just wanted to be truly loved yet also craved doing the right thing. Again, she was easy to root for.
The complexities of this story were lovely, and they carved out an intricate story that will surely carry over into the next two books of the series. The setting of Sitka, Alaska really came alive for me, as do all of Mrs. Tracie Peterson’s settings. She’s got such a rich author voice and has a way with descriptions that takes my breath away.
This book was fantastic, and I’m eager to read the next installment of the Songs of Alaska trilogy.
Historical inaccuracy: “People of color� was not used in reference to American Indians in the 1870s, but it was once in this book.
Content: expletive, marital affair
The complexities of this story were lovely, and they carved out an intricate story that will surely carry over into the next two books of the series. The setting of Sitka, Alaska really came alive for me, as do all of Mrs. Tracie Peterson’s settings. She’s got such a rich author voice and has a way with descriptions that takes my breath away.
This book was fantastic, and I’m eager to read the next installment of the Songs of Alaska trilogy.
Historical inaccuracy: “People of color� was not used in reference to American Indians in the 1870s, but it was once in this book.
Content: expletive, marital affair
June 6, 2015
Lydia's husband died in an accident and even though she's relieved he can no longer bully her there are new problems caused by his death. It's the end of the nineteenth century and women don't have much to say yet. To everyone's surprise Lydia inherits a lot of money as she's the sole beneficiary of both her husband's and her father's fortune. Unfortunately her late husband's children don't want to accept this and they're trying to win back their father's money and assets via various lawsuits. Lydia has been more than generous, but still it isn't enough for them.
Because she has a beloved aunt in Sitka in Alaska that is where Lydia goes. When she arrives she collapses in the arms of a man named Kjell. Kjell knows her aunt very well and brings her straight to her. Lydia is weak and exhausted. Fortunately her aunt is a nurse and she's taking excellent care of her niece. Lydia finally gets some rest and much needed attention. Kjell is also regularly checking up on her. Lydia's stepchildren doesn't know where she is, but that doesn't mean they're doing everything they can to find out. Will Lydia be safe in Sitka and will she be able to find some new happiness or are things going to be much worse?
Dawn's Prelude is a story about a woman who's had a tough time. Her husband was mean and abusive and three of his four children aren't much better. She deserves so much better. Even when she receives a large fortune she shares it with them, but it isn't enough to get rid of them. They want to have everything, also her father's part of the inheritance. Their greed is the perfect base for a strong and gripping story. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen to Lydia next. This book is a real page turner, I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. Tracie Peterson has written a fantastic book, I absolutely loved it.
Because she has a beloved aunt in Sitka in Alaska that is where Lydia goes. When she arrives she collapses in the arms of a man named Kjell. Kjell knows her aunt very well and brings her straight to her. Lydia is weak and exhausted. Fortunately her aunt is a nurse and she's taking excellent care of her niece. Lydia finally gets some rest and much needed attention. Kjell is also regularly checking up on her. Lydia's stepchildren doesn't know where she is, but that doesn't mean they're doing everything they can to find out. Will Lydia be safe in Sitka and will she be able to find some new happiness or are things going to be much worse?
Dawn's Prelude is a story about a woman who's had a tough time. Her husband was mean and abusive and three of his four children aren't much better. She deserves so much better. Even when she receives a large fortune she shares it with them, but it isn't enough to get rid of them. They want to have everything, also her father's part of the inheritance. Their greed is the perfect base for a strong and gripping story. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen to Lydia next. This book is a real page turner, I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. Tracie Peterson has written a fantastic book, I absolutely loved it.
January 24, 2015
Tracie Peterson has a way of drawing the reader into the story. Some may say that this book is predictable. I think it's predictable only if you read a lot of novels. If you read a lot, you begin to know how an author thinks. Predictable isn't all that bad, either. I guessed how the story "might" go, but I had no idea how it would get there. There is some sense of satisfaction in being right when you predict the ending of a novel. This book has been on my shelf for months. I'm glad I finally picked it up to read. I realize I also have the second book in the series also. Score! This is a historical novel, but the action is not so overwhelmingly historical. In other words, you understand what life was like in the late 1800's without the author giving you a history lesson. I look forward to reading the next book.
March 30, 2015
When 28 year old Lydia Gray's husband passes away unexpectedly in the fall of 1870, instead of grieving, she is relieved to finally be free of her abusive husband of 12 years. Wanting to put the past firmly behind her, she leaves Missouri to make a new life for herself in Sitka, Alaska, with her aunt. As she gets to know Kjell Lindquist, she finds herself slowly opening up to the idea of love and a future with him, but she finds the peace she has longed for cruelly shattered when her past catches up with her, when the unthinkable happens.
I enjoyed this story, but I think it was just a bit heavy on the melodrama with her late husband's family, and it could have used more historical detail, especially with the history of Russians settling in the area, and the people of the Tlingit tribe that resided in the community. Both were mentioned in the story, but not in any great detail.
I enjoyed this story, but I think it was just a bit heavy on the melodrama with her late husband's family, and it could have used more historical detail, especially with the history of Russians settling in the area, and the people of the Tlingit tribe that resided in the community. Both were mentioned in the story, but not in any great detail.
March 26, 2016
This story was engaging from the beginning to end.
Excellent read!
Excellent read!
December 31, 2021
Seria spune povestea familiei Lindquist, narațiunea desfăşurându-se pe o durată de aproape patruzeci de ani, fiecare volum având în centrul acțiunii câte un membru al acestei familii.
❄️🧡 În primul volum al seriei, ,,Preludiul zorilor'', îi avem protagoniști pe Lydia și Kjell, a căror poveste de iubire este plină de căldură, dar și duioșie. Sunt doi tineri puternici, cărora viața le-a dat multe lovituri, fiecare ducând pe umeri povara unui trecut dureros și trist.
❄️🧡 Lydia a fost căsătorită cu forța de tatăl său, încă de la o vârstă fragedă, cu un bărbat cu mult mai în vârstă decât ea, alături de care a dus o viață plină de abuzuri fizice și psihice. Moartea neașteptată a soțului, dar și a tatălui, și un testament ciudat și surprinzător deopotrivă, îi schimbă viața complet. Este unica moștenitoare a întregii averi, în detrimentul copiilor vitregi, motiv pentru care dorește să o ia de la capăt, departe de amarul trăit până atunci; pleacă în Alaska, la sora tatălui, singura rudă apropiată și dragă sufletului ei. Aici dă piept cu imprevizibilul și necunoscutul învățând însă să creadă din nou în ziua de mâine, în iubire, în prietenie, bunătate, îmbrățișând speranța și credința. Iar alături de ea, pas cu pas, este Kjell, un tânăr sufletist, care știe ce înseamnă iubirea, dar și durerea pierderii celor dragi.
❄️🧡 Iubirea celor doi cunoaște însă furtuni și tunete aduse de trecutul amar al Lydiei. Însă, întotdeauna, după ploi și furtuni apare curcubeul și răsare soarele. Acestea vor da forță iubirii dintre Lydia și Kjell.
❄️🧡 În primul volum al seriei, ,,Preludiul zorilor'', îi avem protagoniști pe Lydia și Kjell, a căror poveste de iubire este plină de căldură, dar și duioșie. Sunt doi tineri puternici, cărora viața le-a dat multe lovituri, fiecare ducând pe umeri povara unui trecut dureros și trist.
❄️🧡 Lydia a fost căsătorită cu forța de tatăl său, încă de la o vârstă fragedă, cu un bărbat cu mult mai în vârstă decât ea, alături de care a dus o viață plină de abuzuri fizice și psihice. Moartea neașteptată a soțului, dar și a tatălui, și un testament ciudat și surprinzător deopotrivă, îi schimbă viața complet. Este unica moștenitoare a întregii averi, în detrimentul copiilor vitregi, motiv pentru care dorește să o ia de la capăt, departe de amarul trăit până atunci; pleacă în Alaska, la sora tatălui, singura rudă apropiată și dragă sufletului ei. Aici dă piept cu imprevizibilul și necunoscutul învățând însă să creadă din nou în ziua de mâine, în iubire, în prietenie, bunătate, îmbrățișând speranța și credința. Iar alături de ea, pas cu pas, este Kjell, un tânăr sufletist, care știe ce înseamnă iubirea, dar și durerea pierderii celor dragi.
❄️🧡 Iubirea celor doi cunoaște însă furtuni și tunete aduse de trecutul amar al Lydiei. Însă, întotdeauna, după ploi și furtuni apare curcubeul și răsare soarele. Acestea vor da forță iubirii dintre Lydia și Kjell.
January 4, 2021
O poveste captivantă și caldă, scrisă cu multă sensibilitate, despre puterea de a merge mai departe, despre încredere, a doua șansă și un nou început, o poveste despre speranță, demnitate și onoare, despre principii și alegeri și despre asumarea urmărilor acestora, având un mesaj profund pozitiv și optimist, cu impresionante și emoționante lecții de viață și îndemnuri la bunătate, speranță, îngăduință, credință și iubire.
Lydia, protagonista cărții, este o frumoasă și sensibilă tânără în vârstă de 28 de ani, pe care o cunoaștem într-un moment de cumpănă al vieții ei: a rămas văduvă, soțul murindu-i într-un accident de trăsură care i-a răpit totodată și tatăl. Însă ceea ar putea fi privită ca o tragedie, pentru Lydia a fost de fapt o eliberare, fiind captivă timp de 12 ani într-o căsătorie aranjată de tatăl său din rațiuni materiale, o căsătorie abuzivă, lipsită de iubire și respect, cu un bărbat mai în vârstă, crud și fără caracter.
Lydia, protagonista cărții, este o frumoasă și sensibilă tânără în vârstă de 28 de ani, pe care o cunoaștem într-un moment de cumpănă al vieții ei: a rămas văduvă, soțul murindu-i într-un accident de trăsură care i-a răpit totodată și tatăl. Însă ceea ar putea fi privită ca o tragedie, pentru Lydia a fost de fapt o eliberare, fiind captivă timp de 12 ani într-o căsătorie aranjată de tatăl său din rațiuni materiale, o căsătorie abuzivă, lipsită de iubire și respect, cu un bărbat mai în vârstă, crud și fără caracter.
August 10, 2024
I listened to this audiobook because it's set in Alaska, and I will be going on a trip there later this month, so I'm trying to read books that are set there to get myself excited for the trip. This is not my favorite type of book, but it was like a Christian Hallmark or When Calls the Heart style plot with some suspense, and overall I enjoyed it. The Christian aspect wasn't deep, but I did feel like the theme of trusting God no matter how bad your circumstances are to be relevant to me right now. I may or may not listen to the next books in the series while I'm working on an embroidery project the next few days, we'll see.
July 5, 2023
My Musings
An emotionally charged story with compelling characters and an absorbing plot. At first I didn't really fall in love with the heroine, but she grew on me as the story progressed. The complexity of the family dynamics were intriguing. I look forward to the next book, hoping it will tie up some of the dangling plotlines. Happy reading!
An emotionally charged story with compelling characters and an absorbing plot. At first I didn't really fall in love with the heroine, but she grew on me as the story progressed. The complexity of the family dynamics were intriguing. I look forward to the next book, hoping it will tie up some of the dangling plotlines. Happy reading!
July 11, 2017
Arranged marriage, abusive husband, fortune inherited, flight to Alaska, kidnapping of son. It's all here. This was a very easy read. The story definitely kept my attention. It was, however, rather predictable. Still and all, I enjoyed it and didn't want to put it down. Definitely fits the Tim Challis challenge #4, a book targeted at your gender!!!
October 30, 2023
Ce păcat, avea așa de mult potențial!
Idei atât de încântătoare și incitante, care îmi făceau să-mi trepideze sufletul, puse în acțiuni atât de lamentabile...
Autoarea trece de la o acțiune la alta, fara sa le dezvolte și să le ofere un curs mai bun, lăsând totul așa în aer.
Per total, are o poveste care te prinde, dar trebuia totul mai bine "uns"
Idei atât de încântătoare și incitante, care îmi făceau să-mi trepideze sufletul, puse în acțiuni atât de lamentabile...
Autoarea trece de la o acțiune la alta, fara sa le dezvolte și să le ofere un curs mai bun, lăsând totul așa în aer.
Per total, are o poveste care te prinde, dar trebuia totul mai bine "uns"
December 16, 2023
Excuse me, where's the last 50 pages of the book??? The ending was so not an ending! It was going to be 4 stars, until I got to the end and the author didn't bother to actually end it! Thought maybe there was a sequel, but looks like the sequel takes place waaaaaaay in the future- so boo to that, two stars because I'm so annoyed
February 24, 2014
I know that Tracie Peterson is super popular in the Christian historical market, but until now I'd only read one short story written by her in a Christmas collection. This book has been languishing on my shelves for a couple of years now, and it made for a surprisingly quick read on a lazy Saturday afternoon and evening.
I wouldn't consider this a straight historical romance, as the romance between Lydia and Kjell was pretty slow and gentle, and kind of took the back-burner to the drama of Lydia's step-children and their desire to get their hands on their father's inheritance. Kjell was sweet, but he wasn't a terribly fascinating character, so while I was glad that Lydia was able to fall in love after her abusive marriage, I did find the drama with the step-children more compelling than their romance.
The historical details about life in Alaska were interesting, and I appreciated the realism in Lydia's situation--a wealthy widow with little male protection and the vulnerability she faced at being in such a position in this time period. Evie, her youngest step-daughter, is in a similarly vulnerable position in her unhappy arranged marriage. The interplays between all the step-children and their spouses displayed just how little control women had over their lives at this point, so I appreciated the historical accuracy in this.
It was interesting seeing the perspectives of Lydia's two step-sons and one of her step-daughters, as the sons plotted to somehow get hold of their inheritance, and Evie's struggle to not upset her siblings while wanting to stay loyal to the woman who raised her. The brothers verged a little on being Disney-villainish at times--what were their motivations? Why did they have so little respect for any other human beings?--but Evie was certainly more realistic. I hoped that there would be a sequel about her, since she played a relatively large part in the ending of this book, but it doesn't look like it.
I loved the beginning of this book, and the drama about the inheritance definitely kept my attention, but I didn't love this book as a whole. Kjell and Lydia were rather passive characters and it felt like we missed seeing a lot of their developing romance. They fell in love, but I didn't feel like I got the chance to properly witness it, if that makes sense. I'm also still not sure how I feel about the final third of the book. Something very important to Kjell and Lydia goes missing, and I felt like Kjell took a really long time before he made an effort to go searching for it. There's also an amnesia storyline that comes into play--and these can either be done very well, or very badly. Here, I'm not entirely sure how I felt about it. It seemed to just drag the plot out and rehash some situations that had already occurred, with the character having to relearn to trust the other one, etc. And then suddenly it was over, and everything was alright again! I'm not sure how Tracie could have written that last third of the book without the amnesia, but I wasn't entirely happy with it. Maybe it was just because there was so much drama in this book already!
All in all, this book was an incredibly quick and easy read, a perfect bath book. For the most part, it kept my attention, even if the main characters weren't overly intriguing. I'd like to read more of this series to see whether we revisit old characters, and to learn more about Alaska, but the sequels aren't at the top of my to-read list right now. A good read, but not an amazing one. 3.5*
I wouldn't consider this a straight historical romance, as the romance between Lydia and Kjell was pretty slow and gentle, and kind of took the back-burner to the drama of Lydia's step-children and their desire to get their hands on their father's inheritance. Kjell was sweet, but he wasn't a terribly fascinating character, so while I was glad that Lydia was able to fall in love after her abusive marriage, I did find the drama with the step-children more compelling than their romance.
The historical details about life in Alaska were interesting, and I appreciated the realism in Lydia's situation--a wealthy widow with little male protection and the vulnerability she faced at being in such a position in this time period. Evie, her youngest step-daughter, is in a similarly vulnerable position in her unhappy arranged marriage. The interplays between all the step-children and their spouses displayed just how little control women had over their lives at this point, so I appreciated the historical accuracy in this.
It was interesting seeing the perspectives of Lydia's two step-sons and one of her step-daughters, as the sons plotted to somehow get hold of their inheritance, and Evie's struggle to not upset her siblings while wanting to stay loyal to the woman who raised her. The brothers verged a little on being Disney-villainish at times--what were their motivations? Why did they have so little respect for any other human beings?--but Evie was certainly more realistic. I hoped that there would be a sequel about her, since she played a relatively large part in the ending of this book, but it doesn't look like it.
I loved the beginning of this book, and the drama about the inheritance definitely kept my attention, but I didn't love this book as a whole. Kjell and Lydia were rather passive characters and it felt like we missed seeing a lot of their developing romance. They fell in love, but I didn't feel like I got the chance to properly witness it, if that makes sense. I'm also still not sure how I feel about the final third of the book. Something very important to Kjell and Lydia goes missing, and I felt like Kjell took a really long time before he made an effort to go searching for it. There's also an amnesia storyline that comes into play--and these can either be done very well, or very badly. Here, I'm not entirely sure how I felt about it. It seemed to just drag the plot out and rehash some situations that had already occurred, with the character having to relearn to trust the other one, etc. And then suddenly it was over, and everything was alright again! I'm not sure how Tracie could have written that last third of the book without the amnesia, but I wasn't entirely happy with it. Maybe it was just because there was so much drama in this book already!
All in all, this book was an incredibly quick and easy read, a perfect bath book. For the most part, it kept my attention, even if the main characters weren't overly intriguing. I'd like to read more of this series to see whether we revisit old characters, and to learn more about Alaska, but the sequels aren't at the top of my to-read list right now. A good read, but not an amazing one. 3.5*
January 1, 2015
SUMMARY: Newly widowed Lydia Sellers 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.
REVIEW: Tracie Peterson once again presents her readers with a book that captures attention from page 1 and doesn't let go until the conclusion. Romance, Adventure and a twist of suspense made this a thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish. Clear cut "good guys" and "bad guys" filled the melodramatic story line. As Lydia grows and develops as a person and in her faith after a devastating marriage, it was nice to see her mature as a woman. Kjell's warmth, kindness and love definitely helped in the process. Aunt Zerelda or "Zee" was indeed a fun-filled, faith-filled, enjoyable character with a spark of independence that also helped Lydia grow. Overall a great story and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Doesn't do a body any good to withhold forgiveness. The devil is the only one who stands to gain anything from that."
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.
REVIEW: Tracie Peterson once again presents her readers with a book that captures attention from page 1 and doesn't let go until the conclusion. Romance, Adventure and a twist of suspense made this a thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish. Clear cut "good guys" and "bad guys" filled the melodramatic story line. As Lydia grows and develops as a person and in her faith after a devastating marriage, it was nice to see her mature as a woman. Kjell's warmth, kindness and love definitely helped in the process. Aunt Zerelda or "Zee" was indeed a fun-filled, faith-filled, enjoyable character with a spark of independence that also helped Lydia grow. Overall a great story and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "Doesn't do a body any good to withhold forgiveness. The devil is the only one who stands to gain anything from that."
March 1, 2011
let me begin with a nice snobby opinion -- anyone who has written eighty adult-length books (and is not, say, 140 years old) is not generally going to write literature of much quality. so when i flipped this one open and saw the extensive title list of novels by this author, i set my sights a bit lower than usual.
LIKES: the historical settings, kansas city and the alaskan islands; the clean content; and that's about it...
DISLIKES:
the cardboard cut-out characters;
the exaggeratedly evil ex-step-family (i mean, what are they, the frontier mob??);
the use of music as a desperately contrived attempt at giving the heroine some character, while the author clearly no personal experience at all. which plot point is then seemingly abandoned for chapters on end...;
the unstated acceptance of wifely submission to abuse;
the shying away from any real character development, or from dealing with any real pain
and to top it all off... the amnesia ... oh, yes, folks, amnesia
run for your life!
pg
LIKES: the historical settings, kansas city and the alaskan islands; the clean content; and that's about it...
DISLIKES:
the cardboard cut-out characters;
the exaggeratedly evil ex-step-family (i mean, what are they, the frontier mob??);
the use of music as a desperately contrived attempt at giving the heroine some character, while the author clearly no personal experience at all. which plot point is then seemingly abandoned for chapters on end...;
the unstated acceptance of wifely submission to abuse;
the shying away from any real character development, or from dealing with any real pain
and to top it all off... the amnesia ... oh, yes, folks, amnesia
run for your life!
pg
January 8, 2017
This book is supposed to be a Christian book, but I found there was too much violence for my liking. The story alludes to rape of the main character, mentions spousal abuse, murder, gun violence, and more. The violence isn't a main theme, but I still cringed whenever it was mentioned.
Without giving away the plot twists, I have to say I expected more from this book. The main character, Lydia, becomes seriously injured and has an odd reaction to it once she is physically recovered. I think the author was trying to write creatively but it sort of seemed like a cop-out.
There were other parts of the story that were unbelievable, or annoying, but it was still interesting at times. Th ending was frustrating though, because everything was miraculously resolved, but we don't get any information about the outcome of Lydia's family who wanted to do her harm.
This is the first in a trilogy, and the second books deals with different characters as well as an older one, so hopefully I will get the answers I seek!
Without giving away the plot twists, I have to say I expected more from this book. The main character, Lydia, becomes seriously injured and has an odd reaction to it once she is physically recovered. I think the author was trying to write creatively but it sort of seemed like a cop-out.
There were other parts of the story that were unbelievable, or annoying, but it was still interesting at times. Th ending was frustrating though, because everything was miraculously resolved, but we don't get any information about the outcome of Lydia's family who wanted to do her harm.
This is the first in a trilogy, and the second books deals with different characters as well as an older one, so hopefully I will get the answers I seek!
January 3, 2016
The overall feeling of this book was just depressing and sad. This poor woman could not get a break and the ton was depressing. There was a lot of preaching in the second half of the book, that was very repetitive and overdone. The book ended happily but gezzz I was glad when it ended and I didn't have to read anymore. There was just too much description and not enough character dialogue. I did finish it, I loved that there were some heros in this book that really helped Dawn out of her hole. They saved the book for me.
January 10, 2011
One of the first kindle books I got, I read it in one day - I couldn't put it down! Reading about Lydia's adventures was just amazing! Everything she went through...wow! Yet at the end, after she's given her life to God, she's stronger than ever. Wonderful book!
A MUST read!!
A MUST read!!
January 2, 2020
This was a really good historical suspenseful romance. I really loved the character building and the plot. On the second time reading this, I liked it even better. It deals with several hard issues very well.
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